There are magical moments that necessitate a pause, moments to recognize and be grateful for. As I sit on a blanket in the sand of the banks of the Rio Corrientes in Argentina looking up at the Southern Cross in the night sky, fireflies floating around the horses who stand quietly tied to a large piece of driftwood, I stop to take it all in. Ranch owner Klaus Liebig tosses another log on the bonfire at the beach as his wife Gloria arranges a picnic spread of charcuterie meats, cheeses, and olives. This was the last full-day ride of an incredible week at the 1,315-hectare Estancia Buena Vista, just outside the small town of Esquina in the Corrientes province of Argentina.

Purchasing a horse can be an exciting yet stressful experience, particularly when it comes time for the pre-purchase examination, or “vetting.” For the seller, there may be anxiety about uncovering health issues that could end the sale. For the buyer, there’s the fear that their dream horse might fail the vet check, leading to disappointment. However, understanding the true purpose of this essential veterinary service can help ease the tension and ensure a smoother process.

Why Do Girls Predominate Equestrian Sport? Imagining a young equestrian rider typically brings to mind a young girl proudly leading her pony. Youth-oriented horse media predominantly showcase girls, with photos of boys being a rare sight. While I’ll explore some reasons why boys tend to shy away from horses at a young age later in this article, it’s important first to highlight the critical need for proper saddle fit from the very beginning.

In an industry as diverse and mobile as Canada’s equine sector, accurate identification and traceability are more important than ever. The Canadian Horse Identification Program (CHIP) was created to meet that need, offering a voluntary, national equine identification and traceability system designed specifically for Canada’s horses — and the people who care for them.

Tuning In To Your Internal State - All riders are familiar with the joy and challenge associated with mastering the dance of connection and communication between horse and rider. However, fewer riders are familiar with the role which regulating our nervous system plays in this intricate ballet.

Horses today are expected to perform across much of the year, whether their work involves dressage, trail riding, reining, show jumping, or another equestrian discipline. Regardless of the job, the foot remains the most common source of lameness in horses. Preventative medications such as Legend®, Adequan®, and Pentosan EQ™ can help support the longevity of an equine athlete’s career, but even with careful management, injuries can still happen.

In the 1720s, horses made their long-awaited return to Alberta's vast prairies, marking an extraordinary homecoming. It had been about 10,000 years since the province's expansive grasslands echoed with the sound of equine hooves. Fossil evidence reveals that North America was the original birthplace of the horse, with the species first appearing millions of years ago. While other animals, such as bison and mammoths, migrated into North America from Siberia, the horse followed a different path, eventually being domesticated by the horse-riding cultures of the Central Asian Steppes. However, the ancient horse that once thrived across Canada mysteriously disappeared thousands of years ago.

Every equestrian—regardless of discipline—benefits from using a saddle that fits correctly. But individuals with higher body weight (specifically women over 180 pounds and men above 250 pounds) often encounter unique obstacles when searching for a saddle that suits both their frame and their horse’s build.

ThinLine introduces the Flexible Filly Grazing Muzzle with adjustable grazing hole size to customize the muzzle to your horse’s dietary needs. The muzzle is manufactured with food grade resins that provide a durable yet lightweight, flexible alternative to traditional muzzles. Veterinarian recommendations for safe grazing in a muzzle are a 3.5 to 4 cm grazing hole for full-time grazing, and 2 to 2.5 cm for restricted grazing often required for horses with metabolic issues. The industry standard is 3 cm and grazing holes are not adjustable.