The one that was told how horse crazy they were before they could have even told anyone themselves.

The one who would excitedly point out a horse anywhere and everywhere.

The one who was attempting to save up enough money for one of their own since they were 3 years old.

I know this tale is a familiar one. Us horse crazies are not a hard lot to spot, even from a very young age. There truly must be something in our blood. Our DNA. Something so deeply rooted that there is really nothing we could do about it.

I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a way that my horse obsession could be fed. I sat on my first horse at 9 months old and began lessons at 5 years old and haven’t stopped since.

Looking back, that young girl I once was just had a pure love for the animal. I was an animal lover through and through. As years go by, we are molded more and more by the outside world and our motives and drive begin to change based on the motives of those around us. Especially the ones doing the teaching.

I can’t recall ever having a “bad” teacher or someone I did not respect. I learned a substantial amount and am very thankful for the large impact they have all had on my life and my riding.

But their views no doubt impacted mine.

Just like my newly formed views, motives and techniques had been shaped, I have then shaped the many, many students I have subsequently taught over the years. All the subconscious things we pick up without even being aware that we have.

Over the years, it became less and less about the love of the animal and more became more focused on the sport itself.

It was not a difficult transition. It was actually quite exciting. Instead of having a lad back hobby, I now had this sport which filled me with intense drive. I was passionate. I was determined. I had goals.

How are any of these things negative? They actually aren’t at all!

But the real question is, where does the horse fit in?

If we are being frank with ourselves, the sport is not about the animal. It is about our own ego. Our own goals. What we want out of the situation. As many sports are. But our sport is unique. Our partner is alive and has no say. Our partner gets passed around. Our partner is at the mercy of whichever hands they end up in. Wonderfully enough, many of us do a remarkable job caring for these amazing creatures. But we are fooling ourselves if we say we do it for the love of the horse. We are in it for the love of the sport.

What would our younger horse obsessed self think?

Maybe we can do better.

Driven by performance and the search for excellence, we conduct research with world-recognized equine health professionals and partner with international riders (World Champions and Olympians), in a variety of equestrian disciplines.

Horses are special creatures. They are majestic and strong but can also be quite emotional.

Horses can even pick up and understand human emotions. They are the first non-human mammal known to have the ability to recognize, analyze, respond to and remember human emotions. Horses are social animals and need relationships to be happy, much like humans.
Many riders agree that spending time with horses even seems to have a calming effect on them. These qualities along with a horse and rider’s partnership create a very strong bond with our mount.

“A horse’s health is based on physical, emotional and physiological factors. As riders we have a high responsibility to our horses to ensure they are in the best state they can possibly be in. Antarès helps facilitate that goal with the horse sport wear we offer, allowing the horses to feel and perform to the best of their ability with zero hinderances.”

When you saddle your horse it’s important that the saddle pad doesn’t add any pressure on the withers. Thanks to the anatomical shape of our saddle pads, pressure is completely avoided. The saddle pad matches perfectly with the Antarès ear net for competition. For the one aiming for the ultimate sharp and highly functional outfit, they can also be matched with our ergonomic half pad, jackets and vests in matching navy.

Our Antarès sport wear is perfect for training and competition. The rider is close to the horse’s back with both our saddle pad and our ergonomic half pad. If you want to be the star at a show or in the stable, our sport wear is the perfect choice!

Please reach out to me directly with any questions, comments or to purchase!

We expect a lot of the animals we interact with daily. They are generally expected to never have a lousy day, always be polite, improve in their training and not make any sort of unpleasant face.

The same sort of expectations that may also be bestowed on our children and significant others.

Act appropriately at all times.

Oftentimes our horses do a remarkable job of fitting into the boxes we have chosen for them. And living up to the majority of our expectations.

And then a horse might come along that breaks the mold. The one who would rather not, or possibly doesn’t know how to live up to these exceptions we have set forth.

These horses are overall rare.

Most horses give in even if it hurts a bit, even if they’d rather not; They go ahead and try to live up to our, at times, unrealistic expectations.

The ones who don’t leave us stumped. Why isn’t the training working? Why is this one such a bad egg?

What is wrong with this situation?

Maybe this quirky, grouchy horses not actually the exception to the rule but the only one brave enough to raise his concerns.

We ask a lot of our horses but in return, we don’t often stop and listen and see what they may ask of us.

Trust me, they will always have something to say.

The girth is too tight, the saddle too far forward, the rider too handsy, I am uncomfortable, I am unhappy.

What does a grouchy horse tell you?

Well, to most, it would seem a nasty horse. Oftentimes petted less. Handles less. Cast aside.

A grouchy horse to me is an unloved horse. A horse that been lost through the years.

One that has lost his hope or his spark. What he needs is more love, not less.

He yearns to feel understood. Accepted.

Show this horse love that is unconditional. Day after day. No matter if his demeanor changes instantly or not. Give it time. And I have a feeling this quirky, grouchy horse may surprise.