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With the passing of Robert Redford, we’d like to share his lifelong love of horses. Robert Redford learned to ride a horse well enough to do his own stunts for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and later The Electric Horseman after Butch Cassidy was released. He developed a lifelong love of horses starting with a pony ride as a child, and his skill progressed as his career demanded more advanced riding abilities.
Redford's love for horses began at a young age, with his first experience being on a pony ride at ages five or six, which he described as "instant love".
Robert Redford starred in movies that featured horses, most notably The Horse Whisperer (1998), where he plays a horse trainer. He also starred in The Electric Horseman (1979) as a rodeo star who steals a racehorse. Even before these, he developed comfort on horseback while filming Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Here are the specific films:
While Robert Redford has not publicly stated a preference for a specific breed in his films, he did form a deep bond with a Thoroughbred named Let's Merge during the filming of The Electric Horseman.
Robert Redford was a staunch supporter and friend of the wild horse sanctuary Return to Freedom, advocating for their conservation and protection from slaughter and advocating for humane management practices. He was also an executive producer of the documentary The Mustangs: America's Wild Horses and a co-founder of the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife, which opposed horse slaughterhouses.
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by Kristin Pitzer
Whether you’re a young horseman coming up through school or a seasoned veteran of the workforce looking to change careers, it’s never too early — or too late – to consider a job in the equine industry. If horses and the Western way of life are your passions, a career that allows you to promote them to others just like you can be very fulfilling.
“I think people should consider careers in the equine industry because for many people, horses are their passion, and we tend to be the happiest when we’re working for, toward, and within the elements we’re most passionate about,” said Jessie Jarvis, founder and CEO at Of The West, the job platform for the agriculture and Western industries. “For many young adults, owning their own horse isn’t always feasible, and [a job in the industry] allows them to still be involved in some way. For those who are more established and possibly looking for a career change, the equine industry is a great sector to consider because nothing is more rewarding than knowing your daily efforts are working toward building a stronger, more robust equine industry.”
Quarter Horse News put together some information on different careers in the industry to help you know where to begin.
There are two main options for careers in the horse industry: those that work directly with horses, and those that support the industry but don’t involve a person getting their hands on a horse every day. Jobs working with horses can be very rewarding and enjoyable, but they are also usually physically difficult, time-consuming and, without boundaries, can blur the line between work and play. For those willing to work hard, these jobs can lead to fulfilling careers.
“The equine industry is growing at a rate like never before, and due to that, the need for equine professionals is only going to increase as time goes on,” Jarvis said. “In addition to that growing number, I think we are also going to see an increase in the number of education pathways and trade programs focused on equine industry careers, allowing the sector to continue to grow and meet that future demand for equine industry jobs.”
As long as horses can become sick or injured, there will be a need for equine veterinarians. People who become veterinarians tend to have good communication skills and are likely science- and math-minded. A love for animals is certainly necessary, but keep in mind you’ll be working with people just as much as horses. Compassion is a key element, as you’ll likely have to help owners face difficult situations and hard decisions.
To become a veterinarian requires extensive education: four-and-a-half years of undergraduate education, followed by four years of veterinary school, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. All of that schooling isn’t cheap — the average cost of veterinary school in the U.S. is $200,000 — so many young veterinarians go into the workforce with lots of student loan debt in tow. There is, however, a shortage of equine veterinarians around the country, so if it’s a career path you’re interested in, you’ll certainly find a demand for it.
If patience and an ability to think outside the box are traits you possess and you have good business sense, people skills and riding abilities, you might think about becoming a horse trainer. There’s no doubt it takes a lot of work to become a successful trainer — many riders don’t realize how many hours their coaches put in every day. If you work hard and find your niche in the industry, though, you might find yourself eventually working with the industry’s nicest horses, most well-known owners and other top-level trainers.
You don’t need a degree to become a trainer — many would argue that apprenticeships under other trainers provide the best education — but some colleges offer equine science programs, while others have certificate programs in horse starting and horsemanship. It doesn’t hurt to take business classes, either, and having a degree to fall back on should you change your mind is never a bad thing.
Another job that gets lots of hands-on experience with horses is that of the farrier. Farriers are specialists that trim, balance and shoe horses’ feet. Being a farrier is physically demanding — most of your day is spent bent over while holding a horse’s foot up, after all — and without proper equipment, it can be hard on your body. Once you get established in a location, though, you can often pick and choose the hours, days and clients you want to work with.
