The Making of Good Teachers and Students

Editor’s Note: Best Horse Practices Summit presenter Katrin Silva grew up riding dressage in Germany before moving to the United States at age 19 to learn to ride Western. She’s been riding both disciplines for the last twenty years and is a regular guest columnist for […]

Our Bodies Can Limit Horse Movements

Editor’s Note: With the publication of Diagnosis Offers Eureka Moment, we heard from two accomplished riders with spine conditions. Julie Wilson has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of spaces within the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the nerves traveling through the spine. She was diagnosed in her 60’s. […]

My Horse Won’t Go!

Editor’s Note: Amy Skinner is a regular guest columnist and has been a horse gal since age six. She will present with fellow trainer and rider, Katrin Silva, at the Best Horse Practices Summit. Skinner rides and teaches dressage and Western. Skinner has studied at […]

New Summit Offering: Stepping Up

The Best Horse Practices Summit is charged with giving attendees tools to improve their horsemanship. This year, our presenters will undoubtedly send you home with new ideas and skills to advance your horse work. But what about your state of mind? How’s your confidence when […]

Best Horse Practices Summit Schedule is Here!

The Best Horse Practices Summit Schedule: (Please be patient as this schedule is subject to minor changes. Details and links coming soon.) Register here Sunday, October 8, 4-9 pm: Welcome Reception and Sign In Join us at the historic Strater Hotel to sign in and […]

Ride without Recipes

By Maddy Butcher When you think about it, cooking and horsemanship are remarkably alike: Even to get started, both require a certain level of knowledge. Masters possess intuition that’s been honed by experience and sharpened by mistakes. Those of us in the vast middle ground […]

Dorrance Protégés Join Summit Roster

Along with powerful academic and arena presentations, the Best Horse Practices Summit, October 8-10 in Durango, Colorado, will now offer an opportunity to hear from esteemed protégés of Bill and Tom Dorrance. The brothers are widely admired as pioneers of the superior, more mindful horsemanship […]

Why Riding is the Hardest Thing in the World to Do

If riding simply entailed proper movements to speed up, slow down, and steer the horse, it would be elementary. Like riding a bike. But cyclists don’t often talk about how much they are still learning 30 years after they picked up the sport. Horse riders, […]

What?? Yes, Riders are Athletes

Editor’s Note: Ah, to be young and carefree. After a few years of ignoring what might be obvious for some, guest columnist Amy Skinner realized her diet and exercise were instrumental to a successful horsemanship career. Read more on Rider Fitness here. Read rider Julie […]

Best Core Practices

We welcome Kerry O’Brien as a new guest columnist and Rider Fitness contributor. Read more on Core Fitness here. O’Brien is a therapist certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and long-standing member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She blends […]