Are You & Your Horse Ready For Bitting Advice? The Steps You Need To Consider First
Equestrian Advice & Guides All Disciplines
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Equine is a very specialist community; it holds a wealth of knowledge that needs to be understood should you wish to succeed. From learning to ride and understanding your horse, to knowing what to wear and how to care for the animal, it’s very hard to permanently obtain all of this yourself. Many people within the community are aware of this, therefore they set up blogs to share their own experiences and tips to the wider population, so that everyone can make riding, competing or training an enjoyable experience - as it should be!
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite horse blogs across the internet, which we think hold the most useful or engaging information for those searching for it. In no particular order, take a look at the twenty contenders here; you can follow all of your favourites on social media!
A Gift Horse - Equestrian Blog
If The Saddle Fits
Kristen runs the site, she’s a very keen rider who’s been mad about horses her whole life, pretty much as soon as she could walk. That means years of wisdom and experience in both the competing aspect (both jumping and dressage) and the horse care side of things (as a groom and barn manager). The site comes packed with easy to read, visually pleasing guides that feature just about everything you can think of. Reviews, ‘How to’s’, care tips, equipment guides, riding advice etc. The list just continues.
Each piece is crafted with as much care and detail as the last, making it explicitly clear to even the beginner rider. What’s even more encouraging, Kristen is a dedicated mother too, showing you that anything is possible, even when you have so much on your plate already.
Our favourite piece?: A new post for 2018 providing tips for the plus sized rider . A very encouraging, optimistic post that confidently says ‘you can be any shape or size, and still ride’.
Equestrian Escapes
Equestrian Escapes was set up by Sarah Caplan, a BHS qualified instructor who has a long history of working with animals. She has studied zoology and competed in jumping, dressage and more for much of her life. With a big interest in travel also, she saw the importance of providing great quality riding holidays to the general public, and Equestrian Escapes was created with just this in mind.
The team at EE aim to do all the work for you when booking a riding holiday, from suggesting the perfect destination to providing secure checks on qualified instructors and safe facilities.
The Equestrian Escapes blog is tailored specifically to horse and travel, with excellent guides to the best riding centres across the world, and an insight to the best culture from each destination. If you’re intending on booking a riding holiday away or in the UK, you have to check out this site.
Our favourite piece?: Equestrian Escapes have holidays that suit people of all abilities and ages, including a very helpful ‘riding holidays for children’ section. They feature a great break away in ireland for young riders over the age of 10. This is an extremely detailed post that describes everything you need to know, and is a great idea to let young people experience riding with a short trip abroad!
Equestrian Writer
The motto of Equestrian Writer is ‘Changing The World One Horse at a Time’, and this is very much reflected in their content. Their stylish, modern website makes their writing easy to navigate and simple to understand. Their talking topics are such a wide range of tips that touch on a huge variety of problems, big or small. This reiterates the idea that someone, somewhere will have experienced at least one of these problems, or asked one of these questions - making every article useful to someone. Changing the world one horse at a time. From expert riding techniques to quirky tack recycling ideas, Equestrian writer has it all. This is one of the most extensive collections of Horse advice on the web, everything you need is here and in great detail too!
Our favourite piece?: Not everything is about what you do when you’re out on the horse, and Equestrian Writer recognise that people might also want to look for something creative to do when they’re not in the saddle. This piece gives you 4 items in your tack room that can be repurposed - something a little more relaxing to do, still with huge purpose!
Blood Horse Blogs
If you’re a professional enthusiast, Blood Horse has the blogs for you. They’ve been in the equine industry for over 100 years, so it’s safe to say they know their stuff. If you’re a jockey, trainer, breeder or general racing enthusiast, you can browse Blood Horse’s blog section for insights on some of the most successful horses of all time, behind the scenes action from racing teams, expert knowledge on the latest stakes and much more. What’s more, the blog has really kick started in 2018, suggesting that we’re only going to get bigger, better advice from experts of the racing world.
Our favourite piece?: It’s rare that we get to witness what goes on in the background when it comes to the world’s best racers. Blood Horse have given us a rare insight into the success of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, and what was achieved by his owners in the build up to such a great year.
