11 Mistakes Trail Riders Make – And What to Do Before They Become a Wreck Most trail-riding problems don’t start when everything goes wrong. They start earlier, with seemingly small decisions. We … Continue Reading »
Standing Is a Skill
Standing Is a Skill I don’t like tying my horses and mules while I’m grooming and saddling. Most of the time, I simply drape the lead rope over their neck. … Continue Reading »
Thanks for the Opportunity: Life lessons from horses and mules
A mule that won’t load in the trailer. A flat tire alongside the road. A box of tools wandering somewhere through the postal system between Spokane and Tennessee. A summer … Continue Reading »
Trailer Loading Without the Fight
Trailer Loading. If you’re going to trail ride or horse camp, sooner or later you’re going to have to put your horse in a trailer. And, more importantly, you’re going … Continue Reading »
Advocacy: Who Will Speak for Horse and Mule Riders?
Advocacy simply means supporting a cause. For us, that cause is keeping trails and public lands open to horses and mules. Every week, I hear about another trail or riding … Continue Reading »
Sweat and Horsehair: The Meaning of Success in Horsemanship
A cinch isn’t meant to hang on a wall. It’s not made to stay clean. A good cinch earns its keep one ride at a time. It gathers sweat and … Continue Reading »
Trailer Safety Resources
Printable worksheets and checklists from the best selling book Going Is Optional. Stopping Is Not. Good hauling begins long before the truck leaves the barn. It begins with understanding the rig, … Continue Reading »
The Beginner Again
What Teaching Mohair Cinch Weaving Has Taught Me About Being a Beginner Every mohair cinch clinic starts the same. People arrive carrying all sorts of life experiences. I’ve had doctors, … Continue Reading »
No Riding Doesn’t Mean No Mules
This summer was supposed to find me somewhere in the high country of Colorado. Instead, I’m getting an unexpected lesson in horsemanship without riding. One of the things I was looking … Continue Reading »
Your Horse Doesn’t Have a Dashboard
Learning to Read the GaugesTemperature, pulse, and respiration are the warning lights your horse can’t speak aloud. I spend a fair amount of time teaching safety clinics, and one of … Continue Reading »