Caring for horses takes more than physical strength or knowledge of basic routines. It requires emotional energy, mental clarity, and the motivation to keep showing up every day. What happens when your body feels tired but your responsibilities never slow down?

Many riders and horse owners ignore their limits until exhaustion starts affecting everything. Mood changes, lack of sleep, and even medications can shift how you feel around the barn. Is it possible to stay motivated when your energy dips and life feels unpredictable?

The pressure to keep pushing often leads to burnout without warning. This article will explore simple ways to support both your motivation and your well-being.

Establish a Daily Routine That Works for You

Creating a routine that fits your energy level can ease daily stress. Not every rider feels sharp early in the morning or late evening. Pay attention to when your mind and body feel most alert.

Spruce notes that a solid daily routine uses peak hours for important tasks and low-energy times for simple ones. However, life can throw unexpected events your way, so it’s crucial to plan for them.

Scheduling flexible free time into your routine lets you shift tasks around without disrupting your flow. This flexibility ensures you never feel rushed, even with unplanned events like doctor’s appointments or social invites.

Schedule stable tasks during those times to get the most done efficiently. Horses thrive with structure, and so do their caretakers in the long run. Organize tasks into natural clusters to avoid constant mental switching throughout the day.

A loose but predictable plan can support both motivation and physical comfort. Leave room for unexpected shifts so you don’t feel boxed in or guilty. This flexible rhythm will help you sustain energy without constant burnout.

How does sleep quality influence daily productivity?

Restful sleep sharpens cognitive function and helps prevent injuries during physical barn tasks. When sleep is poor, motivation dips, and reactions become slower, increasing mistakes with horses. Prioritizing sleep means you’ll be more alert, consistent, and capable when managing both animals and routines.

Emotional fatigue often hides behind habits until it begins to affect everything. You might notice less excitement or increasing dread around normal barn tasks. Low mood or irritation is sometimes mistaken for laziness or disinterest.

Medical News Today states that emotional exhaustion often builds up gradually, leaving people feeling drained and overwhelmed. Over time, these feelings can negatively impact daily routines and relationships. Many people don't recognize the early signs of burnout, which can lead to long-term fatigue.

Pay attention to moments when you're just going through the motions alone. Emotional exhaustion drains motivation and can sneak in without much warning or notice. Make time to reflect on your mindset and track any concerning shifts.

Ask if you still feel connected to your horse or environment. Small changes in your enthusiasm often reflect deeper mental and emotional fatigue. Early recognition makes recovery and change easier before burnout fully develops.

How does decision-making ability relate to emotional fatigue?

Emotional exhaustion can cloud judgment and make once-easy decisions feel overwhelming and frustrating. This mental fog often signals that your emotional bandwidth is shrinking under pressure. Noticing decision fatigue helps you pause and reflect before the stress spirals into burnout.

Supporting Your Body Through Medication Side Effects

Verywell Mind mentions that medication side effects can sneak into your daily routine in frustrating ways. You might feel sudden shifts in mood, energy, or physical comfort without warning. These changes can interfere with your focus, especially during barn chores and riding.

It’s not always easy to link how you feel to what you’re taking. Still, your body might be working harder to adjust than you realize. Tracking symptoms across a few days can reveal useful patterns you didn’t expect. Make room in your routine for extra rest or gentler tasks on hard days.

TorHoerman Law emphasizes that hormonal medications like Depo-Provera may cause fatigue and mood changes. This birth control shot, given every three months, has been linked to serious side effects, including brain tumors. As awareness grows about the dangers of Depo-Provera, some users have taken legal action to address these risks.

The Depo-Provera lawsuit argues that manufacturers failed to properly warn consumers about the complications associated with the drug.

If you suspect your medication is causing negative effects, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Taking time to rest and adjust your routine supports your focus, energy, and connection with your horse.

How does stress management affect medication efficacy?

