Step Details Step 1: Choose the Right Online Tool Web Soil Survey (WSS): Detailed soil data and maps for the USA. SoilWeb: Mobile-friendly, provides clay, sand, organic matter, and pH levels. Soil Explorer: Broad view of soil properties with detailed maps. USCS Calculator: Classifies soil based on composition. Step 2: Use the Tool to Identify Your Location Web Soil Survey: Enter address/zipcode for soil reports. SoilWeb: Input location identifiers for soil data. Soil Explorer: Apply map layers for soil properties. USCS Calculator: Enter gravel/sand/fines data for classification. Step 3: Interpret the Results Soil Composition: Check clay, silt, sand for drainage/nutrients. pH Levels: Plant viability, ideal pH 6.0 to 7.0. Organic Matter: Enhances fertility, texture, and plant growth. Drainage Class: Essential for preventing waterlogging. How to Determine Your Soil Type with an Online Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide Whether you're cultivating a lush garden or planning an ambitious construction project, understanding your soil type is indispensable. Soil type dictates plant growth, water drainage, and foundational stability. Fortunately, the digital era offers tools that ensure you don't have to be a soil scientist to get this information. Here's a comprehensive guide on using online tools to effortlessly determine your soil type. Step 1: Choose the Right Online Tool In today's tech-savvy landscape, several online tools are designed to help identify soil types. However, it's critical to select one that aligns with your requirements. Web Soil Survey (WSS) Developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, this tool provides extensive soil data and maps for the United States. It's an asset for agricultural producers and technical service providers looking for detailed terrain specifics. SoilWeb Explore USDA-NCSS soil survey data with this smartphone-friendly interactive map. It's perfect for obtaining soil info on-the-go, offering insights into clay, sand, organic matter, and pH levels. Soil Explorer Providing a broad view of soil properties across regions, this tool is excellent for understanding soil variability with its detailed map layers. USCS Calculator While it doesn't identify soil type from location, this calculator helps classify soil based on composition using the ASTM Visual-Manual Procedure. Ideal for those already equipped with field data needing classification. Step 2: Use the Tool to Identify Your Location With Web Soil Survey Start by visiting the Web Soil Survey website. Click "Enter" to launch the map, and zoom into your area. You can also enter an address or zip code to jump directly to a specific location. You'll then gain access to robust reports detailing soil types and their characteristics. Using SoilWeb Navigate to SoilWeb and choose "Zoom To Location", where you can input a variety of location identifiers. This will display the required soil data for your selected area. Exploring with Soil Explorer Select a region and apply different map layers to view a range of soil properties. Click on any map section for detailed soil information. Applying USCS Calculator If you possess field data, enter the gravel, sand, and fines percentages. This pragmatic tool will subsequently classify the soil according to ASTM standards. Step 3: Interpret the Results Deciphering your soil data can drastically improve your understanding of its potential and limitations. Here are the key components to evaluate: Soil Composition Look for the blend of clay, silt, and sand. These factors influence drainage, water retention, and nutrient availability. pH Levels Soil pH affects nutrient accessibility and plant viability. The majority of plant species flourish in slightly acidic to neutral conditions, usually between a pH of 6.0 and 7.0. Organic Matter Organic compounds in the soil enhance fertility and texture, and high levels of organic matter are generally advantageous for plant growth. Drainage Class Understanding how well soil drains is pivotal in preventing waterlogging and supporting healthy root ecosystems. Conclusion Utilizing online tools for soil analysis makes these sophisticated evaluations accessible to everyone. The benefits of using platforms such as Web Soil Survey, SoilWeb, and Soil Explorer are vast, enabling users to make educated decisions whether for gardening, farming, or construction undertakings. With this newfound knowledge, you're better equipped to choose the right Jodhpur from our collection at Just Horse Riders when planning rides through diverse terrains!```html```

