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Snaffle Bit vs. Curb Bit
One of the most commonly (mis)used pieces of tack is the bit! Almost everyone uses one when riding, and they don’t know the effect the bit they are using, has on their horse, nor what it was designed for. There are a WIDE variety of bits with a wide variety of purposes, but today we are just going to cover the snaffle bit vs. curb bit. The snaffle bit works off of direct pressure, whereas the curb bit works off of leverage. The mouthpiece (inside the horse’s mouth) has no bearing on this. The only piece that decides if you are using a snaffle bit vs. curb bit is the cheekpiece…
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Current Rio Olympics Dressage Standings
The Rio Olympics Grand Prix Dressage has been going on the last 2 days. There were 60 horse and rider combinations. Of those 60 combinations, 59 completed their test. Below you will find the current rankings going into the Grand Prix Special.
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Live Stream the Olympics Online
You can live stream the Olympics Online even if you don’t have cable! NBC is streaming the entire Olympics online (however, does require a Cable log-in to watch for more than short bursts live at a time). You can also watch completed events online through NBC (however, does require a Cable log-in to watch for more than short bursts at a time).
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How to get back in the saddle after a fall?
How many times have we heard the phrase, “you’re not really a rider until you’ve fallen off 7 times”? When riding horses, it’s a situation we all face eventually. You are not a failure, your horse is not a failure, and you shouldn’t give it up if it’s something you truly love to do. And you will probably fall off a horse again some day.
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Product Review: Total Saddle Fit Girth
After receiving my half pad and girth from Total Saddle Fit, I wasn’t sure HOW beneficial it would really be for my horse and his saddle placement – it can be so hit or miss with products like this. So I gave it over a week of testing to make sure the results were consistent. I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. First off, the half pad quality is really nice. And the 6 way adjustability REALLY makes fitting your saddle easier when you have problem spots. Not to mention it is 1/2 the cost of some of the bigger name brands…
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An Ode to Our Barn Hands
Not enough attention gets paid to the person/people taking care of our horses! Whether you call them barn hands, barn manager, facility manager, barn owner, or something else. They are IMPORTANT PEOPLE! Rain, snow, miserable heat, sickness, health or any other occasion cannot deter them from their job. Without them, our horses go without water, food, clean stalls, blankets, groomed arenas and many of the other things that MANY take for granted.
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Product Review: Dublin River Boots
About a year ago I was on the lookout for some good all-around barn boots. They had to be waterproof, be knee-high and be warm and comfy. After asking around; it seemed most people recommended the Dublin River Boots. Plus, for a barn boot they are pretty cute! So I decided to go at least try them on for size at my local Dover Saddlery.
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Equestrian Safety Program with Helmet Fitting in Parker, CO
Did you know that Parker Adventist Hospital offers an Equestrian Safety Program? Well, they do! This class is great for adults just getting into riding, kids that need to learn about safety while riding, or anyone that rides needing a brush up on safety while riding. During the class (which lasts under an hour) you learn about how injury can affect you and why wearing a helmet while riding is so important. After the class, the facilitator fits you for a helmet and you get to take it home with you. They only ask for a minimal donation to help keep their program running for other equestrians in the area.
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Get to know the Colorado Horse Rescue Network
We have a wonderful resource here in Colorado for horses that need rescuing and owners that need help with their horses. The Colorado Horse Rescue Network is a 501(c)3 equine rescue that takes in rescue horses from a variety of situations. Whether you are out-horsed, in a financial bind, or in another situation where you can no longer take care of your horse, you should reach out to them. They will help ensure a soft landing for your horse.
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There are NO 52 Free Thoroughbreds!!
We’ve all heard it by now. There are 52 free thoroughbreds that need a home. FALSE! There are NO 52 free thoroughbreds anymore. There was an issue YEARS ago about a man that passed away and there were 52 thoroughbreds that were in need of a home before they ended up in slaughter; and they were free. This happened YEARS ago. A lot of these horses are doing wonderful things in their new homes; in fact.
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