Chronic stress changes how your body processes medications and can reduce their intended effects. Stress hormones may interfere with absorption or amplify unwanted side effects over time. Managing stress improves both medication response and your ability to function consistently.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Micro-Breaks

Short breaks between tasks help your mind and body reset without guilt. Take a few minutes to pause after grooming or feeding your horse. Step outside the barn and give yourself space to breathe and reset.

Healthline highlights that microbreaks, taken every 20 to 30 minutes, often last no longer than five minutes. Research shows these quick pauses can reduce muscle tension and improve mental clarity throughout the day. Studies suggest they may also lower stress and prevent burnout during repetitive or focused tasks.

Enjoy a quiet moment with your horse without any expectations or distractions. Listen to calming music or drink something warm before your next task. These pauses help lower stress and keep energy from crashing too quickly.

Micro-breaks are small but powerful tools that create more sustainable routines overall. They also allow time to appreciate the little joys of being around horses. Breaks are not laziness, they’re investments in long-term mental and physical wellness.

How do micro-breaks affect physical health during labor-intensive tasks?

Taking breaks helps reduce repetitive strain and supports circulation during long periods of physical activity. Micro-breaks prevent overuse injuries and help you return to tasks feeling physically restored. These pauses are essential for maintaining stamina and long-term physical capability.

Caring for horses takes more than strength, it requires tuning into your full well-being. Your physical, emotional, and mental health all play a role in staying motivated long-term. A daily routine that fits your lifestyle can reduce stress and build consistency. Watch for subtle signs of burnout before they grow into overwhelming fatigue.

Medications and stress can sneakily affect your mood and energy, so stay proactive. Even short breaks during your day can reset your mind and body. Self-awareness helps you adjust before things spiral out of balance. These small strategies aren’t luxuries, they’re key to living well with your horses.

You can find more interesting stories in our section on Health & Education.

The equine industry is vast and diverse, offering numerous disciplines, training techniques, and care requirements for horses. Whether you’re a seasoned rider, a breeder, or someone simply passionate about horses, understanding how to maintain the health and well-being of these magnificent creatures is crucial. In this article, we will explore key aspects of horse health, effective training methods, and current trends within the equine world that every enthusiast should know.

1. Understanding Horse Health: The Foundation of Success

Proper care and attention to a horse’s health are essential for maximizing their performance and longevity. Horses are strong, resilient animals, but they require specific care to thrive. Here are some fundamental elements of horse health to consider:

• a. Nutrition and Diet
  A horse’s diet plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. They need a balanced diet that includes hay, grass, grains, and fresh water. Depending on their activity level, age, and health conditions, some horses may also require specialized feed. Consulting with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian can help create a diet tailored to your horse’s individual needs.
• b. Routine Veterinary Care
  Regular check-ups with a qualified veterinarian are important for catching early signs of illness or injury. Vaccinations, deworming, dental care, and regular hoof trimming are all essential parts of a horse’s routine health maintenance.
• c. Hoof Health
  The hooves are one of the most critical parts of a horse’s body and must be cared for properly. Regular visits from a farrier, who specializes in hoof care, are essential for keeping hooves in top condition. Horses who are ridden regularly may require additional hoof protection such as horseshoes, while others may benefit from barefoot trimming.

2. Effective Training Techniques: Building a Strong Relationship with Your Horse

Training a horse is about more than just teaching it specific skills—it’s about building trust, improving communication, and creating a strong partnership between the rider and the horse. Here are some key training principles to follow:

• a. Patience and Consistency
  Horses thrive on routine and consistency. The most successful training sessions are those that are structured, clear, and predictable. Positive reinforcement and gradual steps are essential in helping horses learn new skills without feeling overwhelmed.
• b. Groundwork Before Riding
  Before jumping into riding, it’s important to establish solid groundwork. Teaching a horse basic commands such as “halt,” “walk,” and “whoa” on the ground can improve their responsiveness and make riding more effective and safe. Groundwork also helps to build a strong bond of trust, which is vital for a positive riding experience.
• c. Building Trust Through Connection
  A successful training session is based on mutual trust. Horses are intelligent animals that are highly attuned to their handler’s emotions. Calm, gentle communication and an understanding of horse behavior can foster a deep bond and create a strong, effective partnership.

