I am not by any means an expert on thoroughbreds, I have actually only owned one! However, owning a thoroughbred after primarily owning and riding warmbloods has shown me just how different these speed demons are from most other hunter jumper horses. I like to think of warmbloods as the "dumb jocks" of the equine world. That …
Tag: horse training
Attitude is Everything
It is easy to have a good attitude about riding (and life) when everything is going well. But our attitude when things are going wrong can really shape our riding careers, and our lives. Say you have a bad show. We have all been there. After all of your terrible rounds are finished, do you …
Reaction
Chance has been quiet as can be the past couple of weeks since summer kicked in. That changed a little bit today. It actually was not too terribly hot this morning, there was a nice breeze. I guess he got a little excited about it. He started out lazy on the flat, and over the …
Hello Summer
Summer has come to Texas in full force! I am one of those crazy people that loves summer. I thrive in the heat and humidity. As long as I stay hydrated, I can stay outside all day. I love the longer days, and sunshine. I even love to sweat! Luckily, Chance has always done fairly …
Dropping the Irons
Riding without stirrups is probably one of the best things we can do to improve our riding skills. It helps to clean up equitation, strengthen the legs and core, improve the seat, and increase confidence. It hurts, but it is worth it. When I was a kid, I was frequently tortured by my trainers with no stirrup …
A Perfect Ride and Terrible Weather
Yesterday was one of those perfectly magical rides that I never wanted to end. Even with thunder rumbling in the distance when we started jumping, Chance was quiet and we were completely in sync. My eye is improving at the bigger jumps, and he is not building quite so much throughout our courses. We only …
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 …
Making Time to Ride
A few years ago, when I first began working as a real estate agent, people would often ask me if I still found time to ride. I always replied, "yes of course," as if that could even be a question I would think to myself. I have ridden for nearly fifteen years. For a few …
Bad Horses
I have always loved bad horses. Not dangerously crazy horses, but the horses with a little sass that make you work for their respect. The horses that won't pack you around, but demand the same level of focus and accuracy that you desire from them. The horses that are just a little hard. That has …
Flat Work for the Hunter Ring
Chance has never taken his flat work very seriously. Flat work is very important for jumping disciplines, but he just doesn't buy it. He simply likes to plop around like a plow horse, until I point him toward a jump. Then he takes life seriously and goes to work. After only flatting for over a month at …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 