Hi there!
The author has been a horse lover all their life. Their first horse, Albert (a story worth reading), was the realization of a youthful dream. Albert even accompanied the author to college at William Woods University in Fulton, MO, where they earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Equestrian Studies. Albert then accompanied the author in their move to Minnesota, where they taught riding at a couple of area stables until building their teaching facility, Shadowood, in 1981.
Following graduation, Albert accompanied the author in their move to Minnesota, where they taught riding at a couple of area stables until establishing their teaching facility, Shadowood, in 1981.
Since opening their stable, they have taught numerous students of all ability levels the essential skills necessary for successful and enjoyable equine ownership. They have designed and taught a series of hands-on classes covering various aspects of horse care and keeping, have taught a lecture-format version of these classes over interactive TV, and have designed and taught a class on horse/human relations for very young children.
The author is also a freelance writer and has had articles published in a number of national equestrian magazines, as well as in smaller regional equestrian periodicals. Among the magazines in which their work has appeared are Equus, Horse Illustrated, HorsePlay, The Western Horse, Western Horseman, and The Quarter Horse Journal. They will occasionally post some of these articles on these pages. Readers will find pieces written strictly to entertain the horse lover as well as articles written to teach and inform.
In addition to these other horse-related enterprises, the author has spent many years teaching riding, primarily hunt seats, to aspiring equestrians young and old. Unfortunately, due to the advanced ages and health concerns of their primary school horses, they have been temporarily put out of the riding instruction business unless and until they decide to add more equines to the family. Unlike typical professional equestrians, the author does not buy and sell animals to benefit the financial prospects of their stable. These animals are considered family, and when one becomes too old to participate in the riding program, they simply retire. Often, the work involved in keeping these elderly horses happy and healthy exceeds the effort required to maintain younger, more productive animals in comparable condition, but it’s all regarded as a labor of love.
This currently makes the author a riding instructor without students, and they are more than happy to assist cyber-equestrians with horse-related questions and concerns. To that end, they invite readers to send any questions regarding the riding, handling, care, or behavior of their equine companions via email. The author will do their best to provide prompt and helpful answers (or at least refer readers to appropriate resources for further information). Additionally, very useful riding, training, and horse care advice previously posted to their message board can be found in the Equine Answer Board Archives.
For those who believe they already know all the answers, the author has created a challenging list of Horse Quizzes. These quizzes are intentionally difficult, designed to provide an educational opportunity for those eager to expand their knowledge of horses. Equestrian enthusiasts are encouraged to test their skills — and special awards are sent to anyone who earns a perfect score on any quiz. Curious about these exceptionally well-informed quiz-takers? A current list of award winners is available to view.
In an effort to provide as many opportunities as possible to fellow equestrians aiming to achieve the grand goal of enlightened horsemanship, the author has created a page of equestrian education links. The universities, colleges, and technical schools listed on this page offer horse-related degrees for those seeking a scholastic learning environment. Readers are encouraged to email the author with information on any school offering a relevant degree program that is not yet listed on this page.
Along the same educational lines, the author has developed (and is continually adding to) the Horseman’s Bookstore in association with Amazon.com. This resource offers only the best horse-related publications, compiled at a single location for convenience and available at Amazon’s discounted prices. Currently, there are two pages: one featuring horse care and stable management books, and another dedicated to horse training and riding books. Before moving on, readers are encouraged to spend a few minutes exploring the many horse-related and other useful links that the author has collected for their benefit.
Wish you all the best in your equestrian pursuits.