Horse -keeping in the winter presents a few challenges. Horses have to rely on us in order to maintain their health and body condition. Less time riding and exercising your horse and more time spent in the stall means that your horse will be utilizing less calories. However, as temperatures drop, horses will actually burn calories in order to keep warm. In a normal horse caloric needs may rise 10-20%. Blanketing your horse can help reduce caloric use in maintaining body tempe

Yesterday we hosted a showumping clinic at Council Creek Farms in Ooltewah, TN (in the Chattanooga area). Our clinician was Roger Van Doren from South Africa via Franklin, TN. Roger has been my trainer for many years. He is a Grand Prix showjumping trainer and rider. Roger has a classical background in riding and teaches very technical riding. He has a very strong dressage foundation that he incorporates into his jumping. It was a rainy day. It pretty much drizzled all day ex