Kenny Geisler and Megan Benjamin, the most successful American vaulters competing today, solidified the Mt. Eden Vaulters’ domination of the Kentucky Cup Vaulting on July 31. Geisler, 28, was leading the CVI2* men’s division (6.979) at the competition’s halfway point, and Benjamin, 21, was leading the CVI2* women’s division (7.933).
 
The Kentucky Cup is the vaulting test event for

Debbie Tomin, co-owner with her husband, Bill, of Rockridge Farm in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., told TheHorse.com late Sunday morning that “23 horses were fed the poisonous concoction (of apples, carrots, and oleander leaves).

“All the ones in the barn and three outside (were fed the dangerous mixture),” she said of the Saddlebreds at their farm. “We brought two home from the hospital

The convention of leading and mounting the horse from the left might be more than just tradition, according to a new study from St. Andrews University. The study, led by Kate Farmer, MA, at the Harmony Center in Austria, shows that horses generally prefer this arrangement too, and not just because this is how they are trained.

The researchers compared two groups of horses: one trained

K-Zar Emanuel, 15-year-old gray Arabian gelding won the 2009 Tevis Cup, crossing the finishing line at 10:20 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 1). Four miles from the finish, after crossing No Hands Bridge in the California moonlight, rider Sarah Engsberg urged her mount on with the words, “We’re Going Home, K-Zar.”

Engsberg, from Fairburn, Ga., arrived in California early to ride K-Zar three time

Training unmounted riders to look at jumps the right way could enhance horse and rider performance and prevent jumping accidents, suggest researchers who recently published a study on rider visualization.

Researchers from the United Kingdom and Ireland found more advanced riders were significantly better at recalling important points of focus in a picture of a jump than were nonriders an

After months of planning by ride officials, and often years of conditioning for both human and equine participants, the Western States Trail Ride 2009, popularly called the Tevis Cup Ride, started with around 171 human/equine teams at dawn on August 1 from Robie Park (7200 Elevation) near Lake Tahoe. If past statistics hold, only about half of the teams will complete the 100-mile journey to

With crew and volunteers crowding the forest road, Marcia Smith, DVM, of Loomis, Calif., (rider #12) appeared around the bend at the Robinson Flat vet check and crewing point.  First to arrive at Mile 36 of the 100-mile Tevis Ride, Smith and her mount, AM Sands of Time (Sandy) were making excellent time. The 12-year-old gray Arabian mare moved easily and Smith’s proficient crew began

My mare’s personality seems to have changed since a rattlesnake bite six years ago. She seems less people-friendly and less energetic. Is it from some sort of facial nerve damage from the bite? Have you heard of long-term effects from a snake bite?

There seems to be little information available on the Internet about guttural pouch tympany. I lost a filly to this, along with displaced soft palate.

Anhidrosis, or nonsweating, is a poorly understood condition affecting thousands of horses worldwide. Horses are most commonly affected in areas with hot, humid climates, such as in the southeastern United States. Let’s look at the causes of and treatments for this condition.

What Causes Anhidrosis?

Veterinarians and researchers are still trying to deduce the exact

A few of our therapy horses are very mouthy. When they are in session and have a child on their back they try to nip at their leaders. We have a hard time correcting it because of the child. How do I help incoming horses not develop these habits?

Up until recently I have never had any behavioral issues with my 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Awhile back he flipped out in the cross-ties with a new farrier. Since then he has been very upset to be shod in cross-ties. How can I calm him down?

Despite a horse's apparently sturdy exterior, his various internal body systems are delicate–particularly his

Ventilating your equine facilities is critically important for your horses’ and your own health and well-being. Taking advantage of natural ventilation is the best way to design your facility for long-term comfort.