Blog Archive

10 Things You Should Have in Your Equine First-Aid Kit

Posted on August 16, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

1. Self-stick bandages There are so many uses for these around the farm. In a first aid situation, they are invaluable for keeping dressings in place or helping to support…

Ranch Halter: The Most Overlooked Versatility Class

Posted on August 14, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Ranch Versatility has taken the stock horse show circuit by storm, providing a fresh arena for competitors to flock to. Versatility is generally made up of six classes -- ranch riding,…

5 Things Your Horse Should Know Before Going to a Horse Show

Posted on August 11, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

I know, a little late to the party. With summer drawing to a close (please don’t remind me), most show circuits are winding up as well, but it’s still not…

Why your horse is the best trainer you will ever have

Posted on August 9, 2017October 31, 2018 by Alexi Mast

As equestrians, we are always (or should always be) on the lookout for good teachers we can learn from. As amateur equestrians though, we don’t always have the resources to…

5 Tips for Trailering Your Horse Long Distances in the Summer Heat

Posted on August 7, 2017October 31, 2018 by Alexi Mast

Headed for a world championship? Trailering a new horse in from out of state? Going on a horsey camping trip? There are so many reasons you might be trailering your…

Clicker Training: Dogs vs Horses

Posted on August 4, 2017October 31, 2018 by Alexi Mast

Clicker training is a controversial topic in the horse world that gained popularity along with the rise of the natural horsemanship movement. Some hail it as a humane way to…

No frog, no hoof

Posted on August 2, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

A common saying in the horse industry is “no hoof, no horse.” I’ve taken that saying one step further: “no frog, no hoof.” I am studying under my father…

Is “anthropomorphizing” really as dangerous as people say it is?

Posted on July 31, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

Oh yes, I just went there. This is a huge taboo to some people who insist that horses are working animals who should be classified as livestock while others prefer…

Training a Bombproof Horse

Posted on July 28, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

This one of the most common questions in the industry: how do I get my horse bombproof? First, I don’t like the term “bombproof.” It implies that a horse will…

Patterning: Barrels, Poles, and Beyond

Posted on July 26, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

There are many different philosophies out there about how to “pattern” a horse on barrels or poles. One prevalent method that I see a lot though is what I refer…

Dealing with Chronic Illness as an Equestrian

Posted on July 24, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

So far, I have kept most of my blogging focused on the horses. However, given my current struggles with seizures, I think this is a good time to address the…

Slower doesn’t mean collected

Posted on July 19, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

There seems to be a bit of a disconnect for some riders in the western show pen. There is still a misconception for some riders that slower somehow…

Why being on the forehand is detrimental to your horse

Posted on July 18, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

Last week we discussed the importance of knowing the ‘why’ behind everything you do with your horse. Here is an important ‘why’ that is sometimes skipped over because so many…

1 Exercise To Collect the Trot and Extend the Walk

Posted on July 17, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

For some riders, getting that collected western trot and a forward walk that doesn’t look like the horse is wading through molasses is a constant battle. I have found that…

The Difference Between a Breast Collar and a Pulling Collar

Posted on July 14, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

The pulling collar is popular among working ranchers and ropers as a practical tack choice. The have also been gaining popularity along with AQHA’s new ranch horse pleasure class as…

Teaching the Western Backup

Posted on July 13, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

The western backup is one of the maneuvers that is seen as simple by so many, but actually takes quite a bit of training to get all the pieces in…

The Trained Monkey Bandwagon

Posted on July 12, 2017July 14, 2020 by Alexi Mast

In riding, we tend to focus our efforts and education on learning the “how” of everything. “How do I warm up my horse?” “How do I know my saddle fits…

Standing While Mounting

Posted on July 12, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

This may seem like such a small and insignificant exercise, but it far more important than many people realize. Too often I see people who need someone to hold…

Hippotherapy: Horses as Therapy

Posted on July 10, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Animals are widely considered to be therapeutic for humans, but none so much as the horse. Physical Therapy There are many therapeutic riding programs throughout the world. The technical term…

Facing the Fear Monster

Posted on July 7, 2017December 14, 2018 by Alexi Mast

We’ve all faced this one at some point in our riding career. Maybe you had a accident with broken bones and shattered confidence. Or maybe you lost the one horse…

Bonding with Your Horse: Are you his friend or his leader?

Posted on July 6, 2017December 16, 2018 by Alexi Mast

It is common to hear horse owners talking about their “bond” with their horse. Some see “bonding” as a sort of mystical art that is the pinnacle of horsemanship while…

The Importance of Examining Your Horse’s Sweat Patterns After a Ride

Posted on July 5, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Proper saddle fit is important for every horse, whether you are a trail rider or a show competitor. One of the easiest ways to check for saddle fit is to…

Why “Heels Down” Is Right Out

Posted on July 3, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

No matter your level of riding, we’ve all been there. Constantly fighting to keep those heels down. It’s a mantra that get drilled into us from day one. But is…

4 Keys to a Good Warmup

Posted on June 30, 2017April 24, 2023 by Alexi Mast

The warmup is a vital part of training that is too often overlooked. Sometimes you see riders walking their horses in the warmup letting them get strung out and lazy.…

What are gastric ulcers and how do I prevent them?

