CATEGORIES

THE BENEFITS OF ACTIVE REST

Biomechanics expert Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, explains why periodically changing up your horse’s activities can be better for his body and mind than giving him time off.

GOOD BEHAVIOR

Sometimes what seems like resistance is actually a horse’s attempt to work with you. Watch for these 6 easy-to misinterpret signs that your horse is thinking like a partner.

Can a horse receive too many vaccinations?

IMMUNITY

A wild ride

Recreating a scene from the Old West for the world of make-believe, I saw firsthand just how crucial real-life horsemanship skills can be.

RIDING ADVENTURES IN NORTH DAKOTA'S THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

TAKE IN THE ENCHANTING GEOLOGICAL BEAUTY OF THE BADLAND’S THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK.

Reaching for the NEXT LEVEL

He’s a real-world trainer and competitive reiner whose training methodology has evolved dramatically in recent years. In our exclusive interview, learn the fascinating story behind Warwick Schiller’s change of perspective.

Helping Horses During the Pandemic

Hearts, Hope and Hay

Ride & Train

BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY ask your horse to slow down from a faster speed is an important maneuver in an event like reining where you’re required to go from fast to slow multiple times and make it look effortless. Outside of the showpen, it’s a great way to see how well your horse is listening and responding to your cues.

Travel Papers: Nuisance or Necessity?

Learn how equine-travel documents protect your horse and get answers to commonly asked questions for equine-travel requirements.

Running the Bases

Before starting this exercise, make sure you’re familiar with the center of the arena. If you’re in a new space, try walking or trotting the bases first so you get comfortable.

Riding for a Reason

By riding 20 miles through major cities, Trail to Zero sheds light on the epidemic of veteran suicide.

Reined Cow Horse Mares

Evaluate and place these reined cow horse mares. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.

My Collection

SHARE YOUR COLLECTION! Send a high-resolution photo of your favorite Western items to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com.

5 INESCAPABLE ELEMENTS OF A WELL-TRAINED HORSE

(and why the term “broke” just doesn’t work in the 21st century)

Totally Tubular

Plant these flowers and watch hummingbirds flock.

Hummingbird Tales

ZIP! ZOOM! SNAP! YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK TO CAPTURE PHOTOS OF THESE TEENSY BIRDS, BUT MANY BIRDS & BLOOMS READERS WERE REWARDED WITH MEMORABLE MOMENTS.

SHUTTER BUG MAGIC

Four readers share their tips for spectacular hummingbird photos.

Eastern Gems

Find out why ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny marvels.

Ask the Experts

Identify mystery birds, plants and eggs with advice from our pros.

Traveling Back in Time

See ancient and avian sights at Bandelier National Monument.

Bird Supermoms

Female hummingbirds amaze with incredible maternal skills.

Triple Attraction

With traits that appeal to the big three, birds, butterflies and bees, these powerhouse blooms are top options for a wildlife-friendly garden. From easy-to-grow annuals to hardworking perennials, there’s something for every landscape.

Grow a Memory

Pay tribute to a special person or occasion by planting something meaningful.

The Mountain Hummingbird

Listen and look for broad-taileds in their high-elevation homes.

The Bear Whisperer

Doug Seus made his name by mastering a near-impossible and perilous feat: training grizzly bears for Hollywood films. Then he came up with a radical, equally ambitious plan to protect the species that he holds dear.

Queens Candilee Jackson Choose the Strangest Delivery Spots

I remember well the first litter of kittens I birthed on my own. I was excited to finally have kittens to show under my new cattery name, Pawdancer. At the same time, I felt like the fictional Prissy from Margaret Mitchell’s novel, Gone With The Wind and her famous quote, “But Miss Scarlett, I don’ know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ no babies!” I read everything I could lay my hands on, visited my vet at least ten times during the final week or so (the office staff finally just waved me into an exam room without getting my charts), consulted with my mentors and non-mentors, laid in enough birthing supplies for a small army and as the “watch” date approached, I consulted the calendar at least five times a day. I fixed up a toddler’s playpen with two soft, washable beds—one for delivery and one for after delivery, food and water dishes, litter box and covered the removeable plywood top (painted baby pink) and mesh of the playpen with warm pink fleece. All was ready. The only thing I DID NOT prepare for was Jazzlynn, my mother-to-be. While I really did not know Jazzy’s thoughts on all this preparation, her inscrutable eyes, half-closed in thought, watched the process and a little smirk crossed her muzzle. Little did I realize she had made plans of her own.

My First Cat

First Cats. We all have that special very first cat—the one that we had as a child, or perhaps the first one when we had a home of our own. Maybe one found us, and we hadn’t realized that we needed a cat until then. Or perhaps this special cat was a first rescue, first pedigreed cat or first show cat. These are the stories of some of those special cats.

Inside the CFA Credentials Committee

The “Inspectors of Election” is the formal term referred to in New York Not-For-Profit Law that applies to CFA operations. The group has been called “tellers” in previous meetings. As a group this also constitutes the “Credentials Committee.”

State Breeder Laws Every Resident Fancier Should Know!

CFA State Breeder Law Series, Part 2 - States of the Gulf Shore Region: Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee

Defining Breed Differences IN 3D

We cat aficionados know about the fabulous variety of cat breeds—just compare a Siamese to a Persian, or a Singapura to a Maine Coon. But to most of the world—and I’m sorry to mention the D-word in CatTalk—it is dogs that are the kings of diversity; cats are thought to all be much the same, except for superficial differences in coat color and length. The great variety of dogs is backed up by scientific research showing that the variation in head shape among dog breeds far outstrips the differences among wild canid species, such as wolves and foxes.