It’s All About the Legs – Proper Strides for Hunter Under Saddle
October 5, 2020 Comments Off on It’s All About the Legs – Proper Strides for Hunter Under Saddle
The minute a Hunter Under Saddle horse trots down the center line, your eye should be drawn to a soft, elastic step that floats above the ground. You could set a beat to the sweeping stride that seems to cover a lot of ground, but in elegant, slow motion. The ideal Hunter Under Saddle horse moves effortlessly and appears to almost hover above the ground instead of touching it. But what makes up this elusive stride and how can you identify and develop these qualities in your own horse? We spoke with three leading trainers to gain perspective on how to identify, develop, and maintain correct strides for Hunter Under Saddle. Read on for an in-depth look at the all-important legs that create a winning Hunter Under Saddle performance.
Continue reading …Youth Profile – Isabella D’onofrio
October 3, 2020 Comments Off on Youth Profile – Isabella D’onofrio
It’s amazing how a horse can become the golden thread that intertwines generations of a family. Jennifer Griffith D’Onofrio grew up riding and competing with her horse, Teddy. The pair had a career highlight of taking third at the APHA World Show in 13 & Under Trail in 1988. A little over fifteen years ago, Jennifer placed her three-month-old daughter, Isabella, on his back. The connection was instant, igniting what would become a shared passion and family legacy of success in the show pen.
Continue reading …
Gone are the days of the horse that did ten different classes before lunchtime. Over the past decade, the trend has undoubtedly shifted towards even more specialization with riders often having multiple horses: a rail horse that specializes in movement, a pattern horse with athletic maneuvering skills, and perhaps even a fun horse for ranch-type classes.
Continue reading …
Here’s the story of a man named Bradshaw. Surrounded by four, very lovely girls. All of them had hair of gold, and teeth so white. E! said, “Let’s film a show.” He said, “Give it a whirl!”
Here’s the story of a man named Bradshaw. Breeding Quarter Horses on his farm. Once a quarterback for the Steelers. Now it’s family BBQs and grandchildren on his arm.
Kardashians, you’d better watch out. Here comes the Bradshaw Bunch!
Hold Your Horses, and Sign This Waiver
September 27, 2020 Comments Off on Hold Your Horses, and Sign This Waiver
Click here to read the complete article 44 – October, 2020 By Kimbrell Hines Anyone who has spent time around animals and horses, in particular, knows that they can be unpredictable. Even with gentle and well-trained horses, accidents and injuries occur. A person harmed by a horse may suffer serious injuries that require expensive medical […]
Continue reading …Chris and Melissa Jones – A Lifelong Passion for Horses
September 25, 2020 Comments Off on Chris and Melissa Jones – A Lifelong Passion for Horses
Chris Jones was just seven years old when a horse first entered his life thanks to his older sister’s insistent pestering of their parents. A couple of years later, after getting enough of a taste of horses to spark a flame inside his own heart, Chris received a two-year-old Quarter Horse named Joe Leo’s Babe to call his own. The family participated in local open and 4-H shows, and the hobby occupied most of their summers.
Continue reading …Foal Preschool • Early Education For Show Babies
August 27, 2020 Comments Off on Foal Preschool • Early Education For Show Babies
With all those babies filling up the pastures, it’s time to take a look at how breeders and trainers shape young minds to prepare them for their future in the show pen. Like any aspect of training, there are numerous theories and differing practices regarding the raising of foals. The paths to success may differ, but the commonality is being horseman enough to recognize the needs of their individual horses and develop a program that is right for them.
Continue reading …Discounted Breedings – Do They Help or Hurt?
August 25, 2020 Comments Off on Discounted Breedings – Do They Help or Hurt?
Everyone likes a deal and mare owners are no exception. Stud fees are steep for proven sires. That drives hopeful breeders to seek discounted fees, and there are many ways to find them. Some stallion owners offer “free” breedings to attract more mares. Some farms have two-for-one specials offering customers who breed to one of their premium sires the option to breed another mare to a junior stallion at half price, or even for free, just to get a foal crop out there. To build a reputation and attract higher quality crosses, stud owners may offer substantial discounts for World Champion or Reserve World Champion mares. Stallions are also entered in charity or futurity auctions where mare owners may be lucky enough to secure the winning bid at a much lower than market price.
Continue reading …
Disputes sometimes occur between boarding stables and horse owners. Occasionally, they become lawsuits. From the standpoint of a lawyer who has served boarding and training stables as well as horse owners in these disputes for decades, here are two common disputes and ways that each party can protect themselves.
Continue reading …
It is no stretch to say that COVID-19 has changed the way the world works, and, in many cases, performance horses have felt the effects, too. With states shutting down, many boarding facilities closed or limited access to their customers. In some cases, trainers had to pull back from how they could provide training and lesson services, and shows were cancelled left and right. Some state breed associations cancelled their entire seasons citing state mandates or insurability concerns.
Continue reading …