Another thing to consider when deciding whether or not they need grain for the summer is whether they're the appropriate weight. Here's a link with some tips for telling if they're "too big, too small or just right." Good luck! http://www.equisearch.com/horses%5Fcare/feeding/feed/horseweight%5F061605/

Hi Frizzle, Great suggestions! (Sorry for delay—I got a little sidetracked.)

That's great that your mare has an awesome trot. There are a couple of different strategies for strengthening her back muscles for the sitting trot: 1. At the posting trot, make sure she's really working and pushing from her hind end and that the energy you create with her hind end moves forward over her back so that she stretches forward with her head and neck into a soft contact. If you find that you have to pull on her mouth to get her to round into a frame, then chances are she isn't

My horse is weaker going to the right and tends to fall in on that side. My trainer says one key to correcting this problem is to make sure he's connected to my outside rein, even if I have to counterbend him a little (all while squeezing with my inside leg to connect his hind end to the outside rein). To make sure he's connected to the outside rein, I'll periodically move my inside rein forward for a step or two. If he stays in the same frame, I know he's connected on the outside

My surefire way of staying cool while riding in the summer is to get up early and ride before it gets too hot. It's hard dragging myself out of bed on the weekends, but it's well worth it when I'm putting my horse away as the temperature creeps up. A friend of mine swears by the vented helmets. Also, I'm looking into getting some clothes specifically made to keep you cool, but I haven't tried them before. (You can check some of them out by going to www.EquiShopper.com and searching

I'm glad to help. I don't think "dovetails" is hot new editor lingo. As I wrote it, I paused and thought it was a bit old-fashioned. Perhaps your aunt and I are of the same generation! Good luck with everything.

I suggest you send your resume, emphasizing your professional editing experience and your BA. Also, point out ways corporate event planning dovetails with editing—good communication and organizational skills and the ability to focus on details, for instance. If they don't have any positions available, you also could offer to edit or proofread on a freelance basis. I wouldn't include a copy of the magazine highlighted with errors. Everyone reacts differently to constructive criticism, so you

It's amazing how much spooking--even if it's occasional--can put a damper on a ride. When I moved my horse to a new barn a few years ago that had a line of trees/brush along one side of the arena, he started spooking at all the little noises coming from the area. Here are a couple of things that worked for me: — Hand-walk your horse by the spooky area a few times before you get on. My horse takes comfort if I'm between him and the "scary" thing at first. I've found it's

Hi Barbara, Thanks for the post. I asked Robert Dover for his thoughts about it. Here’s what he said: With the greatest admiration for Gen. Chamberlin and his work, I respectfully disagree with his definition of the Balanced Seat. Here is why: First, his assumption that the fleshy part of the buttocks is not part of the seat is like saying that the fleshy part around my waist is not part of my upper body. While I truly would love it if that, in fact, were true, it makes absolutely no sense. The seat

Hi pw-rangers, Two exercises that my trainer had me work on that might help you: 1. I stayed in two-point, with my seat completely out of the saddle, in all of my flatwork--walk, trot and canter. I had to build up to this, but eventually I rode just about the entire lesson in two-point. This made me a much stronger rider. I learned to balance over my base of support while off my horse's back. If I ever felt as if I were going to fall back, I'd grab mane. 2. My trainer set three small jumps