English Riding
Horse Illustrated covers anything you can think of related to English riding, including how-tos, tips from experts, discipline specifics, and more. Disciplines included are: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, English halter and showmanship, hunt seat, jumping, and saddle seat. Many riders start out riding English (aka, hunt seat) and then progress into one of the disciplines above. Some of the topics covered include phases of jumping, how to get started in dressage or eventing, how to leg yield, perfecting the posting trot, improving your equitation, exercises with ground poles, counter bending the canter, get smooth flying lead changes, how to achieve better dressage tests, etc.
Western Riding
Horse Illustrated covers anything you can think of related to western riding, including how-tos, tips from experts, discipline specifics, and more. Disciplines included are: western pleasure, western dressage, reining, speed events like barrel racing, and cattle events like cutting and team penning. Many riders start out riding in this style, especially in the Western states, and then progress into one of the disciplines above. Some of the topics covered include introducing your horse to cattle, how to ride the rollback, how to cue the lope, how to go bitless, selecting a hat for the show pen, showmanship, and much more.
Trail and Recreational Riding
Horse Illustrated readers enjoy hitting the trail or just for recreational riding. Therefore, we have informative articles on topics such as dealing with an emergency on the trail, new or must-have tack and gear, how to teach your horse to cross water, how to ride on hilly riding paths, how to maintain horse trails, tips for camping with your horse, getting your horse ready for a season of riding, how to create a better horse for the this type of riding, and more. Our experts know that safety is of utmost importance for any type of riding but definitely when you may be further from home. Learn tips on how to have a safe trip out on your horse and when doing recreational riding.
Groundwork
Groundwork involves working with the horse from the ground using a halter and lead rope, a longe line, a cavesson and neck rope, long reins, etc. There are many lessons that are helpful to teach from the ground. Working on ground lessons with your horse can improve communication, teach a horse a new skill, work on problem areas, allow you to assert your leadership skills with the horse, work on a complicated skill before trying it mounted, and gives your horse physical and mental challenges. It's a great way to mix up your horse's training and keep things fresh. Groundwork is also helpful if you can't ride that day due to weather or footing issues or if your horse is healing from an injury and can't be ridden. It's also a great way to first teach a horse about obstacles and how not to be fearful of certain objects, like a tarp, water, a bicycle, etc.
