All horses will shake their heads to rid themselves of flies, dust, or a minor discomfort. It is a simple reflex action. But when it is persistent, intense, almost dangerous, and the horse is jerking his head up, rubbing, blowing, or constantly shaking as though a fly flew up his nose, it’s time to take a much closer look.

In the nine years that Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue of Hagersville, Ontario has been in operation, owner Brenda Thompson has taken in over 200 horses, giving them a second chance at a better life. A former OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) agent, Thompson realized that she could do more by opening an equine rescue facility when she left the organization.

How Humans Reshaped the Horse Through Millennia - When horses became domesticated in Kazakhstan and neighbouring regions some 5,500 years ago, it was a game changer for the human race. With horses, people had a more efficient means to travel, explore, hunt, farm, pack, and trade. They could journey by horse to socialize with others, engage in bartering, and share ideas, knowledge, language, and beliefs. With horses valued at so many levels of society, they gave rise to the very first concepts of an ancient technology transfer system.

Over the last decade the equestrian world has seen an influx of arena footing additives created to enhance the riding experience. With a selection of additives on the market, selecting one for your arena can be a daunting task.

Ontario Veterinary College, graduate student, Cristin McCarty is no stranger to joint health issues after having to work through her own athletic injuries from rowing. As an avid rider since age five, McCarty bought an ex-racehorse in her early teens for repurposing as a hunter/jumper and immediately began an education in joint problems and maintenance options aimed at keeping her newly purchased horse sound.

Taking proper care of your leather goods will greatly enhance their appearance and lifespan. One of the greatest misconceptions in leather care has been with the correct use of saddle soaps. Saddle soaps are basically just what their names imply: soaps, and as such are to be used for cleaning only. In fact, sweat, which is acidic, and soap are the two greatest enemies of leather if they are not removed.

Equestrian competition officially came to a close at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games with the individual final in show jumping taking place on Saturday, July 25, at the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Caledon, ON.

The USA scooped both the team and individual titles as Eventing came to a close on July 19, 2015, at the TORONTO 2015 Pan-American Games at the OLG Caledon Equestrian Park, Ontario, Canada. Always with their eyes on the target of that single qualifying spot on offer for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Philip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little, and Boyd Martin had forged a marginal lead over the host country in Dressage on July 17th. And once out in front, they held on tight to triumph ahead of Brazil, while Canada had to settle for bronze.

The Canadian Show Jumping Team of Yann Candele of Caledon, ON; Tiffany Foster of North Vancouver, BC; Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON; and Ian Millar of Perth, ON, won the gold medal at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games on July 23 at the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Caledon, ON.