Full cheek snaffle bits are popular in both English and Western riding. They are allowed and legal for most horse sports including the AQHA and USDF dressage competition (the latter being one of the most bit-restrictive horse show organizations). In 2009 I had the opportunity to visit a stable in Germany where the Olympian Isabelle …
Tatum Norris
The billets of an English saddle are straps located underneath the saddle’s flap, on each side. The billets are the anchor to which the girth is connected. The billet straps are securely attached to the tree (a saddle’s tree is what could be called the “skeleton” of the saddle) so once a girth is buckled …
Bathing your horse is a regular part of caring for your horse, but knowing when it’s too cold to bathe- and how to give a horse a bath if it is very cold outside- is an important part of horse ownership. Mostly winter baths can be avoided, but if you compete in shows during the …
When a horse won’t load in a trailer, it can be a stressful experience for both the horse and handler. In this article, I’ll be discussing the problem and describing specific training interventions you can use right now or gradually over a few days or weeks to get a resistant horse loaded on a trailer …
A Pelham bit is a horse bit with a solid mouthpiece, long shanks, and two rings for reins to attach. A Pelham bit is unique because it functions as a snaffle bit or a curb bit, depending on how it is used. A Pelham bit is essentially a plain snaffle bit, but with a second rein …
Horses rub their tails for many reasons. In this article, we’ll discuss several of the most common reasons for horse tail rubbing and a few simple solutions to soothe itchy tail bones, decrease tail breakage, and re-grow tails thinned by rubbing. A horse doesn’t have hands to scratch and itch, so when their manes, …
Keeping white horse tails white isn’t easy, but in this article you’ll learn proven tips for keeping white horse tails bright and clean. It’s inevitable if you have a light-colored horse: You’ve dealt with the problem of dingy, yellowed tails. Frustratingly, it’s a fact of life that all white horse tails will yellow as a …
Just like for human athletes, cooling off your horse after an intense workout is an essential part of horse ownership. For most amateur riders, you won’t need to cool your horse after every ride, but if you’ve had an extreme ride and asked your horse to run, jump, or work intensely, you may need …
Trailering a horse a long distance can be a stressful event for both horse and driver, but with proper preparation and equipment, you can reduce both your own and your horse’s stress level during the trip. Below are a few of my best tips and hints garnered from several years of hauling horses 4-6 hours …
Bot eggs look like small yellow specks on your horse’s coat. Botflies, the cause of these spots, usually lay their eggs on the inside of a horse’s legs. Although the inside of a horse’s legs is the most common location to find bot eggs, the eggs (which look like small yellow specks) can show up …