It has always been puzzling why some women and some men seem to have an inherent ability to ride. Excelling in their discipline, they go on to become FEI riders and trainers.

Others seem to have every advantage – a good horse, natural athletic ability, discipline to train – and yet, something is missing.

About 15 years ago Dr. Deb Bennett wrote an article discussing just this phenomenon. This was an in-depth study of the comparative muscular/skeletal structures of men and women, and how theses differences related to riding ability.

Dr. Bennett’s conclusion in the article was that women may have a conformational disadvantage, but with exercises and muscular development they could compensate and achieve a similar position on horseback to the male.
continue reading "Woman vs. Man: Who is best built to ride?"

By: Bob Goddard

I used to hate tack stores. To me, they were boring and irrelevant … and expensive. I would trail my wife and daughters like a secret service agent ready to pounce on any situation that threatened the cheque book.

Of course, this was back in the days when I operated under the totally erroneous assumption that anything I said had the slightest bearing on what they actually bought:

“Is that the cheap bridle?” I would ask with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, Dad …” they nodded as they held up the padded snaffle bridle with buckle-end reins, carefully concealing the $299.99 price tag with one of their little thumbs, “It is.”
continue reading "Tack Stores are Fun!"

by Christine Sweet, BSc.

Bits are somewhat of a mystery to me. I have tried out several different types of bits over the years, and I actually have a bucket with three family generations of bits piled high.

So, when I heard bit maker Dave Elliott’s presentation at the Horse Breeders and Owners Conference in January, I could pretty much relate to everything he said.

I don’t think I am much different than any other rider. I want a bit that provides me with the ability to steer and stop my horse as requested, and I don’t want that bit to hurt my horse.

One of the things that Elliott said that stood out in my mind was that bits don’t fix problems. This statement got me thinking about all the gadgets we put on our horses that we think are “fixing” problems but that are, frankly, masking poor horsemanship. Which leads me to another point Dave made that hit home…
continue reading "Demystifying Bits"

by Nicholas Arroyo

Did you know that your shopping habits have the potential to change the tack store business as we know it?

Some will say that’s good for the industry, while others will look at it as a serious threat to the well-established, family-owned horse tack businesses that we have all come to know and love.

As part of some research work for my upcoming book, I stumbled across a disturbing trend that is changing the landscape of the traditional “brick-and-mortar” horse tack shop. The domino effect on local tack shops is astounding and troublesome.
continue reading "Trends in Tack Buying: Is on-line purchasing destroying the local tack store?"