3. Equine Sports and Competition: New Trends and Innovations

Equine sports are an exciting and diverse part of the industry, with many disciplines catering to different interests, from dressage and eventing to show jumping and polo. Staying updated on the latest trends and innovations in equine sports can provide insights into how the industry is evolving and what’s next for competitors.

• a. Technology in Equine Sports
  Technology has begun playing a prominent role in equine sports, particularly in performance tracking and training. Devices such as heart rate monitors, GPS trackers, and motion sensors can help riders and trainers assess a horse's physical condition, stamina, and recovery after training or competition. This data-driven approach allows for more precise and targeted training programs.
  Furthermore, advancements in digital tools are transforming the way equine industries market themselves. With an AI picture generator, trainers, breeders, and event organizers can create visually striking marketing materials, such as promotional images for horse sales, event posters, or advertisements for equestrian gear, all using AI-generated imagery that can be customized in seconds.
• b. Sustainability in Equine Practices
  As sustainability becomes an increasingly important consideration across all industries, the equine world is also beginning to embrace eco-friendly practices. From sustainable horse bedding options to energy-efficient facilities, the focus on sustainability is helping reduce the environmental impact of equine activities.
• c. Equine Sports for All Levels
  Whether you’re a competitive rider or someone just starting in equine sports, there are events and opportunities for every level. From amateur to professional competitions, equine sports offer a sense of community and achievement. In fact, many equine organizations offer entry-level competitions to encourage newcomers, making it easier for everyone to get involved and grow their skills.

4. Equine Tourism: Experiencing the World of Horses

Equine tourism has become an increasingly popular way for people to engage with the horse world. Whether through riding vacations, equestrian events, or equine-focused adventure tours, these experiences allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of horses while enjoying beautiful landscapes.

Equine tourism is also a great way to support local equine businesses and communities. Horseback riding tours, ranch stays, and even volunteer opportunities on horse farms offer unique experiences for those looking to explore new places while learning about horse care and training.

5. Conclusion: The Future of the Equine Industry

The equine industry is constantly evolving, and there are exciting innovations taking place in health, training, and sports. Whether you’re passionate about horse care, competition, or simply enjoying the companionship of horses, staying informed and engaged with the latest trends will help you succeed in the world of horses.

From using new technologies to enhance training and performance to embracing sustainable practices, the future of the equine industry looks promising. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, there’s never been a better time to immerse yourself in the world of horses.

You can find more interesting stories in our section on Health & Education.

by Kristin Pitzer

If you are in the horse business for very long, the chances are good that at some point, you will have to hire a horse shipper to move your horse. This may be to buy or sell a horse out of state; to complete a cross-country move; or to visit a veterinary specialist several hours away if you don’t own a trailer. Even for a short move, though, it’s not always wise to trust the first person you find that owns a truck and trailer — there are plenty of horror stories of horses getting injured, not getting picked up, or even disappearing.

Quarter Horse News spoke with Maegan Alexander, Dispatch Assistant at Equine Express, which has been in the horse transportation business since 1986, to get some tips on what to look for when hiring a horse shipper.

Do Your Research

As you start researching horse transportation companies, there are a few things you’ll want to look for. One of the most important things to know is if the company is licensed and insured. An easy way to find out — and avoid scams — is to ask a hauler directly for their federal U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number and then verify it online.

“If for some reason you do go with a company that is not licensed and insured, it is a huge risk,” Alexander said. “If the uninsured hauler gets pulled over by DOT, they can get shut down, and you will have to wait for a legal hauler to pick up your horse. Also, if there is an incident, the owner of the horse could be liable for using an uninsured hauler.”

Another thing you’ll want to look for is a hauler that has experience with horses. There are many companies out there that offer equine transportation, but the drivers moving the horses have no knowledge of horse care or behavior. If your horse colics or gets injured, they may not recognize the signs that something is wrong.

