Opinion - Like many other equestrians who have been active in sport over the last few decades, no one needs to tell me twice that our sport is waning like the water supply in a mid-summer drought. Local venues are becoming scarce, big sponsors have fallen off the grassroots scene almost completely, and the costs of participation along with everything else keep climbing. Added to that is the increasing conversation regarding equine sport’s social license to operate hanging like a guillotine over the heads of equestrian competitors across the globe. These factors accelerate the general public’s opinion of equestrian sport as being elitist and inaccessible, preventing lifelong equestrianism for many before it ever gets the chance to blossom.

It often feels practical to skip lunging your horse if riding time is limited. Cutting out groundwork fits easily into a culture focused on speed and convenience. For some riders, lunging appears redundant — an awkward task that offers less control than simply climbing on and letting the horse settle under saddle. Others dismiss it as dull or monotonous. At events, a difficult horse on the lunge can be a source of discomfort or even a safety concern in shared spaces. And doesn’t all that circling put strain on the horse’s limbs.

Navigating the Mare Owner's Dilemma - So, you’re contemplating breeding your mare. As a seasoned breeder of top-notch warmbloods and the owner of Hyperion Stud, LLC, Vicky Castegren knows all about that decision.

About 1,500 horses run free on the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains north of Highway 1, which bisects Calgary, and south of Highway 16, which splits Edmonton. Their presence is controversial.

Our Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of Canadian Horse Journal included a special feature, also featured on this website at Alberta’s Free-Roaming Horses: Historically important or invasive pests? — a topic that clearly struck a chord with readers. Continuing the conversation, in late summer we launched an online poll with the same question. The response was huge — 5,407 votes poured in — and the results are shown below: