Expert Equestrian Articles

To get to Days End’s 58-acre farm, a horse must be impounded by Animal Control or law enforcement, which means that Days End gets some of the most extreme cases. These horses are victims of starvation, neglect, and abuse. They require critical care and their situation must be meticulously documented. Many of the horses are evidence in criminal cases. The eventual goal with each horse is adoption and Days End touts their 94% success rate. Besides rescue and rehab work, Days End also performs large ... ...

What Dr. Nicodemus found is that the Marsh Tackies perform a "broken trot" (similar to the fox trot of the Missouri Fox Trotter horse.) Instead of diagonal pairs, the two diagonal limbs disassociate creating instead of a 2-beat gait a 4-beat gait with diagonal couplets. In place of the suspension, the horse has created a quadrupedal support phase where all four limbs are on the ground. The durations, timing, and limb support are more similar to the marcha batida of the Mangalarga Marchador, the National ... ...

David Grant is one of the founders of the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association whose mission is “to Preserve and Promote the History and Heritage of the Marsh Tacky Horse of South Carolina.” David also an activist who is working to save the Marsh Tacky. He owns and breeds Marsh Tackies. As David notes, “the Marsh Tackies have played a significant role in South Carolina’s history. During the American Revolution Marsh Tackies were used by many of the troops of the famous Swamp Fox, Francis Marion, ... ...

The early years involved reaching out to key funders and the development of relationships with allied organizations such as The Conservation Fund, American Farmland Trust and a variety of equine organizations. The Conservation Fund provided incubator office space in Washington, D.C. for one year to enable ELCR to become a viable, independent organization. In the first decade, ELCR worked on several significant farm preservation projects including Callithea Farm in Maryland and Horizon Farm in Illinois. ... ...

Barbara: I've always loved to cook, and I love the old west lifestyle. Through western events I was introduced to Dutch ovens, and I participated in a chuckwagon cooking competition. It quickly became my "hobby" or obsession, depending on how you look at it! It's kind of a joke that I look for any excuse to cook!

Barbara: Well.........we compete twice a year in chuckwagon cooking competitions at The National Festival of the West and the Arizona National Livestock Competition, and as ... ...

I always like to talk to fellow riders when I am beginning to research a new area to go horseback riding in order to get personal recommendations on great places to ride. During my research on riding in Alberta in preparation for an upcoming Equitrekking film shoot, I was fortunate to be able to speak with Pam Asheton , author of “Alberta Backcountry Equestrian One-Day Trail Guide” and a former British Horse Society certified teacher and rider with over 30 years experience.

Pam knows riding in ... ...

Who hasn’t fantasized about riding off into the sunset on your own horse through beautiful Western terrain that is all yours for as far as the eye can see?

Yet running a ranch is a 24/7 existence with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. For those I’ve met who have made that commitment, they wouldn’t trade their lifestyle for anything else. I spoke with three ranchers to explore the highlights and the challenges of owning a ranch. We live in a time when ranches are disappearing; water is increasingly ... ...

Because raising cattle and sheep in Uruguay is still the primary occupation, wherever you go in the countryside, you will find gauchos with their Criollo breed of horses working cattle.

Without these gauchos and their expertise, it would be impossible to manage such huge numbers of cattle under open land conditions. Gauchos are the symbol of our national workers. They work very hard, all day and have tremendous riding and roping skills.

Not too long ago when there were no fences and no dividers between ... ...

The excitement builds as you travel to the competition or show. You (or your equestrian) have been training diligently. Your steed is finely tuned and all “spiffed up.” You are ready to go!

However, not all is as rosy as it may appear.

Will your competition grounds still be there? With the development rate of 250 acres per hour (USDA statistics), urban sprawl in the form of commercial and residential development is running rampant. The slow down in the housing market may be providing a slight ... ...

During my trip to ride on the Big Island, I was able to explore Parker Ranch on horseback. It is a vast, working ranch in the shadow of Mauna Kea volcano. Tens of thousands of cattle roam the ranch under a big blue sky dotted with constantly moving clouds. The ranch is located in Waimea, cowboy country on the Big Island, where paniolos, Hawaiian cowboys, still do pass on their skills to future generations.

