Herd dynamics change with terrain

The horses’ new pasture is a stark contrast to their flat and fertile plot in Iowa. Here, it’s up and down and thick with juniper and scrub oak. Interestingly, their herd behavior has changed with the territory. As sight lines have diminished, they’re sticking closer […]

A Student of the Horse

Among the students at this weekend’s Evidence-Based Horsemanship seminar was 20-year old college student, Fred Holcomb. Holcomb doesn’t just have a passing interest in horsemanship and equine science. The Davidson College junior is one of the few to pair his passion for horses with an […]

When Grazing Doesn’t Come Naturally

I reached a new milestone with the mule yesterday. It had nothing to do with riding or saddling or lateral flexion, although we’ve made great strides in those areas. At first glance, this milestone might be considered a non-event in comparison. It involved the simple […]

Cool Mule News

That look Jolene gives me? It’s not one of stubbornness, it’s one of smarts. Imagine my delight in reading the recent findings of a British study with horses, donkeys, and mules. To summarize in three words: Mules reign supreme. [Jolene, if you’re reading this, I’m […]

Deworming Debunked, again

Just because we’ve always done it, doesn’t make it right. That’s the thing with deworming. Many of us have been dosing our horses several times a year for years with all variety of worming pastes and gels. Valley Vet Supply sells thousands of dollars worth […]

BHP teams with like-minded folks

As we grow, NickerNews and BestHorsePractices are forming partnerships and sponsorships with like-minded companies and individuals. Like-minded how? Read the BestHorsePractices mission statement. You’ll see that we follow a Nature is Best philosophy. We recognize that sustainability and simplicity are essential to horse care and […]

Of Children, Dogs, Horses

Warwick Schiller once told me working with horses wasn’t that different from raising children: It’s all about creating a space that has discipline, consistency, and positivity. Create boundaries. Give them the freedom to make mistakes. Firm love. Those words rang true again when I listened […]

BestHorsePractices moves forward

Five years. 300 newsletters. 400 articles. 500 blog posts. 50 videos. NickerNews & BestHorsePractices have come a long way from our 4-page original website. Since 2008, we’ve — Sponsored film documentaries, clinicians, non-profit events, and rescue organizations. Assisted law enforcement in successful convictions of horse […]

Riders and horses need open space

Horses need space. Riders do, too. If you look at Swisher, Iowa by satellite, you’ll see lots of open space. When I moved here from Maine, I was excited to explore the 14,000 acres of nearby Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area. I did. It was wonderful. […]

Cindy Meehl, Unbranded, and the state of mustang policy

Producer Cindy Meehl will be plenty busy this year as she works with the Unbranded team and develops the documentary film of the 3,000 mile adventure. Read more. She paused and spoke with NickerNews and BestHorsePractices to address the complexity of the mustang message: “We’re […]