Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2025 i Young Rider

My name is Marian Ehlers (people call me Mare), and I’m 17 years old. I live in Oregon. My parents have always encouraged me to use my voice, strengths and resources to help others. Because of this, I have grown to become an independent and emotionally strong person who embraces opportunities as they arise. JWI Ambassador I travel a lot for horse shows and am lucky to have met so many incredible people in the horse show world. Molly McDougal, however, was among one of the most impactful people I have had the pleasure of meeting, and our introduction changed my life. Molly worked for a nonprofit called JustWorld International (JWI). She allowed me to help her at the World Cup Qualifier in Thunderbird, Canada, when I was only 10…

This exercise may seem easy at first glance, but it will challenge you and your horse to find proper balance and a consistent rhythm at the canter. It’s also a great introduction to making some tighter turns, The Set-Up To set this exercise up, measure a circle that is 30 feet from the center all the way around, with poles placed at the four main points of the circle (12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock). The inside edge of the pole will sit at the 30-foot mark, so that when you’re riding the circle over the center of the poles, you will be riding closer to 35-36 feet from the center. If you don’t have a measuring tape, you could also use the length of a longeline to guide you…

You know a horse’s pedigree, or written record of his ancestors, is important. But looking at that paper—all those names!—can feel a little overwhelming at first. However, with a little knowledge of how to read them, you can learn a ton about a horse based on who his ancestors were and any noteworthy accomplishments they achieved. Regardless of the breed, the basics of pedigrees are the same. Pedigrees have a lot of names and numbers and may look confusing at first, but it’s a lot like your family tree. It starts with your horse and then branches out to show your horse’s sire (father) and dam (mother), grandsire and granddam, great-grandsire and great-granddam, and so on. But a pedigree can give you a lot of other information about your horse,…

Hi! I am a horse addict. I am hopelessly and completely obsessed. Just ask my family and friends. I am the most horse-obsessed person they know. I got my first YR magazine for Christmas in 2022. Ever since then, I have loved it! I was just recently able to get a subscription and I was crazy excited when I got it. My favorite part of the magazine is the Western Lesson. I have been riding for just over three years, and it has been the best three years of my life. Currently I ride a 16-year-old Tennessee Walker/Paint/Quarter Horse mare. Her name is Paisley, and she is the sweetest thing. I love her to death and I know that she loves me too. Soon I am going to start leasing…

When I first heard the word safari, I imagined dusty Jeep rides across the African plains, with lions lounging under acacia trees and elephants trampling through the tall grass. But nothing could have prepared me for the life-changing experience of a horseback safari through Mashatu Reserve in Botswana. This wasn’t going to be your typical adventure, and it was certainly going to be more than just a trip—this was going to be a whole new way of seeing Africa, and the world, from the back of a horse. Mashatu is a vast wilderness, nicknamed the “Land of Giants,” home to some of the biggest animals on earth. We’re talking elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. And it’s not just the big game you know, but also animals like the eland—the…

Do you love fashion, design, and selling things? Do you love horses? You might be a perfect candidate for a career as an equestrian graphic designer and business owner, like Mary Campbell of Mare Modern Goods. Mary rode as a child, then got back into horses after taking a 20-year break. She started her business when she received some dog-related gifts and realized there wasn’t a similar product or business in the equestrian world. She saw a need in the market, and then used her love of color and art skills to launch her company seven years ago. FAVORITE PART Mary now creates equine-related graphics and then puts them on products, which she sells on her ecommerce website, maregoods.com, as well as wholesale (selling to retail stores for them to…

Can you pick up the canter without tensing your body and worrying? With the right coaching and cues that will help your horse know you want him to step into the three-beat gait, cantering doesn’t have to cause concern. Here, trainer and Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) coach Ariel Hug shares her tips to help you transition to the canter with ease. Her student, Riley Morris, is riding Willow in these photos to demonstrate how to pick up the canter while sitting up straight and looking relaxed. Ariel says her IEA students are judged on their canter transitions during rail classes and while riding through patterns. The judges want to see that riders can cue for the correct canter lead and can identify when they aren’t on the correct lead. “Judges…

All you need is horses and doughnuts! Bake some up and take them to the barn—there’s plenty to go around. This recipe makes about 12 three-inch doughnuts and is a great way to kick off those morning rides. This recipe contains only horse-safe ingredients, but be sure to speak with your veterinarian before introducing new foods to your horse, particularly if he has a health condition that makes him sensitive to sugar. BAKING DOUGHNUTS Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325° F. Step 2: Mix flour and cinnamon in a large bowl. Step 3: Add in molasses and mix together. If your dough is too runny, add a little bit more flour. If your dough is too dry, add a little bit more molasses until the mixture reaches a dough-like…

You already know your horse needs to be groomed every day, especially before riding. Let’s learn from the pros how to get the most out of your time so your horse stays sleek and healthy! HANDS-ON CHECK-IN First thing in the morning, use your hands to check your horse’s legs in the stall. There is no replacement for your hands; just looking doesn’t catch what might be brewing under the hair! 1. Investigate anything unusual for the horse. Check legs for heat, swelling, and skin abnormalities. 2. Check pasterns for the beginning signs of scratches. 3. Don’t forget that your horse has hind legs, too! It’s a good idea to keep a little logbook for a new horse to catalog any splints, windpuffs, scars, or other “jewelry” that are normal…

You’ve probably heard from your trainer or other experienced riders how important good saddle fit is for horses. A tweak or rub can make for a sore back and muscles, even to the point of creating lameness in the horse. Since we all want our horses to feel their best so they can be happy partners performing at their best, it’s important to learn the basics of good saddle fit. Through her work, certified saddle fitter Sherry Seals not only fits saddles, but also educates equine professionals like veterinarians and chiropractors. This emphasizes the critical role of saddle fit in a horse’s health and performance. “The primary function of a saddle is to distribute the forces of carrying a rider across the horse’s body, preventing discomfort or injury,” she says.…

The majestic Lipizzan is recognized all over the world for its beauty and talent, historically in the world of classical dressage, as well as in a wide range of disciplines today. These baroque-type horses are incredibly impressive with their nobility, strength, and intelligence, and their fascinating history is just as noteworthy. THE LOVELY LIPIZZAN The first thing most people notice about Lipizzans is that they’re almost always a beautiful pure white. And while it’s true that they look white, technically they are gray. Gray horses are born dark, and as they get older, their coats become lighter and lighter. If you ever have the chance to see a Lipizzan foal, you’ll discover that the foals are born bay, black, chestnut, or sometimes dun, but this color only lasts a short…