H&R SUM19

When you’re riding in a one-handed bridle, you ask your horse to turn by neck reining. However, if you don’t know where to keep your hand when you’re guiding your horse, you could be ineffective with your cue. If you constantly ride with your hand left or right of center, you’re unknowingly giving mixed signals to your horse. If you keep your hand in that position at all times, you’ll eventually teach him to ignore the neck rein cue completely, making it much more difficult to guide him.

Whether you’re looking for a new saddle that can handle all-day trail rides or are wanting something that’ll help you stand out in the show pen, you must keep saddle fit in mind when shopping. Professional saddle fitter Terry Peiper shares her tips for evaluating saddle fit so you can make the right choice the next time you’re in the market for a new saddle.

Go through my checklist to learn more about your new horse’s strengths and weaknesses—what his personality is like on the ground and in the saddle­—so you can start your journey together on a positive note.

The ranch riding lopeover can bring riders to grief. Here’s how to set yourself and your horse up for success over this obstacle in the show ring.

If your horse is hard to haul—difficult to load or unload, or scrambles in transit—this advice from an equine behavior expert will help you solve your horse’s trailering problems.

On the trail and in camp, high-tech gadgets can help make your equine escapades safer, easier, and more fun than ever before.

Just about any seat and cantle will work for most all Western events, but discipline-specific specializations in these saddle parts will help you succeed at the highest levels.

Is your horse over-flexed through his neck? This leg-yield zigzag will correct that overbridling.

Here’s how to practice and strategize your weakest areas before you walk through that horse-show in-gate.

Is massage a luxury reserved for equine athletes? No way! Learn how properly trained therapists can be an important part of any horse’s health-care team.

Whether you're looking for a comfortable pad perfect for all-day summer rides, or want to stand out in the show pen, we've got the perfect saddle pad for you.

Summertime poses special challenges to the health of your horse’s hooves. Here’s how to address your horse’s summer hoof needs.

H&R Editor Chelsea Shaffer's custom bit collection.

Summertime’s heat, humidity, and insects can wreak havoc on equine hides. Here’s how to prevent or treat your horse’s summer skin problems.

Your guide to great tack and gear!

Take our quiz to find out how much you really know about effective cool-down strategies for your horse—then read on for the science behind each technique.

Keep cool, comfortable, and stylish with functional riding gear this summer.