“When on the road, the driver needs to be able to tell if the horse is travelling comfortably, and if not, we need to find the nearest vet,” Alexander said. “When looking for drivers, we require everyone to have horse knowledge before joining our team. It is imperative to know what to look for when out on the road with horses.”

If you’re not sure where to start, the National Horse Carriers Association is a great source to find commercial haulers, as you have to meet certain requirements to be a member, Alexander said. Under the “Education” tab, you can find more information about legal versus illegal haulers, as well.

Have the Details Ready

Once you have a few companies in mind, you’ll want to start calling for quotes. Alexander recommended calling at least three weeks before you want the trip to take place, with the understanding that you might have to be flexible for less-traveled routes. Before you pick up the phone, though, you’ll need to have the details of your horse’s trip prepared. Make sure you know the starting and ending addresses, and have an idea of what kind of stall you’ll want your horse to ship in.

 “A horse that has more experience and has travelled before could go into either our tie stall, a roughly 4 x 9 space where the horse is loosely cross-tied, or a box stall, an 8 x 9 space where the horse is turned loose,” Alexander said. “When we ship young, inexperienced horses or stallions, we will always ship in a box stall, and during a long trip, we recommend the box stall for every horse as it is double the size. The horse is not tied, so they do not have to stand in the same direction during the trip and can put their head down to drain their sinuses. Other companies may offer different options depending on their trailers, but all our trailers can offer the tie or box stall options.”

Keep in mind the time of year and the weather in the locations your horse will be traveling through.

“Different companies do offer certain routes, so that is always a great question to ask when inquiring for a quote,” Alexander said. “The time of year you ship can also be a big factor, especially depending on the route you are wanting to go. We try to go to Washington state almost weekly, but during the winter months, that is always a weather-dependent route.”

Know the Plan

When you find a company that seems to check most of your boxes, ask about their process for keeping you informed during your horse’s trip. A shipper that balks at giving updates is a red flag. Before the trip, the company should communicate when the horse will be picked up, where it will be laying over, and what day and time to expect it to arrive, barring any delays due to weather, traffic or issues loading and unloading the horse. They should also provide a way to contact the driver during the trip so you can keep tabs on where your horse is.

“We will give out the driver’s name and number before the trip starts so if you have any questions, you can reach the drivers directly at any time,” Alexander said. “Depending on the route, we will have a layover where the horse is taken off the trailer into their own stall, but we will let everyone know that in advance. We also try to send updates and pictures when arriving to the layovers. That way, the customers know we have arrived and the horse is doing well.”

Prepare Your Horse

Depending on the state you live in, there may be certain vaccines or paperwork required for your horse to travel. If your horse is traveling out of state, you’ll want to know those regulations for every state he or she will be passing through. For instance, a horse traveling from New Mexico to Florida will require a brand inspection, current negative coggins, and a current health certificate signed by a veterinarian that lists the horse’s temperature and an accession number matching the coggins.

Requirements can and do change, so it’s always best to check on each state’s regulations before shipping. Calling the animal health commission for the states your horse will be leaving and entering should provide the most up-to-date information.

“It’s best to reach out to your vet to see what they recommend for your horse depending on the area they are travelling to,” Alexander said. “We also recommend starting electrolytes two weeks before shipping. That way your horse is drinking well before transport. You can additionally practice loading and unloading with your horse before the hauler arrives so it is familiar beforehand.”

Send the Essentials

Because shipping can be taxing on the horse itself, Alexander recommended keeping as much of his routine the same as possible to reduce stress. This includes sending some of his current hay and grain with the shipper to avoid changing his diet. Most shippers will only feed hay while in transit to reduce the chance of colic but will give grain upon arriving at a layover.

“If a horse is needing a certain medication, we want to make sure we keep them on what their vet recommends,” Alexander said. “We do carry hay on the trailer if for some reason the horse is not sent with any grain or hay for the trip. We want to make sure the horses’ stomachs are moving and that the horses stay hydrated during the trip. We will stop every few hours to refill hay nets and water buckets, and make sure all the horses are traveling comfortably.”