Posted on June 29, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

What are gastric ulcers? Have you ever had heart burn bad enough that you didn’t feel like eating, exercising, or working? That’s what vets speculate a gastric ulcer feels like…

Top 10 Things to Remember When Horse Shopping

Posted on June 28, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

1. Know what you want before you start shoppingThis is one of the biggest mistakes I see a lot of buyers make. They have enough money saved up to buy…

Toddlers in Timeout: Is this really a human phenomenon?

Posted on June 27, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Even if you’re not a parent, you’ve probably been an aunt, uncle, or cousin to a toddler at some point. So, you’ve probably experienced the joys of dealing with a…

9 Good Horse Training Habits

Posted on June 22, 2017October 31, 2018 by Alexi Mast

1. Let the horse catch you We’ve all been there. It’s 4am the morning of the show. Everything is packed. The trailer is loaded and sitting in the driveway. You’re…

Teaching a Horse How to Learn

Posted on June 20, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

This is a follow-up to my June 16th article What does it mean for a horse to have “a lot of heart?” At first, this one sounds like an oxymoron,…

Practice Until You Can’t Get it Wrong

Posted on June 19, 2017September 25, 2020 by Alexi Mast

Riding is like any sport. It takes practice to get good, but it is not enough to practice until you can get it right. If you want to become truly…

What does it mean for a horse to have “a lot of heart?”

Posted on June 16, 2017December 8, 2018 by Alexi Mast

Have you ever been mystified when hearing a trainer or rider comment that they like a horse with “a lot of heart?" This is a phrase that is often thrown…

Why you don’t need an arena to train and how a lack of facilities can be an advantage

Posted on June 15, 2017April 20, 2023 by Alexi Mast

There is a common misconception that you need a "proper" arena to train horses. I’ve heard too many people justify giving up on their show dreams by saying: “Well I…

6 Tips for Beating the Heat This Summer

Posted on June 14, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

1. Save riding and strenuous activity for early morning or late evening hours Morning and evening are the coolest hours of the day when the sun is lowest in the…

The Big Bit Band-Aid

Posted on June 13, 2017April 20, 2023 by Alexi Mast

One of the big controversies in the horse world, particularly in the western arena, is over-bitting. The show pen seems to have developed the mentality that bigger is better and…

5 Secrets to a Thicker Mane and Tail

Posted on June 12, 2017April 20, 2023 by Alexi Mast

1. A healthy mane and tail starts with a balanced diet ...and a good diet starts with quality forage. I always recommend a high forage diet for any horse. If…

HERDA: The Poco Bueno Legacy

Posted on June 10, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

HERDA In recent years, the Poco Bueno sireline has raised a bit of controversy. As the bloodline associated with the genetic disorder hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), they often…

3 Exercises Every Horse Needs to Know (Part 3): Yielding the Hindquarters

Posted on June 8, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

This is part 3 of a series covering my 3 most important exercises that every horse needs to know to make them a safe riding companion: Lunging Lateral flexion at…

3 Exercises Every Horse Needs to Know (Part 2): Lateral Flexion of the Poll (not the neck)

Posted on June 7, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

This is part 2 of a 3-part series that will cover my 3 most important exercises that every horse needs to know to make them a safe riding companion: Lunging…

3 Exercises Every Horse Needs to Know (Part 1): Lunging

Posted on June 6, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

I’ve had several people tell me, “I would be so scared to try that with my horse, you are so brave.” It makes me chuckle when I hear this because…

Top 10 Good Horse Care Habits

Posted on June 4, 2017April 20, 2023 by Alexi Mast

1. Hose your horse off as part of your post-ride care routine Hosing off your horse with cold water does two things. First, it cleans the sweat off the horse’s…

Driftwood: A Quarter Horse Legend

Posted on June 2, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Over the years, researching quarter horse pedigrees has become a bit of a hobby, so I decided to start compiling all that research to share with all of you lovely…

Caravaggio’s Horse: The Genius Beneath the Madness

Posted on June 1, 2017February 12, 2021 by Alexi Mast

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is known as one of the greatest painters of his time. Critic Miles Unger says it best when he states that Caravaggio is best known for…

3 Secrets to Improve Your Riding

Posted on May 31, 2017April 20, 2023 by Alexi Mast

As riders, we are always looking for that magical secret to develop our riding. There are a few simple keys that I’ve discovered that advanced my riding overnight. The most…

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