Velvet Rider
Velvet Rider started as a tiny project back in 2012 and has since then moved on strides. Jennifer Landers created the site to share her strong passion for horses and fashion, providing reviews on the latest styles, decor and gifs. Jennifer has been riding ever since her age was in single figures, meaning she has years of knowledge behind her. She has two horses of her own and also works as a freelance writer, so you can certainly trust the content to be knowledgeable and easy to read! This is such a casual, friendly site that allows just about anyone to sit down and read news, reviews or advice from someone who has a dear passion for horses and the equine community.
Our favourite piece?: At Velvet Rider, Jennifer understands that sometimes your horse wants to look good too. The site features a full section for horse style, featuring some great tips for looking after your horses appearance. This tutorial shows you a great visual step by step guide to braiding your horse's mane, which looks difficult but is actually rather simple!
The Legal Equestrian
Jessica at Legal Equestrian is an avid horse lover, devoting most of her spare time to riding ever since her grandparents bought her some lessons at the age of seven. She has two of her own horses, including a 26 year old pony who has been with her ever since the start. Jessica has the aspirations of becoming a professional one day. Besides the love of horses, she is a qualified attorney specialising in transactional law. This means that her blog is a very interesting read, as she’s able to write from the perspective of both a horse lover and a lawyer. Featuring some great advice for buying a horse, selling a horse and the legalities that go with it, The Legal Equestrian allows you to firm up your knowledge on the more serious side of equestrian, but in a relaxed, personal environment.
There are some really great sections on the site besides this, including a ‘rider interviews’ area where Jessica has managed to catch a chat with some really great riders, eventers and jumpers, to give you a behind the scenes look at life as a professional.
Our favourite piece?: Jessica interviewed an upcoming professional (Geoffrey Hesslink) back in April 2017, talking to him about his progress and his aspirations for the year ahead. He competed in his first Derby Finals in August and took home two titles. Jessica then interviewed him again after the success. We think it’s great to see the progress of a young rider being tracked all the way and it’s so inspiring for a reader to follow the story all the way. You can be sure to find more updates on Hesslink’s success in the near future.
Equestrian Stylist
Ashley Cline writes about the latest inspirations of fashion, style and creativity for every aspect of the equine world. Providing unchallenged style for your horse, impressive fashion for you or the rider, and unique creativity for your home and the barn. This comes with Cline’s 20+ years of experience in riding, retail and fashion. She has studied in three of the four fashion capitals of the world (Milan, Paris and London), so she definitely knows all there is to the current trends and styles. Featuring some great advice for a formal trip to the races, or tips on the perfect winter gear for horse and rider, Ashley provides you with style in all walks of equine life.
Equestrian art is another admiration of hers, so there’s also an inspired section for that - bringing you the most stunning pieces of artwork that are on offer. This blog is all about bringing the glamour to riding, for those who wish add a touch of excellence to their favourite hobby.
Our favourite piece?: Heading to the Cheltenham Festival is an unforgettable day out, but living up to the glamorous clothing expectations can be tough if you don’t know where to start. This latest fashion article on the blog shows the guys that you can dress to impress, without spending much money (or spending a lot if you fancy it). Read perfect advice on what is acceptable to wear on the big day, without breaking the bank.
Writing of Riding
Writing in Riding shares lots of general horse advice, but in particular, is a very strong voice in campaigning against the animal abuse that is experienced in dressage. This blog expresses raw emotion when it comes to the mistreatment of horses, and does a great job of highlighting the current flaws in the sport. Often, this type of campaign is brushed off by many riders who fail to see everything wrong in the current climate, but Writing of Riding refuses to let the matters slide. Every horse lover has to browse this site and be made aware of the issues that are so often being neglected in the eventing world. The more people we can get behind this blog, the bigger difference we can make.
Our favourite piece?: The sites most recent post by Erica Franz is a brave, head-on address to a rider, a commentator and a judge; all three appear to accept horse abuse as a natural practice. Video evidence and clear quotes back up the strong opinions in this piece, which is why we love it so much. The truth cannot be hidden and it’s clear to see here.
