Recently, I officially retired my mare Diva from riding at age 25. She had started showing signs that riding was no longer a comfortable or enjoyable experience. I noticed her topline dropping and her hind end becoming stiffer (which was confirmed as the early stages of hock arthritis in her left hind). In general, Diva’s body was no longer receiving a benefit from being ridden. I decided I am not comfortable medicating my horse so that I can ride her.

Last summer, I observed a rider in the warm-up ring at Thunderbird Show Park in Vancouver, BC, who seemed to be struggling. Her horse was tense and unfocused, despite her best attempts to establish a connection. The horse appeared distracted, and when they approached a practice jump, it refused. The rider fought to maintain her composure, but her frustration and tension were clearly visible. Although she cleared a few jumps at the trot, once they began cantering, the horse rushed the jumps and nearly bolted after landing. After a few attempts, she pulled up to the corner of the arena, her face showing the emotional toll of the situation.

Every interaction we have with a horse involves principles of learning, whether we are aware of it or not. Problems arise when the wrong technique is chosen, or a correct one is applied incorrectly. In such cases, the horse can become confused and respond with behaviours often labelled as stubborn, unwilling, naughty, or even dangerous.

Common in certain horse populations, enteroliths are mineral-based stones that gradually form in the large colon over several years. Composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), these stones develop around a central foreign object—such as a pebble, hair, baling twine, metal, or rubber—and often take on round, triangular, or flat shapes. Although they may remain undetected for long periods, enteroliths can shift and obstruct the intestinal tract, leading to episodes of colic in horses.

The equestrian world is steeped in tradition, with practices passed down through generations of riders, trainers, and coaches. While these longstanding approaches often carry wisdom, they can also keep us stuck if we aren’t willing to evolve and integrate new knowledge as it becomes available.

Buying or selling a horse is a multifaceted process that goes far beyond simply posting an advertisement. From capturing the ideal photos to finalizing the sale contract, each step requires thorough attention and thoughtful planning. In this article, we’ll cover essential aspects of horse sales, offering valuable tips and insights to help both buyers and sellers achieve a smooth and successful transaction.

Horses sold at Canadian auctions range from high-end racehorses to weanlings of unknown origins. There are auctions for specific breeds or levels of performance, and those that are open to anyone who has a horse to sell. There are online auctions, in-person auctions, and a combination of both. Canadian horse auctions cater to every budget, too.

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.

Two-Time Tik! You don’t have to be a breeder or wrangler to benefit from watching Road to the Horse (RTTH). If you’re eager to better understand and connect with horses, this annual colt-starting competition offers inspiration and education alike.