Adler Ridge Equestrian

10/09/2026

10/06/2026

10/02/2026

The researchers wanted to settle an argument. People blanket horses constantly in Northern Europe, and nobody actually knew whether the horses wanted it. So they decided to ask them.

Using carrot slices and about 15 minutes of training a day, they taught each horse that a horizontal bar meant put my blanket on, a vertical bar meant take it off, and a blank board meant leave me alone. All 23 horses learned it. Most had it down in about 11 days.

Then came the real test. On cold, wet, windy days, 10 of the 12 unblanketed horses walked up and asked for a blanket. On warm sunny days, the blanketed ones asked to have it taken off. Their answers tracked the weather almost perfectly, which told the scientists the horses understood exactly what they were choosing.

They were never confused. They just had no way to tell us until someone handed them a board. 🐴

09/27/2026

09/22/2026

DRESSAGE SOLUTIONS: Seek the Connection

To encourage your horse to seek the connection and reach into both reins when asking him to stretch forward and down …

Close your leg and give your reins forward, thinking of the reins as telephone lines where the messages can be sent and received only if the circuit is not broken or loopy.

— Karen Adams

🎨 Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

Click the link in our comments to read more! ⬇️

09/20/2026

The Rider’s Body: An Overlooked Welfare Issue