Articles by Alana Harrison

The key to riding after your horse recovers from an injury: Don’t rush! If he doesn’t seem ready to move on to more challenging work at a set benchmark, give him time rather than moving forward in his rehab.

Trainer Carol Metcalf provides strategic tips to help a reader safely and successfully recondition her horse for work after a long layup.

Build confidence

These riders don’t mount up without head protection. Read their stories, so you can decide if a helmet might be right for you.

If you’re a green rider on a green horse, a key success strategy will be working under the guidance of an expert.

Western Horse Training Tips

It’s the ‘forbidden’ match—a green rider on a green horse. If you ever find yourself in this situation, follow these strategies to up the odds that you’ll wind up safe and successful.

Position your horse anywhere along the rail without her drifting or dragging you toward the middle of the ring.

Horsemanship

Trainer Carol Metcalf helps a reader guide her wayward mare back to the rail—and keep her there.

How-To

Prepare for your next competition with these helpful tips and complete show-day checklist from trainer Caroline Wood.

What to do when your horse threatens to run off or otherwise acts up out on the trail? Use a one-rein stop. I’ll explain how and why in this article.

Horseback Trail Riding

Clinton Anderson helps our reader calm and steady her mare when she acts up on the trail.

LEFT: Barbie McIntire sometimes can’t believe she’s at last living her childhood dream. The Anna, Texas, horsewoman competes in Western pleasure on the local level with her 4-year-old Paint mare Late Night Impulse. MIDDLE: Wendy Smith-Vann says competing gives her confidence and stress relief. “In the show pen, it’s just me and my horse,” says the Paradise, Texas, horsewoman. She competes with her Quarter Horse mare Steady Bet in timed events. RIGHT: Cathy Keith values the trust and harmony that showing in trail requires. The Abilene, Texas, horsewoman competes in the AQHA’s Select Division; her current mount is 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding Ona Kruze.

How-To

Do you wish you were doing more in the competitive arena? Meet three horsewomen from Texas who just might inspire you to leap into showing—or move up a level.