We all can use a little equine therapy now and then: going out on a relaxing trail ride, forgetting your worries, or talking through a personal therapy session with your horse as the silent counselor. Just breathing in the aroma of our equine friends can help settle anxiety and concerns.

He makes certain that horse is well prepared before they go to the jumps. As he educates the rider, the horse discovers the difference between speed and impulsion. He also believes in adding variety to your routine; it helps to break up the monotony. “I never get bored with horses; you never know who is going to show up to the dance. 

Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN.  The East Coast Reined Cow Horse Classic drew over 100 horses to the venue. Competitors vied for prize money, buckles, saddles, and points that go towards the NRCHA World Show.  Participants also gained points toward the AQHA World Show.  Riders came from Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, Florida, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio and West Virginia.

A cutting horse is an athlete in motion.  In Cutting a rider enters a herd of cattle, picks out a cow, and keeps her separate from the herd.  The challenge comes from the cow’s desire to be back in the safety of the herd.  A well trained cutting horse will have “cow sense,” so it can turn sharply and stop quickly to keep the cow from returning to the herd. 

“Remember Our Troops” was the theme of the Memorial Day weekend Volunteer Ranch Horse Association (VRHA) show, held May 23-24 at the Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. There was a lot of excitement with over 500 entries, approximately 125 horses, and nine states represented.  Competitors from Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama and Missouri attended this show.

The 66^th Annual Franklin Rodeo galloped into town and slid to a stop at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park, May 14-16, 2015.  This Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) ranked rodeo brought in cowboys and cowgirls from all over the United States – some from Tennessee, many others from Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia and Pennsylvania. 

The West Tennessee Quarter Horse Association 2015 show season got off to a successful start at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum (TMC) in Murfreesboro, TN April 10-12. Judges Tonya Green, Brad Kearns, Steve Meadows, Jennifer Leckey, Leonard Berryhill, Will Knabenshue had plenty of fine horses to evaluate, with over 200 entries.

The beautiful show grounds of Brownland Farm, Franklin, TN, hosted the hunter/jumper Fall Shows I & II, September 2 – 6 and September 9 – 13, 2015. These shows have been held annually for 25 years. Fall I Course Designer and Technical Coordinator for both shows, Tim Hott from Cumming, Iowa, loves this facility and coming to the middle Tennessee area.

 Riders had great weather and excellent conditions to ride the hills and rolling terrain around the Steeplechase grounds. With 160 horses competing, Dressage and Cross Country ran on Saturday, with Stadium on Sunday.  There were three Dressage arenas going at the same time.  Then riders had a break before their Cross Country runs.

It was another sold out event as Brownland Farms hosted two full weeks of Hunter/Jumper excitement in Franklin, Tennessee. The Brownland Farms Autumn Country and Autumn Classic shows, October 14-18 & 21-25, had close to 500 horses on the grounds, classes from Tuesday through Sunday each week, every arena was buzzing with competition or warm ups.

This year marked Stones River Pony Club’s 30^th anniversary, based in Murfreesboro, TN since 1986. Most of the members of Stones River Pony Club are from Murfreesboro and surrounding areas, where most members take riding lessons at local barns. Stones River Pony Club District Commissioner, Kellye Boylan, said that USPC may soon be offering memberships to adults.

The Volunteer Ranch Horse Association (VolRHA) closed out their 2015 show season November 6-7, 2015 at the Miller Coliseum, in Murfreesboro, TN. Competitors came in from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi, making this their largest show with over 500 competitors each day.

The Jaeckle Centre in Thompson’s Station, Tenn. hosted its annual Fall Classic Horse Show, November 18-20, 2016. This year, the 2016 Middle Tennessee Hunter Jumper Association (MTHJA) MedalFinalswere held in conjunction with the Fall Classic Horse Show.

“Stay on something until he gets it,” the gentle voice carries across the arena at Clearview Horse Farms in Shelbyville, Tenn., the weekend of October 13-16, 2016. Buck Brannaman rode his horse along with the attendees while he demonstrated and taught his methods. Around the outside of the arena were eager horsemen and women seeking a better way to communicate with their horse. 

Saturday April 2, 2016 was a historic day in Franklin, Tennessee. It was the day that horses returned to W.W. Harlin’s horse farm, Harlinsdale, with its lush pastures and the barn that housed famous Tennessee Walking Horses from the 1940s until the end of the 20th century.

Sitting tall in the saddle on a student’s horse, ‘Molly,’ a golden Palomino, a gentle voice rings out, “Can everyone gather around here, and let’s go over some things before we break for lunch. I want to emphasize that if a horse is not right for you, if it is not safe for you, it is not your responsibility to care for it for the rest of its life. We can love these animals, but they cannot return the affection the same way.

The Central Tennessee Dressage Association (CTDA) held their annual Ole South Dressage Prelude and Classic shows August 21-23, 2015 at the Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The shows welcomed 85 competitors coming from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Kentucky to participate and gain points in a USDF and USEF recognized show.

Murfreesboro, Tenn., hosted the American Vaulting Association National Championships August 5 – 7, 2016. It had been 18 years since the AVA had hosted a National in Tenn.  150 vaulters, 50 horses, their coaches and lungers from California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington filled the arenas with a lively competitive spirit.

**There is an editorial error – I wrote this article**

PTSD is the unseen enemy that follows all too many of our soldiers home from war.  Every 65 minutes an active service member’s or a veteran’s life is ended by suicide due to PTSD.  Military families are at great risk.  The Equine Assisted Healing Program at Hillenglade offers our service members, veterans, and their families (free of charge) the opportunity to renew hearts, restore relationships, and rebuild lives.  Our service men and women deserve no less for all of their sacrifices for our country.

Lebanon, Tenn., June 25, 2016 – Competitors from 43 states, plus providences of Canada and Australia made their way to Lebanon, Tenn., for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo, July 19-25, 2016.  With a total of 1,049 contestants, 1,781 runs on stock and 46 total teams, the heat did not slow the young contestants ranging from 6th to 8th grade.