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The ride where getting off was the bravest—and smartest—thing I did (apologies for the swear words therein contained) I share plenty of good moments with my horses: the breakthroughs, the softness, the connection and those rides where the hard work finally seems to click. But not every ride is like that. Sometimes it is shit. Yep, shit! Sometimes your experienced horse becomes completely overwhelmed, your own survival instincts start screaming, and the best decision you can m

One of the biggest mistakes I see in horse training is the belief that more is better. More exercises. More repetitions. More time spent drilling. More things to tick off the training plan. In reality, piling exercise upon exercise into a session can quickly overload a horse both mentally and physically. Rather than asking, "What can I teach my horse today?", a more valuable question is: "What does my horse need from me today?" When we shift our focus to the horse's mindset a

What I would observe before deciding whether a young horse is a suitable prospect—and worth progressing to an independent veterinary pre-purchase examination. Buying a horse is deeply personal. Buying one under two years old can feel even more so, because you are assessing the horse in front of you while imagining the partner they may become. This checklist is not designed to find a “perfect” youngster. That horse does not exist. Nor can one viewing predict future soundness,

Shedding season has arrived. The days are getting warmer, winter coats are loosening, and every grooming session ends with horse hair in your eyes, on your clothes and somehow inside your bra. While nothing replaces a good curry comb and plenty of elbow grease, this is also the perfect time to give our ponies a thorough wash. One product worth adding to your spring-cleaning toolkit is the Livestock Shampoo Foamer from Saddleworld Ipswich. Why Use a Shampoo Foamer? Washing a h

Filmed your test? Need to upload your video? Here is how to send your online competition entry to Lagoballo for judging. One of the lovely things about an online competition is being able to ride your test in a familiar environment, with your own horse and without the float trip, parking puzzle or traditional competition-day rush. Once you have entered a Lagoballo online competition, received your test and filmed your performance, the final step is submitting your video for j

My young horse’s first rides during a six-day Mark Langley Horsemanship intensive at Skylark, Victoria. Thor turned three on 9 September. Some horses might celebrate with carrots, a birthday photo and perhaps an undignified party hat. Thor celebrated with some “pre-flight checks,” a saddle, and me climbing aboard for our very first ride together during a six-day Mark Langley Horsemanship intensive at Skylark, Mark and Jenny Langley’s beautiful property in Rosewhite, Victoria.

When we think about horse welfare, many people immediately focus on nutrition, exercise, veterinary care, or training. While these are undeniably important, true wellbeing is much broader than any single element. A horse's quality of life is built upon several interconnected pillars that work together to create a balanced, healthy and content individual. When one pillar is neglected, the others are often affected. For me, there are seven essential pillars that support every h

Why We Are More Productive Than Ever, Yet More Overwhelmed Than Ever There has never been a time in human history when we have had more tools designed to make life easier. We carry supercomputers in our pockets. We can communicate instantly with anyone in the world. Artificial intelligence can now draft reports, create presentations, answer questions, analyse data and automate tasks that once required hours of human effort. Yet despite all this progress, many people feel exha

When it comes to feeding horses, most discussions focus on what we're feeding. But perhaps we should spend more time thinking about how and where we're feeding. Traditionally, horses evolved to graze with their heads down for much of the day. More recently, many horse owners have embraced the idea that feeding from the ground is always best. While there are certainly benefits to ground feeding, I've come to believe that the "best" feeding position depends on the individual ho

As horse owners, we naturally want the best for our horses. We invest in lessons, clinics, training programs and equipment, all in pursuit of helping them reach their potential. But what if the very thing holding your horse back isn't a training issue at all? What if it's discomfort? Before we ask our horses to carry us, learn new skills, improve their movement or overcome behavioural challenges, we need to ensure they're physically comfortable in their bodies. No amount of t

