I don’t care how comfortable your mattress might be — I can guarantee you have never been as comfortably passed out as this big fellow.
What do you think horses dream about? Running with their friends? Burying their faces into a big bucket of grain? Finally winning the Triple Crown?
Whatever it is, this guy is passed out in sweet slumber. Snore on, big buddy.
Go riding!
We at Horse Nation love a good family horse flick. You know the type: a troubled young person gets involved with a horse who needs a second (or third, or fourth) chance; they develop a relationship with various wise advisors; the film culminates in a brilliant underdog victory that saves the horse, the young person and everything they know and love from total ruin.
Predictable? Maybe — but admit it, you love it all the same!
And these family horse films are even better when they help raise awareness of a critical issue: equine rescues and the daily struggle to keep the doors open, the horses fed and to continue the good work of saving more animals. We’ve featured Red Bucket Equine Rescue of Chino, California in a past Standing Ovation column, but we’re happy to see that this rescue is gaining even more attention as the setting for Emma’s Chance!
Check out the trailer here:
Much of the movie was shot on Red Bucket Equine Rescue itself, with real rescue horses making appearances in the film, as well as members of Red Bucket’s staff. Learn more about Red Bucket Equine Rescue by visiting the website, and pre-order Emma’s Chance by clicking here!
Go riding!
Next time you think your riding arena is getting a little busy, think back to this video and count your blessings that these shenanigans aren’t going on while you’re trying to school a little passage.
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Never fear; the horse, the mini and the dog appear to be getting along well rather than fearing for their lives. However, we don’t recommend that you try this one at home.
Go riding!
According to Montgomery Creek Ranch, “This is what it looks like when an Arizona burro sees green grass for the first time! We turned the burro herd out onto grass to get them used to this ‘foreign’ terrain before turning them out on the ranch to run free. Truly an amazing sight.”
(Don’t worry, Montgomery Creek is an experienced wild horse and burro rescue — these burros were introduced to green grass slowly to protect them from founder and other conditions.)
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The burros have since figured out that grass is really good to eat, and will eventually join the rest of the wild horse and burro herds at the sanctuary when they’re fully acclimated. Learn more about Montgomery Creek Ranch at the organization’s website. You can also “like” them on Facebook for more updates!
Go burros, and go riding!
The cool thing about our sport of horseback riding is that you’ve never truly mastered any one thing — there will always be one more step to take, one more skill to master, one more level of closer communication to attempt with your horse.
Case in point: while I feel pretty great about the fact that my horse and I have a relationship that allows us to discover and attempt new obstacles on the trail, there’s this video of a bareback/bridleless extreme trail course (on a three-year-old) that reminds me there will always be more obstacles to keep us challenged:
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Leuke speeltuin!!
Posted by HorseShit on Monday, April 4, 2016
Pretty impressive! For other “average Janes” like myself, I do appreciate seeing an outtake — even the best relationships make some mistakes.
Go riding!
The Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle has become a cult favorite all around the world; some countries have held their own versions while many have spoofed the show relentlessly (in the US, you might be more familiar with Takeshi’s Castle as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge or MXC). The premise of the show requires volunteer teams to compete over a variety of physical challenges and obstacles to reach a character named Takeshi in his castle. The challenges are often pretty creative and a little wacky — such as the Roller Derby.
Contestants wear roller skates and an enormous foam horse and jockey suit, and then race over small obstacles. The result … well, we’ll let the video speak for itself.
The Grand National, this is not. But it may be equally if not more entertaining.
Thanks, Leslie Threlkeld, for the tip!
Go riding!
Peter Hällström of Borgå, Finland filmed his 11-year-old daughter aboard Ian the Irish cob — just a few minutes of footage each day. What he did with this footage is pretty cool: Peter edited the video in two different ways to show the progression of calendar year through the lens of one girl on one horse meandering down a single trail.
The journey down the trail becomes almost metaphorical as Ian and his young passenger steadily progress from season to season, with the girl changing almost imperceptibly from day to day while looking noticeably older and taller by the end of the video.
Here’s a different version, comparing all four seasons in a split frame:
Peter writes: “It’s fun to see how much the girl grew up in one year! And also how different the four seasons can be!”
