Horse & Rider

In 1999, I was assigned a trip to Gladstone, New Jersey, to cover the first-ever United States Equestrian Team Festival of Champions to include reining. It was one step on the long journey to making the Western discipline part of internationally reco

AS I scroll through years of horse memories, some shine especially bright. My (Charlene’s) first horse, an Appaloosa named Buckwheat, blazes like a meteor, easily outshining the planets of past horses. He changed my life and chartered for us an adven

This is my husband, Larry Jones, on our 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare, Faith. A few years after retiring to the beautiful Bitterroot Valley in western Montana in 2009, we bought Faith as a weanling, and Larry started her under saddle this spring. His

Grab a swimsuit and check out 1. Sliding Rock, a 60-foot natural waterslide located in the Pisgah National Forest. If you prefer to stay dry, visit the 535-million-year-old monolith known as 2. Chimney Rock. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded

Navicular syndrome refers to a variety of conditions that create pain in and around the structures surrounding the navicular bone. Palmar heel pain is an alternate term, referring to the site of the nerve block (at the back and bottom of the front fe

SPINS IN RANCH RIDING don’t have the luxury of building momentum and cadence over the course of three or four turns like our horses do in working cow horse or reining. At most, a ranch riding pattern calls for two spins; most of the time, it’s one sp

Public lands and trails provide an opportunity to explore the most beautiful scenery in the country. Like horseback riders, outdoor enthusiasts from hikers to cyclists take pleasure in getting away from the city to enjoy the backcountry. Maintained p

To ride your best, you must put mind over mechanics. By that I mean, rather than obsessing over the mechanics of cueing, use your brainpower to develop three essentials of good horsemanship: balance, decision-making, and consistency. I’ve done a litt

WHEN JUDGING halter classes, it’s important to remember that conformation or physical appearance is the most important criteria. When assessing conformation, I break it down into four categories—balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characte

The adage “no hoof, no horse” is well worn for a reason: It tells us exactly how important hoof care is. In fact, proper maintenance of your horse’s feet may be the single most crucial factor for keeping him sound. And a simple mistake can be all it

When you’re racing against the clock it’s easy to forget where your horse’s body is and concentrate more on your time. But when you start to focus more on the clock than what your horse’s body is doing around the barrel, you’re going to get into trou

Gold is the standard for the United States reining team, and this year is no exception. Since the addition of reining to the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2002, the United States has managed to take home gold in the team event every year, and o

I was excited yet a touch anxious as I drove along the rolling hills of Renfrew County toward Horse Country Campground in Foresters Falls, a 1½ hour drive northwest of Ottawa, Ontario. It was the first time my husband, Joe, and his Belgian/Paint Hors

All equine competition requires team work. Even in halter classes, you must have a connection to your horse. Mental prep is part of that team work. When you or your horse aren’t mentally prepared, things can go awry. If your horse isn’t mentally focu