When training your horse, one of the ultimate goals is softness in his responses. But this softness should be not only in his face and head, but through the horses whole body. In this article, trainer Ben Baldus shares his tips for understanding and incorporating softness into your horse.The Goal of SoftnessSoftness starts with your horses mouth and chin, through his neck, rib cage, and hindquartershis whole body. Some riders confuse softness with achieving a headset, where the horse holds its head in the desired position.When asking a horse to be soft, it is more than a headsetit starts with their mouth and chin, through their neck, ribcage and hindquarters. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightIts beyond headsetits more a willing behavior to do the task youre asking for, says Baldus. Some horses naturally have a neck that comes out a little bit lower, [and] theyre comfortable being lower-headed due to their style or their pedigree. Other horses with a different pedigree or style might carry their head a little bit higher and have a higher-headed look. That doesnt mean that the horse is stiffer, it just means that he has conformation that puts his head higher.A horse with higher-headed conformation can still be soft with his head and neck, according to Baldus. This type of horse can still be flexed at the poll, willingly guided and softjust with his head coming out of his neck a bit higher.If a horse is high-headed and tense, he might be anxious or protecting himself from reins that are pulled on too firmly.When a horse has his head way up and his neck tight, his shoulders are heavy and hes hitting the ground hard while he moves, says Baldus. His whole body is stiff, rigid and tight.In contrast, a soft horse has a lightness of step and movement regardless of gait or maneuver.Hes going to have a soft and light step, and thats going to help the horse move better, he says. And thats true whether working a cow, on the trail, just riding down the road, or riding for pleasure around your ranch. A horse that is lighter and moves with more fluidity is going to be smoother and softer to ride.PreparationThe bit you choose to use while working on softness with your horse is important. Baldus says that when hes first starting to train a horseusually in the first 30 days of ridinghell use a loping hackamore to work on lateral softness. He will next put the horse in some variation of a snaffle bit.As I transition to a snaffle, some horses are very light and soft and go in a smooth O-ring, he says. Others need a bit more, maybe a little twist to the mouthpiece, or even a short shank bridle to help him understand how to soften to the bridle.No matter what bit you use, your hands are the most important piece of the puzzle.Move Slow and SoftBaldus says the way you ask your horse to move is key.Every day when I get on, every ride, I remind myself to slow my hands down and ask [for a response] as slow and soft as possible, he says.This starts with asking the horse to tip his nose to the right, for example. Youll do this every time you ride after your horse has warmed up.I ask myself how slowly and how smoothly I can pick this rein up and ask this horse to tip his nose to the right, says Baldus. If I ask slowly and methodically, in a sequence of half a pound of pressure, 1 pound of pressure, 2 pounds, 3 pounds, and so on over a 10-second time period, that horse has a chance to respond to a soft, light pressure before I increase to more pressure. By building the habit of keeping your hand slow, the horse will start to respond to 1 or 2 pounds.Build this habit into everything you do with your hands and legs while ridingwhether you have on a loping hackamore or a spade bit on a finished bridle horse. Focus on keeping your hands as slow and consistent as possible.The Release of PressureYoull also want to focus on the release of pressure.Your horse is going to learn the most from the release of pressure, says Baldus. The moment he starts to soften in the direction I want with his head, neck or shoulders, I start to release the pressure.Look for a place to reward your horse, even just for trying, then pick up and ask again. He will probably get softer faster, according to Baldus.The Sequence of Achieving SoftnessWorking from the front to the back of the horse, Baldus asks for softness.I start with his nose, and Im just bending his nose laterally, lets say with my left hand, he says. Im tipping my left hand toward my left pocket and asking the horse to give his nose to the left.Ben Baldus starts to ask for softness by bending the horses nose laterally by pulling one rein toward his hip pocket. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightBaldus notes that hes not clucking or using his legs for this stephes asking the horse to stand still and stay relaxed, flexing his nose toward the rein cue.Once he stands still and gives his nose to the left, then I release that pressure, he says. Then I will pick up the rein and ask again in another 10 seconds.Once the horse is stationary and flexing his nose toward the rein cue, Baldus releases the pressure, and then asks again in 10 seconds. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightYour horse is not going to respond perfectly right awayyoure looking for small steps, building habits that will stay with the horse. Baldus says it may take a horse two weeks to understand if hes never done it before.Vertical FlexionThe drills Baldus uses most often are asking for lateral bend and flexion, asking the horse to soften to the left and right, and then adding forward motion as he asks for a slight vertical flexion. At this point, hes using his legs as an additional cue.When Ive got the horse going at a walk, I just tip his nose to the left and to the right as were progressing into vertical flexion, he says. Im asking the nose to move toward his chest and soften at the poll; Im using my legs to squeeze and tell him to keep going forward. Thats the difference between your reins being a whoa and stop cue and your reins being a soften and flex at the poll cue.Walking forward, Baldus will ask the horse to move his nose toward his chest and soften at the poll, squeezing with his legs. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightThe moment you feel flexion or softening in the horses poll, release your reinsBaldus says this is a micro release of half an inch as a reward. Your horse may push his nose back out, and thats OK.The moment he feels flexion or softening at the horses poll, hell release the reins slightly. If your horse pushes his nose out again, you can ask for softness again. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightYoure just going to pick him up again and say, Hey, lets not root our nose out; when I pick my hands up, flex at the poll and soften your chin toward your chest, Baldus explains. When [the horse complies], I start to release my hands again. Im teaching him to look for the release of pressure, and hell find it by flexing at the poll and lowering his neck a little bit.Baldus works on these moves at a walk, and once the horse is solid, hell move to a trot, and eventually a lope and gallop on a finished horse.Body SoftnessBaldus teaches the horse to shoulder-yield next while walking in a circle. Traveling to the left, hell close his left leg from his calf to his heel right behind the front cinch to teach the horse to move away from pressure.For a shoulder-yield, walk in a circle and ask your horse to move outward from your inside leg at the cinch. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightHis head and neck stay the same, and his body stays on the same arc of the 10-foot-circle, but now Im teaching him to cross his left front leg over his right front leg as he makes the shoulder move, says Baldus. This helps when a horse drops his shoulder to the inside. The more control youre going to have over the circle, the more you can control your horses feet and softness, and the better his patterns are going to be.Baldus will also ask the horse to step his hindquarters to the outside of a circle, almost like a forehand pivot, where the hind end is moving around the front end.For a hindquarters yield, youll walk a circle. Using your inside leg further back, ask your horse to move his hips around, almost in a forehand pivot. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightOnce the front end and back end can be moved in response to your cues, youll move on to the sidepass, where you ask the horse to move his front and hind end laterally at the same time.Sidepass your horse to practice moving his hips and shoulders sideways simultaneously. Photo by Abigail BoatwrightThink about that softness in your horses head, neck and shoulders, all the way through his body to his hindquarters, Baldus explains.These skills translate to maneuvers such as opening and closing a gate, or sidepassing to pick up a slicker off of a fence in a trail class.The sidepass is another way to gain body control and softness through your horses body with a single maneuver to focus on, says Baldus.Key TakeawayRemember, if your horse is stiff and heavy on his feet, he did not get there overnight. It may take six months for a horse to become softer and lighter, and thats OK.Youre always going to ask as softly as possible and release the pressure the first chance you get, says Baldus. Those habits are going to build, and your horse is going to learn to carry himself in a way thats flexed at the poll and willing and soft through his body. Then youre going to be more comfortable on a trail ride. Youre going to have more fun, whether its in the show pen, working a cow, or on the barrels, because your horse is a softer, more willing partner.Meet the TrainerPhoto by Abigail BoatwrightBen Baldus has been training and showing horses since he was 12 years old. He trains horses for reining, reined cow horse, and ranch versatility, and has earned championship titles at major events with the National Reining Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association, Ranch Horse Association of America, and American Quarter Horse Association. He and his wife, Cameron, operate Baldus Horsemanship in Gainesville, Texas.Further Reading Brush Up on Your Riding Aids Achieve the Correct Timing of Riding Aids Common Horse Training MistakesThis article about training your horse for softness appeared in the June 2024 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Improve Your Horses Softness appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Key Point Details Grand Prix Dressage An intricate dance showcasing equestrian skills intertwined with art and athleticism. Stretchy