A shipper that takes the time to check on horses and keeps them watered and fed can mean all the difference between your horse arriving healthy and content or showing up sick. By putting a little effort into finding the right shipper, you can save your horse and yourself unnecessary stress and get back to your normal routine quickly once he’s settled in.

This article originally appeared on American Quarter Horse News and is published here with permission.

You can find resources for horse transportation in our section on Shipping.There are more informative and entertaining articles in our section on Health & Education. While you're here be sure to check out our Curated Amazon Store.

By Kentucky Equine Research Staff

It’s green; it’s grass; it’s good. This may be the approach of some horse owners when it comes to pasture forage, but savvy broodmare managers know differently.

One forage taunts broodmare managers in some parts of the United States so mercilessly that many consider it a weed, even a noxious one. In many ways, their assessment is just. Can you name the pasture plant?

Did you guess tall fescue, specifically toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue? If you did, you are correct!

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a productive, persistent cool-season grass. Most existing stands of tall fescue in the United States occur in a particular region called the “Fescue Belt.” In the east, the Fescue Belt runs from mid-Georgia north to Pennsylvania, and to the west it runs from Oklahoma to Kansas.

In the case of tall fescue, a particular fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) called an endophyte grows within the plant between the plant cells. Because it proliferates internally, visible signs of the infection cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The endophyte concentrates in the seeds as well as plant parts closest to the ground. The predominant alkaloid, or by-product, of this endophyte, is ergovaline. Because pastures are dynamic, growing and receding with weather changes, ergovaline levels rise and fall during the year. Research has revealed that ergovaline generally peaks in May and September, but levels are high enough to cause problems in pregnant mares throughout much of the growing season.

In addition to pasture, mares consuming hay containing endophyte-infected tall fescue are susceptible to toxicity, as are mares that are bedded on similar hay.

If pregnant mares have access to endophyte-infected tall fescue, they are likely to show signs of tall fescue toxicity, characterized by prolonged gestation, difficulty foaling, thickened placenta (including premature separation of the placenta known as a “red bag” presentation), decreased or absence of milk production, weak or dead foals, and reduced breeding efficiency following parturition.

Plant breeders successfully extracted the endophyte from tall fescue, but it left the plant less vigorous. As it turns out, the endophyte gives tall fescue some of its most admired qualities, including top-drawer pest resistance and stress tolerance (drought, heat, grazing pressure). Because of this diminished persistence, endophyte-free tall fescue has little use in real-world pasture situations.

Most recently, plant breeders introduced novel or beneficial endophyte tall fescue. While these new varieties contain endophyte, it does not produce alkaloids, so it causes no toxicosis and has many advantageous characteristics, especially excellent persistence.

To determine the endophyte status of existing stands of tall fescue, laboratory testing is necessary. Consult a pasture specialist or university extension personnel for help with this.

While pasture renovation is the ideal solution to endophyte-infected tall fescue stands, other strategies can help keep mares safe. The primary mitigation strategy is removal of mares from toxic fescue 30-90 days before foaling. If no other grazing areas are available, revamp the diet to include high-quality hay or alternative forages (hay cubes, hay pellets, etc.) as the principal forage sources.

Oral administration of domperidone 10 to 20 days before expected foaling can prevent the signs of fescue toxicosis in pregnant mares. In one study, domperidone administered to 1,423 mares in the United States under veterinarian supervision and under field conditions was 95% effective in preventing signs of tall fescue toxicosis.

Image information: The highlighted area on the United States map shows the region where tall fescue is dominant and widely used in forage stands, and to which the term “Fescue Belt” typically applies (Ball et al., 2019). Within the blue square is a microscopic view of the tall fescue endophyte within the plant. Photograph by Carolyn Young, Ph.D., North Carolina State University.

*Poore, M. 2017. Tall fescue: Wonder grass or toxic curse. North Carolina State University Extension. Accessed February 3, 2025.

