Hunter Jumper

When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter

Updated:

June 19, 2026

overheating horse too hot summer riding heat

A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat? It might surprise you to learn that your horse gets hotter much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress. Prof. Michael Lindinger, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: “It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse’s temperature to dangerous levels. That’s three to ten times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do.”

Riding RooElla: The Ultimate Dressage Schooling Horse

Updated:

June 18, 2026

Rider using Equisk resistance bands on RooElla horse simulator to improve stability, posture, and equestrian biomechanics.

RooElla, the interactive horse simulator owned by Susan Cruickshank of Oakwood, Ontario, is a perfectly schooled mechanical dressage horse that is highly sensitive to its riders’ aids. During a session with Cruickshank and RooElla, riders gain instant feedback about leg pressure, seat position, and rein contact. It is the ultimate tool for helping riders be the best they can be for their horses.

Essential Horse Clipping Tips for a Flawless Finish

Updated:

June 17, 2026

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Before you even start clipping, good tool care should be your top priority. Whether you’re giving your horse a full body clip or simply neatening up, sharp, clean, and well-lubricated blades will produce smoother results and help your equipment last longer. Take a moment to inspect the clippers and cords for any wear or damage before switching them on.

Equitation Essentials - The Hows and Whys of a Winning Riding Position

Updated:

June 12, 2026

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I learned the fundamentals of equitation to the repetitive tune of Heads up! Heels down! while trotting around and around the riding school arena. I acquired the hows of riding in those early years, but my whys were typically answered with tradition: That’s just the way it’s done. Thinking back, if I’d grasped the reasoning behind the technical skills of riding, I’d have been more motivated to persevere in those drills without stirrups!

Resolving Bit Resistance in Your Horse

Updated:

May 15, 2026

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Not long ago, I toured a Western art museum and found myself absorbed in the works of Russell and Remington. Their paintings, alive with movement, depicted the unforgiving life of the cowboy — scenes filled with dust, tension, and the raw energy of untamed horses. These animals, used for transport and survival, stood in stark contrast to the roles horses now occupy in our world — companions in leisure, competitors in sport, and trusted partners in training. But one detail in every piece caught my attention and left me uneasy: riders with rigid hands pulling back, and horses resisting, mouths wide in distress.

Developing a Horseman’s Eye: What Judges Look for in Horses

Updated:

May 8, 2026

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I’ve been watching horses for years, first wistfully as a horse-crazy girl from the spectator seating at the Royal Winter Fair, and later making my living watching horses as a horse trainer, riding coach, and judge. As a trainer, I’ve studied horses circling around me on the end of a lunge line, recognizing signs of tension, relaxation, or hints of gait irregularities.

How to Use Hills for Horse Training

Updated:

May 3, 2026

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Define your goals to develop a training plan - While hill training is widely accepted as important for building strength, its actual benefits rely on answering the question: What is the goal for this individual horse?

How to Walk a Jump Course

Updated:

April 30, 2026

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Preparation is the key to success in every sport. One of the best ways to prepare to jump your course at a horse show is by walking it first.

Tight Nosebands Compromise Equine Welfare and Affect Movement

Updated:

April 10, 2026

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A recent study confirms that tightening a horse’s noseband may do more than change appearance or control the mouth — it may also affect the horse’s movement.

Ontario Equine Expo Grows in Second Year

Updated:

March 31, 2026

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With only nine weeks to prepare, Miranda and Ryan Kent, owners of RMK Trailer Sales, recognized a need for an equine educational exposition and decided to make it happen. Although they had no experience running an event of this kind, they brought together horse-related vendors, clinicians, and associations, sold tickets, and opened the doors to the first Ontario Equine Expo at the Markham Fairgrounds in March 2025. By focusing on educational clinics that appealed to a wide range of equestrian enthusiasts, they created a learning environment for guests while discovering what worked and what did not.