Advances in equine medicine are enabling horses to perform longer in their athletic careers than ever before. Together with proper veterinary care, educated owners can offer senior horses a happy and pain-free life as they age into their senior years. Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, is experienced in helping senior sport horses stay comfortable and competitive.
Horses from the ages of 12 and older are considered “seniors,” but they often compete successfully into their teenage years. Many horses in the prime of their careers may require extra maintenance to continue performing at their best, and advances in veterinary care have helped extend careers. Although maintaining these athletes requires more work by the owner and the veterinarian, preemptive attention to an aging equine’s needs may help keep your partner performing longer.
Maintain Top Health Over the Years
There are several areas of care that owners should consider to maintain their horse’s top health and ensure continued success. It is important to remember that just as the human body changes with age, the horse’s body does the same.
Owners should contact their veterinarians on a routine basis to have their horse’s overall health and fitness evaluated, no matter what the horse’s job is.
An appropriate fitness program is imperative to the senior horse’s performance. As horses age, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain their fitness. Any exercise that builds your horse’s stamina and muscle mass is essential, and the more your horse gets out of its stall and moves around the better. Anything from riding lessons to trail riding, or even hand walking, can be beneficial.
Like any athlete, horses can experience physical setbacks, so it is important to have their gaits evaluated routinely. Veterinarians can suggest appropriate treatments to avoid creating larger issues, whether the horse needs a little assistance with the flexion in their neck or joint injections to ease discomfort.
It is important to maintain the senior horse’s stall with clean, deep bedding for both comfort and sanitation purposes. The stall should be away from direct sunlight, have fans for effective air movement, and plenty of fresh water to maintain hydration and prevent overheating.
For a more in-depth explanation, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
Fall is a beautiful time of year to spend outside and at the barn with your horse. The temperatures are not too hot but not too cold and the leaves on the trees are picture-perfect. Take advantage of this wonderful season by trying out some of BarnManager’s favorite fall activities.
Plan a Photoshoot
All equestrians want a stunning photo of their horse with fall foliage in the background. Choose a nice fall afternoon to stage a photoshoot with your horse and maybe even some of your barn buddies. Hiring a professional photographer is a great option to get your perfect fall shots. If you are on a budget and do not have professional equipment, iPhones can take quality photos with proper editing. This is a fun activity to do with friends so you can take turns taking pictures or do a couple of group photos.
Enjoy a Trail Ride
Take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy the fall colors by planning a trail ride. This is a fun activity to do in a group. If you decide to trail ride outside your own farm property, make sure you are wearing high-visibility clothing because it may be hunting season. It is also a nice opportunity for the horses to enjoy time outside of the arena, especially if you will be riding in an indoor all winter.
Enter a Costume Class
What is the fun of fall without picking out a Halloween costume? This year, consider coming up with a costume for both you and your horse. Dressing up with your horse can be a fun activity whether you are attending a Halloween-themed horse show or just dressing up with your barn family.
Click HERE for BarnManager’s favorite Halloween costume ideas!
Make Fall-Themed Horse Cookies
Everyone loves pumpkin spice-flavored goodies and fall comfort food, including horses. Plan a weekend afternoon to make your own fall-themed horse cookies. This is a great activity to do at a gathering at someone’s house or even at the barn if you have the appliances.
Click HERE for a list of BarnManager’s favorite recipes for fall-themed horse treats!
Organize a Live Stream Night
Instead of planning a movie night this fall, gather a group of barn friends for an evening of watching live streams. The fall includes several prestigious horse shows and finals with night classes that you will not want to miss. Order a pizza and get a few snacks to eat while you and your friends enjoy top competition. Don’t forget that many streaming services also offer on-demand viewing so you can catch up on big events you may have missed. If you want to mix it up a little, consider watching a Masterclass or a Barn Talk from Horse & Country to learn new tips and tricks from top equestrians.
Click HERE for a list of must-watch live streams for this fall!
Attend a Haunted Hayride
Although this activity may not be directly related to horses, it is still something fun to do as a group. Look for the haunted hayrides in your area and gather your barn family for a fun night. You can also plan a group dinner before or after the hayride for more team bonding.
