Training

Keep your barrel horse sharp with Shali Lord's off-pattern work.

Experienced equestrians and trainers know the benefit of a quality aid, whether it’s used from in the saddle or on the ground. Here are our top picks to assist with your training goals, whether your horse is just being started or is locking down your leg cues.

Before your horse can neck rein he needs to respond to direct rein commands.

Whether you’re a beginner at fencework or need to school a chargey cow horse, this exercise from NRCHA professional Brad Barkemeyer is safe and efficient.

Nobody knows roping better than World Champion team roper Walt Woodard. He’s qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas a whopping 20 times. Aspiring champions often ask him what “magical” equipment he uses, but Woodard says it’s about the process, not the equipment. We chatted with Woodard on his five tips for success.

Pro reiner Darren Stancik discusses navigating the giant mixmaster that is a reining warm-up arena; Carol Metcalf covers maintaining a horse’s condition.

Use these insights to help solve (or at least learn to live with) your horse’s ‘unique’ personality.

Challenge yourself! Have fun and learn interesting tidbits with Horse&Rider’s Trivia Challenge, featured in The Ride newsletter.

Use this rollback exercise at home to ensure that you stay out of the penalty box when you go show.

Trainer Crystal McNutt helps a reader who struggles with setting up her horse for walk-to-lope transitions.

Working equitation is a hot new sport in the U.S. Find out how working equitation can improve your horse and make you a better rider.

Mounted shooting rein management skills are required so you can cue correctly and get the proper response from your horse. Targets come fast, even at the beginner level, and gun handling requires quick thinking. This makes mastering rein management at home a key to competitive success. Kenda Lenseigne shares her best tips here.

Don’t let an increase or decrease in speed at the lope put you in the penalty box. Learn how to prepare your horse for speed transitions at home so you can show mastery of them when it counts.

A precise end to a set of spins keeps you out of the penalty box and prevents your horse from developing bad habits.

Is your dream trainer out of trailering distance? Consider a video coach for personalized, expert instruction to achieve your riding goals.

There’s a common misconception among horses and humans that what we want lies somewhere else. It’s why horses graze on the other side of a fence when the grass is just as green and lush on their side. And why humans long for something—tangible or not—that we don’t have. I call focusing on that other place or thing we want “destination addiction.” Here I’ll discuss why destination addiction can hamper your training and riding progress and how to move away from it once and for all.

Use this approach-and-retreat method to train at home or to get your horse over an obstacle on the trail.

The hackamore plays a pivotal role in traditional training for reined cow horses, following the snaffle bit. It allows you to use direct-rein cues, just like a snaffle, but begins to introduce the concept of neck reining. That concept is further honed with the two-rein setup and then eventually the bridle. But the hackamore isn’t exclusive to reined cow horses. You can incorporate it into your training program, no matter your area of interest.

Ready to take your riding to the next level? Fallon Taylor shares her best advice for riders of all disciplines trying to reach their riding goals.

This exercise challenges and promotes your in-saddle balance so you can begin to develop a truly independent seat.

Not reaching your riding goals? The key might lie in letting your horse do his job.

Looking for a new event for the entire family? Consider mounted shooting. With its fast pace and levels of competition, it’s an event you can enjoy together. But before you can hit the course, you must safely expose your horse to gunfire. World champion gunslinger Kenda Lenseigne explains the steps to help your horse accept the unfamiliar sound of gunshots with the help of a group of experienced horse-and-rider pairs—what Lenseigne calls “the beehive method.”

Perfect your horse’s turnaround with these helpful tips and troubleshooting pointers.

Executing four consistent lead changes in a row is challenging. Here I’ll offer advice on how to improve your changes down the line and score when it comes time to show.