A Country Lady
Abi Rule loves living life in the British countryside, surrounded by horses and rolling hills. It’s rare that you wouldn’t find her in country clothing, ready to keep warm and get dirty. But to a lot of people like Abi, it’s important to look and feel good too. She understands the value of this, so ‘A Country Lady’ aims to showcase some of the best style ideas for spending time in the country and on a horse. This is combined with Abi’s own equestrian story; her life as an amateur show jumper and all things horsey. She also gives you the opportunity to ‘Shop Her Style’, so if you really like what you see, you can access it straight from the site. Everything from competition clothing and country boots, to stylish accessories comfy extra layers. There are product reviews for many items and lots of visual guidance so that you can really get a feel for each item. This blog is such an easy to use bible of fashion and lifestyle, presented in a very friendly manner.
Our favourite piece?: The entire ‘reviews’ section. There are pages and pages of tips, advice and opinions on some of the best products on the market. This allows you to get an honest review from someone who has tried and tested each and every item, so if you’re on the fence about a particular item, you can read one of Abi’s reviews and make up your mind!
Equestrian Lifestyle
Since 2013, Equestrian Lifestyle has been searching for luxury about the equine world. Whether that be the latest fashion, the most glamorous places to travel, or just an all round impressive equine way of living - Equestrian Lifestyle has found the best ways to live it up in the world of horse. Their latest posts feature reviews from Belgium, Sweden, The UK and The Netherlands, showcasing to you the top ways to enjoy your equine experience across the globe.
Including gift guides, product reviews and location manuals of the very best quality, allowing you to be the best you can possibly be.
We love the simplicity of their site: sleek, clean and white with plenty of visual aid, this site is so easy to navigate, and just as simple to sit in front of for a quick and interesting read. They’ve got a great Youtube channel and a Snapchat account to, so you can keep up to date with where they are in the world, whilst watching exclusive equine content.
Our favourite piece?: Sometimes when you first take interest in a new blog, it’s hard to work out what they’re trying to achieve, and what you’re going to be reading. Equestrian Lifestyle have a great post about what they aim to achieve in 2018, with a detailed breakdown of what you can expect to see, should you wish to follow their blog. We think this should be a feature on every site, as it gives you a quick heads up on whether this is the blog for you - and we can assure you it is!
The Equestrian
This blog is a huge award winner and is written from a very professional point of view. Linnea Aarflot is a rider who has worked at multiple stables of Olympic pedigree. Linnea has worked across the world including the USA, Sweden and Italy, but is currently based in the UK where she is at Tye Farm Dressage in Kent. She is a really regular poster to the blog, bringing you updates of her own riding journey and important equine news. The site also features information on the many projects Linnea is working on, including her training and clinic sessions, as well as the different ranches that offer facilities to the public.
The blog is a great way to experience the life of a professional in a really open environment, and follow the lives of some really great horses too!
Our favourite piece?: Sometimes, you don’t fancy a read and all you want is pictures. After all, most things in the equine world are only fully understood with an image - and there’s nothing better than looking at a beautifully groomed horse. Linnea chose to wrap up her 2017 with a simple collection of photos. There are some seriously inspirational snaps in there, and they really do tell the full story. It’s quite refreshing to browse another rider’s story in picture form!
Equestrian Coaching Blog
This site is labelled as ‘The World’s Leading Online Education Source’ for equestrians. The site features 20 riding experts specialising in everything from show jumping and farriering, to mental skills and holistic health. The views of these experts are portrayed by 12 blogging experts with a passion for writing and unchallenged equine knowledge.
This is without doubt one of the most trustworthy sources of equine information in existence - it’s very rare that you get over 30 equine specialists all devoting their time in one place.
The site features a huge library of training resources and advice for the beginner rider all the way up to the professionals. Not only this, but Equestrian Coach has a separate video site, featuring a gallery of hundreds of ‘how to’ videos and exercise demonstrations, so that you can perfect your skills with seamless visual guidance.
If you’re looking for expert coaching at the click of a button, look no further.
