Favorite Reads of 2016

We asked a few contributors for their favorite reads of 2016. Here’s what they picked: Emily Luciano, occasional guest columnist and director of Lucky Dee Communications Less is More Feel Defined Amy Skinner on Self Carriage Amy Skinner on Guiding WiseAssWallace on Gear Amy Skinner, […]

All American November Giveaway

At NickerNews and BestHorsePractices, we like to research and highlight quality, American-made products. From lip balm to saddle pads, we’ve found some amazing and impressive goods. During the month of November, when you subscribe to Remuda Readers, you’ll qualify to win a $700 prize pack. […]

Win Custom Leggings from Fringe!

Fall is an exciting time of year for us riders. Bugs are at bay yet it’s still mild enough to enjoy long stretches on horseback. We’re likely in the best shape of the year and so are our horses. Hunting season and winter months are […]

Welcome new subscribers!

Welcome to NickerNews and BestHorsePractices! If you’re still trying to get a handle on who we are and what we do, let me help: For starters, I’m Maddy Butcher, a former newspaper reporter and founder of NickerNews and BestHorsePractices. These two websites are online horse […]

Getting Tossed, Taking Stock

On first read, I thought Libby Lyman’s comment about “gauging appropriate pressure for each individual horse” was a no brainer. See her Ask the Expert post here. “Doesn’t everyone know that?” I thought. But getting a bloody lip whilst coming off my mule has a […]

See you at the Equine Affaire

This just in: NickerNews and BestHorsePractices will be at this year’s Equine Affaire! We’ll have a fantastic booth in the Better Living Center. It’ll be bristling with activity including giveaways (bumper stickers and lip balms) as well as raffles for great prizes, including Cotopaxi’s Perfect […]

Snubs and hobbles can help a nervous horse

Scatterbrained horsemanship like mine has a way of leaving holes in training. That’s ok, I tell myself. Exposed holes get filled and the return to fundamentals makes for an improved horse, an improved rider, and, most importantly, an improved relationship. Read about filling Holes in […]

Progress in strange places

Progress comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be planned or spontaneous, pretty or pretty ugly. Over the past few weeks, we’ve worked with Jolene at all of the above. Read more about deliberate tips for working with a spooky horse. Meanwhile, we had […]

Welcome Libby Lyman & Hay Pillow!

This week, we welcome two new and exciting advertisers to our fantastic family of partners. Libby Lyman has been expanding her knowledge base, circle of comfort, and client list with a Gentle Approach to Horsemanship. She leads clinics from California to Maine and points in […]

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 […]