A Critical Look at “Beauty”

Editor’s Note: Best Horse Practices Summit presenter Katrin Silva grew up riding dressage in Germany before moving to the United States at age 19 to learn to ride Western. She’s been riding both disciplines for the last 20 years and is a regular guest columnist […]

Joy and Revelation in this Riding Experience

Editor’s Note: Trish Lemke is the founder of Joy Rides. She leads horse riding excursions around the world and is a certified Martha Beck life coach. Lemke lives in Durango, Colorado, with her family and horses. Check out her 2022-23 trips here. There’s just one […]

Katrin Silva: To Feel, Do Less & Be More

The Psychology of an Exciting Moment

Note from Maddy Butcher: A few years ago, on a beautiful, sunny day, my friend, Raechel and I headed out for an end-of-summer, celebratory ride. We each took two horses and two dogs. Oh, and a donkey. We rode about 8 miles, climbing some 2,000 […]

Thich Nhat Hanh was an Excellent Horseman

Editor’s Note: Thich Nhat Hanh was a Zen Buddhist master, author, poet, and teacher who helped pioneer the concept of mindfulness in the West. He died in Vietnam last month at the age of 95. Writer Curtis Moore grew up in Bishop, California, where he […]

Age and Horses and Me

From Stressful 2021 Comes Growth, Joy, Happiness

Editor’s Note: Julie Kenney is an avid horsewoman, former Best Horse Practices Summit board member, and runs Blackberry Farm in Harpswell, Maine. She shares this reflection on moving forward, resisting trending calls around the New Year. Julie writes: New Year’s resolutions abound. Social media postings […]

Saying Goodbye to Tucker

Editor’s Note: Since many of us count animals as companions and friends, and since many of us have dogs, we offer this guest post. You can read more dogs posts here. Read about beloved Belle’s quick end here. Julie Kenney is an avid horsewoman, former […]

An Amateur Trainer

Editor’s Note: Julie Kenney is an avid horsewoman, former Best Horse Practices Summit board member, and runs Blackberry Farm in Harpswell, Maine. She shares this multi-part reflection of work with three horses. Julie writes: I am an amateur trainer. I hesitate to even put that […]

Amateur Training: Hank

Editor’s Note: Julie Kenney is an avid horsewoman, former Best Horse Practices Summit board member, and runs Blackberry Farm in Harpswell, Maine. She shares this multi-part reflection of work with three horses. Julie writes: Hank’s story began when he arrived here over a year ago, […]