A Case of Clinicianitis
Following the Gerry Cox article and some of the conversation that came up with it. I have to say, I have had clinicianitis for a long time. I’m allergic to clinicians and their bullshit. I’m…
Quick Posts
Posts of only a few paragraphs in length or less.
Link Between Autism and Dummy Foal Syndrome?
According to UC Davis researchers, there might be a link between Autism in humans, and neonatal maladjustment syndrome (aka Dummy Foal Syndrome) in horses. “Using data from the foal research, Pessah, Madigan and Aleman are…
“He’s Being An Asshole”, and Other Name Calling
Without a doubt, name-calling is one of my biggest pet peeves. The only thing that tops it is outright abuse. We’ve all heard how some riders refer to their horse as an “asshole”, “jerk”, “butthead”,…
5 Ways to Confront Horse Abuse
It doesn’t seem like there is a single day that goes by, in which the internet doesn’t play out the drama of another horse abuse scandal. From horses being neglected, to riders abusing their horse…
Other Equestrians’ Success Is Not Your Failure
Yesterday I wrote about it being okay to walk away from horses and the response to that post has been incredible. A lot of equestrians have reached out to me to say thank you, to…
There’s No Shame in Stepping Away From Horses
There is an unspoken rule about being an equestrian; that if you really, truly, love horses you will never stop riding no matter what. That no matter what challenges you face in your life, you’ll…
The 90 Year Old Equestrian
And pushing 91! Hopefully Ken Hobday will provide some inspiration for your weekend; you’re never too old to call yourself an equestrian, and a skilled one too! Have you ever thought about how long your…
Round Penning So Simple a Chicken Can Do It
Struggling with round penning your horse? Ever thought you might benefit from the natural horsemanship technique but not sure how to get started? Just one step above the methods used when science proved round pen methods…
Horsewomen, Be Sure to Value Yourself
The horse industry is driven by horsewomen’s involvement, period. Equestrians may have once been primarily horsemen, but that trend has long since become a thing of the past. Love it or hate it, horsewomen are…
Inspiration: What Harmony Looks Like
Often dressage is compared to a dance, with few examples showing such harmony between the horse and rider that you see only the art and none of the work. This beautiful dance can serve as…
The Horse Who Kills You Has Warned You First
Yes, horses are dangerous animals. But humans are often oblivious to what is right in front of them as well. If you aren’t paying attention, you are putting yourself at risk of injury or death….
Good For Difficult Horses
What the hell does that even mean? Good when your own strength fails to overtake the horse? Good when your skills are, let’s be honest, pathetic at best? Good when an actual Ape rides better…
5 Reasons Equestrians Avoid Speaking Up Online
Most equestrians have been involved in at least one online horse community long enough to have met a few trolls. And I dare say, most of us have also had an opportunity to see something…
Equestrians Should Disagree More, Argue Less
Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. Mahatma Gandhi Equestrians are notorious for arguing with their horse. Notorious. This rider lost the argument. It might be a better investment of your energy to…
Danny Thomas’ Breaking Method Proves the Archaic Nature of Horsemanship
Horsemanship hasn’t evolved very far, and Danny Thomas provided a glowing demonstration of that fact with these self-posted videos on Facebook. Bragging that he was able to break a Mustang in 30 minutes… Why are…
Dare To Do Something Unexpected With Your Horse
Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays. Friedrich Schiller Horses are not machines. Or robots. They are thinking, feeling, emotional creatures. Just like you and me. But it’s easy…