Quick Tips for a Fun July 4th Weekend
As the weather heats up and we all get ready for the long weekend, I know a lot of people – at leas me! – are excited to spend some time out on the trails. I’m lucky enough to live a very short trailer ride to some amazingly beautiful trails, and plan to ta ...
5 Things to Bring When You’re Camping With Your Horse
I’m getting ready to leave for a camping trip with my horses, and this year in addition to my seasoned 20 year old trail horse, I have my two younger boys in tow to give Ridge a much-needed break after some long days on the trail. In addition to updating my packing lis ...
We Put the “Nap” in “Nap Blanket”
True story. I have several Draper blankets, including the travel blanket, the neck blanket, and my favorite the nap blanket (in couch size please!). Of course I love all of them, but recently I figured out just how great the nap blanket really is. I’ve used it when I& ...
Keeping Your Horse Cool and Loose in Summer
As the days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising and we’re starting to feel the difference in the sun. Pretty soon we’ll be in the middle of summer, and keeping horses cool as well as their muscles loose and helping them warm up and cool down for exerc ...
Returning Horses to Work in Rehab
Some of you may have read and followed the stories of my two OTTBs last year when they had suffered major injures in our Rehabilitate & Recover series of blog posts. Since winter has finally broken here in the Northeast, we’re getting back to riding with a focus on ...
Easing the Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Horses
Recently, my Selle Francais gelding was diagnosed with long-term, low-grade chronic Lyme disease. We knew he had been infected for a minimum of 5 months, but think it could have been as long as 2+ years. He was never really symptomatic, but his negative personality traits ha ...
Rolex Recap #RK3DE
Rolex 2015 was an interesting year, to say the least. The weather was beautiful for every day except cross country, and the rain on Saturday certainly had an impact on horses and riders alike. The jog on Wednesday was filled with beautifully turned out horses and riders, und ...
An Ode to Barn Dogs
I grew up with dogs all around me – my own family dog, Kassidy, was a grumpy, loving and loyal Bichon Frise. My extended family had Goldens and Shepherds. My barn family had everything you could imagine – from Kody, the unbelievably smart German Shepherd, to KC, the search a ...
The Struggle Is Real
At least it is if you are part of my animal family, where the new Sit Stay Forever Draper Bolster Dog bed just became the most coveted seat in the house. It seems my crew has changed the motto from Sit Stay Forever to Sit Stay WAR! Everyone wants to be in this bed, and with ...
Falling on Solid Ground
Finally, it’s spring. Everybody who has been slammed with winter is SO excited for the warm weather and ground thawing out. I have to say, while I’m excited to get this snow off the ground and see temperatures above 35 degrees, I have a little problem with the ...