Wearing a helmet saved my life!
Some days are just another day at the barn. Some days and experiences can change your life. Here is my story, and the reason I’ll never rid…
SmartPaker Stories & Adventures
Moving up – How I knew we were ready
In every equestrian sport there are various levels of competition, and a goal for many riders is moving up to the next level. In Eventing,…
Thanks, Mom! Love, SmartPak
Mom has been our chauffeur, our #1 cheerleader, our groom, our mentor, our bank teller, and, most of all, our best friend. So this Mother’s…
Getting a horse back in shape for spring
Now that the snow and ice have melted, it’s time to think about getting the horses fit for the upcoming show season. Here in New England,…
A Horse For Christmas
As any horse-crazy child can attest, the greatest Christmas gift one could ever receive is an equine friend. In this blog, several SmartPak…
Horsey Halloween Costumes
Halloween is fast approaching (seriously, where has the year gone?!) and I don’t know about you, but I still don’t have my costume figured…
Becoming an Equine Sports Massage Therapist
As I entered my senior year at Cazenovia College, I was presented with many opportunities to research and discover my true passion – altern…
Finding Her Oasis: One rider’s journey from short stirrup kid to A-circuit trainer
As a hunter/jumper rider, SmartPaker Susan has admired Kristy (McCormack) Herrera’s approach to training horses and their riders. As Direct…
Finding the perfect horseback riding vacation for you
For most people when they think of summer, they think of vacation. However, for most of us riders (at least if you’re anything like me),…
Now and then: A lifetime with our horses
Have you and your horse been together for what seems like forever? We asked the SmartPakers how long they have been with their horse(s) and…
De-stress Yourself for a Calm Horse
Your horse instantly picks up on your attitude and his behavior probably reflects it. Here are seven ways you can de-stress before and duri…
Making the Cover: Behind the Scenes with SmartPak
Our photo shoots remind me a lot of horse show days. Early mornings, long days, tight schedules, plenty of surprises, and an absolute labor…
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We Asked, You Answered: Spring Conditioning
SmartPak asked 'what's the best way to bring a horse back into riding after winter'. Here's what our community had to say!
We Asked, You Answered: Winter Must-Haves
SmartPak asked what your must-haves are at the barn in the winter, here's what you had to say!
Pony-Approved Charcuterie
One of my favorite trends is fancy charcuterie boards. However, sunny days and summertime finds me spending lots of hours at the barn over…
SmartPak Equine Valentines
Chestnuts are red, ribbons are blue, Happy Valentine’s Dayfrom SmartPak to you! From all of us here at SmartPak, we’re wishing you a Happy…
Sweat With SmartPak – Episode Three
Welcome back to SmartPak’s Equestrian Exercise mini-series, where SmartPakers Caitlin and Tori demonstrate helpful tips and tricks on worko…