Try out a few of the activities on BarnManager’s list to ensure you are enjoying fall to the fullest before the winter weather comes.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
BarnManager is the Official Barn Management Software of US Equestrian.
It’s been a rollercoaster year for weather in the United States, with record-breaking heatwaves, dirt-cracking drought, and flooding rainfalls. That pattern hasn’t only been a trial for average citizens and livestock owners — it’s also setting the stage for a potentially larger and longer season for West Nile virus, experts say. There are things you can do to reduce the risk to your horses, including eliminating standing, stagnant water sources where mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus breed. But the best way to protect your horses from West Nile virus is even simpler: vaccinate them against it.
US Equestrian talked to Kevin Hankins, DVM, MBA, Managing Equine Veterinarian for Zoetis Animal Health, for insights about this year’s West Nile virus outlook, how the vaccine works, and the effects of the virus on unvaccinated horses.
Why is this year going to be a potentially bad year for West Nile virus in horses?
When we look back historically over West Nile virus outbreaks, whether it’s in the United States or in Europe, a common pattern we see is an extended drought period that’s followed by rain. An ambient temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for replication of the mosquito and replication of the virus in the mosquitoes. What happens during drought conditions — which is counter-intuitive to what people think about mosquitoes and lots of rain — is that those bodies of water become stagnant and smaller, which makes them easier to heat up. That makes them ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. And it makes them have ideal conditions for that virus to replicate within those mosquitoes.
Photo Courtesy of Karin Belgrave/Zoetis Equine
When you get these small bodies of water, lots of virus replication, and lots of mosquito replication and then a big rain comes, it takes all the small, infected mosquito pools and spreads them out all over the place. So now you have infected mosquitoes that are more widespread and able to start their own breeding pools in other places while the temperature is still high. These factors come together to create ideal circumstances for the spread of the virus and for infections.
This year, weather conditions in many places are setting up perfectly for not only an early season, but maybe even an extended season of West Nile, as well as a higher number of mosquitoes carrying the virus.
When is the typical timeframe for West Nile virus season?
Traditionally, in most of the country, the highest number of cases start occurring in August, especially in the Midwest, where the season will go through October. In other parts of the country, like Florida and the rest of the Southeast, the West Nile virus season can extend all year.
What we’ve seen so far this year is an earlier occurrence; we saw some West Nile virus cases in some parts of the U.S. starting in June. In the Midwest, we started seeing cases in July instead of August this year. We worry about the length of the season because the longer it stays warm the longer the West Nile virus season can extend. But I worry more about the number of infected mosquitoes because that increases the odds of a horse or human being bitten by one that is infected. There was a study, I believe at Texas A&M, showing that a horse near an infected mosquito pool can be bitten up to 5,000 times an hour. The chances of an unvaccinated horse in this kind of situation contracting West Nile virus are astronomical; it would be crazy to think they weren’t going to get it.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
Thrush, rainrot, and scratches are problems that most equestrians have encountered. While different in their presentation, thrush, rainrot, and scratches have a lot in common. These issues can arise due to environmental factors or predisposing conditions, but there are ways to treat or help prevent them with proper care and management. Dr. Bryan Dubynsky of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, shared his expertise on the causes, treatment, and prevention of each of these conditions.
Thrush
Thrush is an infection within the horse’s hoof most commonly caused by bacteria that invade the deep clefts or grooves (known as sulci) of the frog. Fusobacterium Necrophorum is the common bacterial culprit, which naturally occurs in the environment, especially in wet, muddy, or unsanitary areas. Thrush bacteria thrive where there is a lack of oxygen.
Some horses are predisposed to developing thrush due to conformation, such as a rather high heel or deep sulci, or a narrow or contracted heel. The bacteria will manifest in hooves that are not picked out regularly, or if a horse stands in muddy, wet environments, including paddocks or stalls that have not been cleaned properly. Typically, thrush can be identified first by the odor. The frog will have a strong, rotten smell. Visually, the frog becomes spongy and can even exudate (ooze) pus.