Circles Exercise involving horse stretching its neck downward and forward, enhancing suppleness and relaxation. Rein Give-and-Take Technique using subtle hand pressures to maintain fluid movements and a silent connection between horse and rider. Current Rules FEI rules require double bridle but do not mandate stretchy circles or rein give-and-take. Arguments for Mandating Techniques Enhances horse welfare and performance; improves rider-horse communication; promotes consistency in training and judging. Arguments Against Mandating Techniques Different individual training philosophies; lack of regulatory precedent; practical challenges in judging. Industry Perspectives Many trainers recommend techniques; strong emphasis on horse welfare and training benefits. Conclusion Balancing tradition, welfare, and innovation; value of techniques in dressage is recognized but not mandatory. Exploring the Debate: Should Stretchy Circles and Rein Give-and-Take Be Mandatory in Grand Prix Dressage? Grand Prix dressage is not just a horse and rider duo prancing elegantly for audiences; it is an intricate dance showcasing supreme equestrian skills intertwined with art and athleticism. New techniques and traditional methods continuously weave their way through this elite discipline of riding, leading us to think about how specific exercises like stretchy circles and rein give-and-take might influence the craft. Should these techniques be old friends or new mandates in Grand Prix dressage? Understanding Stretchy Circles and Rein Give-and-Take in Dressage Let's take a deliberate stroll into the realm of stretchy circles. This exercise involves the horse stretching its neck downward and forward while maintaining a poised carriage through rhythmic motion. Such a display enhances the horse's suppleness and promotes relaxation. Discover our Jodhpur Collection for comfort and style during your practice sessions. A lifeline to fluid movements is the rein give-and-take technique. Engaged through subtle hand pressures, it fosters a silent yet robust connection between rider and horse. A balance of tension and release on the reins maintains equanimity, encouraging both relaxation and responsiveness from the horse. Ensure a firm grip with our Horse Riding Gloves. Current Rules Regarding Equipment and Techniques in Grand Prix Dressage Dive into the world of Grand Prix dressage, governed by the Fdration Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules, where a double bridle is mandatory at this level to facilitate precise rein aids (source). However, while equipment is strictly regulated, mandating techniques such as stretchy circles or rein give-and-take isn't covered. This leaves room for engaging discussions on their potential benefits and application. Arguments for Making Stretchy Circles and Rein Give-and-Take Mandatory There are compelling arguments in favor of making these techniques mandatory in Grand Prix dressage: Enhances Horse Welfare and Performance Stretchy circles are known to promote relaxation and help create a supple equine athlete, reducing stiffness and enhancing fluidity in complex maneuvers like piaffe and passage (source). Moreover, the give-and-take of reins neutralizes resistance, maintaining an elastic yet reassuring contact between rider and horse. Improves Rider-Horse Communication Mandating these techniques ensures riders cultivate a symphony of soft connection and accurate execution, vital for top-tier performance. It's this level of intuitive understanding between rider and horse that often defines artistic excellence in dressage. Promotes Consistency in Training and Judging Introducing these as mandated techniques could harmonize training expectations and bring uniformity to judging criteria. This could potentially raise the fairness quotient by accentuating horse relaxation and harmony in the evaluation. Arguments Against Mandating These Techniques While the idea has merits, there are also reasons to pause: Individual Training Philosophies Differ Dressage is often celebrated as an art form, tailored to fit each individual horses personality and needs. Enforcing techniques like stretchy circles could impede the creative, bespoke approaches that some trainers and riders values so dearly. Lack of Explicit Regulatory Precedent Current regulations underscore performance outcomes rather than specific exercises, and introducing mandatory elements may face opposition unless dressage philosophies shift significantly. Practical Challenges in Judging Mandating subtle techniques such as rein give-and-take makes it inherently difficult for judges to evaluate consistently. Additional training on nuances might add further complexity to an already intricate system of judging. Industry Perspectives and Trends A plethora of trainers endorse stretchy circles and rein give-and-take due to their striking benefits, yet these techniques remain recommendations rather than requirements in the rules. Insights gathered from horse welfare advocates suggest combining these disciplined movements leads to holistic wellness for horses. Conclusion: Balancing Tradition, Welfare, and Innovation Stretchy circles and rein give-and-take are not just whimsical ideas casually thrown into training. While they arent currently mandatory, understanding their value within equestrian practices is fundamental for anyone following or participating in Grand Prix dressage. For dressage enthusiasts looking to enhance their riding wardrobe and horse care routines, visit Just Horse Riders for premium collections of horse riding essentials such as boots, socks, and horse supplements to support your horse's performance. ```html```

