WALKING & TALKING - Today I am answering a great question by @catherinehormats regarding hand placement & framing. Hand placement is critical but it can only be talked about in conjunction with your body movements. Everything your body does is felt by the horse and you can separate different parts of your body. I’ll present some guides I think about but they are guides not rules. At the end of the day remember to make sure what your body is telling the horse and what your hands are telli...
May 31, 2024•12 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s round review the Grand Prix of Rome from yesterday. What an experience with a life altering horse. Caracole is a goddess among mortals(my opinion of course, but I’m right). I told Cara in the morning if we jumped clear we could go fast in the jump off, of all horses I have ridden no horse loves to go fast more than her. In the jump off she was on rails and she had no doubt it was her day. With horses like Caracole and Kalinka all I can do is sit back in awe at their ...
May 27, 2024•15 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s talk about how a high level program is built. You thinks all about the more you spend the better, unfortunately that assumption is wrong. A high level program is about impeccable execution using basic products and in this video I’ll show you what I mean. Do not over think, be consistent and repeatable and your horses will flourish.
May 21, 2024•10 min
Walking & Talking - Colic is a scary and potentially life-threatening issue for horses. But it doesn't have to be a constant worry! In this video, I share the steps we took at our barn to significantly reduce colic cases. Learn how we created a healthier environment for our horses and gained peace of mind. #colic #horsecolic #horse #equestrian...
May 14, 2024•2 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! Let’s talk transportation. In all our years of driving ten minutes down the road to all the way across the country and across the pond we have learned a lot. As you can guess success is a series of many steps when followed bring the risk as close to zero as possible. Like anything with horses it takes a good amount of knowledge and real feel for your horses. In this video I show you how we haul and why, you might do things different for different reasons and I would love to...
May 02, 2024•8 min
Walking & Talking: Keeping your horse's hooves healthy shouldn't be left to chance! Regular trims prevent cracks, chips, and uneven wear, ensuring proper posture and movement. Daily hoof checks and cleaning remove dirt, debris, and moisture that can lead to infections like thrush. Dietary adjustments, in consultation with your vet, can promote strong hoof growth. Be on the lookout for signs of trouble like lameness, heat, swelling, discoloration, or excessive cracking. Prioritizing hoof care...
Apr 16, 2024•4 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!!! Oh baby Kalinka let’s goo!! What an amazing way to cap off the season her in Wellington. You’re my guardian angel Dinky and I love you so much! Thank you to the whole Pomponio team on an amazing night, let’s get home now, wooo!! @chromehorsetequila
Mar 31, 2024•9 min
WALKING & TALKING - Let’s talk about #saddlesoap and how you can use it to bring your #leather back to life! #saddle soap is a gentle yet effective cleaner that removes dirt, grime, and sweat from all your leather goods. It also helps condition the leather, keeping it supple and preventing cracks.
Mar 26, 2024•4 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! Most conversations about #horsemanship are about big flashy and exciting aspects of #horsecare . In truth great #horse care is all about dedication to the tiniest details every single day as well as finding simplest ways to keep everything running smooth. With that in mind let’s talk about the lowly #feed bucket? It occupies barely a blip in most people’s mind but wow are they critically important to get right.
Mar 21, 2024•2 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s talk about how the #FEI could work with riders, trainers and managers to regulate and control the over showing of #horses. I present an objective numbers based system modeled after the points system used to calculate riders world rank. It is simple and would help adjust the conversation to be much more constructive.
Mar 13, 2024•10 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! After the @horsebytes barefoot podcast there were some misunderstandings some people had. Let me try to explain as this is such an important topic. #equestrian #showjumper #barefoothorse
Feb 24, 2024•13 min
In the world of show jumping, every detail matters! That includes keeping your equine athlete's hooves in top condition. Hoof oil isn't just for shine, it's a vital part of their well-being. Think of it like lotion for your nails. Hoof oil helps maintain moisture balance, preventing dryness and cracks that can lead to discomfort and even lameness. But hoof oil does more than hydrate! Some formulas contain natural ingredients like lanolin and beeswax to nourish the hoof wall, promoting strength a...
Feb 07, 2024•2 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s talk USET talent search. Properly executed they have an absolutely essential #missionstatement . Unfortunately comparing what the judging rewards to their mission statement you see and incredible chasm. We absolutely need an amazing young rider pipeline but I argue we need to focus way more on all the other skills a professional needs and focus last of all on #riding .
Feb 01, 2024•8 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Let’s answer some great #bit questions. After the bits series we got some great questions so let’s answer them as best I can. Thank you all for such great questions.
Jan 24, 2024•19 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! FEI part 2!! If you liked part one, let’s keep going on part two. Let’s be clear here, we need the FEI but we also need them to be present and understanding so we can keep pushing horse sports to be as amazing as they can be.
