Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2025 i Young Rider

BE THE LEADER IT’S YOUR JOB to be the leader. You must know where to go, and cue me with the lead line and and your voice so I understand what you want. THESE ARE THE RULES FOCUS IT’S MY JOB to follow you politely; walk when you walk, stop when you stop, and wait for you ~ with the lead line relaxed. I don't want to follow someone who is afraid. I like a bold and confident leader. If we practice therse rules every time you lead me. we will learn to walk together without you ever needing to pull hard on my lead line. THANKS!…

Brr! Who turned off the heat? You spent all summer trail riding, showing, and hanging out at the barn. Now with snow on the ground and dropping temperatures, it might seem like the horse activities are done for the year, but with creativity and a little planning, there’s plenty to do! PRACTICE HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS Do you know how to do standing wraps on your horse’s legs? Or if a vet tells you a horse has a puncture wound on his hock, do you know where that is? It can get so busy during the warmer months with riding activities that sometimes it’s easy to forget that the off-horse knowledge is even more important than what you learn in the saddle. So now that it’s chilly outside, why not take some…

Have you ever dreamed of adopting a Mustang? You may have a romanticized image of these wild horses roaming free across the American West, but once they’re adopted and trained, Mustangs have tons of talent and love to offer, even for young riders. So while it’s true that Mustangs start out as feral (this is actually a more accurate term than “wild,” because the ancestors of Mustangs were domesticated horses), it’s also true that many young riders have achieved amazing success with Mustangs, and have proven that those partnerships can be incredible. MUSTANGS IN THE PAST Today’s Mustangs descend from the original horses brought to North America by the Spanish in the 1500s. Over the centuries, other breeds contributed to the genetic makeup of the Mustang, including draft horses and…

HANG IN THERE, HORSE-CRAZY KIDS! I love YR! Your magazines are so interesting. My mom got me a subscription for Christmas last year, and I loved it instantly. I started riding at age 4 at a notso-great barn, but then I started at the best barn ever. Now I ride a pony named Ozzie and I love him. I ride short stirrup. I really love the parts of the mags where you interview people about themselves. I am obsessed with horses, and sometimes my friends make jokes about it. Sometimes they’re funny, but sometimes they hurt my feelings. I don’t think they realize it, but I feel like an outsider in my friend group. I recently did a show and I got two 4ths and two 3rds. My family and…

SNOWMAN HUNTER/JUMPER SADDLE Finally, a saddle made just for seat sizes 14", 14.5", and 15.5"! The Snowman is covered in soft cowhide allowing for that “broken-in” feeling, giving more contact and grip. $1,554.00; rubyroosaddles.com AQHA 85TH ANNIVERSARY This special anniversary model was created on the Ideal American Quarter Horse sculpture, and features a unique metallic silver coloring that gives it a trophy-like appearance. $54.99; breyerhorses.com SPIRIT UNTAMED KIDS’ SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & DETANGLER SET This gentle-cleansing shampoo will give you silky strands with a caramel apple scent. Follow up with the conditioner for a healthy look and feel. Lastly, use the detangler for hard-to-manage knots and as a leave-in conditioning treatment. $21.99; manentailequine.com EQUESTRION CHALLENGES Complete challenges at home for an affordable way to have fun with your horse while earning…

Maisie loves her pony, Monty, but she sometimes gets things wrong. See if you can count how many mistakes Masie makes while bringing Monty in from his field in the story below. Maisie walks toward the gate of Monty’s field. She has a halter and lead rope ready. It’s a hot a day, so Masie is wearing sandals. She leaves the gate open so she can get back out more quickly. Monty is in the shade of a tree, his eyes closed as he naps. Maisie decides to go up behind him and slap him on the backside to wake him up. Luckily, Monty isn’t fully asleep and sees Masie as she approaches, so he’s not too startled. She throws the lead rope over him and ties it under his…

