By: Bob Goddard

According to The Great Book of Horse Knowledge, one of the most neglected topics of the horse show scene is the phenomenon of the Adolescent Horse Show Helper (male).

This is the politically correct, sociologically preferred term for what is otherwise known as a “Show Boy”: the cruelly exploited boyfriend wannabe of a Horse Show Princess.

Show Boys can be seen hauling water for Princess’ horse, holding her horse for undetermined lengths of time, fetching her cheesy fries, and cooling off Princess’ horse after a class so that Princess can talk to her friends. A determined Horse Show Princess can keep her Show Boy hopping for hours.
continue reading "The Boyfriends’ Survival Guide to Horse Shows"

By: Bob Goddard

There was a time when I believed a horse was a horse was a horse. I didn’t know the difference between a Quarter horse, a Paint, and a gelding, or that the same horse could be all three. But thanks to my adolescent horse-crazed daughters, Jamie and Hiliary, I’ve learned some things.
continue reading "Buying a Horse ‘On the Spot’"

By: Ron Anderson

Spring. When you live in this part of the globe the seasons are all too obvious and this one has to be a favourite. It’s the season of renewal.

Newborn critters of every species are everywhere. For most of us, it’s a confirmation of the continuation of life that we look forward to, particularly after what seemed like an unabridged– maybe even extended–version of winter.

I had a great taste of spring early this year. It was that part of the spring renewal that makes me feel good about being part of the horse industry. Winter wasn’t near over when I was invited to do a clinic for a group south of Calgary. There it was: kids and horses.

I’ve mentioned before that one of the best tonics for folks’ outlook is watching the interaction between kids and horses. Their bond is pure. The belief of both horse and human in one another is uncompromised. The fun and accomplishments are endless.
continue reading "My Springtime Tonic"

By: Bob Goddard

It was a turning point in the history of our family. For seven years, our lives centered around horse shows. With two horse-crazed girls, my wife Jenny and I had grown accustomed to watching our money, our weekends, and our sanity vanish into a vortex of horse show mania. But now, at 17, our daughter Jamie announced she was giving it up, “I want to switch to trail riding, Dad.”

One down, one to go.
continue reading "An endless trail … of spending"

By: Ron Anderson

I was reading. Yep. Sitting in the lazy boy studying important stuff. My partner questions that particular endeavour because she notices the outcome is generally less than favourable.

Apparently, reading in the lazy boy results in either, A) a big old-man idea (this has been described in previous dissertations), or B) a complete non-productive waste of time and/or semi-trance-like condition where I am checking my eyelids for cracks that may allow in light. That particular condition can last for hours.

However, in this case, none of the above happened. Well … maybe the man-idea part, but just a little.
continue reading "Horsemanship Cults"

By: Bob Goddard

According to The Great Book of Horse Knowledge, a good horse-rider relationship is based on trust. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

Just because a horse trusts you, does not mean that you should trust it. No matter how honourable or noble you think a horse is, you should never, ever fully trust it.
continue reading "You Can’t Trust Horses"

By: Bob Goddard

When my 11-year-old daughter approached me about getting a horse, I didn’t say yes and I didn’t say no.

“You’re not old enough for a horse; you have to wait until you’re 12,” is what I said.

Having settled the matter, I snatched the TV remote and turned on the History Channel.

“Dad, I’ve been 14 for three months.”

Fourteen? Horse people often resort to this sort of trickery to get what they want. But I knew exactly how to handle it. Balancing the remote between my palms, I looked at the ceiling and said, “A horse is not a cat.” I flipped over to the Discovery Channel.
continue reading "Horses are not Cats. Nor are they Ken Dolls."