Long and Low: When Does The Head Come Back Up?

I originally wrote this post for our crew over at Next Level Barrel Racing but I thought it might be useful to the masses, too!

I preach a lot about teaching the horse to move with his head down - withers height or lower is usually my recommendation. This helps the horse naturally activate the “right” muscles - the ones that create the type of supportive spine we can sit on without damaging the horse over time.

And the question I got was:

When does the head come back up? Nose in the dirt won’t work for a race.

biomechanics, horse health, Rehab, Train Your EyeBarbara ParksMarch 14, 2024Comment

How much do you know about saddle fit?

I sent this question out to my Instagram community a few weeks back. Over 60% of respondents said they were unsure if their saddle fit their horse well or not!Truth be told, most of us are just never taught how to check saddle fit correctly. I never learned anything other than looking for sweat marks until I went through my CERP certification course! But the information is SO IMPORTANT! That’s why I made this downloadable PDF guide: Saddle Fitting 101.

horse health, biomechanicsBarbara ParksNovember 18, 2019saddle, saddle fit, 101, back painComment

Does My Horse Need A Blanket?: Debunking the 5 Biggest Myths About Blanketing Horses

Every year around this time, I start hearing lots of questions about when to blanket horses. There are posts all over social media arguing one way or the other. Your friend at the barn insinuates you’re a bad horse mom or dad because your horse isn’t blanketed. Someone else tells you blankets aren’t natural and horses should never wear them. But if I’m cold my horse must be cold… right?