I asked Corky more about life for cowboys on Parker Ranch and what life is like for modern paniolos. ... ...

Part 1: Life as a Zooarchaeologist

by, Jessica Creane

Sandra Olsen wanted to be an archeologist since the third grade. “I loved dinosaurs, like most kids, so I wanted to be a paleontologist. But then in college I took classes in Zooarchaeology,” the study of animal remains from archaeological sites.

In 1985 she got a chance to do research at a dig site in France where horses were hunted 35,000 years ago.

“That’s when I got interested in horses. I was looking at horse skeletons for clues about ... ...

“A Colorful Horse in a Colorful Spot”

The McCulloch Peaks Mustangs roam a designated area established in 1971 of 109,814 acres of colorful badlands and sage covered prairie. This herd area, The McCulloch Peaks Wild Horse Management Area, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

It’s surprising how the increase in this horse’s notoriety has brought about many new “fictional” stories as to the explanation of their existence. Stories about the McCulloch Peaks Mustang range from the “warrior’s ... ...

By Kelly Sigler

I was sitting in my house getting ready to pack George into my trailer and head out for a jumping lesson when a sudden storm popped up. I looked outside to see what was going on with our crazy Texas weather, and saw a mini twister slithering it’s way through my pasture. It picked up George’s lean to that he was casually standing under, and whisked it away like a scene from the Wizard of Oz. George went from 0-60 faster than a Ferrari- scared out of his wits. Quicker than it ... ...

In a recent interview, Diana Madaras tells us what drives her to paint animals and help them through her charity “Art for Animals.”

When I returned from that trip, the desire to paint was so strong that I knew I had to change my life and began plans to sell my marketing company. In 1996, three years after the trip to Greece, the sale of the company was consummated, and I became a full-time professional artist.

An unlikely warrior, Neda is charming, charismatic, articulate, pro-active and relentless in reaching the widest audience possible to share the news of her foundation and its purpose. Founded in 1997 in order to educate the public about the options for wild horses, Return to Freedom is a non-profit wild horse and burro sanctuary on 300 acres near Lompoc, (Santa Barbara County,) California, dedicated to preservation, conservation and education.

Seven days a week, some 200 horses comprised of a number ... ...

Photography by Elliot Framan

The horse is an integral part of the Icelandic nation. They came to Iceland with the Vikings around 900 AD. It is thought that they were descendents of the Mongolian

ponies that were imported to Scandinavia.

The story of the settling of the island is found in Landnamabok, the “Book of Settlements,” which is a nearly factual account of what transpired. Rather than sailing the dragon ships usually associated with Vikings, the settlers came in deep-keeled knars. ... ...

On her first visit to Forward Stride, she was so weak she could barely sit on the horse that the instructor brought out for her. As the weeks progressed, so did Emily. She became stronger and soon was able to sit on the horse throughout the entire lesson. Emily began eating again and sleeping through the night, a general improvement all the way around.

Her family thrived too. Her fears had transferred to a focus on the horse and the lesson. She no longer worried about the chemo treatments. Emily ... ...

Photography by Elliot Framan

Some of the best horsemen in the world have testified to the outstanding qualities of the Irish horse. The unique qualities of temperament, soundness and ability have been bred into the Irish Draught over hundreds of years of galloping across the Irish countryside. This makes them capable of doing anything you want them to do, from dressage to jumping, from hunting to eventing, and even everyday leisure riding. They are intelligent, quick to learn, safe, reliable, and ... ...

ByJim Hodges, American Cowboy

As Lead Cowboy for almost seven years, I sat atop some of the finest bred American Quarter Horses that ever breathed air, and interpreted the history of Texas, and the George Ranch to thousands every year. As the crowds looked on, we also demonstrated life as the cowboy does it - in full partnership with his horses. They began to realize the prize that the combination of a great cowboy with a great cowhorse made for the rancher, and how much work could get done in a day’s ... ...