Other references:
Ball, D.M., G.D. Lacefield, and C.S. Hoveland. 2019. The wonder grass: The story of tall fescue in the United States. Oregon Tall Fescue Commission.
Roberts, C., and J. Andrae. 2022. Fescue toxicosis and management, 2nd ed. American Society of Agronomy, Inc., and Crop Science Society of America.

Read more: Tall Fescue Toxicity in Mares

As a lifelong barrel racer, Kansas City's Tina Svoboda has traveled all across the Midwest with her Quarter Horse mare, Cee that Booger, whom she fondly calls Bella. With their time on the road, and years owning horses alongside her husband Jim, Tina has witnessed her fair share of joint health problems.

Joint issues can impact all horses, ages and disciplines. And the severity can range from minor to career ending.

"The horses I've known with joint problems have all retired early or were otherwise forced to change careers," Tina said. "To help prevent joint problems, we started Bella as a 4 year old on Adequan Equine. She's 12 now and is the first horse we've had that has never had joint issues."

Adequan Equine is FDA-approved and proven to diminish the destructive processes of degenerative joint disease, while reversing the loss of cartilage components and improving the overall joint health for horses. Heathy cartilage is crucial to the performance of a horse's joints. Using Adequan Equine, new cartilage is quickly produced and any inflammation is decreased.

"When you've had a number of consecutive horses and barrel horses, joint issues are a common occurrence," Tina said. "Bella is the first who hasn't, and I attribute that to introducing her to Adequan Equine early on in her life."

Help horses avoid joint problems by:

• Incorporating a joint health supplement like Cosequin to help maintain joints and cartilage
• Prioritizing hoof care and keeping horses on a regular trim schedule
• Keeping horses at optimum weight and avoiding obesity, which stresses the joints
• Offering quality nutrition for strong bones and healthy cartilage
• Riding on softer footing and limiting work on hard surfaces
• Using Adequan Equine to help prevent and repair joint problems
• Using Equioxx, which is often prescribed by veterinarians for joint pain relief, as well.
• "Adequan Equine has a really good reputation for working on horses, regardless of their discipline," Tina said.

Tina purchased Bella as a green-broke filly, and now riding together for more than eight years, the pair recently switched gears from running the barrel pattern to competing in AQHA ranch riding. "She's one in a million," Tina said, referring to her stunningly versatile grey mare. "Not many horses could have made the transition from a barrel horse to an arena horse so easily. She's willing to try whatever you can do. She's phenomenal."

All photos courtesy of Valley Vet.

This article originally appeared on Valley Vet and is published here with permission.

There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education. Be sure to check out our Curated Amazon Store for Feed, Supplements and Horse Farm supplies.

Scholarship funds aim to support incoming and current college or vocational students involved in animal agriculture.

To learn more about and apply to the Purina Animal Nutrition Scholarship, visit www.purinamills.com/scholarship.

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. [March 18, 2025] – Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has reopened its annual scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in livestock production and animal stewardship in pursuing their passions and furthering their education.

Undergraduate students and current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship. Four students will be awarded based on applications that illustrate the impact animal agriculture has had on their lives along with details on academic achievements, leadership skills, community involvement and a clear vision for their future.

Scholarship applications will be accepted March 18 through April 17, and awardees will be notified in June. Funds will be distributed for the Fall 2025 semester at their current or anticipated educational institution. The scholarship is open to all high school seniors who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic semester/term and undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.

To learn more about and apply to the Purina Animal Nutrition Scholarship, visit www.purinamills.com/scholarship.

About Purina Animal Nutrition

Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (a href="https://www.purinamills.com" target="_blank">www.purinamills.com) is a national organization serving animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers, and other retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for all animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn. and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc.