Maybe it was a photo of a horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics or the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event soaring over a big, wide table or leaping down a 6-foot drop into water … but you got bitten by the bug! Eventing is truly the sport for equine adrenaline junkies. However, there’s a lot you need to know before taking the leap into this sport yourself. If you have a background in dressage or jumping already, the transition to eventing will be a lot easier. Since eventing is a triathlon for horses with three phases (dressage, cross-country and show jumping), you will need to become adept in three sports that are each pretty different. One final thing to consider before you get started is how far away the nearest eventing…

If you watch many horse training videos, you might notice that the trainers use rope halters a lot. A rope halter is a simple halter created with one solid piece of braided cotton, nylon, or polyester rope. Instead of buckles or adjustable straps, rope halters are shaped by strategically placed knots, with a loop under the chin for a lead rope. So, why do some horse trainers prefer to use rope halters instead of flat nylon or leather halters? “There is nothing ‘wrong’ with using a standard nylon or leather halter—they all have their uses that they are effective for,” says Michael Gascon, head trainer and owner of GetHorseHelp.com. “From a training perspective, we only use rope halters in our program for multiple reasons.” Maddie Hofmeister, a trainer and Extreme…

HOW TO ENTER Your parents can email a photo to editor@youngrider.com (subject line “Me & My Horse”), or mail your entry to Young Rider M&MH, P.O. Box 3945, Laguna Hills, CA 92654. Please be sure to include your name and age, the horse’s name, your mailing address, and parental contact information (email & phone number). Model prizes vary each month; approximate retail value $45. Deadline for entries is Jan. 1, 2026. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, ages 7-16. You must get permission from your parents to enter. Email entries must be received between 12:00:01 AM PT on 10/3/25 and 11:59:59 PM PT on 1/1/26. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 1/1/26 and received…

HOW TO ENTER Your parents can email a scan or photo of your artwork to editor@youngrider.com with the subject line “Art Gallery,” or mail your entry to Young Rider Art Gallery, P.O. Box 3945, Laguna Hills, CA 92654. You will need your parents’ permission to enter. Please be sure to include artist’s name, age, and mailing address, plus parental contact information (name, email and phone number). Prize varies each month. Deadline for entries is Jan. 1, 2026. Featured artists win a grooming product from Mane ‘n Tail! no PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, ages 7-16. You must get permission from your parents to enter. Email entries must be received between 12:00:01 AM PT on…

The holiday season is here! While you’re sipping hot cocoa, decorating the tree, and maybe sneaking an extra cookie or two, your horse is outside dealing with frosty mornings, chilly winds, and maybe even snowflakes on his whiskers. Winter can be magical, but it also means your horse needs a little extra love and care. Luckily, the holidays give you plenty of down time to spend at the barn making sure your best friend is cozy and healthy. Here are some fun and practical hacks to keep both you and your horse happy all winter long. 1. Cozy Up with Rugs and Blankets When the weather gets colder, horses grow fluffy winter coats that keep them snug. But sometimes they need an extra layer, especially if they’ve been clipped, are…

BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES PONY CLUBS, INC. Did you know your horse can produce nearly 30 pounds of poop per day? Cleaning your horse’s stall might not seem like the most exciting chore, but it’s one of the most important. Dirty stalls can cause hoof problems like thrush, attract tons of flies, and make the air unhealthy for your horse to breathe. Manure, wet bedding, old hay, and spilled feed all add up to one big mess. Keeping the stall clean helps your horse stay healthy, happy, and comfortable—and it will make the barn a much more pleasant place for you to hang out, too! By cleaning your horse’s stall every day, you will become familiar with his normal habits. You’ll notice how many manure…

Do you dream of a future career as an equine veterinarian? If so, you’ve probably heard people say that getting into vet school is hard—and they’re right, it’s no piece of cake. Many hopeful undergraduate students compete for a limited number of openings at veterinary colleges each year, so having a well-rounded, polished application is crucial when it comes to catching the eye of the admissions committee. Read on for steps you can begin taking immediately that will help you craft a stellar vet school application when the time arrives! ACADEMICS “There is still a lot of emphasis on grades, GPA [grade point average], and test scores,” says Robin E. Smith, DVM, who has been in practice as an equine veterinarian for 30 years. “In middle and high school, it’s…