Horses & Training

Over the years, I’ve tried countless cavessons—and this one is still the most functional for me. 

The adjustable headpiece adapts to a wide variety of horse heads and is padded, but not too heavily. This ensures that the pressure transmitted through the hand remains wonderfully subtle and precise. Using the middle ring, I can guide the bridge of the nose precisely in the direction of movement without the horse losing its balance. Even stallions can be handled very well and in a controlled manner with this bridle.

From Arabians to sturdy cold-blooded horses, the headstall adapts perfectly to any horse’s anatomy.

Mine is now over 20 years old. A seam has been repaired here and there, but it’s still in regular use. For me, it’s one of those rare pieces of equipment where, even after all these years, I haven’t found anything better.

If you ride eight to twelve horses a day like I do, you know that sooner or later, all those hours in the saddle start taking a toll on your body.

For many years, I've had what I jokingly call a "chronic tennis elbow in my butt" – actually, it's a chronic tendon inflammation where the tendon attaches to my left sitting bone. Without my gel seat cushion, all those hours in the saddle would constantly make it worse.

I've tried several different models over the years, but this one has worked best for me by far. Even with the amount of riding I do, it usually lasts three to four years, doesn't wear out my pants, and is nicely discreet.

What I especially like is how it's attached: The cushion is secured only with an elastic strap around the cantle, not the saddle horn. The non-slip surface underneath keeps it securely in place. This also makes it almost invisible at horse shows, and the attachment doesn't damage the saddle.

For me, it's no longer just a nice extra – it's an absolute must-have. After all, my butt still has quite a few horses left to ride!

I really love working with long reins, especially with young horses before I even start riding them. It's a great way to introduce them to the bit and teach them how to understand rein pressure, without having a rider on their back or making them afraid of the aids.

Long reins are also a wonderful tool for gymnastic exercises. You can teach so much from the ground, from shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in to leg-yielding and even moving into trot. They're also great for working with older horses that you don't want to put too much rider weight on anymore.

I especially love these long reins because of their excellent quality and how comfortable they feel in my hands. I have relatively small hands, so thick, bulky reins or round ropes just don't work well for me.

Another thing I really appreciate: This saddlery specializes in driving equipment and offers the option of traditional leather buckle attachments instead of metal clips. And that's exactly how I ordered mine!

I really don't like clips attached directly to the bit. Metal against metal creates unnecessary movement and noise, which can be uncomfortable for the horse's mouth.

For me, these long reins are a beautiful example of quality craftsmanship. And most importantly, they allow me to do what matters most in horse training: communicate with the horse in a calm, gentle and clear way.

If you've ever attended one of my clinics or lessons, you've probably seen my hair chalk! I love using it to make horse anatomy easier to see and understand. After all, muscles, bones and anatomical connections are much easier to explain when you can draw them directly onto the horse.

What I especially like about this chalk is that it's made specifically for hair, so it's really easy to apply to the horse's coat, even thick winter coats. It comes in different colors, which means I can always find a good contrast for any coat color – whether it's a gray, bay or black horse.

And the best part? After the lesson, you can simply brush it out. No washing, no scrubbing, no hassle.

For me, it's a small but incredibly useful tool that helps make horse anatomy not just easier to explain, but also easier to see and understand.