The are more interesting and informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

By Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CEE

When I first started teaching my wife, Sabine, how to ride, I couldn’t understand why she kept complaining that the saddle hurt her there. I would get on the same saddle and have absolutely no problem. She, on the other hand, had difficulty keeping correct positioning with her legs back, back straight, and shoulders back. Then when we I started building saddles in Canada, Sabine was my guinea pig, but because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings, she never admitted that the saddles I was making (for female clients) weren’t really comfortable for her.

When a well-known judge and rider confided in me that she was literally “rubbed raw” and felt pulled apart, a light bulb went off in my head. I conferred with a gynecologist and began to investigate the differences in male and female anatomy, starting with pelvic structure, and then including hip articulation, muscles, and skeleton. I learned that the differences between men and women were extremely significant when considering saddle design. We then started using a plaster cast method, which served as incredible visual aids to make our full custom saddles.

Since then, we have refined our designs and are now known as the “Female Saddle Specialist,” a niche which becomes even more fitting when you consider that the demographics of our industry have shifted significantly over the past 50 years or so to become predominantly female.

With this shift in demographics, why haven’t more saddle manufacturers taken this into consideration when making saddles? Many still build saddles the way they have been made for decades, and some women still dismiss the idea of needing a saddle built specifically for their conformation. Many riders have simply learned to deal with the discomfort and ride well enough to make these saddles work, but it’s not ideal.

I have worked closely with a very qualified equestrian medical expert in our industry, James Warson, MD, who wrote the book, The Rider’s Pain Free Back. I have incorporated many of his findings into my own book.

So let’s consider the various anatomical differences and how they apply to saddle fit for women.

Width of the seat bones (birthing channel): This determines how wide the saddle seat needs to be; in many of the saddles made for men, a woman will actually find herself sitting on the seat seam, which is irritating to say the least.

Spinal column: Riders need to be able to use the four natural curves of the vertebral column as natural shock absorbers. If a female rider leans back or hunches forward because the saddle isn’t right for her, her spine will take the brunt of the impact and result in back pain issues, which could result in slipped discs.

Pelvic balance and pubic symphysis: The male pelvis can balance on its seat bones as on a bipod; the female pelvis needs to use her pubic symphysis as well as her seat bones, like a tripod. For women, this means there is another area of friction at the pommel area, which can result in pain. To compensate and avoid pain, the rider in pain might collapse at the hip, which then causes the leg to shoot forward, placing the rider in the chair seat position.

Hip joints: The male hip joints are articulated differently, which allows the legs to hang straight down, whereas women’s legs are naturally angled outwards. This results in the female rider feeling pulled apart if the twist, the area of the saddle tree that we feel between our upper inner thighs, is too wide.

Upper leg musculature: Because of the structure of the quads and hamstrings as indicated in the picture, the woman needs to have a narrower twist (as a rule).

Gluteus maximus (butt cheeks): The female’s glutes are much higher up than a man’s, which indicates the need for additional support in the seat at the cantle area to prevent her from collapsing to the back.

If all of these points are taken into consideration when fitting a saddle, a woman can use the properly fitted saddle to help her ride in proper position and balance. She can now concentrate on her ride rather than fighting her saddle for proper position.

For a man, riding in a saddle that is uncomfortable for him (especially at the pommel area because of too much padding at the seat) could result in restricted blood flow in the sensitive perineal area. This could lead to erectile dysfunction, impotence, or other physical problems.

These are the points of reference every rider should ensure are correct for his or her body, regardless if they are male or female:

• Width of the seat to support the seat bones
• Skirt attachment with flat seaming to avoid pressure at the back of the upper inner thigh
• Saddle twist appropriate for male or female to accommodate upper leg musculature
• Angle of the pommel to avoid hitting the pubic symphysis (waist seaming width)
• Seat foam (mattress) to support the gluteus muscles
• Flattest part of the saddle, or the supporting area, where the majority of weight is carried; needs special attention to avoid pressure on the crotch area
• Cantle angle to provide necessary support
• Saddle balance (many women prefer forward balance)
• Stirrup bar position to accommodate the upper leg length to lower leg length ratio (most women will require extended stirrup bars since their upper legs are longer than their lower legs); if this is not considered and fitted properly to the rider, the leg will naturally swing forward

In summary, the saddle should allow the rider to sit as closely to the horse as possible while allowing the positive and balanced interaction of the vertical spine of the rider and the horizontal spine of the horse. Riding shouldn’t hurt, and this goes for both the rider and the horse If the rider isn’t comfortable, this will translate down to the horse, and he will never perform to the best of his ability. So us riders owe it to ourselves and to our horses to ride in a saddle suited to our body. As the saying goes, “You are worth it!”

