The Heavenly Horses of Ferghana
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
4d ago
Horses are the foundation of military power, the great resources of the state but, should this falter, the state will fall. Ma Yuan (14BC – 49AD, Han Dynasty Military General and horse expert When Emperor Wu came to power, the Chinese had been using cavalry for the previous 200 years. Before that, chariots had been used in battle, but they had many disadvantages, all of which became apparent when fighting the horse riders of the nomadic tribes. Their riders were agile, darting around chariots and infantrymen alike, while the chariots were heavy and cumbersome, unable to react fast enough to k ..read more
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The Best Bits for Green Horses
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
1w ago
Having the perfect bit can feel like a dream. As if you had put magic in your horse’s mouth, suddenly they are responding with eagerness, turning your ride into a complete dream. But having the wrong bit can feel like a nightmare – your horse can refuse to listen, throw its head, and act out. Choosing the correct bit can be overwhelming.. There’s tons of variations and materials to choose from, and there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. It’s a very sensitive area of the horse, we want to be careful what we put in that sensitive area. And sometimes it takes trial and error to figure out wha ..read more
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Horseback Riding Vacations in Iceland
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
1M ago
Iceland is one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes to see. Looking across the land makes you feel like you’re in an alien world. Volcanos and snow live side by side, creating incredible sights unlike any other.  I went to Iceland last year and it was incredible. I’m planning out my next trip, because last time I ended up missing one of the most important aspects of traveling anywhere – I didn’t get to ride! There just wasn’t enough time. But, I rationalized that meant I’d have to return, which is not something I’m upset about. The landscape, the culture, and the yummy food are all ..read more
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The Toughest Horses in the World – The Mongolian Horse
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
1M ago
The Hungarians were scared. The invading Mongolians had already taken over half the country, leaving destruction and death in their wake. The remaining citizens knew their defenses were not enough. They would be destroyed. Any moment they would attack, and the Hungarians didn’t know if they should fight, or try to flee. The heavy spring rains had turned the roads into a muddy mess, they were likely to just get stuck. But as they braced, preparing for what seemed like certain death, nothing happened. The army didn’t come. As the days turned into weeks, it looked like they weren’t going to come ..read more
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The Horsewoman, A Book Review
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
1M ago
I love books, I love reading, and it used to be one of my favorite things to do. I suppose technically it still is, I just don’t have as much time to do it anymore. But, I found myself with some extra time to read, and I decided to read a book simply for the fun of it. I choose The Horsewomen, by James Patterson and Mike Lupica. I have read many books by James Patterson. I think his books are suspenseful, interesting, and keep me glued to the pages. This book… was not it. I feel like I’m supposed to like it because it’s about horses, but there’s so many reasons I did not. I am also wondering a ..read more
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A Secret Society of Horsemen
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
1M ago
After what feels like years of attending schooling shows, mastering those lower level tests, you’ve finally decided that you’re ready. You’re feeling confident about your ability to not embarrass yourself at the rated shows, so you’re going to do it – you’re going to join the United States Dressage Federation, and you’re going to start working towards your medals.  You submitted an application to join, and it seemed easy enough. But one night, as you’re about to lay your head down to sleep, you see it. There’s an envelop on your pillow. How did that get there? You left your mail in a gian ..read more
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Real Life Versions of Animated Disney Horses -Part 2
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
2M ago
They may entertain us, touch our hearts or inspire us, but deep down, we are judging them. That’s right, I’m back again with more Disney horses to analyze!  Part 1 included Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen. But there’s just so many horses to analyze, I couldn’t put them all in one post. So here’s more!  Did I miss your favorite? Let me know who else needs looking over! Hercules Pegasus Pegasus is a mythical creature, so really he could be any form at all. Looking at Pegasus’s conformation without the wings, he looks like he is modeled after one of the baroque breeds o ..read more
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Real Life Versions of Animated Disney Horses – Part 1
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
2M ago
If you have children, or were possibly once a child yourself, you’ve seen a Disney movie. They are next to impossible to avoid, unless you live on a remote rock in the middle of the ocean. But if you’re also an equestrian, chances are that you watched these movies while also critiquing the horses, comparing them to real life. For me personally, now being a parent, and forced to watch these movies anyway, it’s all I can focus on. I spend much of the movie analyzing these horses every time they are on screen. Are they realistic? Does it even make sense? To be fair, I actually do that to pretty m ..read more
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Horses at Easter Island
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
2M ago
Quick! What do horses and gigantic stone statues of people and heads have in common? If you answered, “nothing,” well, prepare to be surprised. They do have something in common. They both reside on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui to its native population. Famous mostly for the huge statues, called “Moai”, Easter Island is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world. It’s politically part of Chile, but it’s located a 4 hour flight from it, out into the Pacific Ocean.  The island is believed to have been first settled by Polynesians, although the date of the first settlement ..read more
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The Best Books for Learning to Ride
An Equestrian Life
by Courtney
3M ago
There’s a time in every equestrians life where they just want to consume everything horse related, any speck of horse information they can possibly find. For many, this will last your entire life. You will be consumed by the quest for more knowledge, and stop at nothing to obtain it. Think Harry Potter searching for the horcruxes, except it’s you, looking for anything horse related, and also it doesn’t stop at 7 horcruxes. It never stops, because there’s always something new. You will wake up one day, a long gray beard on your chin (male or female, doesn’t matter), surrounded by books and hors ..read more
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