Forget no-stirrup-November. For many riders (**raises hand**) there is literally nothing scarier than trot jumps.  Unfortunately for us, according to 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games Team gold medalist and 2018 FEI World Cup Finals runner-up Devin Ryan, practicing trot jumps is important for a whole host of reasons—from building confidence in young horses to re-training older horses that may have developed a jumping issue.   “I believe that when you trot a jump, you can teach a horse to get to the base and still get out of their own way. I think it starts with young hor ..read more

Newly inducted Show Hunter Hall of Famer Jenny Karazissis has been notably absent from the show ring this year, after being sidelined by an injury in January. “It was quite a setback for me, so I didn’t really plan or have any big goals for this year because I just wanted to give myself time to heal,” said the Calabasas, CA native. Upon returning to the ring, she wasted no time jumping to the top of the leaderboard again, however. In her second show back, the Blenheim June Classic I in San Juan Capistrano, CA, Karazissis and Really took the win in the $35,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby o ..read more

Last year, Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) launched an initiative to offer big money classes to hunter riders. It’s called the Hunter Incentive Program. But really, it’s a hunter appreciation program. Unique to the Michigan-based show series and exclusive to the hunter divisions, the Hunter Incentive Program is an optional enrollment program that features $325,000 in guaranteed prize money, nine Hunter Finals, and a guaranteed incentive: 70% of the enrollment fee goes into add-back prize money. The vacation destination show, located minutes from Lake Michigan and surrounded by walking trails ..read more

You don’t get extra award points for being humble, but if you’re 2022 Equestrians of the Year Adrienne Lyle and Hunt Tosh, you certainly win a few more fans in the sport.  Both riders were honored at the 2023 USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner Celebration on January 12 in Lexington, Kentucky, having been selected by US Equestrian member voters. Lyle was nominated for the International Equestrian of the Year titles and Tosh for the National title late last year.   Despite being one of the busiest riders on the hunter circuit, Tosh—winning his second consecutive USEF National Equestrian of the ..read more

On a Thursday afternoon at Thunderbird Show Park, Robert Blanchette is juggling. Blanchette, who runs the Salinas, CA-based Blanchette Equestrian alongside his wife Tammy, brought forward two FEI horses, a six-year-old and two derby horses for Thunderbird Show Park’s CSI3* Summer Fort Classic—plus the catch rides he picked up at the venue. His way of preparing for the $25,000 Foxstone Stables USHJA International Hunter Derby was to naturally jump the CSI3* $37,000 George & Dianne Tidball Legacy 1.45m. When he wasn’t in the show ring himself, he helped his wife coach their students. And per ..read more

Thirty-one competitors across professional, junior, and amateur ranks contested the Saturday evening’s $100,000 WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular at Flintridge Horse Park in Traverse City. But it was a trio of teenagers that claimed the podium. On top: 17-year-old Augusta Iwasaki and Attendu De Lannois Z. Iwasaki drew first in the order of go, setting the score to beat at 86.50 over Joe Carnicom’s 16-effort track in the Grand Prix ring. By the end of the first round, only one combination could top her, 15-year-old Raina Swani and Small Occasion on a score of 87.25. Returning for the handy round ..read more

Brought to you by AIG: “We share your passions… and we’ll help you protect them.” Chances are, if you live in North America, you have a clearly defined vision of what show hunter sport looks like. If you’re watching Royal Windsor this week, then, you’re in for a bit of a surprise. The Working Hunter division has a very different interpretation in Europe. The hunter discipline originates from the actual hunt, and the Working Hunters at Royal Windsor not only resemble those roots—the majority of the entries are actual hunt horses. Rather than categorized into years of experience or height, Europ ..read more

Men ride horses too! Sometimes it’s easy to forget, what with 15% minority they’re believed to make up of the equestrian market and the volume of women’s wear posts we do here. But it’s a fact. And men too deserve an amazing equestrian wardrobe. This week, in celebration of Father’s Day, we are here to serve it up #ROOTD-style. To start, these FITS Hudson breeches are a traditional and tailored style. The four-way stretch allows for peak athletic performance while the smooth fabric finish repels dirt and hair. I love them in black. FITS Hudson Breeches, $119 Tuck in this Horseware polo made fr ..read more

The 2022 Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) has officially kicked off! *Cue fireworks* The DIHP winter season in balmy Thermal, CA starts with a week of national competition then jumps straight into seven weeks of international shows. If you’re wondering what to watch, you’re spoiled for options. DIHP boasts the most robust livestream schedule of any winter circuit. Or show. Possibly ever. Every class. From every ring. Every week. That’s 15 rings over eight weeks of competition. And it’s freeeeeee. Like all good livestreams should be. Overwhelmed yet? Fear not. We have th ..read more

Fly season is officially here, and I am worried that I might never get the smell of fly spray out of my clothes. And while frequent fly spray showers are a necessary evil this time of year, it wears off after a while, and my horses get nasty bites and then super annoyed—especially on their legs. These Kensington Protective Fly Boots are the best product I have found to stop flies and gnats from irritating legs. They provide so much protection, and they actually stop my horses from stomping their feet in frustration (specifically my highly sensitive, retired mare who spends a lot of time in tur ..read more