Time off is an inevitable part of a horse's life, whether due to bad weather, personal schedules, or other factors. However, how horse owners manage these breaks can significantly affect their horse’s health, soundness, and performance over time. Research by veterinary colleges and experts on movement science reveals that large fluctuations in fitness can harm a horse’s well-being, especially for those beyond the middle of their teens. Extended periods of low activity—especially those spanning a month or more-can weaken supportive tissues and muscles crucial to posture. When training resumes, horses may use improper substitutive muscles and positions, leading to poor performance, injury, or a lack of training progress. To help you optimize downtime and keep your horse on track, here are three essential guidelines to coordinate breaks effectively and even use them to enhance your horse's training.

My Journey Into Bitless Riding - About 15 years ago I first went bitless with my mare, Diva, after a particularly passionate foray, on my part, into natural horsemanship. Riding with a rope halter and lead rope felt a little like wearing a thong bikini to a public beach, with many people waiting to see if this get-up was actually going to do the trick once we hit the water, or in this case the trails.

With Scott Phillips of Amazing Horse Country - We often hear the term “dream horse” when riders are asked what they desire. But what do our horses want or need in their “dream human”?

My introduction to horses came through ranch work. I was earning my keep in the saddle, riding horses owned by the outfit I worked for. At the time, I assumed logging long hours on horseback meant I was skilled. The truth? I was riding animals that were considered "broke" by ranch standards.