Author Bio]
Jochen Schleese, author of Suffering in Silence: The Saddle Fit Link to Physcial and Psychological Trauma in Horses, is a Certified Master Saddler from Passier He operates a saddlery training facility in Ontario, Canada, and provides diagnostic saddle fit analysis and fitting services across North America, especially for women. SaddlesforWomen.com

This article originally appeared on Certified Horsemanship Association and is published here with permission.

There a more informative articles in our section on Health & Education. Don't forget to take a look at our Curated Amazon Store.

By Zoe Gillen and Heidi Lykins, Kentucky Equine Research Interns

In research settings, a standardized exercise test (SET) is a useful tool to assess a horse’s fitness. The test requires the horse to cycle through a succession of gaits using a standard protocol consisting of warm-up, exercise, and cool-down while wearing a fitness monitor. The test has been an incredible asset in many studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research over the last four decades.

Researchers commonly use SETs to determine the effect of certain treatments or training methods on fitness and recovery. In research scenarios, SETs are usually carried out on a high-speed treadmill, as this enables exercise conditions, such as surface, incline, and speed, to be controlled.

During these tests, exercise intensity and duration are usually increased above the normal training levels, reaching speeds of 12 m/s (27 mph) and inclines up to 5°. This pushes the horse above the lower anaerobic threshold (160 bpm) and can result in significant increases in muscle temperature. The incline allows for both a higher intensity and duration of exercise without the need to increase speed. Exercising on the treadmill is especially beneficial in research as it allows us to control for confounding variables.

This is an example of an 18-minute SET used in a recent study with fit horses, in which researchers observed increases in muscle temperature up to 42° C.

1-min walk (1.6 m/s; 0° incline)

2-min walk (1.6 m/s; 3° incline)

2-min trot (4 m/s; 3° incline)

2-min canter (6 m/s; 3° incline)

3-min canter (6 m/s; 5° incline)

3-min fast canter (8 m/s; 5° incline)

2-min trot (4 m/s; 5° incline)

1-min trot (4 m/s; 3° incline)

1-min walk (1.6 m/s; 3° incline)

1 min walk (1.6 m/s; 0° incline)

Heart rate monitors are commonly used to determine fitness. A lower heart rate at any given speed indicates greater fitness. Another heart rate value commonly used is the velocity at which the horse’s heart rate reaches 200 beats per minute (V200). A horse with a higher V200 is considered more fit. At Kentucky Equine Research, heart rates are collected via smartphone apps that connect to a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, which is situated on a surcingle worn by the horse during exercise.

In addition, muscle temperatures are collected by scanning microchips implanted in the left middle gluteal and pectoral muscles using microchip readers. These muscles are specifically monitored as the middle gluteal muscle contributes significantly to forward locomotion during exercise, and the pectoral muscle is directly correlated with core body temperature.

Blood lactate is another fitness indicator used in research, with lower blood lactate levels translating to improved aerobic capacity and therefore greater fitness. These data can help researchers understand the level of fitness, observe recovery after exercise, and monitor progression over time to ensure effectiveness of training. To record the abundance of data from SETs, the researchers at Kentucky Equine Research created a data collection sheet, shown here with example data.

This article was written by Zoe Gillen and Heidi Lykins, year-long interns at Kentucky Equine Research. As part of the intern program, participants are asked to contribute to Equinews occasionally. Learn more about the internship program.

Read more: Use of Standardized Exercise Tests in Equine Research