Horse Illustrated November/December 2025

Happy (almost) holidays! I hope you’re enjoying some nice fall weather before the cold officially rolls in. Here in California, it’s usually in the form of rain, but sometimes I find myself really missing those snowy days in Kentucky (above). First up, we’ve got a great gift guide full of new and exciting offerings for every horse lover on your list—including yourself! Be sure to flip to pg. 10 for the complete list. To get you through the first cold snap, why not read about about warmer travels? Photojournalist Shawn Hamilton loves to practice her Spanish, and has been on riding excursions in Chile, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador and Panama (pg. 30). Check them out—one just might be perfect for you. And all of them are warm during U.S. winters!…

OVERCOMING RIDING FEAR Have you everfound yourself looking forward to going to the barn, but not wanting to ride? While you're on the horse, tension takes over your body and you just don't feel the joy you used to feel while riding? If any of this sounds familiar, keep reading to discover tactics to overcome fear and bring confidence back to your riding at www.horseillustrated.com/overcoming-riding-fear. STAFF PICKS BRINGING BACK KOREAN HORSEBACK ARCHERY In asearch for their roots, South Korean equestrians are reviving the 230-year-old sport of horseback archery. Writer Malene Jensen went to Hwaseong to find out more, and the result was an AHP Equine Media Award-winning article. Read on at www.horseillustrated.com/bringing-back-korean-horseback-archery. WORKING EQUITATION 101 Working equitation is an exciting and rapidly growing equestrian sport. Ifyou think you and your…

CATEGORY: GUT HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS Top 5* Platinum Performance GI ProBios Powder New Holland Mahindra Bobcat CATEGORY: THERAPEUTIC DEVICES Top 5* MagnaWave PEMF Red Light Therapy Vibration Therapy Back on Track BEMER *In no particular order.…

The Friesian Horse Association of North America is preparing for a five-day breed extravaganza at their Fall Festival, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, November 19-23. Their largest FHANA event ever, the week promises to be chock full of Friesian fun, including a membership meeting, mare shows, and stallion viewing. The event also includes breed inspections, which evaluate the conformation and movement of Friesian horses. The goal is to select those individuals for the inclusion in their registry that best represent the breed ideal; these are the horses people are encouraged to use as breeding stock for breed preservation and improvement. The most exciting event to take place during the Fall Festival is FHANA’s Inaugural Friesian Championship and Open Horse Show. The two-day horse show…

November 6-9 Equine Affaire West Springfield, Mass. equineaffaire.com November 7-9 Nor Cal Walking Horse Show Murieta, Calif. murietaequestriancenter.com November 7-16 The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair; Toronto, Canada royalfair.org November 12-16 Spit Rock Santa Anita CSI3* Show Jumping Arcadia, Calif. splitrockjumpingtour.com November 13-16 U.S. Equestrian Open of Dressage; Thermal, Calif. usef.org November 18-19 Superior Morgan Sweepstakes; Shipshewana, Ind. superiormorganhorsesale.com November 19-23 FHANA Fall Festival Lexington, Ky. fhana.com November 28-29 Mid-Ohio Equine Expo Millersburg, Ohio mthopeshows.com December 5-7 Hillbilly Classic Quarter Horse Show; Harriman, Tenn. peak-equine.com December 5 Wild Horse and Burro Placement Event; Ewing, Ill. blm.gov December 12-14 The Wild Card Classic Barrel Race; Chatham, Va. theodac.com December 4-13 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo; Las Vegas, Nev. nfrexperience.com December 8-11 United States Hunter Jumper Association Annual Meeting Orlando, Fla. ushja.org December 13…

One randomly selected participant will win a $250 VISA gift card! Vote for your favorites in the following categories. Favorite equestrian event Favorite horse treats/cookies Best stall bedding Best stall boredom reliever/toy Favorite horse trailer brand Best fly gear brand (sheet, mask, boots) Best wound care product Best winter turnout blanket brand Favorite feed supplement Best saddle pad brand Favorite therapeutic blanket/device Best equine feed supplement Favorite summer riding apparel brand Best online equestrian retailer VOTE BY DECEMBER 31ST ! Visit horseillustrated.com/2026-readers-choice or scan QR code. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to all U.S. residents age 18 and older.…