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Ride The Horse You Have, Not The Horse You Want
I see the sales listings all the time that mention an all round horse that can go any direction. Physically that may be true, but often in work I come across a horse that is shut down, going through the paces, or best-case scenario LOVES their job. It’s so important to look at the emotional and mental aspect of our horse when choosing a discipline. Some horses CAN go in any direction, but not always. Try New Things Conformation is a significant factor in discipline. I’ve been lucky to work with Mongol horses, barrel horses, ranch horses, and of course hunter/jumpers. It is incredibly obvious when a horse loves their job.…
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Equestrienne: Chris Cassenti
What is your experience with horses? I was born with a love of horses. I had horses as a kid and grew into a successful & highly respected business established in 1978 to present time. I have a 42-horse facility, HUGE Lesson Program, and employ professional trainers & Instructors. Over the last several years, I have a wonderful clientele of women aged 50-84 who are getting back into riding or have been taking lessons and now want to own their own horse. More, I have been on BOD of many professional equine associations, including MFBF Equine Advisory Committee, respected USEF “R” Judge & NEHC Judge, and recipient of many prestigious awards. Finally, I…
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How To Stay Motivated During the Winter
If you are over winter, like me, then here are some tips to stay motivated to ride and work with your horse! Many equestrians focus on the care of horses during cold and icy winter months, which leaves little time to rider. If you are fortunate enough to have a full-care facility the chances of riding are much greater. Still, waking up to ice on the ground and freezing temperatures make it difficult to leave the house and spend time exercising outdoors. For me, winter has always been the best time to ride. My bodywork clients are quieter because show season is suspended and my pony moves more forward. Remember,…
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Improving Communication With Your Horse
We have to stop thinking of training horses in human terms. They have herd behavior. We don’t speak the same language. We can try but we will never be as good as they are, because we aren’t horses. However, the more we understand this dynamic the more we let horses be horses and focus on our relationship and how we can successfully communicate.
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The Mental Aspect of Our Equestrian Sport
Many times others have questioned me, saying I don’t strike them as a timid person. In fact, I appear quite the opposite and for the most part there is truth to that. For me, I struggle with relinquishing control. For a person with trouble giving up control, it might seem ironic that I chose a sport where that is IMPERATIVE in order to succeed. Equestrianism is a partnership, a team event benefitted by the bond, communication, and trust between horse and rider. There must be a give and a take. In the last few years I’ve bloomed in confidence as I built my relationship with Ferrous. Owning my own horse…
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Riding is the Best Exercise
Riding is my chosen form of exercise. I’m limited on time. You know the story: work and family and chores tend to always take precedence. It’s a common theme among equestrians. After all, our passion takes a little more time to accomplish then say, running to the gym for an hour. Oh no, we have to get to the barn, get the horse from the paddock, groom, tack, warm up, ride, cool down, untack, and put the horse back in the paddock. And, if you are like me, like to take your time enjoying every minute of it. I don’t want to feel rushed. While I have good intentions to…
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Heart Horse: The True Story of a Thoroughbred and a Timid Rider
Confession: I feel things very intensely, very deeply but often I hide it behind a smile. Most people won’t know when my heart is breaking, or completely full. That is, unless I openly admit it. The truth is, I have severe social anxiety. I have a fear of confrontation and I always secretly wonder if the things I say out loud are wrong or awkward. When The Timid Rider began in 2016 it was my secret diary of low self-esteem and struggle coming to terms with my baby weight, being a returning adult equestrian, and wanting to be better than I was. Riding a lesson horse once a week meant…
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Choose Your Adventure: Pony Style.
How do you decide a young horse’s discipline? Conformation? Intelligence or confidence level? Owner’s goals? I bought my pony when he was 11 years old and an established hunter champion. I grew up riding in the hunter/jumper world and our area is rife with equestrian facilities dedicated to this discipline. Often, however, I will ride my pony Western, which I’ve taught him over the years. Especially, when the seasons changes I need a little deeper seat. Horses are predictably unpredictable. Each season with horses brings a fun, new adventure. Winter is brutally cold and the ground hard. Spring is allergy season for me and makes for a playful pony. Summer…
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Wearable Technology to Improve Circulation in Horses
Confession: I don’t completely understand the science behind ceramic technology but I like how effective it is! The fact that SmartPak came out with their own product line is just icing on the cake! What is Ceramic Technology? Ceramic therapy has been increasingly popular in the horse world. The ceramic powder incorporated into the fabric of the products uses the horse’s own body to generate infrared heat and reflect it back, providing regular warmth and increased circulation. The result is better blood flow and suppleness- naturally. Why Improved Circulation Matters Our circulation system provides nutrients to cells throughout the body, most importantly oxygen. Our organs don’t work without it. More,…
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The Bookstore for Horse Lovers
Confession: I best love horses and books above all. I Launched a New WebsiteAn unexpected project I took on this summer was creating and launching The Bookstore for Horse Lovers. Several other authors and I had discussed working together to create a pop-up shop at events like Equitana or Equine Affaire but with Covid-19 that became a little problematic. That, and we are all so busy and the details were astronomical. Instead, I created a website to serve as a landing page for anyone interested in horses and books. What makes it completely different is that it focuses on the AUTHORS! Now you can view featured authors, non-fiction authors, and fiction…
Equestrian Author and Podcast Host
