by Samantha Swann

For Mark Bellissimo, anything can be a symbol of defiance — even a carousel.

“I saw a great Venetian carousel in Florence and (said) I’m going to stick that in front of this property,” Bellissimo said of the opulent carousel at the heart of the Tryon International Equestrian Center that anyone can ride for free. “And every kid in this community who wants to ride a horse, if that’s the only thing they can afford, fantastic. It’s really trying to convey that this is an open platform.”

Bellissimo is CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions LLC, a group of equestrian lifestyle venues, and the mind behind the equestrian center just a few miles from the North Carolina-South Carolina state line where this year’s World Equestrian Games will be held.

Looking at the big picture, the carousel is just a small symbol of Bellissimo’s larger goal of making the equestrian world accessible to all, a journey that began in Wellington, Fla., at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Bellissimo said the previous owners of that venue had charged a $20 fee, locally referred to as the “riff-raff tax,” to limit who could attend their events.

Read more: Bellissimo Works to Open the Equestrian World to All

Relaxation and horse riding might not seem like obvious bedfellows, as any good rider knows it’s super important to stay alert and on guard whenever you’re around a horse. But, when it comes to being in the saddle remaining calm and composed is the aim of the game. A confident and relaxed rider is much more likely to get through sticky situations than one who is tense and nervous.

We’ve all been there, perhaps you’ve recently had a fall or you’re a first-time rider. There are plenty of things that can be super nerve-wracking about riding a horse, the trick is to learn some relaxation techniques that come in very handy for those days when the nerves get the better of you.

Be mindful

Learning mindfulness will not only help you to feel calm around horses, it will also impact on the rest of your life. From grooming your horse with awareness to practicing the art of relaxing your body before you ride, mindfulness is a great tool when dealing with the nerves associated with riding. Pay attention to your actions as you groom, making sure to feel the horse’s pulse and how the hair feels as you move the brush over the horse’s body. Focus on your breathing and monitor the horse’s responses to your touch. This will help you to harmonize with the horse and feel calmer in its presence.

Read more: How to Relax When Riding

by Allison Peters

This summer on Experiencing Northern Michigan I’ve shared Mackinac Island, adventures from my first-ever visit there at the start of the season. From watching the Grand Parade at the 70th Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival and staying at the Lilac House Bed & Breakfast to touring historic Fort Mackinac, visiting the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, and flying kites and biking all around the lush Island, my own Mackinac Island weekend escape was jam-packed with incredible memories, brand new experiences, and refreshing adventures that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Read more: Experiencing Northern Michigan: Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour on Mackinac Island

The Kentucky Horse Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with events for horse lovers from around the nation and the world as well as local residents. Festivities began in the spring and will continue into the fall.

Built in 1978, the Kentucky Horse Park was designed as the world’s first park dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park sits on property that has been used to raise Thoroughbreds since the early 1800s.

The facilities now located on the park’s 1,224 acres are unrivaled in the United States and include 1,482 permanent stables in multiple barns, three competition/multiuse venues, a climate-controlled 5,500-seat indoor arena, a covered arena and a 7,338-seat outdoor stadium. There are 12 competition rings and 13 warmup rings.

The Horse Park hosts 200 equine events a year in addition to 60 non-equine events such as concerts, weddings and corporate events. The park has attracted visitors from all 50 U.S. states and 23 foreign countries. More than 40,000 overnight visitors stay at the park’s on-site campground each year.

In addition, the park is home to 30 national equine associations at its National Horse Center, including US Equestrian, the governing body of equestrian sport. Its International Museum of the Horse is a Smithsonian affiliate with 7,982 artifacts, 8,139 photographs and negatives, 4,878 archive collections and 4,201 volumes in its library.

Read more: Kentucky Horse Park Celebrates 40 Years

by Patricia Grimshaw

Traveling down the B3098 near Westbury, in Wiltshire, England, a curious sight greets drivers and passengers alike as they round a corner. Up on a hillside, in clear view, is a large, white horse. Not an actual horse and not a statue, but a carving, in the earth, of a horse.

This is the Westbury White Horse, and it is interestingly not a unique figure in the United Kingdom.

The horse, in profile, has been carved into the white chalky escarpment of Salisbury Plain, about 1.5 miles east of the town of Westbury. It is one of the oldest of several white horses in Wiltshire and lies near an Iron Age hill fort.

At 180 feet tall by 170 feet wide, it is uncertain who carved the figure or what it represents, however it is often thought to commemorate the victory of King Alfred at the Battle of Ethandun, which took place nearby in 878 A.D.; that being said, there is no evidence of this claim until the 18th century.

The white horse has been considered a symbol of the Saxons of the early Middle Ages, including the fabled figures of Hengest and Horsa, who are said to have led the first Anglo-Saxon invasion of England.

Read more: The Ancient and Mysterious Chalk White Horses