The research offers context for interpreting suspensory ultrasounds, helping veterinarians identify which horses are likely to stay sound. | Getty ImagesVeterinarians routinely perform suspensory ligament branch ultrasounds during prepurchase examinations of young Thoroughbred racehorses. However, they do not have much clear data on what constitutes a normal suspensory ligament branch. Frances Peat, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, of the Orthopedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, Colorado, collected data from 969 ultrasound exams to establish reference ranges for forelimb suspensory ligament branches. She presented the results at the 2024 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 7-11, in Orlando, Florida.Studying Thoroughbred Suspensory Ligament BranchesPeat said her goal was to define the normal appearance of suspensory ligament branches, identify common pathology, and determine any association between specific lesions and racing performance as well as association with radiographic changes in the sesamoid bones. This data could help veterinarians more accurately determine which horses are at risk of future injury or poor performance.In total, she and her colleagues performed ultrasound exams on 593 sales yearlings and 376 sales 2-year-olds. During the exams, they assessed cross-sectional area of the medial and lateral (inside and outside) suspensory ligaments, width, periligamentous (around the ligament) tissue thickness, fibrillar pattern grade (0 to 3), hyperechoic foci (dark abnormality) grade, and sesamoid bone surface grade (yes or no).They defined Grade 0 fibrillar pattern as a ligament with homogenous echogenicity (brightness) and uninterrupted fibrillar pattern. Grade 1 showed small areas of subtle irregularity, appearing as indistinct hypoechoic (darker) regions. Grades 2 and 3 showed moderate to severe hypoechogenicity and/or disrupted fibrillar pattern.The researchers analyzed associations between ultrasonographic changes and racing performance from 2 to 4 years of age. Key findings relative to the fibrillar pattern were:The cross-sectional area of the medial branch of the suspensory ligament was consistently larger than that of the lateral branch;Cross-sectional area increased with fibrillar pattern grade, with Grade 3 lesions having the most enlarged branches;The prevalence of Grade 1 (mild) fibrillar pattern was 21% in yearlings and 29% in 2-year-olds;Grade 2 fibrillar pattern was seen in 8% of yearlings and 10% of 2-year-olds, and Grade 3 fibrillar pattern was seen in 1% of yearlings and 4% of 2-year-olds.In some yearlings ultrasound data was available when they re-presented as 2-year-olds. Most of those horses (93%) either remained fibrillar pattern Grade 1 or improved to Grade 0 by the 2-year-old sale. However, one-third of yearlings with Grade 2 fibrillar pattern change progressed to a Grade 3 by the 2-year-old sale.The Effects of Suspensory Changes on Horse PerformancePeat and colleagues also evaluated the effect of fibrillar pattern on racing performance, including eight measures of performance such as starting at least one race by 5 years of age, total number of starts, earnings per start, etc.They only considered Grade 3 fibrillar pattern clinically important in reference to racing because those horses had a 0.8 probability of racing (i.e., an 80% chance theyd race), compared to 0.9-0.92 (a 90-90% chance) for horses with Grades 0-2 fibrillar pattern. They associated the presence of Grade 1 fibrillar pattern with significantly higher earnings per start compared to those with a higher grade.The researchers concluded Grade 1 fibrillar pattern does not seem detrimental to racing performancea key finding given its high prevalence in yearlings (20%) and 2-year-olds (30%). However, Grade 3 fibrillar pattern has a clinically important detrimental effect on racing.Take-Home MessageVeterinarians frequently ultrasound suspensory ligament branches during Thoroughbred prepurchase exams but, until now, theyve lacked clear agreement on what qualifies as normal. Researchers found Grade 1 fibrillar changes common and not linked to poor outcomesin fact, they correlated with higher earnings per start. However, horses with severe changes had a significantly lower probability of racing. This research offers context for interpreting suspensory ultrasounds, helping veterinarians identify which horses are likely to stay soundand which might be at risk for injury or poor performance.

