Have An Emergency Plan – Colic
The other night, about dinner time, I got a call from one of my dear friends, Lucy. She was distraught and needed advice on how to deal with her severely colicking horse; we talked it
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July 10th Is National Helmet Awareness Day
I have long been a supporter of wearing helmets while riding and I have done my best to use my influence to set a good example in the horse industry. Unlike other so called “adventure
Western Posting The Trot
In every horsemanship clinic I teach, I start the mounted session by assessing all the riders in terms of their control, their riding position and skill and their authority over the horse. To do this,
5-Pound Challenge– Back by Popular Demand!
See the Facebook Discussion Group about this blog posting: http://tinyurl.com/5poundchallenge During a recent trip to the beach, I had cause to don my bathing suit (a rarity for horse us trainers—our white legs and farmer’s
In Command And Control
I am in the midst of clinic season—a clinic almost most every weekend through the end of June. It’s the most popular season for clinics as people gear-up for the summer riding season and look
QuarterFest and Tennessee Tornadoes
Holy cow. What a weekend! It started with a beautiful day on Friday—lots of riders and spectators, many great clinics indoors and out. But Saturday and Sunday where a totally different story with tornados, torrential
In The Horse Business
One of the questions I dread the most is when a polite stranger on a plane asks me, “What do you do for a living?” Usually, the question was preceded by an inquiry about whether
My First Horse
Although I grew up with horses and we had many over the years, my first true love of a horse was a grade Morgan mare named Minnie. She was the most beautiful horse in the
Horse Master Now Airs in the UK
My Horse Master TV show started airing in England and Ireland on RFD-TV’s cousin, Rural TV. They are opening with the popular surf episode where I train a warm-blood to go into the surf—it was
What Is “Fresh” For Your Horse?
I had a great week at home and now am travelling once again, this time headed to Tallahassee FL for a Horse Master shoot. Getting home on Sunday last week mean I actually was home
Kentucky: The Horse Capital Of The World
I am on the way home from Lexington, Kentucky, where I spent the weekend at the National Youth Horse Leader’s Symposium, an annual conference put on by the American Youth Horse Council, whose mission is
Helicopter Skiing In Telluride
A few years ago we went on a skiing adventure in Telluride, Colorado, my brother, husband a group of our friends. It was my first trip to the high mountain ski town, even though I’ve lived
Police Horses From Honolulu– Follow-Up
After much heartache and aggravation, the Honolulu police horses are finally headed to their retirement home on the big island of Hawaii. Dedicated and hard working officers have been reassigned to new posts but they
Cleaning Saddle Pads
Cleaning Saddle Pads Here’s a quick tip for keeping your saddle pads clean and comfortable for your horse. Many people prefer to use a very thin “sweat pad” underneath the regular pad, made of an
Houston, Texas Horse Master Shoot
We were taping the show about 40 miles north of Houston at a beautiful center with a covered arena (we needed it) and a rehabilitative center. Our show topics were learning the cues and training a
Finding The Perfect Horse
As spring approaches, I am getting an increasing number of inquiries from people looking for a new horse. So it is with no small amount of forethought that this week’s episode of Horse Master features a
Lateral Flexion: Too Much Of A Good Thing
…Can be a bad thing. Take for instance garlic. It is my favorite ingredient—I am likely to order an entrée at a restaurant based solely on this one ingredient. I put it in almost everything
The Five Pound Challenge Continues– & Other Resolutions
Actually, the five pound challenge is not really new, but an ongoing challenge. You can find it at: http://tinyurl.com/5poundchallenge Last summer a group of friends and I made a commitment and contest to lose five pounds
What Do I Do With My Horses In Winter?
When people find out that I live in “heart of the Rockies,” the central mountains of Colorado, at an altitude of 7800 feet, the next question is often, “My gosh, what do you do with
Saddle Pad Care
Keep your saddle pad in top shape While hanging saddle pads upside down to dry and air out may keep your tack room from getting stinky, it does not do much for the shape of
Winter Horse Chores
I am already sick of winter and it hasn’t even officially started yet. But every time I complain, I hear about someone else who has it worse. I was whining to a Canadian horse breeder
Horse Master Episode Descriptions: Beach Riding, Trailer Loading, Bucking at the Canter, Too Much Bit
Wave Runner was one of my most favorite episodes ever and one of the few in which I get to ride throughout the whole show. I trained a young sport horse to go into the
What I Do For the Holidays
To be honest, I rarely do any horse chores around here and it is always good when I do have to feed, so that I can review each horse’s needs and status. So I always
Desensitizing A Horse To Clippers
Tip for Clippers There are many stimuli that can cause a horse to be anxious and fearful about the clippers—the sound, the smell, the vibration, even the cord laying on the ground like a snake.
