Horse Tripping – Really?

I know we’ve (I’ve) been dealing a lot here lately with horse cruelty/welfare issues, and so I hope you don’t think I (citizen.K) is turning soft. PETA and I are not friends. But, having just recently learned about a ridiculous “cultural” ritual called horse tripping I was astonished to see this practice isn’t just automatically outlawed under... Read More

Miracle Horse Arthritis Cure for Only $7 a Dose!

Just kidding. Although, that is how Aceytl-D Glucosamine was originally presented to me. “It’s generic Adequan, works just as good, exactly the same formula, but generic!” Not exactly. Aceytl-D Glucosamine is NOT a generic Adequan nor is it exactly the same formula. It is a completely different compound and it cannot be compaired to Adequan or Legend. Aceytl-D Glucosumine... Read More

Ring Etiquette

solitude. sometimes, the only way to ride. Whatever it is that brings someone into a horseback riding arena, Ring Etiquette is THE most important lesson to learn in horseback riding. Yet, so many people fail to learn the basics of riding with other people or let alone actually use COMMON SENSE! At most big horse shows, smaller 50’ x 100’ schooling rings thrive with... Read More

Kill All The Wild Horses

Headlines from July 20th regarded the euthanasia of Mustangs controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. I have to admit, being one who sees overpopulation of all species as a problem (including humans), the euthanasia of wild horses and burros didn’t come as a surprise nor did I scoff at the idea. When a rebuttal was printed in the New York Times claiming that cattle grazing... Read More

Congratulations SmartPak for Selling 100 million+ Unnecessary Horse Supplements!

I couldn’t help it. Last week it was reported SmartPak flew past the 150 millionth supplement mark. As I’ve said before, genius! SmartPak has led horse owners to a revolution of supplement feeding, convenience, and often times, throwing money into the shavings! While there are definitely supplements that horses might need (especially regional nutrients), for the most... Read More

Social Security – For Thoroughbreds

I’m not going to get into politics of human social security; politics bore me. But, I think, most Americans can agree that the Social Security System is a mess and it has been since before the first check was sent out in 1937. Yet, this was the description of a proposed plan for the long term care of Thoroughbred race horses; a “Social Security” program for horses.... Read More

Remember Premarin, PMU Foals, and the Rescues?

Premarin rescue, so year 2000, man. So, here is yet another example of where the activist, the rescuer, the anti-slaughter people, and all the desperate pleas to help all the horses falls apart. Maybe I’m just that far out of the loop or I missed some big HUGE, enthusiastic news story that swept the horse world away… …buuuuuuuuuuuut, I couldn’t find that... Read More

2008 Hong Kong Olympics….err Beijing Olympics?

Okay, so I felt pretty dumb for constantly being corrected about where the Olympics were being held. It has been in my mind the 2008 Olympics were being held in Hong Kong. Much to my surprise, they are in fact officially being held in Beijing. I received a link to the new controversy surrounding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, coined “Olympic Haze”. On June 23rd,... Read More

NOW that Congress is Involved Thoroughbred Industry Claims Interest in Declining Equine Soundness Seven Years After Major Report

Today, the Thoroughbred industry reaches new heights of ridiculousness after patting itself on the back for performing an “investigative report” examining “possible” declines in the breed’s soundness over the last 30 – 40 years. Releasing a report titled “Losing the Iron Horse”, TB industry trade magazine Blood Horse claims to be... Read More

Evaporation Explained

apparently, the animal's instincts toward seeking a cooling shower are also misguided Recently, a woman with many, MANY years of horse experience told me I shouldn’t turn my horse outside after a bath because “water is an insulator and will keep them hot.” I never thought I would question my own logic when it came to the cooling effects of evaporation,... Read More

Standardbred: The Other Ex-Racehorse

When thinking of re-training an ex-racehorse, you think of a Thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds have been taken off the track and turned into Hunters, Jumpers, Eventers, Dressage horses, pleasure horses, gaming horses, and just about every discipline you can think of. Thoroughbreds have excelled at all these disciplines at one point or another, but, as we know, the Thoroughbred... Read More

Green Horses: The Best Teachers

ride green to get better No matter how long you have been riding or how many horses you have ridden, a green horse always has something new to teach you. While working with green horses you will inevitably run into some circumstance you have not dealt with before. But, most importantly, never underestimate the influence you have on a green horse’s education, even if... Read More

Australian Eventing Safety Study Q & A

Eventing: Danger! Danger. Danger? Though some other “real” horse publications may have already published details from last month’s release of Australia’s Eventing Safety study, ONLY Citizen Horse has the real dirt on the who’s, why’s, and how’s behind the research. Ms Denzil O’Brien, former CEO of the Equestrian Federation... Read More

Product Review: Bizzy Ball

I hate when horses get vices from being stall bound and bored. Now, a horse that gets worked 5-7 days a week and doesn’t get turned out should be fine without any extras. Though, depending on the horse, it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a ball, pacifier, or some other form of entertainment in the stall. Recently, I ran into a situation when I had a horse laid up for 6 months.... Read More