One horse at a private facility in King County, Washington, recently tested positive for pigeon fever. No additional details are currently available.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Pigeon FeverPigeon fever is a bacterial infection that affects cattle and horses. It can cause large abscesses, most commonly on the chest and under the belly. Horses become infected when bacteria enters through broken skin, such as small scrapes or wounds. Peak season for infection is late summer through fall.Good horse health safety practices are key to limiting the spread of pigeon fever. These practices include:Fly control;Not sharing water buckets or equipment; andAvoiding tying horses in high-traffic areas.If a horse owner suspects that their animal is affected, they should contact their veterinarian.

One horse at a stable in Mirabel, Quebec, recently tested positive for equine influenza after developing a cough and light nasal discharge. The horse is under quarantine.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Equine InfluenzaEquine influenzais a highly contagious respiratory disease that infects horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules, and zebras. The virus that causes it is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions from infected horses. Horses are commonly exposed via horse-to-horse contact; aerosol transmission from coughing and sneezing; and contact with humans contaminated hands, shoes, or clothes or contaminated tack, buckets, or other equipment.Clinical signs of equine influenza infection can include a high fever (up to 106F); a dry, hacking cough; depression; weakness; anorexia; serous (watery) nasal discharge; and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Consider monitoring your horses health at shows by taking his temperature daily, which can help you pick up on signs of infection early and take appropriate measures to reduce disease spread.Vaccinationis an important and inexpensive way to protect your horse. US Equestrian requires proof that horses have had an equine influenza vaccination within the six months prior to attending organization-sanctioned competitions or events. Your veterinarian can help you determine what other vaccines your horse might benefit from.In addition to vaccinating, following strictbiosecurity protocolscan help reduce your horses chance of infection and disease. Such measures include quarantining new equine arrivals at barns, disinfecting buckets and equipment, and preventing nose-to-nose contact between horses.

Stop the press: British Dressage star Becky Moody is coming to Your Horse Live 2025 (7-9 November)!She will appear in the SEIB main arena on Saturday and Sunday, giving a morning and afternoon performance on both days. Tickets are available to buy now.Becky first hit the headlines when she was called up at the last minute for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She went on to help Team GB collect the bronze aboard her beloved homebred Jagerbomb.Currently ranked fourth in the FEI World Dressage Rankings, Becky is a household name in the equestrian community and were really excited to welcome her to Your Horse Live for the first time this year.Were still working on the final details so watch this space for information about which horses Becky will be bringing and whether Bomb will be making an appearance too.About BeckyBecky and her sister Hannah run a yard near Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They call themselves The Moody Sisters on their website, but having met Becky in person on several occasions, I can confirm that Becky is one of the smiliest and friendliest dressage riders in the business.Becky is a former Pony Club member and she began training with Ian Woodhead when she was 13. The following year, she won the Pony Talent Spotting final and was a reserve for the European pony team.Twelve months later Becky earned a place on the junior European team after winning at Hickstead aboard Sir Fred, a Highland/Thoroughbred cross.She went on to represent Britain on four under-21 European teams and won two team bronze medals.To date, Becky has 12 international wins to her name and more than 30 national titles. She is a UKCC Level 3 and is on the British Dressage Training Committee, as well as a young horse judge.Becky (right) on the Paris podium with teammates Carl Hester and Lottie Fry. Credit: FEI/Benjamin ClarkJagerbombBecky is perhaps best known for riding Bomb the 11-year-old KWPN gelding who inspired myriad bomb emojis to appear on social media channels during last years Olympic Games.The 45-year-old rider credits him with giving her career new impetus. However, she also admits that she found Jagerbomb boring as a young horse and he was nearly sold. It was only the advice of her sister, Hannah, that he stayed.Once the difficulty level of his work went up, so did the talent and aptitude the horse showed for dressage, culminating in last years brilliant Olympic team bronze.Find out moreBuy tickets8 reasons to be a VIP ticket holder at Your Horse LiveLatest show announcementsShoppingThe post Breaking news: Becky Moody is coming to Your Horse Live 2025! appeared first on Your Horse.