Treatment for thrush is fairly simple because it is very sensitive to oxygen. Begin by having your vet or farrier trim or debride the frog, removing damaged tissue and exposing affected areas to the air. Applying a common detergent to the thrush areas, such as Betadine or any commercial thrush product (Thrush Buster, Coppertox, etc.) will help kill the bacteria. Most importantly, remove the horse from the predisposing environmental factors, otherwise treatments may be ineffective.
Rainrot
Rainrot is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria named Dermotophilus, which produces spores. The condition is recognized as scabby, scaly, crusty spots on areas of the horse that have been exposed to rain. It is commonly seen on the neck or across the back (dorsum). Rainrot is not typically apparent on the legs or under the belly. A surplus of rain on the skin washes away the natural protective oils. Once the skin is stripped of its natural protective layer or any sort of trauma to the skin barrier occurs – which can be as simple as an insect bite – the Dermotophilus spores are able to invade the deeper dermis skin layers. The body then reacts by sending white blood cells and proteins to fight the invaders.
This reactive response causes small pustules, scabs, and bumps to form. Similar to thrush, rainrot is an environmental issue. It is most commonly seen in warm areas with high humidity, excess rain, and insects. The most important prevention tactic is to keep horses out of prolonged periods of rain. A horse can be out in the rain for short periods of a day or two, but if it is constantly in hot and rainy conditions with biting insects, the horse will more than likely develop rainrot.
Dr. Dubynsky emphasizes that topical remedies are only effective if the horse is also removed from the environmental factors. Using a keratolytic agent (something that exfoliates keratin), such as benzoyl peroxide or an antibacterial shampoo, will help the skin heal. He also cautions against picking off any scabs, which could leave the underlying skin vulnerable to additional invading bacteria. The most important tip for healing is to keep the area dry.
Scratches
Scratches is a generic term for many different ailments. The definition of scratches can be a bacterial, fungal, or viral dermatitis or inflammatory condition of the pastern or fetlock.
There are predisposing factors for scratches, including the same environmental issues that cause thrush or rainrot. Horses that have an excess amount of hair on their legs, especially draft horses, may be more prone to developing scratches because the hair traps dirt and moisture on the skin. Scratches can develop in horses that are bathed too often, such as intensely managed show horses. Frequent bathing can strip away the natural protective oils and barrier of the dermis allowing bacteria or fungi to invade. When moisture penetrates the skin, it causes an inflammatory reaction. This presents as heat, redness, pain, and loss of protection against bacteria.
The most effective first step for prevention and treatment of scratches is to eliminate environmental predisposing factors. Removing excess hair during humid months and keeping horses clean and dry will reduce the probability of developing an infection. Bathing horses once a day with Betadine or antifungal/antibacterial shampoo will help clear the infection. Leave the shampoo on for 20 minutes so the medicine can penetrate. Rinse thoroughly and make sure to dry the horse completely. In order to effectively treat the bacteria, horses, especially their legs, should be completely towel- or air-dried before being returned to their stalls or paddocks.
As always, contact your veterinarian immediately if there appears to be a deeper infection present, or if you would like more detailed information on how to treat and prevent these infections.
For a more in-depth explanation of horse hoof health, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
Equestrian athletes live exciting lives so it is always fun to follow along with them on Instagram to keep up with their busy schedules. The most entertaining accounts include riders who post additional content besides competition photos such as behind-the-scenes looks at their farms, training tips, their go-to brands, and family photos. Continue reading for a list of BarnManager’s favorite equestrian athletes to follow on Instagram.
Edwina Tops-Alexander is an Australian Olympic show jumping athlete. In addition to competition highlights, her Instagram features posts about training exercises, traveling with her family, her favorite jewelry and clothing, and more.
In addition to being a top United States show jumping athlete, Georgina Bloomberg is an author, animal activist, and mother. Georgina shares a variety of posts including her world travels, special moments with her son, her rescue dogs, and fun shots from her Global Champions League team New York Empire showing on the Longines Global Champions Tour circuit.
Anna Buffini is an up-and-coming United States dressage rider. On her Instagram, Anna shares memorablemoments with her top mount FRH Davinia la Douce, her go-to fitness routines at the gym, videos of her training her horses at home, and horse show highlights.
