Horse Trailer Shopping Guide
If you’re a horse lover, you understand the excitement of standing in a huge lot of brand new horse trailers, gleaming in all their splendor, beckoning for you to explore. You can picture your horse inside, with you proudly at the wheel of your truck, a reflection of comfort and class.
Ponying 101 – Ponying Your Horse the Safe Way
September 22, 2026 Comments Off on Ponying 101 – Ponying Your Horse the Safe Way
A horseman’s time is valuable and limited. When multiple horses need to be exercised, and you have a jam-packed schedule, one way to double your efforts is by ponying. This practice is seen a lot in the early morning hours at horse shows—a trainer riding one horse while leading another. It’s also popular among halter horse trainers as a method of exercising horses that aren’t generally ridden under saddle.
Continue reading …Safe and Sound – Tips for Keeping Your Items Safe at the Congress
September 15, 2026 Comments Off on Safe and Sound – Tips for Keeping Your Items Safe at the Congress
Crime can happen anywhere. It can even happen at horse shows, especially the upscale kind, which have been a target for thieves for a long time. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of a horse show makes it an appealing target for thieves with the presence of expensive tack, busy and distracted exhibitors, and an atmosphere of community and trust.
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It’s no secret that the All American Quarter Horse Congress is the largest, single breed horse show in the world bringing over 6,500 horses and close to 650,000 people to the Ohio State Fairgrounds every year. It’s also no secret that these numbers equal money for the Central Ohio economy—$200 million dollars to be exact.
Continue reading …Diagnosis Congress Crud – Tips to Stay Healthy During the Congress
September 8, 2026 Comments Off on Diagnosis Congress Crud – Tips to Stay Healthy During the Congress
Some claim that you can only fight it off with Emergen-C® and vodka. Some people swear that you can catch it simply by watching the live feed. Others maintain that if you sleep in your tack stall, just once, you’re doomed.
Continue reading …The Overtraining Phenomenon – How to Peak Your Horse at Exactly the Right Time
September 1, 2026 Comments Off on The Overtraining Phenomenon – How to Peak Your Horse at Exactly the Right Time
There are an enticing array of high profile horse shows scattered across the country and the calendar. As a result, it can feel as though you must be at your absolute best for every show. Yet that can take a toll on the physical and mental well-being of both horse and rider. This overtraining phenomenon often leads to a discouraging show experience and can unwittingly spur on even more overtraining, perpetuating the cycle.
Continue reading …Conquering The Box: Tips for Finding the Plus in this Tricky Trail Maneuver
July 14, 2026 Comments Off on Conquering The Box: Tips for Finding the Plus in this Tricky Trail Maneuver
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?
Continue reading …5 Exercises to Improve 5 Essential Showmanship Skills
June 14, 2026 Comments Off on 5 Exercises to Improve 5 Essential Showmanship Skills
When it comes to Showmanship, the discipline has come a long way from its humble 4-H beginnings–when it was used to teach youth how to present an animal in-hand–to the complex dance we see between horse and exhibitor today. In fact, what was once thought of as a basic class has become one of the most technical of the all-around disciplines, with five maneuvers utilized in almost every pattern: the set-up, the walk, the trot, the back, and the turn.
Continue reading …5 Go-to Bits for Taking a Young Horse to an All-Arounder
February 21, 2026 Comments Off on 5 Go-to Bits for Taking a Young Horse to an All-Arounder
Transitioning from a snaffle or hackamore to a bit with a shank and a curb chain is a big transition in a young horse’s life and not one that happens overnight. First, the pressure applied takes place in entirely new and different areas. Acclimating a horse to new headgear is something that takes time, tenacity, and the right tools.
Continue reading …How to Tie the Wild Rag – Tips from the Experts
February 19, 2026 Comments Off on How to Tie the Wild Rag – Tips from the Experts
The discipline of Ranch Riding tends to lend itself to a casual, more laid back outfit: an oxford shirt, starched jeans, cowboy hat, boots, and a belt. While many exhibitors may invest in a pair of well-made chinks or armitas, a more cost-effective, simple, and unique alternative to dressing up any ranch outfit is the “wild rag” or cowboy scarf.
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