Multiple agencies have been involved in an operation to reduce the number of ponies living on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common in South Walesin an effort to help improve welfare in the herd and ease the burden on the land.It is believed there are around 250 semi-feral ponies living on the common, most of which are unowned, and the project is reported to be having a positive effect, with Redwings receiving fewer welfare reports over the winter.This winter, since the removal of these ponies, we have noticed a decline in the number of welfare reports to the charities, confirmed the charitys head of welfare and behaviour, Nic de Brauwere MRCVS.Reports we do receive are about individual cases, as opposed to large numbers of the population, which is what we had experienced in the past, in the 20 years that Redwings has been working on the commons in South Wales alongside our partners. This project sees us embrace the challenges in a much more structured way to achieve long-term change.Unchecked breedingLast November, more than 40 staff from RSPCA, Redwings, World Horse Welfare,The Donkey Sanctuary, British Horse Society, Blue Cross, HorseWorld and Bransby Horsesworked in partnership with the Gelligaer and Merthyr Commoners Association to remove 30 ponies from the common into the care of equine charities.Commons like Gelligaer are put under increasing pressure each year due to the unchecked breeding of abandoned horses and ponies, and the sheer numbers in the herds, who are competing for resources alongside other livestock, said Claire Gordon, chief field officer at World Horse Welfare.Our collaborative approach to deliver an innovative sustainable solution has the potential to not only help the horses that currently live on the common but also aims to secure the welfare of future generations too.VideoWatch a snippet from the round up below:Secure the welfare of future generationsThe ponies who were removed last year have all since been offered homes at the charities with the hope that they can be rehomed. It is believed that the welfare of the remaining ponies living in herds on the common will improve due to numbers being more sustainable for the land.This operation forms part of a wider strategic project, working alongside Redwings, World Horse Welfare and the Commoners Association, on a long-term herd management plan that can be overseen and implemented locally, and aims to reduce the numbers of ponies to a sustainable level in a way that supports good equine welfare, said Roxane Kirton MRCVS, RSPCA head vet (equine).This will include cataloguing all the residents and removing those ponies who have a high chance of a good life in a private home.Lemons new lifeNovembers two-day operation followed a similar mission in autumn 2023, which saw 66 ponies removed from the common. Many have since been rehomed, including Blue Cross Lemon, who arrived with a significant parasite infestation.Lemon was started on a worming protocol and began clicker training to familiarise her with people so that they could groom her and treat the lice. Following further handling training she has been rehomed as a companion to two mares.Blue Cross Lemon has found a new homeFurther readingHow to tell if a horse is happyHow to stop a horse bitingHow to stop a horse buckingCan you read your horses body language?How to take care of a horseThe post Strategic project to manage number of ponies on common in South Wales has positive effect appeared first on Your Horse.

Adopting a horse, regardless of when or how it occurs, is always a special occasion and a reason to celebrate. But since 2021, the entire month of May has been dedicated to placing special emphasis on promoting adoptable horses and, very likely, placing them in a perfectly matched new home. Will 2025 be the year that you take part in Adopt a Horse Month?Cheyenne & WhisperAlexa Atchison of West Farmington, Ohio, had always dreamed of owning a horse.When I was told that I was going to get one, I couldnt keep my eyes off myrighthorse.org, Atchison says.While much needed to be done before she and her family were able to bring a new horse home, when she saw Cheyenne and her dam advertised, they immediately planned a visit for the following day to ASPCA Right Horse Partner Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary in nearby Raveena, Ohio. During the visit, while Atchison was busy meeting the horses, her father noticed the cute-faced Whisper in the stall across the aisle.Her fee happened to be waived for Adopt a Horse Month, Atchison says. The family was smitten with her and signed the papers that evening. I fell in love with Cheyenne, and Whisper was the perfect companion to help her leave her mother. I was thrilled, because not only did my dream come true with bringing Cheyenne home, but because of Adopt a Horse Month, we were able to bring Whisper home, too.Alexa Atchison adopted Cheyenne in May, and decided to take home Whisper as well, whose fee was waived for Adopt a Horse Month. Photo courtesy Alexa AtchisonPony HeroIn 2024, Alina Bartlett of Springdale, Ark., adopted Hero. Bartlett had previously adopted other horses from the ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC) in El Reno, Okla., but unlike her other adoptions, Hero was not supposed to stay.In the