Trail

The Many Hats of a Horse Show Judge

Updated:

March 15, 2022

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I smiled, walking past the airport hat kiosk, en route to a judging adventure at an exhibition in Eastern Canada. I’d be wearing several hats and judging a kaleidoscope of classes at the show — equitation, road hack, reining, Western riding, working hunter, pleasure driving, driven dressage, conformation, showmanship, miniature horses… and more!

Kids on the Trail

Updated:

July 13, 2021

Stan Walchuk Jr, children riding trail, kids riding trail, common sense horse trail, trail mount horse, Kids Riding Bareback, children Riding Bareback, trail riding safety

We always talk about doing things right - the right training, riding method, gear, and discipline – but there is no escaping the fact that kids will be kids. They do not have the physical size and strength of an adult, the same ability to discipline, the same control, or the same focus and concentration to work through issues.

Introducing Your Horse to Lateral Work

Updated:

May 9, 2021

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Why and when to introduce your horse to lateral work - While they used to be predominantly the domain of prancing dressage horses, lateral movements like shoulder-in and haunches-in offer unrivaled conditioning effects for almost any equine athlete. Exercise science has shown them to be on par with gymnastic routines like hill repeats and cavalletti routines in terms of muscle recruitment, with a bonus of altering motor sensory patterns. Below I will explain how and why you might consider incorporating them.

Horseback Riding - Trails of Many Faces

Updated:

April 30, 2021

Stan Walchuk Jr, horse trail riding, trail riding guide

For many people riding across a pasture, down a laneway, or along a road is considered to be trail riding. It’s a good thing that we have those options since we cannot instantly wish ourselves onto the wilderness trail of our choice. But interesting trails spoil us

The Trail Horse's Mind

Updated:

April 18, 2021

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We all have expectations for our horses. With trail horses those expectations are based on the way we use them, which is very different from the way we use performance horses or pet horses.

Road Safety for Equestrians

Updated:

April 8, 2021

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As many equestrians take to the roads, keeping themselves and their horses safe while sharing road space with cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles is a key concern. Increasing development and traffic volume in rural areas have made road riding a necessity for some riders.

Checklist for a Comfortable Riding Vacation

Updated:

March 31, 2021

horseback riding holiday checklist, what to bring on a horse riding vacation

On any riding vacation, whether it’s camping or glamping, there are a few essentials that I always bring along.

Is Your Horse Built For the Job?

Updated:

March 30, 2021

Lynne Gunville, Dr. Trisha Dowling, horse conformation, horse balance, horse angulation, horse care, horse built for job

Function follows form, according to Dr. Trisha Dowling. It’s the conformation or structure of a horse that ultimately determines its athletic function.

Trail Tips: Conformation & the Trail Horse

Updated:

March 21, 2021

What do we look for in trail horse conformation? The quality of the foot has been discussed in a previous article and therefore this article will focus on other key aspects.

The Art of Wrangling: Keeping Your Horses Close

Updated:

March 21, 2021

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Wrangling means working with horses on the trail or in camp, including when they are not ridden or packed. It involves bringing them in at morning, turning them out at night, and managing their movement and use.