Your horse's three primary gaits-walk, trot, and canter-each provide distinct advantages for conditioning aimed at enhancing performance. When utilized effectively, these gaits can achieve outcomes that might otherwise be overlooked. Ideally, training sessions should incorporate equal time spent in each of the three primary gaits to promote both flexibility and strength. However, specific conditioning phases may require an emphasis on one gait over the others. This article will explore how each gait benefits the equine athlete, particularly in relation to back usage, and will highlight the role of cavalletti routines in training.

Without access to multiple riding surfaces, many horses plateau in their fitness or get stuck in a state of physical discomfort. In fact, different footings can play such a big role in any horse’s conditioning that there is an industry adage for it: there are no poor surfaces; only poor use of surfaces.

Miscalculating the effort level of exercises for horses often derails the process of gaining fitness. Whether or not a horse finds any given exercise hard is left to a lot of guesswork. And since many riders form assumptions based on their own perspectives of sport and physical challenges, this guesswork is frequently inaccurate. To gauge this better and to deliver beneficial doses of effort, we need to clarify how and when certain tasks are difficult for the horse.

Every Time, Everywhere - Wrong lead! It’s one of the earliest alerts a young rider hears from her coach. One’s heart sinks to hear that same alert from the coach calling over the show ring rail. The novice rider learns the outside leg back and kiss cue to canter but I’ve found that riders are often unsure why they should use this cue. Let’s break it down. We’ll review the phonics of teaching your horse to pick up the correct lead and some hints to help the rider recognize it.

Our knowledge of optimal equine management is continually expanding. The science relied upon to make informed management decisions for our horses is changing as more research becomes available. One of the primary nutrition concerns across North America is the management of horses with metabolic health issues. This article will discuss the goals of nutritional management for these horses, how science has evolved, and updated guidelines based on the newest science for horse owners to follow.

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.

The link between speed and stress in equine behaviour - My first mount charged his jumps with enthusiasm. He never backed off. I believed he was a “brave” jumper — passionate about jumping, just like me! Every time we approached a jump, his head would lift, ears would lock forward, and his pace would quicken. I assumed the jumper ring, with its emphasis on speed, was a more suitable match for my spirited jumper than the slower-paced hunter ring. But once we entered the competition arena, his eagerness became an issue.

While it might often be spoken about in artistic, aesthetic, or even philosophical ways, lightness — both of movement and also of communication with horses — is more than an abstract ideal. In many ways, it measures a horse’s current physiological capabilities.

Fencing is an essential part of responsible horse ownership, providing both security and safety for your animals. Historically, choices were limited to wooden rails or barbed wire — options that are still in use across many parts of Canada today.