1. Consider having your horse tattooed, branded, or microchipped. Those with permanent identification will have a much better chance of reunion with the rightful owner, if found.

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.

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.

Crisis-Ready Horsekeeping: Safety Plans for the Unexpected - Across Canada there is one thing horse owners have in common: We all want what is best for our horses. No matter what discipline we favour, whether we compete or ride just for fun, we all take steps to ensure that our horses are well looked after, happy and healthy. But what about when it comes to preparing for our worst nightmare? At the very least, most barns will have a first aid kit or two and maybe some fire extinguishers. But in the event of a natural disaster like an earthquake, fire, flood or tornado, do any of us have what it takes to make the best of the worst situation? While it’s uncomfortable to think about what would happen if we suffered at the wrath of Mother Nature, we aren’t doing ourselves or our horses any favours by ignoring the possibility of a natural or man-made disaster.