Turn On The Lights
While it’s always a good thing to take on new knowledge and learn about equine science, spending time under a reading light will rarely supply the lightbulb moment that kicks in once you get your boots in the stirrups.
Western Pleasure
Exercises and techniques to be a better rider for your western pleasure horse
Busted: 6 Training Myths
A top trainer debunks common training principles you may have been taking as gospel.
Learn This Four-Pole Exercise
Use just four 12-foot poles to lengthen your horse's stride, improved his focus, and guide, and hone your control.
Sandy Collier's Western Horse Training Secrets
World champion trainer Sandy Collier shares her core horse training secrets in her book, 'Reining Essentials: How to Excel in Western?s Hottest Sport,' adapted for Horse & Rider magazine.
Western Dressage: Leg Yield to Lope Depart
Think dressage is unrelated to the Western riding you do? In this slideshow, Al Dunning shows you a dressage-based exercise, the leg-yield that puts your horse in the perfect position for a smooth, collected lope on the correct lead.
Click 'n Learn: Teach Your Horse Self-Carriage
Watch several techniques to teach your horse self-carriage, an imperative skill for Western pleasure competition.
Keep Those Shoulders Up: Mastering Self-Carriage
Understanding the concept of self-carriage and how to maintain it will help you instill balance and consistency in your horse--both of which are essential in Western pleasure classes.
Click 'n Learn: Shoulders Up with Karen Qualls
Is your horse a heavy-on-the-forehand jogger? Use this exercise to lift his shoulders and restore his rear-end drive.
Improve Your Western Horse's Responsiveness with the Forehand Pivot
Trainer David Dellin shows you how to use the forehand pivot to improve your Western pleasure horse's movement and responsiveness.
Photo Gallery: Improve Your Western Horse's Responsiveness with the Forehand Pivot
Western pleasure trainer David Dellin shows you how to use the forehand pivot to improve your western pleasure horse's movement and responsiveness.
Western Riding Lesson with Charlie Cole
Team Horse & Rider's Charlie Cole gives Horse & Rider magazine's managing editor, Alana Harrison, a taste of what it's like to ride a top-level Western show horse. It's harder (and way cooler!) than it looks.
How to Beat Show Nerves
Nervousness hindering your performance? World-champion pro and coach Carol Metcalf helps you kick those horse show jitters and nerves to the curb.
Conformation Clinic: Western Pleasure Prospects
Evaluate the conformation of these 3-year-old colts and place them in your order of preference for a Western pleasure prospect, then see how your choices compare with our expert judge's.
Remembering Remarkable Rugged Lark
Take a look back at two-time American Quarter Horse Superhorse Rugged Lark and the women in his life.
Western Pleasure: Does Your Horse Anticipate?
Drifting into the center of the arena isn't the preferred way to end a Western pleasure class. Re-educate your show horse to follow your directions with these tips from a champion trainer.