Colorado Corral

Featured Author

Heather McWilliams

Biography

Heather is a lifelong horse enthusiast and Evergreen native. She writes the Colorado Corral column to connect the local horse community. Whether you have horses or just think they are amazing animals, this column is for you. Reach out if you have a horse-related idea for an article! Contact Heather at heather@themcwilliamsgroup.net.

ARTICLES

What’s in a Name?

Horse names are a fascinating topic to dive into, and there is a lot of fun to be had this time of year as you might be brainstorming a name for that impending foal. There is the registered name, the barn name or nickname, and sometimes, if the owner didn’t prefer the...

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4-H: Still Helping Grow Well-Rounded Kids

Practice Ride at McKeever Arena in Conifer. In our mountain community, sports are often the go-to for school age kids’ extracurricular activities. Although, 4-H continues to offer another option to learn leadership, citizenship and life skills. Six and a half million...

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Celebrate Your Wins!

As we wrap up 2023, it’s time to celebrate our wins with our equine partners, no matter the size! Sometimes wins are doing well at Championships; sometimes a win might be walking 10 minutes on a horse coming back from an injury. Enjoy the photos, no matter the...

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Grateful for Horses

Grateful for Galloping! “Horses have been my greatest teachers... ” Every day, there is so much to be thankful for in so many ways. As horse folk, we know it is a privilege to share the space we do with them, and it is not easy to find the places, the time and the...

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DiscoverTheHorse, Five Years In!

In the October 2018 issue, we started on a journey to “Discover The Horse” with local equestrian Alyssa Mathews. We had a chance to catch up with Alyssa exactly five years later and find out about where her journey has taken her. Enjoy! What is DiscoverTheHorse? It is...

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Help for a Horse-Crazy Kid

Let them grow up with horses and with good horse people, because it will teach them to be humble, and to be resilient, and to be brave.  —Lauren Sprieser Every so often, I get a call from a parent looking for help for their horse-crazy kid. If one or both of the...

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How Important is Saddle Fit?

I don’t know about the rest of you, but saddle fit did not really come upon my radar until the last five years or so. I had an old English saddle that one of my friends in college gave me out of the trunk of her car 30 years ago, a western saddle that was comfortable...

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“The Horse Is Never Wrong”

“The Horse Is Never Wrong” —Tom Dorrance Or another way to say that is that it is never the horse’s fault. In reference to riding, Buck Brannaman said, “There are no problem horses, only problem riders.” What does all of this really mean? Are we doing something wrong?...

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Genetics Are Not Just for Breeders Anymore! 

What might genetics teach you about your horse? Equine genetics has come a long way since I studied Equine Reproduction at Colorado State University 30+ years ago! In previous years, you would send a hair sample to a university at the recommendation of your...

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2023 Summer Horse Calendar

Time to knock the dust off and try something new or just make your plans for the summer! Here are a lot of fun and supportive opportunities in our area to check out. Some of them require signing up ahead of time, others you can show up on the day to register. Choose...

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A Read for All Trail (and Road) Users

“Not all bikers and hikers encountered are aware of our vulnerability.” **Next month will be our summer calendar! Email heather@themcwilliamsgroup.net with any horse events you would like added to the list!** Yet, if one leaves the main towns and thoroughfares and...

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To Ride or Not to Ride…

In partnership with a horse, one is seldom lacking for thought, emotion or inspiration. —Charles de Kunffy Who says you have to ride? So often we think that the time with our horse has to be spent riding. The truth is, there are endless ways to spend time with your...

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