How to Read the Horse Before You Add More Speed
Rider reading a horse’s posture and readiness before asking for more speed
  • Horse Care
July 22, 2026
Jon Conklin

How to Read the Horse Before You Add More Speed

A Real Rider Resource guide for deciding when a horse is ready for more speed...
Val Leibel’s Real Rider Story: Competition to Wound Care
Val Leibel competing with her 19-year-old rope horse
  • 128oz Concentrate
July 20, 2026
Jon Conklin

Val Leibel’s Real Rider Story: Competition to Wound Care

United States Real Rider Val Leibel uses Draw It Out® 16oz Gel with her 19-year-old...
What Real Riders Notice After Deep Footing
Rider observing a horse’s movement beside an arena with deep footing
  • Footing
July 20, 2026
Jon Conklin

What Real Riders Notice After Deep Footing

A Real Rider Resource guide for what to notice after deep footing so riders count...
How to Adjust the Plan When the Horse Feels Heavy
Rider reassessing the plan while a horse walks quietly in the arena
  • Horse Care
July 19, 2026
Jon Conklin

How to Adjust the Plan When the Horse Feels Heavy

A Real Rider Resource guide for adjusting the plan when a horse feels heavy instead...
The Quiet Barn Check Before a Big Clinic
Rider quietly checking a horse in the barn before traveling to a clinic
  • Clinic Prep
July 18, 2026
Jon Conklin

The Quiet Barn Check Before a Big Clinic

A Real Rider Resource guide for preparing for a riding clinic with a quiet barn...
What Real Riders Do When a Horse Feels One Step Behind
Rider hand-walking a tacked horse after it feels one step behind
  • Horse Care
July 17, 2026
Jon Conklin

What Real Riders Do When a Horse Feels One Step Behind

A Real Rider Resource guide for horses that feel one step behind: how to check...
Why Real Riders Check the Horse Before the Tack
Rider checking a horse’s back and posture before putting on tack
  • Horse Care
July 16, 2026
Jon Conklin

Why Real Riders Check the Horse Before the Tack

A Real Rider Resource guide for checking the horse before tack so riders make better...
How to Read a Horse That Quits Earlier Than Normal
Rider observing an untacked horse after ending a session early
  • Horse Care
July 15, 2026
Jon Conklin

How to Read a Horse That Quits Earlier Than Normal

A Real Rider Resource guide for reading a horse that quits earlier than normal without...
The Day After a Long Haul: What Real Riders Notice
Horse owner watching a horse’s stride the morning after a long haul
  • Hauling Horses
July 14, 2026
Jon Conklin

The Day After a Long Haul: What Real Riders Notice

A Real Rider Resource guide for the day after a long haul: what to notice...
When the Warmup Feels Sticky: Change the Ask
Rider simplifying a warmup at the walk over a ground pole
  • Horse Care
July 13, 2026
Jon Conklin

When the Warmup Feels Sticky: Change the Ask

A Real Rider Resource guide for sticky warmups: what to check, how to simplify the...
The Difference Between Tired and Sour in Summer Horses
Rider observing a horse's posture and expression during a summer cool-down
  • Horse Care
July 11, 2026
Jon Conklin

The Difference Between Tired and Sour in Summer Horses

A Real Rider Resource guide for checking heat, workload, recovery, tack, discomfort, and behavior before...
What to Do When a Horse Unloads Tight
Handler hand-walking a horse on level ground after unloading
  • Hauling Horses
July 10, 2026
Jon Conklin

What to Do When a Horse Unloads Tight

A Real Rider Resource guide for horses that unload tight after hauling: what to check,...
The Feed Room Board: Track Before Supplementing
Horse owner measuring feed and recording it on a feed-room tracking board
  • Barn Records
July 9, 2026
Jon Conklin

The Feed Room Board: Track Before Supplementing

A product-neutral feed-room tracking system for water, manure, appetite, workload, hauling, changes, response windows, and...
What to Do When a Horse Won’t Drink at a Show
Horse owner offering a clean water bucket beside show stabling
  • Hauling Horses
July 9, 2026
Jon Conklin

What to Do When a Horse Won’t Drink at a Show

A Real Rider Resource guide for tracking water intake, manure, attitude, heat, hauling, and electrolyte...
When a Horse Starts Anticipating the Pattern
Western rider calmly schooling a horse that is anticipating the barrel pattern
  • Barrel Racing
July 9, 2026
Jon Conklin

When a Horse Starts Anticipating the Pattern

A Real Rider Resource guide for horses anticipating patterns, including pressure, comfort checks, hydration, recovery,...
What Real Riders Check Before a Weekend Jackpot
Western rider checking a horse beside the trailer before a weekend jackpot
  • Barrel Racing
July 9, 2026
Jon Conklin

What Real Riders Check Before a Weekend Jackpot

A Real Rider Resource checklist before a weekend jackpot covering feet, legs, hydration, hauling, warm-up,...
Horse Drinking Less Away From Home? What Real Riders Track
Rider recording water intake for a horse away from home
  • Hauling Horses
July 9, 2026
Jon Conklin

Horse Drinking Less Away From Home? What Real Riders Track

A Real Rider Resource guide for tracking horses that drink less away from home at...
The Rider’s Heat Journal: What to Write Down After Hot Rides
Rider recording heat and recovery notes after a hot ride
  • Horse Care
July 8, 2026
Jon Conklin

The Rider’s Heat Journal: What to Write Down After Hot Rides

A Real Rider Resource guide for keeping a rider’s heat journal after hot rides: what...
When Summer Footing Gets Hard: What Riders Should Notice
Rider watching a horse walk on firm summer arena footing
  • Footing
July 7, 2026
Jon Conklin

When Summer Footing Gets Hard: What Riders Should Notice

A Real Rider Resource guide to hard summer footing, what riders should check, when to...
Horse Tight Through the Shoulders? What to Check
Rider checking a horse’s shoulder area after removing tack
  • Horse Movement
July 6, 2026
Jon Conklin

Horse Tight Through the Shoulders? What to Check

A rider-first guide to shoulder tightness, reduced reach, tack restriction, feet, neck, fatigue, safety checks,...