I have been meaning to post this for a while now, but life has been a little crazy lately, but better late than never! About two weeks ago, Chance went on the lunge line, for the first time in I don't know how long, and he was so much better! He was not quite 100%, …
Tag: horse shows
Setting Examples
I see article after article how "kids these days" just do not have the work ethic of the young equestrians of times past. Trainers claim that the next generation of rider does not care about grooming their horses, cleaning stalls, or learning real horsemanship. I just have to wonder, why is everyone blaming the kids? Maybe …
Those Lazy Summer Days
This is the part of summer that just really starts to drag. Chance has been so lazy, which is never the worst thing but I am beginning to miss my wild child! The rain this week has cooled things down ever so slightly, but made the air much thicker. I would love nothing more than …
My Horse Show Dad
With Father's Day this Sunday, I figured I would brag about my dad today! Most non-rider horse show dads act bored, confused, and oftentimes just plain uninterested at horse shows. Not mine. He can watch the hunter ring for hours, not only without a complaint, but with interest and knowledge of what is going on. He …
It’s Not Just About Height
I notice a common theme among riders, myself included, that the perception of success in the hunter jumper world directly relates to how high we jump. Obviously, grand prix riders - as well as high level hunter riders - are extremely skilled at the sport. However, jumping lower does not mean that we are not skilled …
Field Trip
Yesterday, my trainer and I took Chance to a neighboring farm to school. We are trying to get him off the farm in low stress situations to see if that helps his horse show anxiety. He was wild-eyed when he got off the trailer, but instead of throwing him on the lunge line I took …
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, …
Always Something
I have had a lot of trouble with Chance this summer. I have not posted about it because I have been trying to find a way to resolve it. I have had a lot of struggles with this horse over the past few years, and I thought we were past much of it. It all …
The Ride You Give
Yesterday, I read a post from Horse Collaborative called "The Horse Feels What He Feels", by Denny Emerson. Denny Emerson was name "One of the 50 most influential horsemen of he Twentieth Century" by Chronicle of the Horse, and was elected to the USEA Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also the only rider to win a …
Hunter Land
"Ambition. It's either in people or it isn't. That's the first quality of a good rider" - George Morris In the world of equestrian sports, the hunter discipline gets a lot of flack for being "unfair," "political," or "too subjective." I know many people who have said they started competing in the jumpers because of …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 