Jan 13, 2024•10 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Alright y’all let’s talk about our international governing body the #fei part one. We need an effective governing body but not all of their attempts to regulate our sport make sense so let’s talk about some rules they should pass and why simple and objective to enforce rules are superior to big, nebulous, and subjective rules. #feijumping #showjumping #equestrian...
Jan 11, 2024•14 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! Let’s talk about the #panamericangames , it would be wrong to start this year without talking about the games last year. If you think you know what I’m going to say I promise you don’t. I know there will be some strong feelings so please listen to all I have to say first before commenting and always take my words in the context they were said in. I am far from a perfect person, it is my life’s work to get as close to that as possible....
Jan 04, 2024•13 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! 2023 year end wrap up, let’s go!!! It’s been one hell of a year with a lot of great milestones and some tough setbacks I needed to have to learn from. Pomponio is the best team out there, thank you so much everyone I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store!
Dec 29, 2023•12 min
Walking & Talking!! Is flatwork really all that important? I know the majority of people will have a gut reaction of ‘duh, are you stupid!’ Such a blanket assumption needs far more color so let’s dive in. I don’t really apologize ahead of time if this video forces a lot of self reflection about how you approach your relationship with your #horse . It's not just about the jumps, it's about the journey in between. #ShowJumping #FlatworkMatters #EquestrianJourney #StrideByStride #EquestrianTrai...
Dec 20, 2023•14 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! #bits seem to get all the limelight when talking about #rideability , a close second is your seat and hands. I feel it is critically important #reins get their time in the sun. They are what connect your hands to the bit and changing your reins can drastically change your feel. Every detail always matters....
Dec 16, 2023•10 min
GRAND PRIX ROUND REVIEW! 🏆🐎 What a journey, and what an incredible event! A massive shoutout to my amazing Kalinka for being an absolute rockstar in every way! Immense gratitude to Major League Show Jumping for organizing this top-notch competition. The Coachella Cup Grand Prix was nothing short of spectacular, and I'm beyond honored to come out on top! Thank you to my incredible team at @pomponioranch , from trainers, grooms, vets, farriers and more for their dedication and hard work. This vi...
Dec 04, 2023•9 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Holy moly #bit video #4 - Let’s fit and talk about some more common #bits. When I started this series I thought four videos would be enough, wow I was wrong. We are definitely doing another, there have been so many great comments and questions I did not address. Keep them coming if you want me to address them in my next video.
Nov 22, 2023•18 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! Bits series part three! Ok let’s go into the barn and fit some #bits and discuss how to fit them and how adjustments affect the use. Fitting bits is easy, making sure it is set correctly day in and day out takes attention to detail but is required for a chance at a good ride. If there are enough comments and things well do a follow up
Nov 13, 2023•20 min
Walking and Talking!! Why the ‘F*CK OFF?’ You all want to know what the significance is so here you go.
Oct 21, 2023•3 min
WALKING AND TALKING!! Bits series part two. Now that we’re all on the same page let’s talk about the various #bit varieties, what they look like, what they do, and how to leverage their strengths. If nothing else it is critical to understand the differences between the two different types of #bits. It’s always better to KNOW what you can do with a couple bits than to MISUNDERSTAND the enormous variety of bits out there. Simple is always better....
Oct 06, 2023•12 min
Walking and Talking!! BITS BITS BITS!! #bits are one of the most misunderstood pieces of equipment in #riding . Like we did for turning we’re taking a deep dive over four parts so buckle up. Now I know a lot of you have some very strong opinions on this topic so take some deep breathes if I say something contradictory to your assumptions.
Sep 29, 2023•11 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Gold Cup round review! Miss Caracole is truly unbelievable in every way. The confidence she has in herself is staggering and inspiring. I have been doing a lot of homework and learning a lot about how to ride her better so let’s review and analyze together! @pomponioranch @americangoldcup @traversecityhorseshows @majorleagueshowjumping
Sep 20, 2023•14 min
WALKING AND TALKING!!! Round review! Let’s talk about Kalinka in the five star a few weeks back. She was spectacular in every way. Not maybe the normal way to approach a #jumpoff but it’s important nonetheless I think. Thank you everyone at Team @pomponioranch , this is all thanks you you guys. @laphroaig
Sep 14, 2023•12 min
Walking and Talking!! #coursebuilding part two! Course building does not always go well so let’s talk about what signs to look out for in a poorly built course and a bad course builder. PLEASE don’t try and name builders in the comments and let’s have a healthy conversation for the improvement of our sport.
Aug 31, 2023•11 min
Walking and Talking!!! Course building for equestrian #showjumping events part one! The importance and art of the course builder at #equestrian #showjumpingevents . You might not think too much about the builder when you’re showing but they are critical so let’s talk about it. The relationship of the course builder and the exhibitor is not an antagonistic one but a deeply integrated one where each needs the other.
Aug 23, 2023•11 min
