Horse Riding Lessons

Winter is a Great Time to Enjoy Horse Riding.

2011-02-16T06:51:00.000-08:00

One of those activities that can get overlooked in winter is horseback riding. Riding horses and the West go hand in hand, and there is no reason that horse activities can not be enjoyed year-round. The wonderful network of trails available should not be abandoned by riding enthusiasts just because of the snow.

During most seasons, routine shoeing or even having your horse go barefooted works for general riding. Winter, however, warrants some special shoeing techniques if you are to enjoy your horseback riding to its fullest. With proper winter shoeing, solo ride, group trail rides and cross-country jumping can be enjoyed.

The most important consideration when riding in the winter is good traction. Giving your horse solid footing when navigating a frozen field or crossing ice patches is a safety concern.

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Christmas ‘Elves’ Make Horse Dream Come True for Girl Battling Rare Illness

2010-12-28T07:25:00.000-08:00

By Adrianne DeWeese - The Examiner

Independence, MO — All 8-year-old Lucy Herod really wanted for Christmas was a Password Journal, a slushy maker and a remote control helicopter.

On Christmas Eve, she received honorary ownership of a 20-year-old horse named Chester and a brand-new Toshiba laptop that will allow to “visit” Chester any time she wants through webcam access to his stables.

“We have a surprise” were the only clue words that Lucy’s parents provided Lucy and her younger brother and sister in the hours leading up to their Christmas on the Square.

"Comma to the Top" Throws a Shoe but Wins the Race!

2010-12-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

Comma to the Top is a shoe-in at CashCall Futurity

He forces a delay by throwing a shoe just before the $750,000 race in the rain at Hollywood Park and then cruises to victory.

By Bill Dwyre - December 19, 2010

When Comma to the Top arrives at Churchill Downs in May for the Kentucky Derby, he will be a horse with great promise. Also, a horse with quite a story line.

The story line unfolded Saturday at Hollywood Park during the $750,000 CashCall Futurity. Actually, before the rich horse for 2-year-olds.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

Hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

- From all the horses at Bellaventage farms!

Even in Loss, Zenyatta Impresses with Gallant Effort

2010-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Zenyatta's first defeat in 20 races might cost her Horse of the Year honors, but her gallant performance in losing by a head to Blame in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic should secure her prominence in Thoroughbred racing history.

"Her legend was enhanced in defeat," says Bill Nack of ESPN. "I don't know how she made up all of that ground."

Churchill Downs announcer Trevor Denman estimated the 6-year-old mare, who starts so slowly it's as if she is spotting her competitors a lead, fell so far back she had as many as 20 lengths to make up. Her tremendous charge will surely become Hall of Fame footage.

"For her to do what she did, I put her on a higher plateau than ... before," says Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse who's covered the sport for four decades. "She's the greatest filly I've ever seen. She may be the greatest of all time."

FEI World Equestrian Games Kick Off

2010-09-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

Performers are putting the finishing touches on the WEG opening ceremonies at the Kentucky Horse Park.

It’s all hands on deck at the Kentucky Horse Park. With only one day to go until the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games kick off, the park has been transformed into a global equine village. The normally quiet lanes of America’s horse capital look like rush hour golf-cart style as people race from site to site to finish up last minute preparations. Team grooms from all over the world walk their charges throughout the warm-up areas. Riders mounted on bicycles whiz through the park dressed in team colors. Journalists, foreign and domestic, gather in the media center and NBC Sports’ cameras are set up and ready to go. The weather has been dry and very hot, up into the 100’s on Thursday, but everyone seems to be dealing with the heat so far.

World Equestrian Games website >>

FEI World Equestrian Games to boost US Horse Economy

2010-08-26T20:28:00.001-07:00

The 2010 World Equestrian Games will be held September 25th through October 10th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. It will represent the largest equine sporting event ever held in the United States. The venue will host more than 900 competitors and their 1,300 horses from 58 countries, requiring the largest single importation of horses into the United States since World War II.

This is the first time since the Games began in 1990, that the event has been held outside of Europe. Prior Games have been held in Sweden, Italy, Spain and the 2006 Games were held in Aachen, Germany. The 2014 Games will be held in Normandy, France. The first Games in 1990 involved six disciplines – Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Endurance Riding and Vaulting. In 2002, the discipline of Reining which is dominated by the American Quarter Horse was added. This year Para Dressage was added, which is a Dressage competition for the physically and mentally handicapped.

It is also the first time the Games have been held in a single venue, as there is not another facility worldwide, other than the Kentucky Horse Park that has the facilities to host such a large event. Also . . .

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Horseback Riding Camp Teaches Kids Responsibility

2010-07-17T12:31:00.001-07:00

It's all fun, games, and horseback riding for the kids at Wesleyan College's Equestrian Camp.

"My favorite thing to do is horseback riding," says camper Carley Braman. "And since that's what we do here, that's what makes it so exciting for me."

Karsen Ochs says her horse, Charlie, is a beginner's horse, and she was a little nervous to ride at first.

"Once I got used to it, then I was like, 'hey this is really fun!'" says Ochs.

Courtenay Bun, the camp's barn manager, says the campers are learning more than just how to ride.

"They learn about the safety; how to take care of them. We try to teach them that if the horse gets sick, they need to take him to the vet," says Bun.

Campers say caring for the horse is the fun part.

"When we untack them, we water them down with a water hose and make them clean and stuff like that," says Ochs.

The kids say they're learning a lot about taking care of animals, and one camper says she knows what the horse may be thinking when she brushes them.

"I think they're like, 'Oh, that feels so, so good!'" says Paige Suk.

After hosing down the horses, campers find ways to cool themselves off with water games.

The camp runs for six weeks, and new campers come in every Monday.

The camp is full for the remainder of the summer, but sign-ups for next year are as early as February.

Autism Treatment New Strategy : Horseback Riding

2010-07-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Mary Cusack has been raising her son who has been suffering from autism for eight years. Her son suffers from repetitive hand movements, also known as “stimming,” that are commonly associated with his condition. If the hand movements are not treated and curbed, they can begin to interfere with his everyday life. However, the family was able to find a solution to the problem -therapeutic horseback riding. The reasons behind the treatment are not fully understood at this time, but his hand movements seem to disappear when he rides the horse.

“Stimming interferes with his abilities at school,” said Cusack. “But I always say, ‘Don’t worry, as soon as we get him back on the horse I can guarantee that for every month that he hasn’t been riding, it’s going to take one week and then we aren’t going to see the stim again.’”

It is an interesting take on how to treat the condition. There are many treatments available to help lessen the repetitive hand movements that are normally associated with autism. Cusack’s father said that the therapeutic horse riding is the “one therapy we would never give up.”

In the program, children will have one session per week and will horseback ride indoor and outdoor ring at a varied pace with the same horse every time. Allowing the children to bond with the horse is a big part of the program. They are also accompanied by a trained instructor and a volunteer to ensure that the children remain safe during their ride.

We Have A New Home!

2010-07-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Bellaventage Farms is proud to announce our new location.

We moved - lock, stock and saddles - to the beautiful city of Bradbury, conveniently located off the 210 freeway between Covina and Pasadena.

Come by for a ride!