Our favourite piece?: It’s so hard to pick a piece from such an extensive collection, but we’ve gone with this article on ‘Encouraging a Hunter horse with high head carriage to stretch down’. This is such a niche, specific query and we think it represents perfectly, just how detailed and thoughtful this site is. You will find the answer to just about every question in your head!
Kramer
Kramer offer you a wide range of riding products for horse and rider, from alternative brands that you wouldn’t find in the mainstream stores. Their products are of great quality and they offer a huge selection of rugs, saddle pads, rider clothing and much more. But we think the best part of their site is the blog section, without a doubt!
The blog is a real hub for everything equine - featuring tips on riding, advice on horse care, reviews on products etc. Each article is attractively displayed on a modern site, making it easy to read, with plenty of images to make it really visual too. You can find advice on all of the struggles of equine life, plus some creative ideas that you’ve never thought of before.
Our favourite piece?: Are you fed up of giving your horse the same meal, day in day out? It’s good to treat them every now and then, and Kramer have got the perfect tips for doing just that! They’ve come up with an excellent article on baking for your horse, with unique recipes that’ll allow you to make some delicious rewards for your horse. This is a great piece of content that we haven’t seen anywhere else on the web!
Saddle Seeks Horse
Susan at Saddle Seeks Horse writes regularly for Sidelines Magazine and Horse Illustrated - so it’s clear to see how enthusiastic she is about riding, and how good her work is too. The blog was set up when Susan was searching for a new horse best friend, after the sad passing of her previous beloved horse. Today, 4 years later, she’s back in the saddle with retired racehorse Knight, sharing with you everything she discovers on her equine journey. Susan takes a big interest in the medical side of things, meaning she has some great knowledge on how to look out for medical conditions in your horse. As well as this, you’ll see product reviews, training updates and any useful horse advice that Susan has picked up. She also offers very personal contact to her readers, allowing you to drop her a message and have a chat about any issues you have.
Our favourite piece?: Saddle Seeks Horse features a great section focusing on the health of the rider. When you’re so focused on getting the best for your horse, it’s easy to forget about yourself. The truth is, a horse is far more likely to cooperate with a healthy rider, so it’s very important! Take a look at Susan’s suggestions on how to keep yourself in top shape, not just for you but for your horse!
A Gift Horse - Equestrian Blog
A Gift Horse is one of the most regular posters of content out there; you can guarantee to get more than a weekly read. Every article is relaxed and informal, easy to read and designed by someone with real riding confidence. Offering some really down to earth insights on the daily thoughts of a rider, everyone will be able to use this site with ease and confidence. Another bonus of the site is that many of the articles offer a forum response section, so that you can voice your own opinions, converse with other equines and meet some really great people.
There’s plenty of riding footage too, so you can see the sort of training it takes to be a show jumper, and hopefully you can learn a thing or two about how it’s done!
Our favourite piece?: There aren’t many ‘perfect’ equestrians out there, if there is such a thing. Everyone has their flaws that will take a long time to adapt, or may never get better at all! This article embraces the fact that riding is really difficult, and consistency is often hard to come by. This piece makes everyone feel a little better about themselves.
Horse Junkies United
This is a very special blog. What Horse Junkies United (HJU) is trying to achieve is something that should excite everyone out there. In their own words, ‘it’s a way to give a voice to the ordinary rider’. HJU aims to bring the whole community together on one page, by simply celebrating everyone’s participation. It’s not about wanting to be the best or achieving international greatness. This is for those who just love to take part, who want to share common ground with like-minded people and learn a thing or two from people of the same ability.
This blog allows the community to link up and share their own stories or tips with ordinary people who are obsessed with horses. Casual riders, eventers, jumpers, hunters, trainers, carers. The list goes on. Everyone is accepted and each story told is eagerly listened to.
HJU gives you the opportunity to write a post, send it to them and see it featured on the site. This allows for the greatest collection of stories, opinions and advice we’ve come across. This is the most inclusive equine community on the web.
Our favourite piece?: We’re not going to pick one, we’ll let you do that yourself. Every piece is unique, each one tells a personal story - pages and pages of wonderful read that will keep you occupied forever. Take a look at the share section here.