With spring knocking on our doorstep and the days growing warmer, perhaps it's time to press pause on our training schedules and remember why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Instead of reaching for the saddle and bridle, what if we went back to our roots and focused on simply being with our horses? Spring is the perfect season to slow down and reconnect. Spend some time giving your horse a good scratch and a thorough groom, helping them shed those annoying bit

Let's be honest. Being in a relationship with a horse person is not for the faint-hearted. Our horses often dictate our schedules, our weekends, our bank accounts and sometimes even our moods. We disappear for hours "just to do the horses", only to return half a day later covered in dirt, horse hair and smelling vaguely of liniment and fly spray. And yet, somehow, our partners put up with it. For that, they deserve far more credit than they often receive. Loving Someone Means

Every horse owner has that one product. You know the one. The product you buy "just in case", only to find yourself reaching for it time and time again. For me, that's Terramycin Pink Eye Aerosol. Now, before anyone points it out, yes, it was originally developed as an antibiotic aerosol for treating eye infections and pinkeye conditions in animals. It contains oxytetracycline and is widely used in livestock veterinary care. But over the years, I've found it incredibly handy

If there is one topic guaranteed to spark discussion among horse owners, it's body condition. Too fat. Too thin. Needs more topline. Needs less pasture. Needs more feed. Needs less feed. Sometimes it feels like everyone has an opinion. Recently I found myself wondering: if you had to choose between a horse being slightly over-conditioned or slightly under-conditioned, which is actually better? Before anyone sharpens their pitchforks, I'm not talking about obese horses or hors

There comes a point in every horse person's life when you find yourself standing in the middle of a paddock, wearing track pants, a faded top, mismatched socks and, quite possibly, no bra, and think: "Yep. This is my Sunday best." The funny thing is, most of us would never dream of leaving the house like this to go shopping, meet friends, or attend a family lunch. Yet somehow, heading to the stables looking like we've lost a bet feels entirely acceptable. In fact, it's almost

If you’ve ever priced arena construction, you’ve probably heard this suggestion: “Just use pea gravel.” “Road base is cheaper and compacts well.” On the surface (no pun intended), it can sound practical, affordable, and convenient. But here’s the hard truth: Pea gravel and road base are two of the worst materials you can put under a working horse. And the damage they cause often isn’t immediate — it’s chronic, subtle, and expensive. Horses Don’t Just Stand on Arenas — They Lo

When you buy a horse, you don’t receive a blank slate (even youngsters or foals). You inherit everything that came before you — their previous training, their experiences (good and bad), their coping strategies, their habits, and their trauma. Whether visible or subtle, it all arrives with them the moment they step off the float. This isn’t a flaw. It’s simply the nature of being a living, learning being. Horses Carry History — Just Like We Do Horses evolve through life in mu

One of the easiest and fastest changes I’ve seen create an immediate improvement is switching to a lightweight, hardware‑free rope halter and lead combination, like this: This small adjustment often results in a horse that feels: Lighter More attentive More responsive to subtle feel And yes — you’ll often notice it straight away. My Go‑To Recommendations (Australia) If you’re looking for quality options, my Australian go‑to brands are: Mark Langley – purchase the halter and l

Agistment should be a Partnership At its best, it’s a mutually respectful arrangement where horse owners pay for safe facilities, clear agreements, and peace of mind — and property owners are fairly compensated for providing exactly that. Yet too often, agistment devolves into something else entirely: power plays, moving goal posts, and behaviour that leaves agistees feeling anxious, targeted, and afraid to speak up. Let’s be blunt — this isn’t “just how agistment works.” It’

Why Horse Ownership Can Feel Overwhelming — Even When You’re Informed Modern horse owners aren’t short on care, effort or good intentions. If anything, we care more than ever. We read, research, ask questions, seek professional input and genuinely want to do right by our horses. And yet, so many of us feel mentally exhausted. Not from lack of knowledge — but from too much of it. Welcome to decision fatigue: the invisible load quietly draining joy from training, tack choices