Basics 
Care
Colors 
It’s Monday morning again but that means time to learn about another plant your horse can’t eat. Today we’ll take a closer look at a commonly found plant, the Curly Leafed Dock Sorrel.
Read more
Horse Breeds From Japan
Another Friday and time to visit an exotic location and learn about the interesting horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is a fascinating ride, & today a peek at the breeds from Japan.
Island Ponies
Japan is an island nation and one with a variety of island geographies. These pockets of isolation make for relatively pure bloodlines in what are primarily small horse and pony breeds of Mongolian descent. Many of the pony breeds are revered and protected under Japanese law, continuing already incredibly pure bloodlines.
Read more
Shergar – The Story of a Racing Legend
While I’m not a huge fan of racetracks, I do have a soft spot for the horses who run on them. Of all sports, racing has the worst reputation for animal abuse so it’s fun to look at the industry through the misty eyes of days past.
A Champ
Like most of the racing greats, Shergar had the heart it took to be a great racehorse. His claim to fame was winning the Epsom Derby by 10 lengths, (a distance that hadn’t been achieved in over 200 years of the event). After a successful career the Irish racehorse was retired, in 1981. Two years later he was stolen at gunpoint for ransom and never seen again by his owners.
Read more
Horsemanship for Women Line Drawings
Recently I’ve dedicated Wednesdays to horse art of some type or another (with some colorful breeds thrown in) and today is another post in the Horsemanship for Women line drawing series.
Mounted Instruction
This series of illustrations were drawn by Gray Parker in the 1880’s for a book called Horsemanship for Women written by Theodore Hoe Mead. The series ranges from bridle types, to ground work to riding – today’s post is another mounted one. If you haven’t seen the rest of the series yet, be sure to check out parts one, two, & three
Read more
Boot and Saddle
Today’s poetry was written by Robert Browning and was published in A Victorian Anthology, 1837-1895 in 1895.
Boot and Saddle
Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!
Rescue my Castle, before the hot day
Brightens the blue from its silvery grey,
(Chorus) “Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!”
Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you’d say;
Many’s the friend there, will listen and pray
“God’s luck to gallants that strike up the lay,
(Chorus) “Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!”
Read more
Cuckoo Pint – Toxic Plant of the Week
It’s Monday morning again and time to learn about another plant your horse can’t eat. Today we’ll take a closer look at an incredibly common house plant, the Cuckoo Pint.
Read more
Horse Breeds From Italy
It’s Friday again and a great day for visiting an exotic location and learning about the fabulous horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is an interesting ride, today a peek at the breeds from Italy.
Bred For War
It makes sense that many of today’s breeds came originally out of a need for sturdy war mounts and hardy mountain-type agricultural animals. Some of their breeds (like the Avelignese Horse & Bardigiano) are cousins to the well-loved Haflinger. All three of these breeds share common ancestors and come from the horses of invading Belgian Gauls.
Read more
How To Fall Off
Although it may seem counterproductive, learning to fall is more important than learning to ride. Anyone who wants to ride a horse has to understand one thing perfectly clearly, you will fall off.
If You Haven’t Fallen…
We’ve all heard the saying if you haven’t fallen off you aren’t a real rider and it is actually very true. The more hours you log in the saddle the greater your chances of hitting the ground at some point. That’s why preparing yourself by knowing how to fall can be invaluable.
Read more
Horsemanship for Women Line Drawings to Color
It’s the middle of the week and time for another section of the Horsemanship for Women series. If you haven’t already be sure to check out parts one and two.
Riding Sidesaddle
These drawings come from a book titled Horsemanship for Women, published in 1887 by Theodore Hoe Mead & illustrated by Gray Parker. I’m not sure how indicative of the era these drawings are, but they are certainly a change from the riding I grew up with. These are fun because they are all sidesaddle examples. I guess if you wanted to learn how to ride sidesaddle from drawings in the 1880’s, you picked up a copy of Horsemanship for Women.
Read more
At Galway Races
Today’s horse racing poetry was written by W. B. Yeats and published in Responsibilities and Other Poems in 1916.
Read more
Crown of Thorns – Toxic Plant of the Week
It’s Monday morning again and time to learn about another plant your horse can’t eat. Today we’ll take a closer look at an incredibly common house plant, the Crown of Thorns.
Read more
Jack-in-the-Pulpit – Toxic Plant of the Week
Welcome to another Monday and a new edition in the a-z of plants your horse can’t eat. Today’s plant has a fantastic name – the Jack-in-the-Pulpit looks like it belongs beyond the looking glass.
Read more