Recreation & Lifestyle
Welcome to Recreation & Lifestyle, which includes leisure riding and other aspects of the equestrian lifestyle for you and your horse loving friends and family.
Looking for the perfect present? See the Gifts & Jewelry section. Redecorating? Find a Painting, Photograph or Sculpture in the Artwork section. Need to check out a movie or crawl up with a good book or magazine? See our Entertainment section where you will find and Books, Movies, Games, and Magazines. And don't forget about Fine Art in some specialty Museums that might surprise you.
Looking for love or a trail buddy? Riding Partners is the spot to seek other riders who share your passion. Find a place to ride with that special person in our Trail Riding section and if you need more time away, take a look at Vacations. Want to know about the next horse show or special event? Don’t miss it! Dates and locations are included in the Calendar of Events for Recreation & Lifestyle.
Do we need to add more? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!
by Elizabeth Goldsmith
Wanted: Women willing to ride 100-120 miles per week through rural Kentucky, rain or shine, carrying library books to the state’s most isolated residents. Must provide own horse or mule and be prepared to walk if the terrain is too rough. Pay is $28 per month. Sound like something you’d like to do?
The Pack Horse Library initiative was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), created to help lift America out of the Great Depression. Illiteracy was a real problem. In 1930 as many as 31% of eastern Kentuckians couldn’t read, although most wanted to learn. They saw literacy as their road out of impoverishment.
In 1936, packhorse librarians served 50,000 families, and, by 1937, 155 public schools. Children loved the program; many mountain schools didn’t have libraries, and since they were so far from public libraries, most students had never checked out a book. ”‘Bring me a book to read,’ is the cry of every child as he runs to meet the librarian with whom he has become acquainted,” wrote one Pack Horse Library supervisor. “Not a certain book, but any kind of book. The child has read none of them.”
Read more: The Heroic Horseback Librarians of the Great Depression
by Elizabeth Goldsmith
Wanted: Women willing to ride 100-120 miles per week through rural Kentucky, rain or shine, carrying library books to the state’s most isolated residents. Must provide own horse or mule and be prepared to walk if the terrain is too rough. Pay is $28 per month. Sound like something you’d like to do?
The Pack Horse Library initiative was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), created to help lift America out of the Great Depression. Illiteracy was a real problem. In 1930 as many as 31% of eastern Kentuckians couldn’t read, although most wanted to learn. They saw literacy as their road out of impoverishment.
In 1936, packhorse librarians served 50,000 families, and, by 1937, 155 public schools. Children loved the program; many mountain schools didn’t have libraries, and since they were so far from public libraries, most students had never checked out a book. ”‘Bring me a book to read,’ is the cry of every child as he runs to meet the librarian with whom he has become acquainted,” wrote one Pack Horse Library supervisor. “Not a certain book, but any kind of book. The child has read none of them.”
by Delores Kuhlwein
Author Carly Kade knows a thing or two about love, horses and handsome cowboys.
She breathed softly, and the shavings rustled as she blew breath. I dropped to my knees as I approached her. Reaching her neck, I placed my hand on her shoulder and combed the fingers of my other hand through her soft white mane. Her neck made a perfect U around my body, and I heard her sigh at my touch. I turned toward her, folded my legs inside the bow of her body, picked up her soft velvet muzzle, and lifted her head into my lap. Faith didn’t resist. She nestled into my crossed legs, and I stroked her white blaze, combed through her forelock, ran my palms over the triangular tip of her lovely brown ears, and wished I could stay in this moment forever. ~ Devon Brooke, In the Reins
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of our infatuation with horses is the universal emotion of everything fading away as you lose yourself in your horse, a feeling that sends Carly Kade, Arizona-based author of the wildly popular romantic Western novel In the Reins, scurrying to capture her words inspired by time spent with horses. Often Carly’s notes are taken on the insides of her mare’s feedbags after a ride.
“I scribble down my thoughts while perched on hay bales, listening to the sounds of the horses rustling in their stalls,” she confessed. Many scenes in her books, and even the horse character “Faith,” were inspired by “Sissy,” Carly’s own Paint mare, I'm Gonna Kiss You.
You don’t have to meet Carly to get know her; as a fellow horse lover, you really already do.