Karl Cook is a United States show jumping athlete based in California. Karl is known for his “Walking and Talking” videos, which feature him reviewing his competition rounds, sharing his opinions and insights, what he has learned throughout his career, and discussing topics related to the equestrian world.
Archie Cox is a respected hunter, jumper, and equitation trainer who has taught many of the nation’s top horses and riders. Archie’s Instagram features fun throwback photos of his own competition days, horsemanship and riding tips, proud trainer moments, and inspirational quotes.
Cathrine Dufour is a Danish Olympic dressage rider. Cathrine shares posts from her travels, what she is working on while training at home, fun shots around the barn, and more.
At Double H Farm, owned by the Harrison Family, professional rider Quentin Judge provides hunter, jumper, and equitation training. The barn’s Instagram account shares competition highlights, photos of Quentin’s kids around the barn, fun candid and team shots, throwback videos and photos of their top horses competing, and more.
Boyd Martin is an Olympic eventing athlete for the United States. On his Instagram, Boyd shares photos of his family, competition reels, scenes from the course walk and jog at horse shows, and videos of him training at home.
Lauren Sprieser is a dressage rider from the United States. Her Instagram is a combination of training photos, #TipTuesday posts, and competition shots.
Jessica Springsteen is an Olympic show jumping athlete from the United States. Jessica’s Instagram includes impressive competition highlights from horse shows around the world, cute behind-the-scenes shots at the barn, photos of the Tommy Hilfiger Equestrian line, and more.
As the end of the year approaches, there are several prestigious competitions and finals you will not want to miss seeing. Continue reading to learn where you can catch a few of the most noteworthy show jumping, hunter, equitation, dressage, and eventing shows this fall.
Dressage at Devon:
September 26-October 1, 2023 – Dressage at Devon takes place in Devon, PA. The event offers international competition at several levels including World Cup qualifiers, three-star competition, Junior and Young Rider qualifiers, and Adult Amateur competition. It is also one of the largest open-breed shows in the world.
September 28-October 8, 2023 – Capital Challenge Horse Show will celebrate its 30th anniversary at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Enjoy top equitation competition during Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com. Hunter competition takes center stage starting on Monday, October 2, with the country’s best horse-and-rider combinations going head-to-head in World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Challenges and Finals. The highlight event will be the $25,000 WCHR Professional Finals on Friday, October 6.
October 5-8, 2023 – CSI Greenwich takes place at the iconic Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, CT. The event will feature five-star Major League Show Jumping competition on the beautiful grass field.
October 23-29, 2023 – The 2023 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) will take place at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The country’s best show jumping, hunter, and equitation riders will compete at the prestigious event. Highlights include the $450,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W for the President’s Cup, which is the only five-star World Cup qualifier in the U.S., and the WIHS Equitation Finals, both on Saturday, October 28.
October 26-29, 2023 – Les 5 Étoiles de Pau will take place in Domaine de Sers in Pau, France, and will feature some of the world’s top eventing riders and horses. The competition is one of the seven five-star events in the world.
November 3-12, 2023 – The 2023 Royal Horse Show will take place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada, as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The event will highlight hunter classes as well as top international show jumping competition. The main event of the week will be the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto CSI5*-W on Saturday, November 11.
Where to watch the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto CSI5*-W: ClipMyHorse.TV
World Equestrian Center – Ocala November Dressage CDI3*:
November 16-19, 2023 – Dressage competition will take the spotlight at World Equestrian Center – Ocala during the November Dressage CDI3* show in Ocala, FL. In addition to offering three-star dressage competition, the event will also offer USEF/USDF competition and serve as a qualifying show for the Great American/United States Dressage Federation Regional Championships.
November 16-19, 2023 – LGCT Prague is the final event of the Global Champions Tour circuit. The show will take place in the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. Top international show jumping athletes will compete for coveted titles with the main events being the LGCT Super Grand Prix and the Global Champions League Super Cup.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
BarnManager is the Official Barn Management Software of US Equestrian.
