This section is the continuing education portion of this website. Here you will find links to amazing horse stories, training methods, riding enhancement and just plain fun things to do with horses, and it's my opportunity to share with you the websites I follow and love.  ENJOY! And may your relationship with your horse be everything you've ever dreamed.

FOR FUN, FUN, FUN and MORE FUN!
Jean-Francois Pignon's video, Mustang Sally, is beyond WONDERFUL and so much fun. Ah, don't we all want to play with our horses like this!  By the way, Jean-Francois is the brother of Frederic Pignon of Cavallia fame. Here's the youtube video link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2erlljh0cg

FOR INSPIRATION
Klaus Hempfling is a wonderful inspiration to riders throughout the world. If you have the time, view as many of his videos as possible and read his books. They are terrific.   This video clip is of Klaus' transforming affect on a young and fearful Arabian. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgyGa_tgNu8&feature=channel

FOR TECHNIQUES
Colleen Kelly's website is a wealth of information on how to improve your riding position and your horse's performance.  She is a no-nonsense Australian with a great sense of humor and a desire to make riding fun and safe for all riders from beginners to Grand Prix. She's be back in the U.S. in November 2009, so connect up with her. I audit every class I can that she gives in my geographic area and have learned loads from her!  Her website is colleenkelly.net. However, I have been having trouble linking to her, so google Colleen Kelly Biomechanics and hopefully you'll end up there. This is a great link to one of Colleen's articles. This one is on bits - by the way, throw away your full check snaffle. http://colleenkelly.net/ArticlesandInfo/HorsesPetAndAnimalCare/BITS/What_bit_do_you_recommend.htm

For Position
If you haven't visited Mary Wanless' website lately, and you've been struggling with your position on horseback, check it out.  Her site is www.mary-wanless.com in case the link I'm posting doesn't work. Go to the RIDE and LEARN section of her horizontal navigation bar and have fun. I began with article 54,  the last in the series, just to make sure I got her most up-to-date information. Warning: these articles can be addictive. I learn so much, I can't wait to get on to the next one! The articles I enjoy so much are from Horse and Rider magazine where Mary analyzed the rider's position and the impact on the horse from a photo. Her information is expansive and educational, and I found it makes sense, and even better I can do it. I'd say my riding has improved by 50-200% in the past few weeks just by educating my eye and body. My horses are better, and my position is way better. I feel more secure in the saddle, and I have seen equally stunning changes in my students.
Mary bills herself as a bridge between great, natural riders (who don't always know what they do and who can't usually teach it if they do know what they do) and the average rider who wants to get better but nothing has worked.  And based on the almost immediate improvement in my riding by following some of her principles - she does an outstanding job. Mary has been around writing books and training backyard riders and a few professionals for many years. I even had one of her older books in my collection, but never got around to reading it. But I am now.
Mary comes to the states several times a year, and I'm looking forward to auditing her next clinic in November, 2009, in Maryland. If I get as much out of it as I hope, I may even take a horse to her clinic in 2010.