“I will own horses until I take my last breath; I love them that much,” she said. “There is nothing more peaceful to me than the quiet bond between a woman and her horse, and I am happiest when I am in the saddle.”
by Gene Fowler
Standing in front of Frederic Remington’s 1889 oil painting, A Dash for the Timber, at Fort Worth’s Amon Carter Museum of American Art, I am reminded of the words of a California friend. “You’ve got to see these things in person.” I’d written him about a new book about a West Coast artist we like. The book is nice, he allowed, but you’ve got see these things in person.
Boy howdy. Riding hell-for-leather and pursued by a Native American war party in Remington’s seven-foot-wide piece, the eight desperate horsemen of A Dash for the Timber seem a split-second away from stampeding off the canvas and right over the viewer. Seeing the painting is visceral. Even New Yorkers were spellbound when the work debuted in 1889.
My friend’s gentle dictum resonated again as I beheld The Medicine Man, Buffalo Bill’s Duel with Yellowhand, In the Wake of the Buffalo Runners, and other paintings by Charles M. Russell at the Amon Carter and the Sid Richardson Museum, the latter located on Sundance Square in Fort Worth, aka Cowtown. The richly-shaded, long-range landscapes and vast, big country skies of Russell’s original canvases draw one in as no mere reproduction may.
The august Texas folklorist, J. Frank Dobie dubbed Remington (1861-1909) and Russell (1864-1926) the “Titans of Western Art” in 1964. Former Amon Carter curator Peter Hassrick, who jokes that he got out of Texas as soon as possible so that his kids would not “tahk lak Tayxuns,” says that late 19th and early 20th century aficionados of frontier art were often either “Remington people or Russell people.” I would liken the double-barrel matter of individual taste to the popularity contest among singing cowboys a half-century later, when silver screen and T.V. shoot-em-up devotees would often swoon and root for either Gene Autry or Roy Rogers.
Read more: Remington and Russell – The “Titans of Western Art"
The American Equestrian Trade Association (AETA) trade show was held January 27- 29, 2018 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. The mission of the AETA trade show is: “to unite and advance the community of equine trade businesses by delivering education, trade shows and services designed to sustain, support and grow a strong equestrian industry marketplace.”
The team at EquineInfoExchange.com had the honor of being included on the media panel. Think “Shark Tank” but horse related and a bit friendlier. New products were introduced from both new companies and those already established, as they gathered together to share information about the exciting developments being brought to the market.
Here's a photo slideshow, so you can see what it was like to walk through this exciting event.
Here are the new products presented to us at the media panel. We were thrilled to be at this event!
Sterling Essentials
Sterling Essentials is based in the Pacific Northwest and offers gentle, non-irritating, effective Leather Cleaners and Leather Conditioners that will keep tack in mint condition for years. Specially formulated to match the pH of leather, Sterling Essentials’ products reduce premature tack degradation, helping protect your tack investment. All products are developed with the well-being of your horse in mind, so the cleaners and conditioners are animal friendly due to the use of gentle natural food grade ingredients.
Read more: AETA Trade Show Features New Equestrian Products and Designs
If you are considering locations for a vacation this year, Ireland should be at the top end of your shortlist. The European country has a long and rich history with horse racing as many of the leading thoroughbreds in the world have a link back to the Emerald Isle in their breeding. Today, there are 26 racecourses across Ireland. Here is a look at the leading five tracks you can visit on your trip to Ireland.
Curragh
Based in County Kildare, the Curragh is arguably Ireland’s most important racecourses on the flat as it holds all five of the Classics in the country, including the Irish Derby which was won in 2017 by Capri. Some of the best Group horses from around the world visit the course each season - therefore, the quality of racing tends to be high. The opening meeting of the year takes place in March and the course hosts race days through to September.
Read more: Choose Ireland for a Vacation This Year – Ireland's Best Racecourses
by Heather Wallace
Breeding Excellence into Dutch Sport Horses
There is not an equestrian worldwide who has not heard of the KWPN Warmbloods. Their intelligence, athleticism, character, and technique are renowned in the world of show jumping. “Golden Genes”, a documentary film from Annette van Trigt Productions and 2017 Film Selection for the Equus Film Festival, provides a behind the scenes view into breeding practices of sport horses in The Netherlands.