Apprenticeships with veteran farriers are a great way to learn, and as your business grows, there are programs through organizations like the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) that will test you on your ability to perform the work to a prescribed standard. The AFA offers several levels of certification, from Certified Farrier, to Certified Tradesman Farrier, to Certified Journeyman Farrier. Some farriers go beyond even that and become specialists for certain breeds, activities and disciplines. Since most farriers are self-employed, business classes can be useful.
If you are interested in a career in the industry but don’t necessarily have to be around horses every day, there are many different options to look into. While these jobs don’t involve riding or caring for horses, they often allow you to talk about horses — or something related to horses — every day, scratching the horse bug itch.
“While there isn’t any kind of study I can quote numbers from, I can confidently say that the majority of careers in the equine industry do not work directly with horses,” Jarvis said.
“All of the products, businesses and organizations that keep our industry going are centered around the horse; however, that doesn’t mean they physically touch a horse on a daily basis. But that doesn’t mean their work is ‘less than’ others who do work directly with horses because without those feed companies, tack companies, publications, events or member organizations, there’s no denying that our industry would cease to exist. It takes every single job in the equine industry to keep it moving forward.”
Can you craft compelling stories, communicate results efficiently and hunt down news leads? If so, you might consider a career as an equine journalist. These writers and editors communicate industry news and document horse, rider, owner, trainer and breeder achievements. Without them, the Western performance horse industry archive would remain blank.
To become a journalist, you will need a bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism or a related agriculture degree. Having a good command of the English language, sentence structure, grammar and punctuation rules is critical, as are strong computer skills. Photography and basic videography skills are a plus, and in this day and age, knowledge of social media platforms is essential. And of course, to be successful in the equine industry, you must have a good understanding of horse anatomy, horsemanship and the disciplines you are covering.
Those with an interest in both event management and horses might consider a career in show management. These people keep the horse show world running by hosting the industry’s events, from the top futurities to the smallest local weekend shows. If you are organized, enjoy problem solving, have a mind for budgets and can dedicate the time that is needed, show management might be for you. A bachelor’s degree in agriculture business, public relations, communication or even hotel and restaurant management can be useful for those seeking to become show managers. Internships at different equine sport governing bodies can help you network with people in the field and learn the rules of the organizations, and some, like the American Quarter Horse Association, offer show management workshops with online certifications. Experience managing people can be a boon, as show managers typically work with a plethora of assistants, from full time help to volunteers.
This article originally appeared on Quarter Horse News and is published here with permission.
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Horses don’t just munch on grass and call it a day.
They’ll wander a bit first, sniffle stuff around, nibble a little, and sometimes latch onto the same little patch like it’s the most delicious thing they’ve ever tasted. One horse might be really into clover, the other will hunt down every last dandelion – some horses even like mint or wild herbs. A pasture is to a horse what a buffet is to you.
But, as tasty as some buffets can be, they aren’t exactly healthy. Well, some are. But not all of them. This has much to do with the fact that some snacks are full of ‘the good stuff’, while some are just packed with nasties.
So this article is for you, the owner, so that you can see (and pay close attention) to the difference between which food is safe, and which isn’t.
As humans, horses are picky eaters. They won’t just eat any old grass that’s in front of them. Sure, they will if they HAVE TO. But only so in order to survive. You can be sure they won’t be happy about it. Not one bit.
In order to create healthy (and tasty) snacks, you need to put in the ‘good stuff’ into them (e.g., clover, dandelions, plantains, chamomile, mint, etc.).
This variety is very good for horses because it keeps their digestive system active the way nature intended. If the snack is tasty and healthy, then the horse is happy. This means less stress.
As far as nutritional values, these types of natural snacks are different from carrots, apples, and packaged treats you might usually give them. Pasture snacks have subtle amounts of vitamins and minerals, but because they graze, horses get them in steady amounts.
Hand-fed treats, on the other hand, are sweeter, and they’re given in bursts. Both are good and both deserve to have their place, but their roles aren’t the same.
This is why you’ll see a lot of horse owners browsing horse stalls for sale online to look and ask for features that make feeding routines easier to manage (e.g., safe hay racks, well-placed feed doors, etc.).
Not every plant on the pasture is safe for your horse, so let’s see what’s okay, what’s risky, and what to be especially careful with.
There’s a good number of plants horses can safely eat while they’re grazing. Clover is one of the most common ones, and it’s very beneficial because it’s full of protein, which supports muscles and overall condition. Dandelions are another excellent choice, although many people see them as nothing more than weeds.
They’re packed with vitamins A and C, as well as minerals like calcium and potassium (great for bones and healthy teeth). Horses find them delicious, and they’re surprisingly healthy.
Wild herbs like plantain and chamomile have small digestive or even calming benefits. Mint is another herb that’s pretty popular with horses, but it’s not a big source of nutrition. Still, it’s safe and refreshing.
