Home » Business » Recent Articles:

Can You Call the Vet?

December 28, 2009 Business, Community, Featured Content 2 Comments
Can You Call the Vet?

by Barbara Ellin Fox

My daughter took care of a small boarding facility during Christmas, while its owners were out of town and a situation arose that  brought up the question, “What’s in your boarding contract.”

One of the horses had periodic seizures and she was instructed  that if it occurred she should put his food in his stall and check on him in an hour.  The barn owner said the seizures caused him to be down anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. … Continue Reading

Popularity: 37% [?]

  • Share/Bookmark

Branding the Easy Way

November 23, 2009 Business, Community, Posts with Videos No Comments
Branding the Easy Way

by Barbara Ellin Fox

“Slug Bug, Red! No Slug Backs!” and I receive a “thump” on my shoulder.  My 4 1/2 year old granddaughter demonstrates the effects of  “branding”.

Branding is the process of turning something into an easily recognized, cohesive identity.  We recognize the branding a single item like the shape of a Volkswagen Beetle or Budweiser Beer with the Budweiser Clydesdales. The sight of a polo pony and rider with mallet in the air tells us we’re looking at the Ralph Lauren line of products.  A green four leaf clover with an H on each leaf identifies the “4H” member. Branding makes it possible to identify an object, a group, and association, or a member in an instant. … Continue Reading

Popularity: 19% [?]

  • Share/Bookmark

The Value of Group Lessons

May 8, 2009 Business, Posts with Videos, Riding Instructors No Comments
The Value of Group Lessons

by Barbara Ellin Fox

Group lessons used to be the most common form of riding lessons. I don’t know percentages but it appears that private lessons, or semi private lessons (2 in a class) are more common these days, particularly with adults.

I love to teach group lessons and I believe they have tremendous value, causing beginner and intermediate riders, in particular to advance more quickly. I like my group lessons to be more than 4 riders but not more than 8, although I have taught twice that many riders at once. … Continue Reading

Popularity: 23% [?]

  • Share/Bookmark

What’s Your Motivation?

March 8, 2009 Business, Featured Content, Riding Instructors No Comments
What’s Your Motivation?

by Barbara Ellin Fox

What’s Your Motivation?
In other words, why do you teach or want to teach riding? Motivation, or the reason you teach, can have a direct effect on the quality of instruction you give, the importance you place on your students, and how durable you are in the horse business.

Do you teach because it makes it possible for you  to ride?
A lot of young people learn early on that teaching a few lessons on the weekend is a great way to help pay for their riding bills. Countless good instructors have gotten a start by teaching the kid down the street or by teaching a few friends from 4H or Pony Club.  It doesn’t take long for a freelance instructor to build up several students, if their fees are reasonable and the money can go a long way towards helping to pay your shoeing, feed bills and entry fees. … Continue Reading

Popularity: 12% [?]

  • Share/Bookmark

Notable Quotables

Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction. ~ Cowboy saying

Blog Directories

The Riding Instructor - Blogged Outdoor Activity Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory blogarama - the blog directory Blog Directory Blogs Directory blogville

Subscribe to Free Updates

Good Information

Sign Up For The Riding Instructor Updates & Receive FREE Extras

November 24, 2009

Sign Up For The Riding Instructor Updates & Receive FREE Extras

by Barbara Ellin Fox Aside from having great videos and pictures AND being a fun blog to read, The Riding Instructor blog is  a good source for information for instructors, riders, students and their significant others.  Significant others could be a spouse or Mom and Dad.  The purpose of The Riding Instructor blog is to [...]

  • Share/Bookmark

Who’s The Riding Instructor For?

October 20, 2009

Who’s The Riding Instructor For?

by Barbara Ellin Fox The Riding Instructor is for anyone who wants to learn more about horses.  It includes areas that will be of interest to actual riding instructors or people hoping to become instructors but it also includes resources for people who would go to a riding instructor for help and education. While I [...]

  • Share/Bookmark

Barnmice, a Social Networking Site

August 21, 2009

Barnmice, a Social Networking Site

by Barbara Ellin Fox What could be better for a horse lover than a social network that is totally for horse people!  Barnmice says  “To ride a horse is to ride the sky.” — Author Unknown- If you live by these words , then welcome home! I first learned about Barnmice through a classified ad [...]

  • Share/Bookmark

Wonderful Beginners

August 21, 2009

Wonderful Beginners

by Barbara Ellin Fox I love this French and Saunders clip about a girl who loves riding but has to do everything she can to put a positive spin on her  accomplishments or lack there of. She doesn’t have a high rate of success but she has big dreams.  She has more things going against [...]

  • Share/Bookmark

Riding For A Lifetime

April 11, 2009

Riding For A Lifetime

by Barbara Ellin Fox Riding is different than most other sports. If a person is taught to ride correctly they can continue this sport for a lifetime. I’ve known many people who continue to ride in their 60s, 70s, and 80s and a few who have continued to ride in their 90s. That’s something that [...]

  • Share/Bookmark
Add to Technorati Favorites
Custom-embroidered logo shirts and apparel by Queensboro