“Show jumping horses bred in the Netherlands are some of the best in the world. It is no coincidence that foreign riders won gold and silver medals in the Olympic Games of 2008 on Dutch horses. This is big business and passion”. Golden Genes
From the perspective of five breeders, three of whom are in their 70’s, we see an array of methods and best practices but one focused goal- the breeding excellence of this horse. Some breeders have a more monetary focus, while others have seemingly a more emotional approach to their horses, but most are a combination of both. Tom Vullers sums it all by saying breeding is “80% knowledge and 20% intuition”.
The primary difference in the breeding of sport horses from race horses is using artificial insemination and embryo transfer rather than live cover. To be registered for The Jockey Club it is mandatory for the thoroughbred mare to be inseminated by live cover. As a result the desired thoroughbred traits are slower to be bred into new generations and studs may charge higher rates for breeding rights.
Read more: “Golden Genes: The Secret of Dutch Jumpers” Film Review
by Bonnie Marlewski-Probert
We’ve all met those couples. The wife is horse crazy and the husband thinks the whole sport is nutty or it is the husband who spends all his free time in the barn and the wife doesn’t understand the attraction to smelly animals that slobber on you every chance they get!
When I initially met my husband, I knew that he had no experience around horses and didn’t have any feelings about them, one way or the other. I saw that as an advantage because he didn’t hate them YET. In order to encourage his interest, I invested in a secret weapon (mint flavored Tic Tacs). I had little boxes of those things all over my house so that when he came for a visit, I was ready. I would invite him down to the fence line and ask him to shake the plastic box that the tic tacs come in. Since all the horses knew what that was, he could stand safely outside the field fence, shake the little plastic container and a whole herd of horses would come charging to see him and they would happily stay at that fence line as long as he was willing to provide the little mint treats. Of course, I taught him first how to feed with a flat hand (last thing you want to do is have him lose some fingers!)
Horse-related mobile apps have become increasingly popular among horse owners, trainers, and enthusiasts for several reasons:
- Convenience and Accessibility: Horse-related mobile apps provide users with convenient access to a wealth of information and resources at their fingertips. Whether it's tracking training progress, managing horse care records, or connecting with other horse lovers, these apps can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
- Enhanced Horse Care Management: Horse-related mobile apps can streamline and simplify horse care management. Users can easily track vaccination schedules, deworming dates, farriery appointments, and other essential care tasks. This helps ensure that horses receive the proper care at the right time.
- Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts: Some horse-related mobile apps offer real-time monitoring and alert features, providing horse owners with peace of mind. These features can track vital signs, movement patterns, and environmental conditions, allowing for early detection of potential health issues or emergencies.
- Educational Resources and Training Tools: Horse-related mobile apps can serve as a valuable resource for learning about horse care, training, and riding techniques. They often provide interactive tutorials, video demonstrations, and expert advice from veterinarians, trainers, and other professionals.
- Community Connection and Networking: Horse-related mobile apps facilitate communication and connection among horse owners, trainers, and enthusiasts. Users can join online communities, share experiences, ask questions, and find local events or service providers.
- Personalized Recommendations and Assistance: Horse-related mobile apps can provide personalized recommendations and assistance based on individual needs and goals. They can tailor training plans, suggest nutrition programs, and connect users with relevant resources based on their horse's breed, age, and activity level.
- Emergency Assistance and Support: Some horse-related mobile apps offer emergency assistance features, allowing users to quickly connect with veterinarians, farriers, or other relevant professionals in case of an emergency. This can be crucial in providing timely care and minimizing potential harm to the horse.
- Entertainment and Enjoyment: Horse-related mobile apps can provide entertainment and enjoyment for horse lovers of all ages. They may offer interactive games, virtual horse simulations, or access to live horse racing events.
In summary, horse-related mobile apps have become an indispensable tool for horse owners, trainers, and enthusiasts, offering a convenient, informative, and engaging way to manage horse care, enhance horse training, and connect with the equestrian community.
Do we need to add an app? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!
Mobile Apps
Mobile Apps - Breeding
- Equineline Mare Produce Record
- Equineline Sales Catalog App
- Weatherbys Ltd.- Weatherbys Stallion Book
Mobile Apps - Dressage
Mobile Apps - Education - Breeds
Mobile Apps - Education - Medical
Mobile Apps - Entertainment
Mobile Apps - Eventing
Mobile Apps - Events
Mobile Apps - Facilities
Mobile Apps - Games
- Cowboy Horse Run
- EverRun: The Horse Guardians - Epic Endless Runner
- Flying Horse Police Chase : US Police Horse Games
- Horse Games
- Horse Paradise - My Dream Ranch
- Horse Riding Tales - Ride With Friends
- Horse World – Showjumping - For all horse fans!
