What we owe them

Ultimately, it’s about suffering. That was the impetus (Call it negative reinforcement!) behind the recent article on Horse Ownership. At NickerNews and BestHorsePractices, we recognize that with the privilege of ownership comes the responsibility to keep our charges safe and sound and to prevent or […]

Evidence-Based Horsemanship opens to raves

An eager and engaged crowd attended the opening session of the Evidence-Based Horsemanship seminar Friday evening at Parker Stables in Sherwood, Oregon. Dressage riders, barn managers, ranchers, and trail riders gathered to hear neuropsychologist Dr. Steve Peters and horseman Martin Black open the door to […]

Parker Stables welcomes Evidence-Based Horsemanship

This weekend, the Evidence-Based Horsemanship seminar is lucky to call Parker Stables home. Owners Cindy and Duffy Parker bought their bucolic, 15-acre property more in Sherwood, Oregon, 11 years ago. Back then, it was not so pretty. But over the years, they’ve turned […]

Introducing StableMate

Several years ago in Maine, I ran 24 Carrot Horse Care, taking care of horses while their owners were away or too busy. I tossed hay, mucked stalls, exercised, medicated, and even hauled horses to vets for surgeries. Most of the time, instructions and specifics […]

Saddle Struggles and Progress

If progress must be defined by always moving forward, then my progress with the mule would not be progress at all. Since my last posts, we’ve ridden many miles. Most have been pleasant, full of camaraderie and connection. There’ve been some unexpected bolts and bucks […]

Finding the Ideal Learning Environment

When I was a kid, there was no such thing as ‘learning disabilities” or “learning styles.” You learned or you didn’t. I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until teetering on the verge of not graduating from college. Up until then, I just assumed I wasn’t as […]

Triple Crown Boycott

For the love of horses, I’m boycotting the Triple Crown this year. There will be no watching the Derby, Preakness, or Belmont in this house. Why? The thoroughbred industry is one of the most irresponsible breeders in the country. Each year, thousands of foals are […]

Mule goes up & over

Smiling through gritted teeth, I’m making some progress with the mule. Like a lot of paths of progress, it has its bumps, hazards, and hairpin turns. Most recently, Jolene gave me a lesson in pressure. As I learned months ago, pressure with the new mule […]

Busy Behind the Scenes

Have you noticed? Over the past few months, the delivery of newsletters and content on NickerNews and BestHorsePractices has gone from a steady flow to a steady, um, trickle. But slacking off ain’t the cause. Aside from the big move to Utah and a new […]

Mule Progress comes in Leaps and Bounds

My first trail ride with the new mule was successful if success can be measured by staying on and nothing bad happening. But Jolene’s lack of bend and the absence of a one-rein stop revealed glaringly large holes in training. So, we added two elements […]