Horses, Hurricanes, and World-Class Competition - As organizers and competitors stared down the threat of Hurricane Florence, the prestigious FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 (WEG) got underway on September 11. The WEG is held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle and is the go-to event on the global equestrian sporting calendar. This year, it is being hosted at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina, and the schedule includes the disciplines of jumping, dressage, para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, and reining. Also featured are equestrian-focused demonstrations, exhibitions, and the inaugural annual World Equine Expo™ all showcased in the 13-day event ending September 23.

Topline is the term used to describe the muscle coverage over the top of the horse’s neck, withers, back, loin, and croup. Because topline is muscle, a horse with a good topline will be stronger and more athletic, and will present a more pleasing appearance. What should we feed to develop the perfect topline? First we must understand that the shape of the back can vary greatly from one individual to another, and so the topline will vary in length and in curvature, with some relationship between the two. Horses with toplines that are sunken in over their withers, concave along the back and loin, or dished in around their hip bones and hindquarters will have diminished strength in those areas.

Dragging a Log - Helping horses build their confidence in unique ways can prepare them for the unexpected. At any age or with any discipline, I encourage riders to find ways to challenge themselves and their horses by trying new things and teaching them that they can trust you when they feel worried. I see so many horses that are incredibly sheltered by their owners and, as a result, become so fragile that any little thing causes them too much anxiety.

Build Your Horse's Confidence - In the previous article Build Your Horse's Confidence Part 1, I demonstrated how to build confidence around a horse’s personal space bubble by dragging a post with my new seven-year-old Canadian Warmblood named Bellagio, or “Geo.”

In recent years, the popularity of hemp as a feed supplement for horses has been growing remarkably. Although it belongs to the cannabis family, hemp is most commonly known as an industrial plant for textiles, rope, clothes, paper, plastics, biofuels, animal bedding, and sail canvases. Its seeds, oil, and leaves are all food and feed options, and hemp has found its way into the equine industry as an excellent nutritional supplement.