Photo by RD-Fotografie/Adobe Stock Post-workout leg care can be as hot-button a topic as blanketing among horse owners. Some riders cold hose, wrap, and/or poultice their horse’s legs, while others simply leave their horses alone. But is there a “right” way to care for equine limbs after athletic exertion? No matter if you piaffe, jump, trail ride, work cows or anything in between, we all want to ensure we’re doing the best by our four-legged partners. Read on to discover how two vets—both competitors themselves—care for their own horses, and how they recommend their clients do, as well. Ins and...

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Our Son! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse. Photo courtesy Second Stride Adoptable Horse: Our Son, a 3-year-old 15.3hh Thoroughbred gelding Organization: Second Stride, Prospect, Ky. Get to Know Adoptable Horse Our Son A 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding bred in Kentucky, Our Son is by Mastery (a son of Candy Ride) and out of Glossy, by Broken Vow. Our Son never raced or...

Photo by Stunning Steeds Photography With a history spanning 25,000 years, the Lusitano’s roots run as deep as the trees on the Iberian Peninsula, where the horses’ adaptations to the unusual environment created a brave companion for humans. The Lusitano is one of the oldest riding horses, with evidence to show they have been ridden in what is now Portugal for at least the past 5,000 years. If you’ve never been to Portugal, you may not be aware of its unique topography. In an arid climate, with the Tagus River running the length, the ancestors to the Lusitano shared the...

Equine assisted services (EAS) include horsemanship provided by qualified therapeutic or adaptive riding instructors. Shown: A certified instructor assists a young rider onto the horse. Photo courtesy Fieldstone Farm, Ohio Are you in the market for a new career? Equine assisted services (EAS) centers across the U.S. are reporting job openings for qualified applicants. “I would encourage anyone who wants to pursue this industry; it is growing, and it’s very rewarding,” says Carol Young, CEO of Healing Strides in Boones Mill, Va. What are Equine Assisted Services (EAS)? People are often surprised to learn the depth and breadth of EAS....

Read along for a guide on how to choose your riding helmet for safely riding a horse. Photo by Shoshana Rudski Being a horse girl or guy pretty much guarantees you’ll end up eating some dirt at some point. If you haven’t had the joy of hitting the ground yet, count yourself lucky. Even the most easygoing horses can spook or pull a surprise move, and suddenly you’re airborne. Whatever you land on first takes the impact of your fall. Hopefully, that thing isn’t your head. Working with horses is fun, but it’s not without risks. That’s why it’s so...

Read along for a look at each horse competing in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness trains beneath the famed Twin Spires. Photo by Grace Clark In 2021, 17,779 Thoroughbred foals in the United States alone were registered with the Jockey Club. This Saturday, only 20 Thoroughbreds — two of them born in Japan — will load into the starting gate for one of the most illustrious races in the world: the Kentucky Derby.  Dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the 1 ¼-mile race will showcase the 20 3-year-olds that qualified for the Derby via...

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is actually a package deal: Vixen and Pipsqueak! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse. Photo courtesy Owner 2 Owner Program Adoptable Horse: Vixen and Pipsqueak, a Miniature Mule and Miniature Horse/Shetland mix duo Organization: Owner 2 Owner Program (aka – Maryland Equine Transition Service), Woodbine, Md. Get to Know Adoptable Equines Vixen and Pipsqueak Please note the owner of this duo wants these...