Note After Hunter’s Accident
It’s been a long six weeks. After 38 days of being at the hospital all day, crying, hoping, praying, laughing, crying, being frustrated, crying, and begging, it was good to get home! Of course, he
Split Reins
Split rein hold Split reins are commonly used by western riders and there are several ways to hold them– the two-handed trainer’s hold (with the reins bridged and both reins in both hands), one-handed
Days Turn Into Weeks After Hunter’s Accident
It’s hard to believe it has been almost three weeks since my son’s motorcycle accident. I have been at the hospital all day every day and although at times each minute seems like an eternity,
Habitual Behavior Of Horses
Behavior Mod for Horses Horses are creatures of habit and routine. Sometimes an unwanted behavior can become a bad habit after only one or two displays. Often riders are surprised by the first one or
Riding In Wine Country: Horseshoes And Corkscrews
I’ve spent the past week in northern California wine country. There were ten of us living together, wining and dining together and riding through the California country side. Our group represented the whole equestrian ball
You Can’t Make Me – The Tarp Episode
We always celebrate after the end of the shoot at our “wrap party.” This time there was lots of laughter and reminiscing and we always use this time to brainstorm on the titles of the
Good Medicine For Dually
On many occasions, I have written about the high-test, high-maintenance qualities of my horse Dually. He’s about as cool a horse as I’d hope to ever own and he’s my 4th “horse of a lifetime”—the
When To Ask For More From Your Horse
What are your expectations of your horse? Do you expect him to be lazy and have to be cued repeatedly until spanked every time you ask him to trot? Do you expect him to stand
Horsemanship Clinic Marathon
After two weeks on the road and nine days of clinics, I am glad to be home from a busy and successful trip. We started the marathon with Rich and I at a ranch horse
Five Pound Challenge Update
It was May 12th that I first opened the 5 Pound Challenge up to everyone and quite a few of you signed on board. It all started with my friends Lucy and Cheryl and I,
The Great Escape
This is the episode that is airing this week on Horse Master—it’s about a horse that learned to run off every time his owner longed him. It is one that stands out in my memories
The Cows Are Out!
After several hard day’s work at the ranch horse clinic last weekend, we gave the horses a couple days off. Rich is riding in a cutting this weekend here at the Chaffee County Fair, so
Versatility Ranch Horse Clinic
I have never been so glad to get back in my own bed, after spending three long nights at what Rich and I both agreed was a hotel we would never stay in again, no
Jumping Right Into It-Teaching A Horse To Jump With Confidence
This week’s episode of Horse Master is about training a horse to jump. Not that you could possibly explain how to train a horse for such a complicated activity in a half-hour TV show, but,
Horse Refusing To Move Forward
Rein Hold for a Balking Horse A balking horse is one that refuses to move forward in response to normal cues, usually because you are asking him to go somewhere he doesn’t want to go.
Celebrating Half A Century/ 5-Pound Challenge Update
Well, I am officially 50 years old now and really, I don’t feel a day over 49. Actually, I feel pretty good and although I have never put a lot of stock in numbers, I
Home From The Oregon Horse Master Shoot
In the whirlwind of the past three weeks, I have been scrambling from one thing to the next, starting with a clinic in CO, followed by a shoot in OR for Horse Master, then July
Patches The Pony-Dealing With The Death Of An Equine Friend
This morning we said good-bye to an old friend. It was an absolutely beautiful morning and my friend and neighbor Cheryl got up early in anticipation of the vet’s arrival at 7:00 am. When I
Police Horse Update
Thanks in part to all the comments they have received from many of you and others in Hawaii and beyond, the Honolulu Police Department has indicated that the horses will all be kept together and
The Great Escape
This week starts all-new episodes of Horse Master, which were filmed at a beautiful location in the South Carolina “Low Country,” where they filmed Forest Gump. Although we were filming in April, in keeping with
The Gaited Horse Craze
Well, I am about to take the plunge and buy my first gaited horse. It’s not for me personally, but a horse for my sales program. I am strictly a regularly-gaited type horse person although
Keep A Balking Horse Moving Forward
Keep A Balking Horse Moving Forward A balking horse is one that refuses to move forward in response to normal cues– usually because you’re asking him to go somewhere he doesn’t want to go.
Five Pound Challenge Update
It’s been a little over a month since we started the five pound challenge and I have been pleased with all the people who have joined in and/or made comments! Some of you still have
Mounted Police Department
I’ve had the great privilege in my career to work, on several occasions, with police officers from the Honolulu Mounted Police Department. I have helped to train their officers to ride better and also to
The Release Is Everything To Your Horse
Greetings! It’s been my observation through the years that few non-pro riders understand the power of the release—it’s meaning to the horse and the critical aspect of the timing. Horses always work for the release
When Whoa Means Go–Working With Off The Track Thoroughbreds
These days, seems like I am seeing more and more rescue horses in my clinics and on the TV show. I guess it is a sign of our times and a trend that will only