Horse Listening
Horse Listening has been a previous award winner at the Equestrian Social Media Awards, so it’s already been recognised as a top quality blog. It’s fun, clearly constructed and very informative, combining useful knowledge with enjoyable topics; demonstrating that blogs definitely don’t have to be boring! Horse Listening tackles the problems that every equestrian ponders over, such as ‘how to become a better rider’ - one of the most important questions we’re all looking to answer.
What makes the site even more special, is that it has its very own book selection, professionally published for you to purchase at any time. These book are packed with expert knowledge on riding and horse care, so that if you like the blog so much, you can take your reading to the next level.
Our favourite piece?: It can be easy to forget the basics, or you may not even know the basics in the first place! Horse Listening have a piece that highlights the 11 ‘must know’ facts when it comes to horses, with extended descriptions on each point that you may not have known before!
The Gaitpost
The Gaitpost is a really useful site for those who take a dedicated interest in riding - any level, any discipline. They work with some of the best bloggers, writers and photographers to bring you confidently informed knowledge of style and care.
The ‘tried and tested’ section of Gaitpost.com is very useful - taking some of the biggest products on the market and reviewing them in great detail. There are reviews for horse, rider and the yard, so you can find suggestions on just about anything you’re thinking of buying.
There’s a news section too, which many blog sites lack. Not only can you get great advice and read quality reviews, but you can keep up to date with the latest dramas of the equine world.
Our favourite piece?: Decorating the stables or the yard may seem like a trivial task when there’s so much else going on, but it has to be done at some point, and what are the best tools for the job? We love the fact that The Gaitpost have reviews on things such as high performance paint, it’s not as important as other things, but it’s probably the only site that takes time to review the small and the big, so thanks to them, you know exactly where to go for tips on all your D.I.Y work!
Horse Nation
Horse Nation has a team of 10 staff consisting of publishers, editors, writers and many more. The one thing they all have in common? They all ride horses at all ages and all abilities. When you’re looking for reliable, honest and emotional equine content, there’s nowhere more trustworthy than a site with a team that lives and breathes equestrian, as you know that what they’re writing about has probably been experienced first hand.
Despite this, the content they publish isn’t restricted to their own; they let you write your own pieces for them to, so long as they’re in line with their rules. They’ve got one of the most professional websites out there, which reinforces the fact that they have content you can trust.
They feature some interviews with top riders and are supported by some giant companies such as SmartPak, so you can get fresh news releases straight from the industry performers.
HorseNation are always one of the first to bring you the news, and post multiple times a day, so you’ll certainly never be short of reading!
Our favourite piece?: HorseNation regularly team up with Smartpak, and their best work comes from their ‘Ask The Vet’ video series. Going to the vets can be a very expensive trip, so you need to make sure it’s worth it. This video series allows you to submit your own questions to the experts, and they’ll answer them in a very handy video session every Monday morning. You can’t beat free medical advice from professionals!
Horses and Heels
Raquel Lynn started up Horses and Heels in 2010, with aim of bringing a small audience tips on the latest equine fashion and general style. Three years later, Raquel was able to leave her job and run the blog full time - so it must be successful! Her audience has grown massively since then and the site has expanded to include sections on food ideas and a shop too.
The blog is really stylish and focuses on glamming up the equine life - just as it should be. A visually dominated site allows you to see everything in great detail, and the ‘Horse’ section has some of the best personal stories we’ve seen. There’s some very important advice featured too - handy tips that could save you an expensive trip to the vets.
Raquel also has a recently refreshed youtube channel too, with crafty D.I.Y tips for you stables!
Our favourite piece?: This article shows just how great a friendship between human and horse can be. What’s more intimate than a picnic with your four-legged friend? A really fun post that can be lovingly appreciated by everyone, and will maybe start giving you some crazy ideas of your own…
And that’s it, twenty of the very best sites for you to indulge your equine brains on. Take a look at them all, they each offer something very individual! And don’t forget to follow your faves on social media to, it’s the best way to keep up to date!
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