Mud is hard on humans and horses alike, and many a barn manager undoubtedly has wished they could simply wave a magic wand to get rid of it. Reducing mud around the barn and pasture isn’t quite that easy, but there are things you can do to prevent it. We asked Dr. Stephen Higgins, director of environmental compliance for the University of Kentucky’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Lexington, KY, for his top mud-prevention tips.
“You have to be willing to try things and think out of the box,” said Higgins. “Sometimes you’ve got to be willing to break bad habits and traditions.”
Assess your horse’s daily environment.
Taking your area’s climate and average rainfall into account, consider how water moves through your horse’s paddock or pasture.
“Is there natural drainage going through their paddock? Is there a summit position? Is it well-drained or does the water pool?” said Higgins. “A lot of people will lay out a horse farm looking at aerial photography and planning on two dimensions, length and width. They look for areas to place square paddocks or large paddocks, but they don’t consider the drainage.”
Ideally, gateways should be away from drainage areas — at the top of a slope rather than at the bottom, for example. Mud will be more likely in high-traffic areas, like gateways and spots where horses gather naturally, so it’s important to minimize that by shifting gates away from natural drainage paths.
Use pasture grass to help manage water flow.
“You want to protect your pastures from excess water by having them in a full canopy of grass,” explained Higgins. “That’s crop science 101. You don’t want any bare spots or denuded areas, because rain can cause a lot of damage.
“You want what we call sheet flow, where water flows as a shallow sheet across a big area. You want thick stands of forages or grasses to slow water down to filter it and hang on to it as much as possible to prevent rapid soil run-off — and to water your pasture grass naturally,” commented Higgins.
Control horse traffic
Keeping horses in for part of the day allowing a paddock to “rest” without horses for a time helps prevent overgrazing and soil compaction — both contributors to mud. During prolonged, heavy rain, consider stabling your horses to help prevent soil damage.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
Proper hoof health can be difficult to achieve at any time of year, especially during the months with higher temperatures and humidity. A solid, healthy hoof is even more difficult to attain in a warmer climate due to an increase in moisture in the environment. Dr. Stephen O’Grady of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, FL, explains how moisture contributes to a weaker hoof infrastructure and offers steps owners and managers can take to help keep moisture away and strengthen horses’ hooves.
We tend to use more water to keep horses cool when the temperatures are high, both at competitions and at home. In many areas of the country, the humidity levels also increase during this time of year, adding moisture to the air and preventing hooves from drying as quickly. What happens to a hoof with excess water is similar to what would happen to a wooden plank that’s placed in a water trough: it becomes waterlogged, then softens and becomes weaker as a result.
It is best to tackle issues that accompany moisture by going straight to the source and minimizing the amount of water that comes in contact with the hooves. This can be accomplished in several ways:
Give your horse fewer baths
Photo by Jump Media
Cutting down on how many times per day a horse is hosed can be difficult with competition horses that need to stay clean and that may be exercised, ridden, or shown several times per day. Still, it is important to be strategic about using water, especially on the legs. At home, try to occasionally let your horse air dry in front of the fan if a bath isn’t entirely necessary. Body clipping will help your horse’s heat tolerance this time of year and you may not have to use the hose after every ride.
Avoid standing water
If you must bathe, be sure the horse isn’t standing in excess water that rises over the hoof capsule. Try to shower off the horse in a dry area so the surface underneath the horse does not contribute to the moisture level. After being bathed, move the horse to a dry surface so their hooves can thoroughly dry.
Use hoof shields to direct water away from the hoof
A good preventative tool to use while hosing is tight-fitting bell boots that cover the hoof and prevent external water from running down onto the hoof. The same effect can be accomplished with a gallon-sized plastic bag. Simply cut the bottom of the bag, place the horse’s foot inside, and seal the bag just below the fetlock to prevent excess water from sliding down the hoof.
Stand the horse in sawdust
Sawdust and similar materials have a drying effect on hooves. If hooves become saturated for any reason, let the horse stand in deep sawdust to extract the moisture. Shavings would work also, but sawdust is the most effective for absorbing moisture.
