western riding

Teaching your horse to collect under saddle is a great skill. It can take years of physical development for your horse to master collection. It’s a total body transformation! Your horse’s center of gravity shifts backwards and they become lighter on their forehand. While the idea may sound intimidating, there are plenty of simple exercises...

The flag is an important part of training your horse, especially if you hope for them to have a career in cutting. Many cow horse trainers call these devices mechanical cows. They teach your horse to respond to a moving object. The flag will stop, start, and change directions sporadically. This can be helpful in...

As 2023 comes to an end, you may spend some time reflecting on the past year with your horse. Did you go on any special trail rides or win any competitions? How amazing would it be if you had a journal to look back through… You could read in detail what that moment felt like...

Barrel racing has been a popular rodeo event since the 1930s. The rider gallops their horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. It may sound easy, but it is far from it! The cowgirls that compete in this discipline take their sport very seriously. Over the history of barrel racing, there have been a...

More and more western riders are choosing to ride with helmets! Famous celebrities like Amber Marshall and professional riders like Fallon Taylor are encouraging their fans to put safety first. Riders can now select from a wide range of styles and designs. Helmets don’t have to look boring, rather they can have a cowgirl flair...

  While jeans, a western riding shirt, and a cowboy hat are what cowgirls wear to ride, this has not always been the case. Take a look back through the years at what women used to wear when riding horses. It’s incredible how much riding apparel has evolved since the days of old! Who else...

No matter what discipline you ride, it’s important to incorporate a variety of exercises into your horse’s training. If you get on your horse and do the exact same routine each day, you’ll soon have an unresponsive equine partner. These exercises will instill confidence in your horse and help them become well-rounded. 1) Raised Poles: Often...