20/20 Horsemanship

23/09/2025

18/08/2025

We are launching a new branch of 20/20 Horsemanship!

The Riding Instructor’s Academy

The objective is to get information and guidance into the hands of instructors who may be struggling, inexperienced, or feel otherwise ineffective.

Based on my nearly 20 years of teaching, I see and hear the same things over and over again from students who rode elsewhere prior to meeting me.

‘Oh, I never heard that before.’
‘Noone ever told me what LEG meant! Thanks for explaining that’
‘I didn’t know there was a CUE to ask for canter!’
‘You mean I shouldn’t kick him?’
‘You’re kidding. I don’t need to use reins for steering? ? ‘
‘Omg this is so much easier!’
‘It just FEELS better than kicking’
‘You’re actually going to converse with me DURING my lesson?’

We are almost finished with our first product, a guidebook for instructors. Next up is a workbook to pair it with. Then an ebook and a full blown course. We are super excited to offer this!

Just a teaser announcement, we are also working on a version for students. Primarily those who are riding lesson horses. Stay tuned!

Our method will assist you in enhancing the self awareness of your students. Unmounted changes make lasting habits!

16/08/2025

A list of things I wish people knew before taking riding lessons (or signing up their child):

Approach a horse from the side/shoulder.

Scratch (rather than pet) the neck.

Riding correctly is a lifelong journey.

Learning and understanding horses is a life long journey.

Riding is hard.

After you can walk trot and canter you can really learn to ride and are now a beginner.

A rider must move with the horse. Being still inhibits his movement.

Riding cannot be your only fitness activity. You must be strong and fit to ride well. And have good control and coordination of your body parts.

A helmet is a required piece of equipment. Let’s rephrase that. A good helmet is a required piece of equipment. Ask the teacher what to buy and how to measure and fit it.

A rider needs to wear riding tights or breeches. There is a reason riders wear the clothes they wear.

Your riding instructor likely works very hard. A cold drink (or hot) is a very welcome and appreciated gesture.

Riding can be expensive. You pay for the instructor’s time which includes the knowledge they have and all they have done to gain it. AND the horse’s time, energy, wear on his feet or shoes, equipment, the cleaning of his equipment. The overhead is immense. Stabling, shavings, feed and hay, farriers, vets, arena footing and maintenance and more. It’s a wonder anyone does this.

Offering to do something around the barn to help after your lesson is a lovely idea. IF you have experience around horses and are above the age of 12.

Riders have an affect on how the horse moves.

It is always the rider’s fault. Never the horse’s. Always.

You will fall.

Safety stirrups are a thing.

Even kids need sunglasses.

There is more but I will leave that for the next PUBLICE SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

29/07/2025

Impressive!

24/07/2025

Ready-Set-Go....to the FAIR and stop by 20/20 while you're there!

23/07/2025

She is amazing!

NO LEGS? NO PROBLEM! Meet 21 year old Danish Para-Olympic dressage rider Stinna Tange Kaastrup, who was born without legs. Stinna and her pony compete at the highest level of the sport, most recently at the WEG Games. She rides in a soft, treeless saddle for a closer feel and relies strictly upon balance to stay in the saddle - - that's right, she is not strapped in - - and she carries two whips as compensatory aids.

Says Stinna about her interest in riding and her success in dressage: "When I'm on a horse, I'm equal to all others. When I'm on the ground or in my wheelchair, I have some things in the way like stairs and I can't run or walk. On a horse I'm free."

Stinna. . .we salute you! NO LEGS, NO PROBLEM . . . AND NO EXCUSES!

Watch Stinna and her pony perform in competition: https://youtu.be/cRhqN8OeYOg

And read more about Stinna here: http://dressagedaily.com/article/para-equestrian-close-stinna-tange-kaastrup

The next time I whine about how I cannot get my horse to do this-or-that, I'll think about Stinna . . . she's my hero!



23/07/2025

I wrote an article and turned it into a PDF. Tips for finding a riding instructor.
Reply with send if you'd like the link.

22/07/2025

This weather is putting me over the edge with my horse's feet. Come on and give Virginia's horse people a break!

19/04/2025

This is one of my favorite pictures of Blue.

BOING

06/03/2025

Time away was well spent. Getting sick while being way, and not getting better yet....I'm over it. And this weather! I really enjoyed the 75 and sunny Sanibel Island!

06/03/2025

Save $60! Register for classes before March 15!
Regularly $360/4 classes one lesson per week over 4 weeks. Before March 15 pay only $300!!
Want 2 lessons each week? Only $500/8 classes in 4 weeks! Only until March 15!