- Howrse
- Jumping Horse Racing Simulator
- My Horse
- My Horse - Virtual horse game
- My Horse Stories
- Offroad Horse Taxi Driver – Passenger Transport
- Star Stable Horses
Mobile Apps - Games - Horse Racing
- Catch Driver: Horse Racing
- Champion Horse Racing
- Goodwood Penny Horse Racing FREE
- Horse Racing 3D
- Horse Racing Mania
- iHorse GO: PvP Horse Racing NOW
- iHorse Racing 2: Stable Manager
- iHorse Racing: free horse racing game
- Jockey Viva Go
- Off And Pacing: Horse Racing
- Pick Horse Racing
- Power Derby - Live Horse Racing Game
- Race Simulator
- Rival Stars Horse Racing
- Simple Horse Racing
Mobile Apps - Insurance
Mobile Apps - Management Tools
- EquestFile
- Horse Monkey
- Horsebills.com
- HorseLinc: Connecting Equine Business Management
- Stable Secretary - Barn management
- TLore
Mobile Apps - News / Magazines
- BloodHorse Magazine
- Great Magazine Apps For Those Who Love Horses
- Horse & Hound Magazine INT
- Horse and Rider Magazine
Mobile Apps - Polo
Mobile Apps - Racing - News
Mobile Apps - Racing - Radio
Mobile Apps - Racing - Wagering
- 1/ST Bet
- AmWest Entertainment
- BetMGM
- Caesars Racebook
- DK Horse Racing & Betting
- Equibase
- FanDuel Racing
- Horse Races Now - Mobile racing app
- Ladbrokes™ Sports Betting
- NYRA Bets
- Racing Post
- Racing Post Mobile
- SaratogaBets
- Sportfusion- Horse Racing News & Videos
- The Racing App - A Quantum Leap
- TrackMaster Pocket Handicapper
- TVG
- TwinSpires
- William Hill
Mobile Apps - Trail Riding
Mobile Apps - Training
Mobile Apps - Western
by Patricia N. Saffran
After the first night of the September 2017 Rolex Central Park Horse Show in New York City, we interviewed Rob Bick of RBC Show Horses of Smithfield, North Carolina, a nationally recognized top trainer and rider of Arabians, and winner of the Arabian Western Pleasure Pro/Am class, presented by Aljassimya Farm.
“I had a lot of fun on PA Kid Khan. He’s a Palmetto Arabians farm-bred stallion from Timmonsville, South Carolina. He’s an amazing horse. He made me look good,” says Rob Bick of RBC Show Horses of Smithfield, North Carolina, winner of the Arabian Pleasure Pro/AM on the first night of the five day show at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Mr. Bick continues, “I started training Kid Khan as a three year old and he’s been trained exclusively at RBC Show Horses. Nobody else rides him except me and our office secretary once in a while for the amateur in the combined pro/am class, Janie Heslep. He picks up every little move or shift of my weight. If I talk he knows what I want. The noise and distraction of Central Park didn’t bother him. I brought him up where I eased off the pressure when he was going correctly and he has a feel now for what I want. Kid Khan is very trained. His transitions are effortless, like shifting gears in a Ferrari. He has a high tail and a short back so it’s easy for him to gather himself underneath my weight. When he moves he has a floating action. I had nothing to do with that – God made him that way. I only use light plates on his front feet and no shoes on the back feet. I’ve ridden a lot of horses but not a lot like Kid Khan. He’s special - he’s the horse of a lifetime. I love him.”
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- Waterford Crystal's Rich Heritage: Horse Racing Trophies
- EIE Exclusive Interview with Bobby Shiflet on the Renowned Tony Leonard Collection
- All the King’s Horses: the Equestrian Life of Elvis Presley
- Elizabeth Arden: Thoroughbred Owner, Breeder, Healer
- The Kentucky Derby and Its Hats
- EIE Exclusive Interview: Haydn Webb, Carriage Supervisor to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Gorgeous Horses Dazzle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- National Historic Landmark Civil War Equestrian Statues Under Attack by City Councils
- Jewelry Designer Creates Pendant for Charity as Tribute to Great Grandmother