How-To

Jonathan Field, horse focus issues, gaining a horse’s attention, improving horse concentration, herd-bound horse behaviour, anxious horse separation, horse training fundamentals, rider leadership skills, building horse partnership

He’s attentive and responsive inside the arena, yet the moment you head out on a hack he seems to lose concentration. On his own he works beautifully, but introduce other horses and suddenly his focus drifts elsewhere.

horse-related contracts, buying a horse, legal documents horse sale, horse insurance contracts, horse breeding contract, karen weslowski

In the past, horse business transactions often relied on handshake agreements. Today, written contracts are increasingly common for buying and selling horses, as well as for services like training, leasing, breeding, and boarding. Contracts provide clarity and legal protection for all parties involved. As contracts become more prevalent in the horse industry, it’s important for horse owners and horse business owners to understand the basics of contract law. This guide will explain the key elements of a contract, offer tips for drafting horse-related contracts, and cover the common breeding contract.

horseback riding vacations, riding horses holidays, shawn hamilton horse journalist, horse destination vacations

As a photojournalist specializing in horseback riding vacations, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing incredible opportunities that I will always cherish. Through my work, I've had the chance to explore hidden corners of the world that most tourists never see and connect with fascinating people from across the globe who share a passion for horses. In my view, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in a new culture than from the saddle of a native horse, taking in the sights, sounds, and scents of a place.

horse trailer safety, spring trailer maintenance, hauling horses safely, horse transportation, trailer inspection checklist, trailering horses, equine travel safety, preparing horse trailer

When spring is just around the corner, our thoughts turn to riding, riding, and more riding. While not nearly as enrapturing, save some consideration for that lonely chariot outside, which gets our beloved steeds to and from events, shows, and trails. Every trailer that has been parked or stored for the winter should undergo a methodical inspection and maintenance routine before hitting the road each year. Safety should always be of primary concern, but comfort is important as well – every time a horse has an unpleasant trailering experience, he or she will go through that much more stress on the next trip.

Farrier, Farriey, Ben Yager, American Farrier’s Association, equine trimming techniques, hoof-pastern alignment, farrier apprenticeship

For thousands of years, the horse has been our trusted companion, serving as a worker, athlete, and partner in everything from agriculture to competition. Whether they’re a trail riding companion, school horse, ranch worker, or elite competitor, one thing remains constant—the need for proper hoof care. Without it, a horse’s soundness, performance, and well-being are at risk.

horse's sheath clean a horse's penis, groom a horse grooming tania millen ecolicious sheath cleaner smeg-u-later, penis infection my horse has a sheath infection

A good grooming session is a lovely way to connect with your horse, and most horses appreciate the pampering. However, often avoided is the important task of cleaning the sheath of a male horse. Whether it's the fear of being kicked, uncertainty of how to do it properly, or simply feeling squeamish, many with geldings and stallions tend to avoid the chore. Despite the reluctance, veterinarians recommend regular cleaning and inspection of a horse's sheath as vital to the health of the male horse.

equine first aid, travelling with horses, safe trail riding, safe horse riding, safe equine first aid, horse's wounds, how to take a horse's heart rate, take horse temperature, check if a horse hydrated

First Aid in Equine Emergencies - Almost every horse owner will encounter an equine emergency at some point. Whether it's caused by a horse’s natural curiosity, a mishap on a trail ride, or interactions with herd mates, accidents can lead to cuts, bruises, kicks, and bites. Scrapes, stone bruises, punctures, sprains, and sores can happen unexpectedly, while more serious conditions like abscesses, colic, or bacterial infections can arise without warning.

goal setting for equestrians, how to succeed at horse riding, how to be an accomplished rider, equestrian sport psychology, horse riding psychology

“I’m not really a goal-setting type of person. I just want to ride and enjoy my horse. Goals make it stressful. There’s no point — so much is out of my control.” Sound familiar? Many equestrians quietly sidestep real goal setting, telling themselves that goal setting doesn’t work for them. This avoidance often comes from unconscious thinking errors such as fear of failure, perfectionism, or not believing that you have any real control over your results.

farrier competition, farriers competing at competition, how to find a good farrier, certified farriers canada, farrier association, western canadian farriers assocaition, ontario farriers association, american farriers association

Most horse owners have found themselves in the position of needing a new farrier at some point in their life. Depending on where you live, finding a farrier can be a struggle, and keeping one coming back can be even harder. A decade working in the farrier industry has given me valuable insight into the problems that owners and farriers commonly face when trying to maintain a working relationship. I have put together a list of 10 quick tips to help owners form a great relationship with a professional farrier.

how to photograph horses, horse photography in motion, action photography horses, equine action photography, photography at horse events, photo of horse using phone, take best horse photos, how to take a conformation photo of horse, make horse look good in photo, shawn hamilton

Have you ever looked through your photos after shooting your friend barrel racing, show jumping, or galloping across a field — only to find they’re all blurry? Or perhaps you’ve wondered why professional horse show photographers at ringside use those large, heavy lenses.

Pages