Are you having trouble keeping your seat at gaits faster than the walk?  This could be the solution for you.

Riding bareback can help strengthen the muscles in your legs, giving you a better seat while riding.

 The solution is the same for both English and western riders: Drop your stirrups! Every time you ride, drop your stirrups for about five to 10 minutes.  Walk, trot and canter without stirrups.

Your legs will hang down longer, and your seat bones will be closer to the saddle.  You’ll have to relax and move with your horse or else you’ll get bumped around. Read the rest of this entry »

How environmentally aware are you? If you’re between the ages of 13 and 17, we need your opinions in this survey!

The Equine Land Conservation Resource  is helping Marcella M. Reca, a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, distribute an online survey regarding the environmental literacy of equestrians ages 13 – 17. Read the rest of this entry »

The origination of the American Quarter Horse.

Blaze magazine has been a great sponsor of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association for years now, and we greatly appreciate the partnership!

In the 1600s, American colonists began to cross their imported English horses with “native” horses like the Chickasaw. America’s pioneers got a small and hardy horse that was a good work horse during the week and a speedy racehorse on the weekend. By the 1800s, settlers were heading West with these willing horses. They bred them with wild Mustangs, and other horses that American Indians rode, giving birth to the American Quarter Horse of today. Read the rest of this entry »

If you take care of your tack, it will take care of you.

Caring for your saddle and tack takes only a few minutes and is an easy way to maintain the longevity of your equipment.

It is said that there are two kinds of people: those who consider tack as simply another tool, and those who treasure it and want to take the best possible care of it.  Each type is easily identifiable. With the former, you’ll find their saddles and tack lying around outside or in the bed of a pickup completely exposed to the weather and sun. Read the rest of this entry »

 Learn about the American Quarter Horse racing industry through this great opportunity.

The Youth Racing Experience is a great way for the youth of today to experience the racing world and get a good look at the industry.

The 2010 AQHYA Racing Experience is quickly approaching and will be held at Lone Star Park in Dallas, October 13-17.

The Racing Experience is an opportunity for youth members to see the real world of racing and get a taste of the behind-the-scenes processes that make the industry tick. The trip should be fun, as well as a valuable learning experience.

Requirements:
Youth must be 16 years old, as of January 1, 2010. Racing affiliates may send one youth from their regional experience by sending in their application by September 1. Read the rest of this entry »

Train your speed horse to be calm, cool, collected and supple.

Suppleness is a key to increasing the speed of your horse and decreasing your time.

Your trainer for today: Dale Rudin of Young Rider Magazine

Do you love to ride your horse fast? If you ride in speed events like barrel racing and pole bending, you probably do! It’s fun to see how fast you and your horse or pony can zoom through a pattern and to see if you’re the quickest of the day.

However, galloping as fast as you can is not the most important part of riding speed events. There’s a whole lot more to think about if you want your horse or pony to do well. Read the rest of this entry »

After all the hard work you put into preparing your horse, show time is the time to shine!

There is more to preparing for a show than just grooming. Many steps must be followed in order to ensure a healthy shiny coat.

One of the signs of good health in a horse is a bright, shiny coat. And if you plan to show your horse this summer, he should gleam like a new penny. You won’t bring home the ribbons if your horse’s coat looks scruffy and dull. Read on to find out how to bring out the bloom in your show mount’s coat.

Aside from standard grooming, Young Rider magazine suggests several other means of maintaining a healthy, shiny coat. Read the rest of this entry »

Root beer for a crowd.

Root Beer was a common drink in the Old West when people desired a sweet beverage.

There weren’t many fancy drinks available in the Old West.  Lemonade was the most popular, but lemons weren’t readily available.  People tried to make up some other drinks that tasted good, but sometimes simple cold water was the only beverage — even at wedding receptions.

Root beer has been around a long time.  People used to make it from the roots of the sarsaparilla plant, which grows in North America.  Here’s how to make enough for an entire classroom, birthday party or family reunion. Read the rest of this entry »

“Our distrust is very expensive.”  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The foundation of trust between horse and rider is the elimination of fear.

The foundation of trust between horse and rider is the elimination of fear. As long as you or your horse are fearful of certain activities or experiences, it will be almost impossible to reach higher levels of communication and achievement. Of course, eliminating fear completely is a long process that might take years to accomplish.

Face Your Fear

The best way to build trust between horse and rider is to face your fears head-on. As long as you avoid the things that scare you, the fear of the unknown will continue to restrict your progress. Read the rest of this entry »

Trail mix is a great thing to snack on, and it's so easy to make!

Make this trail mix recipe from Junior Master Horseman Level 2 and eat some healthy food on the go!

Hey kids!

I popped in to the Battle in the Saddle event last week because there was a Kids Corral with some fun activities! Luckily, the nice people there had a great snack that was easy to make because I got really hungry on the gallop over there. Read the rest of this entry »

The banquet room was filled with eager anticipation, as competitors from 16 countries waited for the results of the 2010 Youth World Cup! 

The teams proudly presented their flags during the opening ceremonies parade of teams the first night of the 2010 Youth World Cup in Oklahoma City.

Sixteen teams represented their respective countries at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup that just finished up in Oklahoma City. The teams spent a week in the busy show barn preparing and competing.

As the week began, the teams spent time checking out tack and getting acquainted with their new rides for that week, which were donated by some extremely generous and greatly appreciated horsemen. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the ultimate sports aphorism, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”

It is just as important to show good sportsmanship when you lose as well as win.

These days, the term, “horseman,” is one that is loosely applied to nearly anyone who owns a horse, and in recent years has lost much of its meaning.

Although not technically part of the horse show rules, equestrian sportsmanship is expected of all competitors. This means respecting fellow riders and taking wins and losses graciously. Read the rest of this entry »