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Kids Struggle with Confidence Too
Confession: Today my normally confident daughter showed me her timid side. My eldest daughter has been riding therapy horses since she was 4-years old. Now, six years later she is incredibly confident on a horse even going so far as to win ribbons at the Horse Park of New Jersey and brag about her blue ribbons. She is fearless. But therapy horses are special in many ways. They are forgiving of small mistakes, less reactive, and internalize everything. Cameron asked me to ride Ferrous, which she has not done in several months. Although forgiving of her imbalance, she has Cerebral Palsy, and he is quite sensitive to…
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Too Nervous to Ride
Confession: For the first time I’m nervous to ride my pony. Ferrous and I have a wonderful relationship and I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s predictable but challenging, something that makes a timid rider like me feel infinitely more comfortable. More, we’ve built a bond over the last year. In doing so, I can read him really well. Last week he came down with a facial infection causing open sores, scabbing, and oozing all over his cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. The first day of onset he was quite lethargic and stiff, even going so far as to allow another horse lead on a short ride down…
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Holistic Wellness is Not Just for the Horses
Fitness isn’t enough. I need to achieve balance with chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage, and nutrition. After all, I believe in holistic wellness for horses, why not for myself? Being a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist (ESMT) has its advantages. My own horse receives bodywork that includes chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and sports massage regularly and reaps the benefits. I joke that my horse has an amazing life. But the truth is, he isn’t the only one that needs these things. For the past few years, I’ve suffered from periodic back pain due to sciatica. Carrying heavy photography equipment, massaging animals in awkward positions, or sleeping on the ground…
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My Horse Suddenly Has a Skin Condition
Confession: I’m worried sick because pony has a skin infection. Like many animal lovers, I am more comfortable being ill or injured than seeing my horse or dog in pain. There is something so heart-wrenching about watching your pet suffer and not feeling like you are doing enough. I hadn’t seen Ferrous in three days when I went to get him in the paddock on Monday. I was looking forward to a beautiful week of spring weather and enjoying some quality time with my guy. Unfortunately, plans change as they tend to do. He walked up to me in the field, just sweet as can be. He is…
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Equestrienne: Allison Malenfant
I met Allison and her partner Connie on Instagram and then IRL at the Jersey Fresh International 3-Day Event in 2018. We immediately hit it off and I found myself pausing while photographing the event to go and visit their vendor area. More, I couldn’t resist and had to try the Redingote outerwear for myself, preordering it right on the spot! I am a huge fan of their brand and these girls are making a difference in the equestrian market with many of their ambassadors and buyers big names in the equestrian world! And for good reason, the product is high quality, feminine, and my go-to for massage therapy appointments…
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If I Could Could Ride a Horse Like I Drive a Car…
Confession: If I rode a horse like a drove a car I’d be an eventer. I’ve been referred to as an aggressive yet defensive driver. What does that mean? Well, it means I can drive in New York City like a taxi, and expect others to cut me off at any minute. So why am I comfortable there but on the back of a horse I question my every decision. Are my shoulders too far forward? Am I properly balanced in my seat? Are people watching me, judging me? Am I good enough? Notice, I never question my horse. In fact, any of the horses I ride.…
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Life Lessons from Endurance Riders
Many of you might think this little Hunter/Jumper woman with occasional confidence issues would be a fish out of water at an endurance conference. But the opposite couldn’t be truer. As a team member for The Gobi Desert Cup, the official endurance horse race of the Mongolian Horse and Nomad Foundation, my first foray into the world of long-distance riding was exceptional. Never in my life did I imagine a world where equestrians would travel 25, 50, or 100 miles in a day on horseback and have fun doing it yet I saw and experienced it myself. More, I now have good friends in the endurance community. All…
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Learning Freedom with Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridle
I’m a believer in less is more, and using natural methods whenever possible for my horse. However, it is also difficult for me to let go of control. It wasn’t an easy decision to move to use of a bitless bridle, but this is my experience. Many options are available for equestrians to choose bitless, whether halter, bosal, side-pull, hackamore, etc. It can very much cause confusion and not every option is necessarily right for your horse. I read many forums, articles, and then let Google decide- opting first for the Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle. I lamented the cost for the biothane material and was quite grateful…
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Motivation from Top Equestrian Athletes
It may come as no surprise that equestrian superstars such as Charlotte Dujardin and others struggle with confidence from time to time, after all, they are only human. With great power comes great responsibility after all. The more they win, the more their fans and even trainers expect them to win. The pressure is on and comes not just from inside but relentless outside forces as well. And yet, we often put them on a pedestal thinking they are better than us in every way. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Yes, they may have more time and finesse in the saddle, but they are just people pursuing…
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Equestrienne: Jamie Baldanza
There is no such thing as a coincidence. I believe everything happens for a reason, and life brings us together in mysterious ways. Last fall I attended the 2018 Equus Film Festival in New York City to represent my bestselling book, Confessions of a Timid Rider which was up for an award. On Saturday morning, I participated in the panel on adventure rides, which was incredibly fun. Not only did I learn about rides other than The Gobi Desert Cup, which I represented, but also get to talk about my own life-altering experience! After the panel ended, I spoke to several audience members, one of whom was Jamie Baldanza who…
Equestrian Author and Podcast Host