The Forest pony was particularly abundant in France, where cave men not only feasted on them, but also immortalized them in their Stone Age cave drawings. At that time England and France were connected by a land bridge, so not surprisingly similar remains are found in England as well. Eventually, as humans became smart enough to domesticate the horse, the Forest-type became used as a pack pony. Its short stature, weight-bearing capacity, and slightly longer back made it ideally-suited for this ... ...

reasons, but the most important is the smooth ride that is a result of their four beat lateral gait.”

The birthright of every Paso Fino horse is its extremely quick, surefooted rhythmic gait. When my Paso Fino filly, Canela Vita, was born, I watched her struggle to her feet and take her first faltering steps, all the while maintaining her gait. It was as though she recognized her special gift and was executing it with style and pride.

Seven hundred years before Columbus brought Paso Fino horses to ... ...

RRI is pioneering adventure travel trips bring humanitarian aid to people in the beautiful and neglected villages of Rajasthan, in northern India. These trips are open to the public, meaning that those with an adventurous spirit and a desire to help others through service, can gain more than just a riding vacation through India, they can gain a new perspective, while helping others and seeing the world. In a recent interview, Alexander Souri shared with me his passion for helping others and his ... ...

In the U.S., while the history has just started, every Marchador breeder or owner has their own story of how they fell in love. This journey, to bring a new breed to the U.S., is really a love story.

The Mangalarga Marchador (MARCH A DOOR) is a breed that descends directly from Iberian stock. This gaited horse is known and bred for its smooth step – the marcha – and is the National Horse of Brazil. It has a gentle temperament, intelligence, stamina and a comfortable ride,

In 1807 Napoleon invaded ... ...

by: Gwen Rizzo

Argentina is well-known for producing top polo talent of both the human and equine kind. Polo is treated as a national sport in Argentina and is widely followed among the locals. The Argentine polo season (October through December) is highlighted by the Triple Crown of Polo—the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Argentine Opens. The Argentine Open is the grand finale of the tournaments and is played on the Palermo fields, owned by the Argentine Army, in the center of Buenos Aires. The final ... ...

So, You Want to Own Your Own Ranch!

This dream you're having is not as surprising as you might think. Usually, we hear it while we eat the evening meal. Guests have been horseback riding all day with a mission. The energy level is still sky-high. It's been an exciting day looking for uncooperative cows. The horses have worked flawlessly. The riding challenge has been successfully met, the job rewarding. The confidence level has reached a new high. Hesitatingly, someone asks: "Alan, Debbie ... ...

Twenty-two year old Londo not only talks the talk---he walks the walk. Being a champion while going to school at the same time requires a lot more than wearing a championship belt buckle and sporting a 10X Stetson.

He's definitely a multi-tasker. Maintaining a 3.6 GPA at CalPoly in San Luis Obispo, he is in his senior year majoring in Construction Management. He plans to pursue this career once he graduates from college.

During the summer, he is working on starting his own construction related business, ... ...

Cowboy Mounted Shooting has become one of the fastest growing family equestrian sports in the country. Blending such disciplines as reining, barrel racing, and horsemanship, the fast-paced sport of mounted shooting requires teamwork between rider and horse.

Using two .45 caliber revolvers and five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition , the rider must be able to accurately shoot 10 balloon targets set in one of 75 different patterns, while controlling his horses' speed and direction. The ... ...

Originally used for war, the Criollo horse is the direct descendant of some of the best European horses, brought by the Spanish conquistadors to the New World during the 16th century. Natural selection under the harsh conditions of life in the vast South American plains gradually transformed this horse into the symbol of the legendary Gaucho (cowboy) lands.

To talk about of the Criollo horse is to talk about the Gaucho. The Gaucho is proud and adventurous, but at the same time simple and noble. ... ...

Focus on: The Andalusian

by: Barbara Clark

The origin and history of these beautiful creatures has a direct correlation to how they became what they are today. When you learn about this breed you are also learning about the history and culture that developed them.

The P.R.E (Pura Raza Espanola) or Pure Spanish Horse has its origins buried deep in the geography and history of Spain. There are drawings dating back to 5,000BC found in the caves of Altamira and Canforos de Penarubia in northeastern Spain ... ...