Injuries are fairly common in horses because they are large and strong, and highly mobile. Domestic horses in small enclosures injure themselves more often than a less active species. Horses in athletic careers often have greater risks for injury because of the speeds they travel, with more stresses on feet and legs.
Continue reading …Training and Showing the 5 Most Difficult Types of Horses
March 24, 2022 Comments Off on Training and Showing the 5 Most Difficult Types of Horses
Ask anyone who’s shown for any length of time, and they’re likely to agree that not only are no two horses alike, some horses are just plain harder to get along with than others.
Continue reading …Amateur Profile- Madison Nirenstein
March 22, 2022 Comments Off on Amateur Profile- Madison Nirenstein
Female business owners and powerhouse women seem to be what’s trending in 2022, and Madison Nirenstein is no exception. Boasting 32,000 followers on her Instagram page, founding and running her own business, and becoming a household name in the show pen are no small feats individually, but she’s doing it all. 2021 was a record year for her, both professionally and as an equestrian.
Continue reading …Youth Profile – Alexandra Rippeon and Itzonly Make Believe
March 20, 2022 Comments Off on Youth Profile – Alexandra Rippeon and Itzonly Make Believe
Twelve-year-old Alexandra (Allie) Rippeon has had quite a year. The daughter of Deanna and Michael Rippeon is a well-spoken, home-schooled youngster who, like most horse girls, loves snuggling her horse and riding with friends. She also enjoys hanging out in the barn and helping care for horses at the family’s Sunset Ridge Farm in Mt. Airy, Maryland. But this young horsewoman is also a gifted competitor who capped a successful 2021 show season with a record-setting Congress. Competing on four-year old, Itzonly Make Believe, aka “Molly,” a horse she had purchased only two months before, Allie had a spectacular showing at the event, winning four AQHA, four NSBA, and four Championship titles, as well as four All-Around titles in different divisions.
Continue reading …Sit Back and Relax – Musical Treatment to Decrease Stress in Show Horses
March 18, 2022 Comments Off on Sit Back and Relax – Musical Treatment to Decrease Stress in Show Horses
We protect our horses at all costs. As owners and competitors, we strive to give our horses the best we can afford, often at the expense of our own needs. We’ve all purchased that special saddle, custom bit, and paid the farrier more than we make in a week. We never bat an eye when the vet bills arrive. We research the latest new feed. Meanwhile, a fast food burger will suffice for “eating out,” and the online shopping cart can wait for next month’s paycheck. It’s all because we know we’re doing what’s best for our horses.
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The spin. It’s a make-it or break-it maneuver that’s used in all-around pattern classes including Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Equitation, as well as classes like Reining, Trail, and Ranch Riding.
Continue reading …EC Non-Pro Profile – Dr. Jill Clark
March 14, 2022 Comments Off on EC Non-Pro Profile – Dr. Jill Clark
Dr. Jill Clark has demonstrated a love for horses her entire life. In fact, her mother would say that Jill came out of the womb wanting to be with horses.
Continue reading …2022 Brings Big Changes to Performance Halter
March 12, 2022 Comments Off on 2022 Brings Big Changes to Performance Halter
Since its inception in 2007, AQHA’s Performance Halter classes have steadily gained in popularity and are now some of the largest classes at shows across the United States. The classes originate from the concept of form-to-function, and, as a division, Performance Halter was intentionally designed to reward performance horses that are both conformationally correct and structurally sound. In other words, the class is meant to reward athletic horses that exemplify the breed standard.
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At first glance, the box is pretty basic: you walk, trot, or lope into the box. Turn and exit. So why is achieving a ‘plus’ so elusive in this simple square drawn in the dirt by four poles?
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When little girls are young, they dream big. The sky is the limit. Sometimes, those dreams become muddled in everyday life as they get older. But some women are able to push through the mundane and create a life that exceeds any childhood dreams.
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