
They can run fast, jump high, and perform complex maneuvers. And many owners will go to great lengths to keep a performance horse in top shape. Discuss these horses’ health and management requirements with sport horse owner and managing editor Alexandra Beckstett.
Bombproofing Your Horse: It Takes a Zoo
Ozzy the Goat is a fixture at the barn. Photo: Courtesy Ashley Watts You've probably read about the racehorse that shares a stall with a goat or seen the photos of the cat sleeping soundly on his equine buddy's back. Barns have long been home to more than just horses....
4 Exercises to Increase Rider Fitness and Horse Comfort
Exercises on the ground can help improve your symmetry and coordination in the saddle. Photo: Courtesy Alexandra Beckstett I've always relied on my riding to keep me in good shape. And the two-horses-a-day, five-days-a-week workout has served me pretty well. In the...
A Non-TB Owner’s Take on the TB Makeover
Sunday, Oct. 25, concluded the third annual Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, which made its Bluegrass debut at the Kentucky Horse Park this past week. No one really knew what the turnout or fanfare would be like, but after spending the better part of...
Beating the Heat at Horse Shows
Last week I returned from my one big out-of-town summer horse show adventure: two weeks competing at the new Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. And let me tell you, that place was super cool! It was not, however, physically cool; mid-July on the...
A Staple to the Forehead Never Hurt (and Maybe Helps)
Hannah was a happy pony after receiving what I now call her "magic staple." Photo: Alexandra Beckstett At horse shows, it's not unusual for our horses' care to differ from that of their daily routine. The workload, stall confinement, and foreign environment all...

The Coolest Things I Learned About Saddle Fit
Here are my top 6 takeaways from a two-day introduction to saddle fitting.