Tabla de contenidos para Spring 2025 en Practical Horseman

Whether you’re competing in Beginner Novice or at the top of the sport in a five-star event, the cross-country phase consists of similar elements and questions. You will always see water jumps, ditches and accuracy fences like corners and skinnies with gallop fences (straightforward fences such as benches, tables and hedges) in between. Every cross-country course also tends to progress in a similar way. I would consider Fences 1, 2 and 3 to be gallop fences, but they’re also lead-up fences. You want to use these fences to solidify your rhythm and ensure you and your horse are confident before tackling your first real question—a challenging obstacle or combination of obstacles. Typically, you can expect Fence 4 to be your first question on course, followed by more gallop fences that…

Owning a horse can be expensive, and for many horse owners, the cost of care can cause worry. In fact, the Synchrony Equine Lifetime of Care study found that over half of horse owners are stressed by an expense of less than $1,500. We mapped out a path so you can feel less stress and more prepared for the lifelong care of your horse. CareCredit can help you navigate payment. Figuring out how to pay for care shouldn’t be a roadblock. The CareCredit health and animal care credit card can help you pay for your horse’s veterinary needs, so you can more easily navigate the path to care.* CareCredit can be used at 25,000+ enrolled veterinary hospital locations, including equine, equine specialty and small animal practices. Ask your veterinarian if…

1 Overall: This rider has a lovely leg position and a good upper-body position with a flat back. My main criticism is the release. While it is a respectable automatic release, I would like to see more freedom for the horse to use his head and neck. But all in all, it’s a very pleasing picture. Leg: This rider’s leg position is beautiful. The stirrup is in the correct position right on the ball of his foot, and the outside bar is slightly ahead of the inside bar. His heel is down. His heel, knee and hip angles are all excellent. I also like that he has contact in his leg distributed across his calf, knee and thigh as well as nice, even contact in the saddle. Release: The only thing…

You notice your horse is a little stiff under saddle. Maybe he feels uneven in the trot or has trouble cantering. It could be a lot of things, but upon closer examination your veterinarian determines osteoarthritis (OA) in the hind limb is the cause. Identifying Hind-Limb Lameness Signs to watch for: ■ Hiking or dropping one side of the pelvis■ Unwillingness to bring a hind leg forward■ Toe dragging Diagnostic Techniques Your Veterinarian Will Use ■ Diagnostic analgesia (joint blocking) ■ Flexion tests ■ Imaging methods: Radiography (X rays): Ideal for bone/joint evaluation Ultrasound: Best for soft tissue analysis Advanced Imaging: Nuclear scintigraphy, MRI, CT, PET scan to further investigate Osteoarthritis in the hind limb is a common cause of lameness. It is marked by articular cartilage deterioration and is…

What do you reckon?” This was the question two-time Olympic gold medalist Tom Mc-Ewen repeatedly asked riders during his January 24–26 clinic at Galway Downs Equestrian in Temecula, California, especially after quietly observing them warm-up to start each session. “It’s not a trick question,” he assured. Instead, it was meant to get riders thinking on their own. How did their horses feel? What were their horses doing? Falling in through turns? Falling behind their leg? Ignoring or overreacting to their cues? What were they doing with their seat, their upper body, their hands, legs and brains? As riders, thinking on our own is the first step to acting on our own in the heat of the moment. “By the time I say something it’s far too late most of the…

What It Is Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a dental disease characterized by tooth resorption (loss of dental tissue) and hypercementosis (overgrowth of dental tissue). In some cases, the surrounding bone may be destroyed (lysis). EOTRH can affect all teeth (incisors, canines, premolars and molars). The condition causes pain, with affected horses exhibiting noticeable signs, such as difficulty eating or refusing to be haltered or bridled. EOTRH was first identified in 2004, and it typically affects horses over the age of 15. The disease is progressive, so the effects cannot be reversed. But with proper monitoring and treatment, affected horses can continue to live active, healthy lives. Cause The cause of EOTRH is unknown. While geldings seem more predisposed to the disease, there are several factors that…

The photo is of Maureen Kline and her horse Doctini. Here is what Maureen had to say: “As horse and rider, we’ve been together 7 months. I am 57 years young and have been riding again for two years after a 24-year hiatus. Doctini is an 8-year-old Trakehner mare trained up to Fourth Level. She’s recently back to work after three month’s rest recovering from founder.” Looking at this picture my first impression was: What a well-matched pair! Maureen looks highly concentrated and motivated to ride as well as she possibly can, and her horse appears to be a well-trained, gentle schoolmaster. The horse and rider seem focused on their task and are very harmonious together. Doctini is walking forward with a nice, long stride, stepping well under the rider’s…

There’s no avoiding corners. They’re part of every single ride, from Introductory Level to Grand Prix. But because they aren’t an official movement in any test, they’re often overlooked. In reality, corners are the most valuable real estate in your ring because you can use them to: • Test if your horse is listening to your aids. • Balance your horse. • Prepare or set up for the next movement. • Make corrections without directly affecting a movement. • Take a breath. Think about how you ride corners. Do you ride into them and your horse waits and listens for your aids, or does he turn or fall through the corner before you ask? It’s natural for your horse to anticipate corners because he knows he has to turn to…

The “Zorro” TV show is what first piqued Ali Nilforushan’s interest in horses at the age of 6. Like many horse-crazy children, Nilforushan begged his parents to ride a horse and can still fondly recount the experience once they finally agreed. “It was like a continuation from a previous life, and it felt like home,” he said. Unfortunately, war in Nilforushan’s home country of Iran resulted in trying times for his family and a pause on riding. Eventually, his family immigrated to San Diego, California, and Nilforushan picked up his horse habit again at age 12. “Then, it was just history, and that’s all I ever wanted to do after that,” he said. For Nilforushan, horses were an escape as he didn’t have many friends at school as a kid…

Comfy Elegance 1. Top off your horse’s show-ring look and keep him comfortable with Passier’s Moonlight Double Bridle. Designed to help reduce pressure on the poll and ears, the crownpiece is anatomically engineered with a recess for the upper cervical vertebrae for comfort and freedom of movement. The crownpiece also features extrasoft padding for your 3. horse’s sensitive ear cartilage. The shiny patent leather noseband is also padded to protect the cheekbones and facial nerves, and the bridle’s elegant waved browband is embedded with graphite crystals. Reins included. passier.com Mellow Your Mare 2. The iUPOD®, by Pearl Pod LLC, is a frameless intrauterine device designed to modulate estrus behavior in mares through a mechanism that extends diestrus by simulating pregnancy. It conforms to a mare’s uterus for easy insertion with…