Practical Horseman Winter 2022

“Delaware Valley University’s (DelVal) outstanding equine science program and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team provides various opportunities for students to become well-rounded individuals. With an equestrian center and breeding center on campus, students gain hands-on experience with horses at both facilities. Throughout my time at DelVal, these barns became my home, and the staff, faculty and other students became my family. I was also honored to serve as our IHSA Hunt Seat Team Captain for two years. This gave me the opportunity to lead my team to success both on and off of the horse. Whether it is cheering each other on at horse shows, having boot cleaning parties or bonding during workouts, the members of this team continuously support one another. I am so thankful for the life-long…

When I was competing, one of my favorite times of year was late fall/early winter after the competiton season ended. My horse had a well-deserved rest, and then we started working to improve areas in which we (mainly me) had struggled. I remember spending one entire off-season riding in the quiet indoor arena over small crossrails. My goal was learning to be quieter with my position and stop trying to do so much to find a distance. Another time, I practiced making tighter jumper turns in a serpentine over three low jumps, working on my recovery as we landed from each jump. With that in mind, and also knowing that the upcoming holiday season is a busy time for all of us, we filled this issue with exercises and strategies…

SUBMITTED BY HOPE IN THE SADDLE READERS Our mission at Hope in the Saddle is to share the most meaningful and inspiring stories that emerge from the horse world—stories of how our relationships with horses can help us overcome life’s toughest challenges. We collect stories from all corners of the horse community, from hunter horses to dressage riders and competitive equestrians to backyard owners. The following stories are a few reader favorites from 2022. JT “We first met JT, a registered Quarter Horse, more than 10 years ago when my son was only 7, on the autism spectrum, nonverbal, and needing occupational, physical, and speech therapy. JT was a cutting horse who earned over $80,000 in his career before retiring to the most important job of his life: therapeutic riding.…

Equine rescue organizations are overwhelmed with taking care of the ever-growing homeless horse population. While the equine rescue situation remains dire, there are some truly wonderful moments and partnerships forged during the process. The rescue organizations involved with A Home for Every Horse (AHFEH) are provided with many great benefits from the generous sponsors involved with the program, like Purina, Absorbine, WeatherBeeta and Tractor Supply. In addition to providing substantial donations throughout the year, these sponsors provide many great donations to rescues that are featured at events attended by A Home for Every Horse staff each year. For example, Purina Animal Nutrition, a business of Land O’Lakes, Inc. has donated more than 1,500 tons of feed to equine rescue organizations. “Purina Animal Nutrition supports multiple organizations, including those that help…

Prepare Your Barn for Winter Getting your farm ready for winter can be time-consuming. Check out Practical Horseman’s checklist for everything you need to do to plan ahead for the coming months. From stocking up on supplies to checking your horse’s blankets to snow removal equipment, this checklist will have you ready for the season. practicalhorsemanmag.com Grounded Expectations Grand Prix dressage rider Nicholas Fyffe explains how a better relationship with your horse on the ground translates into success in the saddle. He shares three skills that are great for testing your consistency on the ground and improving your relationship with your horse. practicalhorsemanmag.com Cavalletti Training for Every Horse and Discipline Germany’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Ingrid Klimke shares cavalletti exercises on the ground and under-saddle to help build your horse’s…

1 Overall: This rider’s leg is quite good, but there is room for improvement in her release. Leg/hip angle: The standard is blocking part of the rider’s foot, but the stirrup iron looks placed correctly with the outside bar slightly ahead of the inside bar. Her heel is down, and it looks like her toes are turned slightly out. I like the contact through her calf, knee and thigh, and the angle at her knee is very good. The angle at her hip is very good, too. Release: I’d like her to have a longer release, reaching farther up the horse’s crest. This will give him more freedom with his head and neck. Additionally, the horse looks as if he’s jumping out from underneath the rider, a sign that she’s…