While Ian the cob passed away in 2014, these videos survive as a beautiful little tribute to a lovely animal and the little girl who spent so much time with him.
Go riding!
Down to Earth Farms Petting Zoo may have posted this video to introduce the world to Thumbelina Star the calf, but the true stars of this viral video are Misty the donkey and her passenger, Lil’ Johnny the goat. According to the farm’s Facebook page, Lil’ Johnny is known to jump up for a ride, “especially when treats are around!” (Note: must be logged in to Facebook to video this video)
Our newsest addition to the farm! Thumbelina Star, a calf that was born last year a liitle on the small side!!
Posted by Down To Earth Farms Petting Zoo on Saturday, March 19, 2016
Horse Nation has a long and decorated history of showcasing goats with their equine friends:
What’s your favorite? Go riding!
If you have ever tried to sell a horse, you may have had to deal with someone like this:
Too real, bro. Too real.
Dave “Showtime” Meyer is a professional rodeo entertainer, which means that he probably got the inspiration for this lovely lady while on the job. The Horse Screamer and other hilarious caricatures of people we love (or love to hate) in the horse and rodeo world can be seen on his YouTube channel and Instagram.
Go riding!
It’s always a pleasure to watch the Budweiser Clydesdales — they could literally do exactly the same things as our own horses, but somehow the most mundane activities are transformed into magical moments of delightful artistry when it’s the big draft horses doing it.
Case in point — watching the traveling hitch kicking up its heels at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina. This scheduled rest stop took place almost a year ago in April of 2015 but it’s still fun to watch today:
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The Budweiser Clydesdales running in the horse pasture at Boone Hall Plantation. Video was taken by Boone Hall’s own Laura Bowers.
Posted by Boone Hall Plantation on Wednesday, April 22, 2015
No one seems to appreciate the value of turnout more than the staff of the Budweiser Clydesdales — the traveling hitch makes many stops for the health and safety of its team all around the country, and we’re happy to see the horses enjoying plenty of leisure time. We featured a similar video last year, which you can check out here.
Go riding!
Reader Marcy Flickinger sent us this video of herself “dancing” with Brody, a lesson horse at the barn where her daughter rides. According to Marcy: “He’s got nice foot work in the ring … but some smooth moves outside of it too!” Brody weaves when his pasture buddy leaves to go work in the lesson ring less than twenty feet away from his turnout — as soon as his buddy comes back, the weaving stops.
Until then, it’s dancing time. (Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view.)
If you are in the horse world.. You know I’m being silly and making light of the fact that this horse is “weaving.”If…
Posted by Marcy Eiseman Flickinger on Friday, March 25, 2016
Nice moves, guys.
Marcy assures us that Brody has feed, water and a lovely turnout — the weaving is just one of those unfortunate anxious OTTB traits that we have to live with sometimes.
Go riding!
Spring has officially sprung! And this little pony sums up in thirty seconds of antics exactly how we feel about it: we don’t know if we want to go running, stuff our face or dance around wildly just for the joy of being alive.
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UN PONEY SUR PILE✎ UN PONEY SUR PILE – Celui-là quand il se défoule cela se voit !╰▶ ORIGINAL VIDEO PAGE ® Copyright hingrez eulalie
Posted by Horses-Videos on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
You go, little pony. Go do it all. Because it’s finally springtime and we’re excited too.
Go out there and get your Tuesday, Horse Nation. Go riding!
Reader Carrie Levesque, inspired by last week’s video of Rocky the foal snuggling his stray cat, sent us this video of a few-weeks-old Thoroughbred foal named Kahlua meeting her husky, Siku.
We don’t think we’ll ever get tired of foals-meeting-animals videos — what will we find next? Foals meeting birds, foals meeting turtles, foals meeting babies … the possibilities are endless!
If you have a story or video to share with us, don’t hesitate to reach out — we love reader submissions! Email the editor at [email protected]. Go riding!
Horseboarding is picking up speed across the UK faster than a horse out of the starting gate: a horse and rider tow a mountain boarder on a rope around an obstacle course, seeking the fastest time and the fewest faults. It blends the skills of accurate riding and a strong partnership with the horse with the athleticism of snowboarding over arena dirt or turf, and it’s simply wild to watch.
