“A NON-EQUESTRIAN’S NOTES ON THE DEFENDER KENTUCKY THREE DAY EVENT ”—John Kassner🇺🇸/🇬🇧
This was my third trip to Lexington. I have enjoyed all of them, but this one was by far the best. While I was in Law School at UW Madison, I took an independent research class dealing with a bill before the Wisconsin Legislature creating laws and rules for industrialized building. My brothers Jim, Steve […]
A FINAL CURTAIN CALL FOR THE LITTLE “BUG” THAT COULD—by Jesse Kassner🇺🇸/🇬🇧DressurSPORT Editor | Product Specialist
Vermiculus, otherwise known as “Bug” had a fantastic official retirement ceremony between the show jumping break at the 2026 Defender Kentucky 3 Day CCI4*/5* Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. He came cantering into the Rolex Stadium with a few hops, skips, and rears, showing that a 19 year old Anglo-Arabian may […]
WHAT MAKES A GOOD TRAINER? —by Emma Malone🇬🇧
As riders, we’re all searching for better ways to communicate with our horses. We want to understand them more clearly, and for them to understand us. After all, the best partnerships are built on mutual understanding. I’ve been reading “What Sheep Think About the Weather” by Amelia Thomas, and it’s a fascinating, incredibly well-researched book. […]
The Benefit of Journaling Your Rides—by Jesse Kassner🇺🇸/🇬🇧Grand Prix Dressage Classicist, Editor- DressurSPORT
You know that moment you’ve climbed the mounting block and look at your left stirrup, lift your left foot to put it in that stirrup, and slightly pause as you gather yourself to put weight into that stirrup before swinging your right leg over the saddle? What are you thinking about? The busy day you […]
TRAINING & SOUNDNESS—by Sue Mesa🇿🇦
Good training promotes soundness and longevity in the horse, bad training does not. A lot of things are taught to riders without the explanation of why. Why do riders ask the horse to “Go on the Bit?” ❓Why do riders ask the horse to “lift its back?” ✅ Is it just to make them more […]
UNDERSTANDING MODERN HOOF CARE PRODUCTS —by Jeff Mangone🇺🇸NCJF, NBF, APF II, President NAFA
A Comprehensive Guide to Hoof Health, Moisture Management, Therapeutic Treatments, and Show-Ring Presentation The old saying “No Foot, No Horse” has survived for centuries because it remains one of the greatest truths in horsemanship. Whether a horse is competing at the FEI level, working cattle on a ranch, pulling a carriage through city streets, or […]
MANAGING KISSING SPINE IN THE DRESSAGE HORSE—by Orsolya Losonci🇭🇺Horsi
Few diagnoses strike fear quite like kissing spine. The words alone can feel like a career-ending sentence. Suddenly, every resistance, every difficult transition, every hollow moment in the canter, begins to make sense. Owners replay months, if not years of training sessions–wondering whether their horse has been in pain all along. The reality isboth more complex, but also more hopeful, than many owners […]
We’d Love to Hear From You! —DressurSPORT🌎🌍🌏
We are hoping to hear from our readers. How do you like the magazine so far? Do you have any feedback you would be willing to provide? Any articles you’d like to see covered? Changes made? Our store will launch soon, selling products not sold by US/EU/UK countries, but CRAFTED IN THEM. We hope you […]
New World screwworm (NWS) in companion animals: Evaluation and response
The American Veterinary Medical Association has issued an article discussing an evaluation and response to the impact of screwworm upon companion animals. Readers with pets are strongly encouraged to read that article, which can be found at the following link: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/one-health/veterinarians-and-public-health/new-world-screwworm/new-world-screwworm-nws-companion-animals-evaluation-and-response?brid=YWdncwHehuZXtjaNgxLkxov5NQPf
ALL ABOUT LEATHER—WHERE IT COMES FROM? WHAT IT’S USED FOR, & HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT—by Jochen Schleese🇩🇪/🇨🇦 CMS, CSFT, CSE
Leather for saddlery comes from a relatively small group of animals whose hides provide the right combination of strength, fiber density, and workability. The demands of riding equipment: weight-bearing, flexibility, resistance to sweat and weather—means that not every type of hide is suitable. 🌎Unfortunately, over the last 20-30 years many of the tanneries have closed, […]