Even safe snacks can become risky if they’re eaten in excess, so make sure your horse always snacks in moderation.
Clover – safe in moderate amounts – is dangerous if a horse eats too much. It can cause slobbers, which is a condition caused by a fungus that (sometimes) grows on clover.
Lush spring grass is risky from the start because it contains a lot of sugar, which can trigger laminitis in sensitive horses.
Buttercups are another risk, although a lot of horses avoid them because they’re bitter. They’re actually mildly toxic if they’re eaten fresh, and they can irritate the digestive system.
Acorns are a seasonal risk in areas with oak trees. Some horses ignore them, but others will eat enough of them and cause serious poisoning. Horses are naturally curious, but this curiosity sometimes endangers their health.
Weeds and wild plants should never be a part of a horse’s diet.
Ragwort, horsetail, bracken fern, and yew are examples of toxic plants. Horses usually avoid them if they have plenty of good forage to eat, but if grazing is limited, they might start nibbling on something toxic simply because they’re bored.
Hunger, of course, would be the other reason.
Even small amounts of these plants can cause serious and long-term damage, so make sure to walk past pastures regularly and remove anything that might be dangerous.
Horses don’t care about nutrition labels and feed charts. As picky as they are, they would sometimes wander into a junk food aisle (if you’d let them) and make themselves sick. Think of them like big children. Would you leave it up to them to pick what they want?
Sure, in nature, they’d have no trouble eating what nature has intended them to eat. But here, in civilization, they’re constantly surrounded by a lot of different options – some of which aren’t that great for them, with some even being outright dangerous.
Remember that it’s up to you to prevent this, and every acorn they eat IS ON YOU. Every digestive problem a wild plant causes is also on you.
Do you research and inspect the pastures regularly to keep your horse(s) safe and happy.
There are more interesting articles in our section on Health & Education.
Dr. Bob Coleman will demonstrate on how to identify and correct safety issues in the English and Western bridles. This is a educational and safety video brought to you by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA.horse. To find a certified equine professional or accredited equine facility near you, visit CHA
Watch full screen Safety Ideas Related To Tack & Equipment with Dr. Bob Coleman (12:47)
Brought to you by With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard
When most riders picture a gymnastic line, they think of building height as they go. Start small, get the horse organized, and finish with the biggest effort. At Balmoral, however, Carleton and Traci Brooks often flip this expectation. Instead of finishing on a high oxer, they sometimes end with the smallest jump in the line. Why? Because not every horse benefits from ending on a higher jump.
Traditional gymnastics are designed to build confidence, strength, and technique. A classic line might begin with a crossrail, then an oxer, then a vertical that gradually gets taller. By the end, the horse is meant to feel successful at a greater height and effort.
But what about the horse that builds too much? The hot one who gets quick through the line, or the green horse who begins to worry? For these horses, finishing big can create anxiety instead of confidence. That’s where descending gymnastics, ending with the lowest fence, come in.
Descending gymnastics are particularly useful for:
A typical descending gymnastic might start with a crossrail, build to a small vertical or oxer in the middle, and then drop back down to a crossrail at the end. The line still serves its purpose, teaching straightness, encouraging bascule, and keeping the rider focused, but the finish is soft.
This kind of exercise tells the horse: you don’t need to escalate every time. It conditions them to stay rideable and quiet, rather than anticipating a big finish.
Descending gymnastics aren’t just for the horse’s benefit. They also teach riders valuable lessons:
It’s easy to assume progress means raising fences higher and higher. But Balmoral’s philosophy reminds us that not all horses, or riders, thrive under that model. Sometimes, progress looks like stepping down, using thoughtful exercises to teach relaxation instead of escalation.
A horse that’s trained with descending gymnastics often shows a noticeable difference in the ring. Instead of charging the last element of a combination, they stay soft through the finish. Instead of expecting every question to get harder, they stay open to listening. That difference can be the margin between a rushed, tense round and a polished, winning trip.
Not every gymnastic needs to build to a grand finale. By finishing small, riders can teach their horses to stay calm, confident, and consistent. And in the long run, that foundation of rideability will carry far more value than one big jump at the end of a line.
Want to take your riding and horsemanship to the next level? With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard distills decades of wisdom from Carleton and Traci Brooks into practical, thoughtful lessons you can apply every day at home, in the schooling ring, and in the show ring. From training philosophies to mental game strategies, the book offers riders of every level a blueprint for success built on empathy, structure, and purpose.
With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard is available on Kindle and Audible.
This article originally appeared in The Plaid Horse Magazine and is published here with permission.
There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.
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