Check out this feature courtesy of BBC Breakfast:
What we love about horseboarding is that it’s not just a new outlet for adrenaline junkies: as mentioned in the video, horseboarding requires the boader to learn quite a bit about horses and horsemanship, and many horseboarders wind up taking riding lessons themselves. While this might not be the most conventional route to becoming a lifelong equestrian, we salute horseboarding for introducing new riders to the sport!
To learn more about horseboarding in the UK, click here to visit the organization’s website!
Go horseboarding! Go riding!
Reader Karen Macleod sent this video our way with the following story:
“The foal is a 3 week old Standardbred colt who had a pretty tough start to life but is doing very well now. Because he pulled through, we named him Rocky. The kitten is a rescue who just loves everyone and everything! We call him New Kitty — he follows me around while I am cleaning stalls, which is how the love in this video happened.”
Well, we’re full of warm snugglies now — how about you?
If you have a story or video to share with us, don’t hesitate to reach out — we love reader submissions! Email the editor at [email protected]. Go riding!
While there are many uses for draft horses — farm work, carriage livery, riding, maximum snuggliness and more — perhaps one of their greatest applications is their ability to aid stranded motorists in the winter. This video is a variation on that theme, when this draft horse is hitched up to a broken-down snowmobile in the woods to haul it home.
That in and of itself would be reason enough for a fun video, but watch all the way to the end, because boys will be boys and can’t resist an opportunity to goof off. Good thing karma has a way of getting in the last laugh.
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When the sled breaks down… Frank to the rescue… with some unexpected entertainment.
Posted by Mark Leslie Hamilton on Saturday, February 20, 2016
Oops. I’m sure it will come out in the wash.
Go draft horses! Go riding!
Animal friendships know no bounds. Case in point: this horse who loves his cat. (Or at least the taste of his cat.)
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Horse And Cat Hug#PauseTendresse | PegaseBuzzIs it Love ?
Posted by PegaseBuzz on Sunday, March 6, 2016
Whatever this friendship might be, we love it. Happy Tuesday, Horse Nation — go riding!
Screenshot via Facebook
25-year-old jockey Brenton Avdulla was just doing his job, cruising along to another fabulous win in Sydney, Australia last week when he suddenly catches an unusual sight out of the corner of his eye: a riderless horse. And not just any horse, but in fact the horse that came closest to running him down on Zaralily in the final stretch.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald the fallen rider, Andrew Adkins, had become dehydrated through the course of the day and in his efforts to push his mount Double Bluff past Zaralily for the win, he lost his strength and balance and rolled down the horse’s shoulder to the turf. (He was not seriously injured in the fall.)
Avdulla couldn’t reach back in time to save Adkins, but he was somehow able to slow his winning horse down enough to reach out and take Double Bluff’s reins, and eventually bring both horses to a stop. (Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view.)
Brilliant piece of horsemanship from Brenton Avdulla today at Rosehill Gardens.Booting home the winner and collecting the riderless horse past the post!
Posted by Sky Racing on Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The idea of slowing down one winning racehorse sound rather intimidating, so slowing down two at once is almost unimaginable! For that, we’d like to send you an HN Salute of Insanity, Mr. Avdulla.
If you’d like to learn more about Brenton Avdulla, who is currently the leading jockey in Sydney Australia, we recommend this recent story in Australia’s Daily Telegraph, or you can follow him on Twitter.
Go Riding.
This video is starting to go viral on the horsey internet, and for good reason: how would you like to have this extreme trail obstacle in your arena to play with? This creation by Bar W Ranch certainly makes for some brave horses. (Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view.)
Big shout out thank you to Sandy Yerton for helping me build “The Vegas Waterbox”. This is Roses youngster Chexie giving it the test run!!
Posted by BAR W RANCH on Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The Vegas Water Box has been so popular on Facebook that Bar W Ranch posted a response late Sunday:
The “Vegas Water Box” that I built is actually quite complex to build and is most definitely and advanced trail obstacle…
Posted by BAR W RANCH on Sunday, February 28, 2016
So if you are interested in building your own, check out the Bar W Ranch Facebook page for upcoming plans to be released!
Go riding!
