Zarzyski’s Wild Rides

I had the excellent opportunity to interview poet and former bronc rider Paul Zarzyski last month. As a young man, Zarzyski headed west from his Wisconsin roots and landed in Montana where he started riding bucking horses and attended the University of Montana. Some 40 […]

Kurgo gives us reason to smile during Mud Season

Mud, mud, glorious mud Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood So follow me follow, down to the hollow And there let me wallow in glorious mud — Flanders and Swann Mud Season’s around the corner. How will your back seat look? Is it […]

Winter Warrior Sampler

The Muck Boot Winter Warrior Contest is over. Thanks to all who participated! Check out the slideshow here. Some of my personal favorite images and comments came from Barbara, Debbie and Doris. Three tough gals, for sure. All will be receiving small consolation gifts from […]

Introducing ‘Not Too Old to Learn Challenge’!

We’ve been celebrating the NickerNews and BestHorsePractices community with guest columns and photo albums dedicated to our readers and their equines. Inspiring stuff. And as often happens in the dark, quiet months of winter, I got to thinking: Let’s do something with these inspirations. Let’s […]

United in Love and Equine Dedication

Question: How many horse owners does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Name any number. The light bulb won’t get changed because they’re too busy talking about horses, minis, donkeys, and mules. Say this about our crazy community: we are passionate, enthusiastic, devoted, […]

Toughest Winter Warrior wins Muck Boots

It may be a Worst Ever Winter, but for Muck Boot wearers, it’s a bit less painful: “At least my feet stay warm and dry,” they say. Who among you has it worst? In this record-breaking season, we’re rewarding one lucky, tough reader with a […]

Bryan Neubert on the mend

Bryan Neubert, one of the few people who worked with the men many consider to be the founders of natural horsemanship: Ray Hunt, Bill and Tom Dorrance, is coming to Maine later this year. Click here for events. To hear him tell it, Neubert just lucked […]

Welcome HayBalancer & Adventurista Designs!

2015 has brought positive changes to Cayuse Crest Communications, our family of sites that includes NickerNews, BestHorsePractices and UtahOutsider. We’re growing in readership and advertisers are jumping aboard. Please welcome Adventurista Designs and Dr. Thornley’s Hay Balancer. We met Adventurista Designs founder Meghan Holler at […]

Welcome Third Coast and South Mountain!

We welcome two new advertisers into the NickerNews and BestHorsePractices fold: South Mountain Equine Veterinary Services and Third Coast Equine Services of Maine. Dr. Janelle Tirrelle, of Augusta, Maine, has opened Third Coast Equine after working at Maine Equine Associates for several years. She has […]

Groundwork helps fill in holes

Recently, I went back to basics with Jolene, the mule. We have a history of holes in our training and I figured it’d be helpful for both of us to review some basic understandings. Here are two things we worked on over the course of […]