Expanding the Circle of Comfort

This month, Jolene has weathered many new experiences, but never without worry. That’s Jolene. Anything new (new helmet, new gear, new trail, new visitor) is cause for inspection and concern. I’ve become more patient with her than I typically am our other equines. I understand […]

Wise words from Wolter

Words of wisdom are funny things. They can make total sense or leave you scratching your head. How you absorb and apply them is equally variable. It depends on your attitude, perspective, and education. Those who worked with Bill and Tom Dorrance told me Bill […]

Ah-Helmet Moment, Second Troxel Contest!

Tell us about your ah-helmet moment! Last month, we had a fantastic response with seven finalists and dozens of votes. Here’s your second chance to win a Troxel helmet. To toss your hat into the ring for a chance at a Troxel Rebel Turquoise Rose, […]

5 Unlearned Horsemanship Practices

“Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” Val Giessler, a mentor to Unbranded’s Ben Masters, utters those words in the new documentary’s trailer. Read more about Unbranded. It comes to mind, too, when I think of all the ways my horsemanship has […]

Ah-Helmet Contestants

Don’t miss the opportunity to vote for your favorite Ah-Helmet Moment, sponsored by Troxel! These seven contestants tell their stories, when making the decision to wear a helmet was like a bright light shining over their brains. Check out the entries and click through to […]

Ah-Helmet, Chelsea

Chelsea Reich My ah-helmet moment was before I even started riding. When I was six I was in a terrible car accident and got a bad brain injury. It took years of therapy but finally I was able to walk, talk, and do normal stuff […]

Ah-Helmet, Janan

Janan Johnson Cowles As a young girl in Texas I rode my horse wearing a cowboy hat. I am now 55 I live in Maine and have horses again for the past 6 years. I have grandchildren and I require they wear a helmet also […]

Ah-Helmet, Nicki

Nicki Green AhHa—ABSOLUTELY! A year and a half ago I was riding and the horse took a fall-actually flipped! Needless to say I shot off like a bullet! Straight into the tailgate of a pickup! Broke my wrist but no head injury! And YES! I […]

Ah-Helmet, Jennifer

Jennifer Bombardier I was working a 2 year old fresh out of 60 days training, so I wore a helmet. That 2 year old decided he was done working and bolted to the barn. The classic one-rein stop did nothing. When he reached the wood […]

Ah-Helmet, Curtis

Curtis Clark My Ah Helmet moment was when I finally got the new-model Troxel Sierra to replace my old one, and found out that even the largest size wouldn’t fit my rather average male head. I learned that men don’t ride horses much, and the […]