Use a shellac-type hoof dressing
Photo by Jump Media
This type of product can help prevent the hoof from absorbing too much water if applied before baths or turnout. Ask your farrier or veterinarian to recommend options that will do the job when used one to two times per week. Boric acid powder can also be applied to horses’ feet once or twice a week, serving as an astringent for the hoof.
Avoid turning out early in the morning
When humidity is high, the grass at dawn will have a high dew level, meaning horses will be standing on wet surfaces during the first hours spent outside. Though temperatures are cooler as the sun is still rising, for overall hoof health it’s best to wait until the grass has dried.
Farriery may need to be changed during warmer months
Open the lines of communication between your veterinarian and farrier. This is a crucial step to ultimate hoof care. Each professional has a reason behind their decisions, and if the two work together as a team, the horse has a much higher chance of achieving optimal hoof health.
Achieving a healthy hoof is not solely a farrier’s job; it is a whole team effort and requires dedication and attention. By implementing these recommendations into your horse care routine, you can play a role in how moisture affects your horse’s hooves. When considering the effects of excessive moisture on the hoof wall, it’s important to understand there are other factors involved, including the age of horse, breed, genetic makeup, foot conformation, and current farriery practices. With open communication and implementing these measures as a team, you are on the right track to achieving a stronger and overall healthier hoof.
For a more in-depth explanation of horse hoof health, click HERE to read the full article from Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
NOTE: These guidelines are only suggestions, and you should always follow the specific instructions from your veterinarian.
Have questions about utilizing BarnManager or want to give it a try for yourself? Request a live demo here!
BarnManager is designed to be a part of your team, with the compatibility and credentials necessary to improve communication, simplify the management of horses, and get you out of the office, off the phone calls, and into the barn with the horses you care about! Click here to get a free demo and find out more!
Many equestrians use social media to stay on top of the latest news and results in the sport. In addition to keeping up with your favorite riders and horse shows, consider adding a few influencers to your follow list and enjoy the wonderful world of horses from their perspective. Continue reading for a list of BarnManager’s favorite equestrian influencers on Instagram.
Make sure to follow Alex Calder’s account @betweentwoears for beautiful views of Ireland through the ears of her horse Ben. Get a glimpse at the trails and fields of Ireland with some foal and pony posts mixed in.
You should definitely take a look at dressage groom Evan Donadt’s @evangrooms account if you are looking for fun. His videos featuring a lighthearted take on equine behavior and life around the barn will make just about anyone laugh out loud.
Matt Harnacke documents what it’s like to be a model and dressage rider. Check out @matt_harnacke to follow along with his travels, watch videos of him riding during golden hour, and get an inside look at his life as the founder of @horseworld_tv.
Esme Higgs shares videos and photos promoting fashion, beauty, horses, travel, and equine welfare. Esme travels to top competitions around the world and shares her experiences with her followers on @this_esme. She also hosts a podcast, Esme’s Country Life, that offers a deeper dive into her love of the countryside, animals, horses, and riding.
Follow along with Madelyn Houser’s equestrian adventures on @theblondeandthebay_. Madelyn chronicles the highs and lows of her dressage career, working with her husband’s roping horses, the funny realities of running a barn with her spouse, and more.
For a mix of horse training, fashion, fitness, and travel check out @myequestrianstyle. Bethany Lee shares videos and photos of recent horse shows, her favorite clothing items, her go-to fitness routine, and more. Bethany also interviews leaders from across the sport on The Equestrian Podcast.
Equestrians aiming to improve their fitness for riding should head over to @jack.equibody.fitness where dressage rider Jack LaTorre shares videos on why cross-training is important for equestrian athletes at all levels. Followers can learn exercises that can be done at the gym or at home to improve flexibility and strength to help improve their time in the saddle.
Brianna Noble is an inspirational urban cowgirl who is aiming to change lives. She works with youth from underprivileged communities in California and utilizes horsemanship as a tool toward a brighter future through her Humble project. Follow @urbancowgirl for motivational and fun photos plus an honest look at the equestrian industry.
Taryn Young posts everything from encouraging quotes to favorite equestrian products and gifts on @warmbloodsandwine. As an amateur dressage rider, Taryn also shares photos and videos of herself competing.
