The closing of The Horse People marks the end of an era

Living near Spruce Meadows, with a mother who competes in the jumper ring and Linda Southern-Heathcott as her aunt, it may have been in the stars for Keltey Heathcott to take up the reins.

François fondly remembers one of his first mounts being a feisty pony named Squiddly, who spent a lot of time on his hind legs “waving them like an octopus.”

Gone are the days of the unreliable, ugly, sagging bare wire running around the perimeter of your pasture and in come the electric fencing options.

Dreamscape Farm in Langley, BC, is owned and managed by Armin and Jennifer Arnoldt. It is the home of over a dozen licensed Westfalian, Oldenburg, Hanoverian and Dutch Warmblood stallions, including Freestyle, Farscape DSF and Banderas. Visit their website at www.dreamscapefarm.com.

Backing up is really not a 'natural' movement for horses. When at liberty, they are more likely to pivot and go than back up, if they can avoid it.

Introducing youngsters to tack should just be part of the natural progression of training. Properly prepared, a two-year-old should take the experience in stride. Armin Arnoldt of Dreamscape Farm describes the early steps which should be accomplished long before a rider sets foot in the stirrup.

Some horses are reluctant to drink water while they’re away from their home barn. This can cause a multitude of problems.

The road to success in the horse business is paved with victory, defeat, and surprises - not all of them pleasant. Just ask Christopher Delia of St. Catharines, ON.

Armin Arnoldt suggests ways to overcome spookiness and replace it with calm curiosity.