process of being relinquished by owners that could no longer care for him, Hero stayed with Bartlett overnight before she was to return him to the ETAC.He was coming to my house for only one night, Bartlett recalls. She says that while she didnt know Heros entire story, she did know that at some point he was mistreated. In his younger years as he was growing, his halter had grown into his soft tissue and had to be surgically removed.Hero was also exhibiting some behavioral challenges while at Bartletts home. He was very nervous and untrusting around people. As such, Bartlett placed Hero in a stall and advised her boyfriend, David, to be watchful. Wanting to ease Davids mind, she also told him not to worry because the pony would be going back to the ASPCA in the morning.A bit later, as Bartlett was feeding her other horses, she found David sitting in a lawn chair in the stall with Hero. Soon enough, Hero had taken to David and was allowing him to give pets and scratches, much to everyones surprise.David spent hours bonding with the timid pony, who ended up staying as a permanent resident at Alina Bartletts farm. Photo courtesy Alina BartlettI had no need for a pony, nor did I want this one, Bartlett says. I was taking this pony back and adopting another horse. David, however, had another idea. He spent hours in the stall forming a bond with the timid little pony.David fell in love with this pony, she says. The next morning, as she went to hook up her trailer and head out, David told her to call whoever she needed to and find out how to keep the pony.Now, she says, on top of the many horses they already have, they also have a pony that is just around for David to love on.Hero is very spoiled and really only likes David, Bartlett says. He was meant to be here with David. They needed each other.Ellas StoryAdopt a Horse Month is such a great opportunity to promote our available equines, says Allison Hungerford, director of communications for the Susquehanna SPCA in Cooperstown, N.Y., an ASPCA Right Horse Partner.In 2024, the organization received a stipend from the ASPCA Right Horse program to spend on paid advertising for their horses, something that allowed them to expand their audience.The opportunity was one that I was grateful for because so many of our adoptable horses at the time were going to be happiest living out their days as companions only, which is something that can be an adoption hurdle, she says. With the stipend, Hungerford was able to target groups looking for horses similar to the ones at the facility.While these promotions increased inquiries for all of our adoptable equines, there was one horse in particular that found her match through the campaign, Hungerford says.Ella had come to the Susquehanna SPCA through a suspected animal cruelty case.She was extremely emaciated upon arrival and had a foal at her side that she was caring for, Hungerford recalls. After the case was closed, Ella became ours. Ellas foal was quickly adopted, and she was healthy and searching for a pasture where she could spend her days relaxing while munching on grass, maybe participating in some light riding now and then.BEFORE: Ella came in from a suspected animal cruelty case with a foal at her side. Though the youngster was quickly adopted, Ella took more time to find a home. Photo courtesy Allison HungerfordHungerford says that sadly, Ella kept getting overlooked and had been waiting for her person to come along for quite some time.With the help of paid and targeted advertising, I was able to reach folks who lived in areas we werent necessarily accessing with our regular organic outreach, she says. This did the trick for sweet Ella, and she found her match!AFTER: Ella found her forever home after some Adopt a Horse Month funds helped expand advertising to reach new horse lovers. Photo courtesy Allison HungerfordFacilitating AdoptionWhen the Adopt a Horse Month initiative officially started, everyone involved dreamed about how it would evolve and what it would one day become.Adopt a Horse Month plays a critical role in raising awareness and excitement around equine adoption, says Cailin Caldwell, director of the ASPCA Right Horse Program. In 2024, thousands of horse lovers explored equine adoption for the first time by visiting myrighthorse.org and met adoptable horses online.Caldwell says that as a result, more than 200 horses, donkeys, and mules found homes during the month through ASPCA Right Horse Partners. Were hoping to make this years Adopt a Horse Month even more impactful and encourage everyone to get involved, she says. If you know someone looking for a horse, encourage them to consider adoption by visiting myrighthorse.org or their local adoption group. Or share on your social media channels to raise awareness and interest in these amazing horses. Whether youre looking to adopt or not, there are countless ways to get involved and support these amazing equines.Be part of something big during Adopt a Horse Month 2025. Join The Rescue Effort to see how one adoption creates space for more horses to be helped. Learn more at aspca.org.This article about Adopt a Horse Month appeared in the May 2025 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Adopt a Horse Month 2025: Finding Forever appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.