Let's get our country cardio on! Join me for a COUNTRY HEAT challenge next month!!! From October 10th to November 10th, we will be dancing ourselves fit. Country Heat is a country music dance workout that Beachbody recently launched, and it is so much FUN! It is simple enough that anyone can do it, and …
Tag: horse riding
Friday Fitness Tip: Have Fun!
Happy Friday everyone!! As many of you know, fitness is a big passion of mine! I also believe that a consistent fitness routine is part of being a good rider and horse person! Exercise keeps us strong, protects us from injury, keeps us in control over our bodies, and also keeps us in control over …
Calming the Spook
Horses are very sensitive animals. As prey animals, they instinctively are very aware of their surroundings. They know when something is different, and they can sense things we may not be able to see. This often leads to spooking. Horses are called "dumb" or "crazy" for spooking at some invisible phantom, or for peeking at a new …
Light Hands
A soft, light hand is essential in riding and training horses. The lighter the hand a horse is trained with, the lighter and softer the horse will be throughout its life and career. I have found that more often than not, horses prefer a their riders to be light on their mouths. Some horses like …
Hanging On
He bucked, reared and bucked at the same time, then started to spin once we came back to earth.
Missing Distances
I once had a trainer who would say, "if you know you are going to miss, make it look like you did it on purpose." I have found that advice to be very valuable throughout my riding career because, well, sometimes I just don't see anything. Or sometimes I see a long spot; or a deep spot. Not …
Still Crazy
I posted a while ago that I was having trouble coming up with things to write about because I am often more inspired by the tough times of my riding life in "A Simple Ride and Writer's Block." While Chance has still been pretty good lately, today he reminded me that he is still a little crazy. Everything …
Wildness
Horses have been a huge part of my life since I was twelve years old. I think my love them began much sooner, however. As a girl, I was always an animal lover. Rather than watching cartoons, I watched the Discovery Channel. To this day, I know a lot of random facts about wildlife. Horses …
Love It As An Art
"Think of riding as a science, but love it as an art." - George Morris There are many technical details to think about while on a horse, especially in the hunter ring. Creating a good ride often involves breaking down and analyzing each detail about the course and how the horse will react to it. However, …
Like a Pro
I have an extremely difficult horse that is oftentimes out of my league. I could sell him and get something quieter, more broke, or just easier but I seem to be ridiculously attached to him; and honestly, I think deep down I love the challenge that he is. Even though we are not cleaning up …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 