What Happens Next? – The Chronicle of the Horse

Show jumping today is becoming less accessible to more Americans as the costs of participating increase. This is a dangerous trend, because the wealthy rider has become the new normal. Fifty years ago, riders made their way up the ranks riding both good and bad horses owned by others; now, most grand prix riders or […]

Read more...

Where Did the Grit Go? – The Chronicle of the Horse

Much like our Thelwell ponies and difficult horses taught us physical and mental toughness, the sport itself and the courses demanded it. In the second part of this series, we discuss taking care of the horse and teaching the horse. Most shows had permanent outside courses for hunter competitions when I started riding as a […]

Read more...

In Praise of the Difficult Ones – The Chronicle of the Horse

Visit Chronicle of the Horse to subscribe and view the article as it originally appeared.  Recently, several prominent trainers and riders have discussed how the discipline of show jumping has changed, and it has. Prior to 1950, American show jumping, with its standing martingales and rub classes without time allowed, was a vastly different sport than the […]

Read more...

Q&A: How Can I Protect My Horse Out On Lease?

Q: I am preparing to lease out my 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding for the first time, and, while I know and trust the lessee, I’ve heard horror stories of leased horses coming back entirely unsound or unusable. Is there anything I can do to help protect myself and my horse from that scenario?   A: […]

Read more...

You Sold Me a Stopper!

This lawsuit Florida over the sale of a potential grand prix horse, Vorst, to a wealthy Mexican owner provides an opportunity to discuss the responsibilities of sellers and risks to buyers in a horse deal. This case is especially interesting since all the parties appear to be knowledgeable and sophisticated participants in equine sport. However, a […]

Read more...