The Extra Mile Club (2025)

12/09/2024

Finals season has begun, and the start of Indoors is fast approaching. Nearly everyday for the next nine weeks, you can watch some of the country’s best horses and riders compete on a huge stage. There is so so so much to learn from watching! Even if attending these shows, competing in these classes, or jumping these heights are never on your list of personal goals, even if you're twice the age of the juniors competing in the classes, you can develop as an equestrian by sitting down and watching some trips.

I implore all riders to make time to watch a few classes from each show. Use it as a learning exercise!

🌟 Most of these classes use open scoring. Watch the rounds and try to come up with your own score, then compare it to the actual score of the round. Developing an eye for what the judges are looking for, paying attention to the details, and thinking like a judge is a great learning experience for riders of all levels.

🌟 Pay attention to which riders have “ring presence”. What are they doing that makes you really sit up straight in your chair and root for them? What about the riders that look timid or nervous, what are they doing that gives you that impression? How does the rider’s perceived confidence affect the round and the score?

🌟 Notice the track the riders take on the way to their first jumps. It’s not always just a circle! Think about why the rider takes the approach they do and how it might benefit their horse. Also notice how riders navigate the flat classes to best show off their horses. Most of these rings are very small, and the riders do a wonderful job getting seen without getting in the way.

🌟 Practice counting strides! In bending lines, there will sometimes be an option. Watch how riders change their track to change the number of strides they do. This will also help you develop an eye for the distance, and you can make note that although not all the distances will be perfect, a balanced horse and rider can cover up distances that may not be ideal.

🌟 Notice the turnout. I promise you won’t see dirty boots and messy clothes at these shows! Pay attention to how beautiful turnout of horse and rider completes the whole picture and get some inspiration to up your turnout game.

🌟 Make note of what tack horses are wearing for certain classes. Some equitation classes are hunter seat classes, where you’ll see standing martingales. Others are jumper seat classes, where running martingales will be more appropriate.

🌟 Think about the rider’s position and their strengths or weaknesses. What weaknesses are distracting, and how do they affect the horse’s ability to do his job? How can you emulate the riders who look most poised, confident, secure, and balanced?

🌟 Notice the difference between hunter, equitation, and jumper horses, riders, tack, courses, and styles. How might a rider's position in the hunter divisions differ from in the equitation? Why might that be? What makes the top hunters different from the winning equitation horses?

🌟 How can you see the sophistication of the riders develop through the different height classes and age groups? The THIS Children's Medal riders are probably not quite as sophisticated at the riders in the Maclay Finals. You might also notice that the older riders closer to aging out are usually more composed than the younger riders in their first or second season of doing the finals. Find inspiration in how they continue to learn, develop, and grow from year to year.

🌟 Listen to the commentary! Most of the finals will have commentators, usually riders who have competed in and won the classes in the past, as well as judges. You can learn SO much just from listening to their feedback and notes on the rounds.

I really hope more riders take some time away from Netflix or scrolling Instagram this finals season to really improve themselves as competitors and horsemen! This is my favorite time of year to watch, learn, and get inspired. Here's a list I've compiled of some shows I know will be live streamed this fall. Just google each show to find the schedule and where you can watch!

September 11-15: The League National Finals
September 26-October 6: Capital Challenge Horse Show
featuring USHJA Jumping Seat Finals, North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships, North American Junior Flat Equitation Championships, THIS Children’s Medal Finals, North American Junior Equitation Championships, WCHR Finals
October 4-6: USET Talent Search Finals East
October 9-19: Pennsylvania National Horse Show
featuring USEF Dover Hunter Seat Medal Finals, USEF/NCEA Medal Finals, USEF Junior Jumper National Championships,
October 16-20: New England Equitation Championships
featuring USHJA Hunter Seat Medal Finals East, NEHC Medals Finals
October 21-27: Washington International Horse Show
featuring WIHS Equitation Finals, FEI World Cup Washington
October 22-November 3: The National Horse Show
featuring THIS Adult Equitation Championships, Hamel Equitation Championships, ASPCA Maclay Finals
November 8-10: USET Talent Search Finals West
November 11-17: Las Vegas National Horse Show
featuring WCE Medal Finals, USHJA Hunter Seat Medal Finals West, FEI World Cup Las Vegas

11/06/2024

☀️ Summer Horse Care Necessities ☀️

I’ve lived in South Carolina pretty much my whole life, and I’ve tried just about every summer horse product under the sun. These are some of my must-have items to keep horses comfortable and healthy in the summer sun! I always start with a lightweight high-UV combo neck fly sheet, ideally with a belly band, and a high-UV fly mask with ears.

☀️ Coat sunscreen! I go back and forth between Absorbine Santa Fe (shown here) and Healthy Haircare Sunflower Suncoat. Both smell amazing, but Santa Fe I think makes the coat softer as it’s predominantly a conditioner. I spray coats and Epic’s black tail to protect them from bleaching in the sun! *Keep in mind that sprays can only do so much, and protecting your horse from the sun with a high UV fly sheet and/or night turnout are the only truly effective ways to prevent bleached coats.

☀️ Pink nose sunblock! I love the KineticVet Equishield SB for protecting Epic and Luca’s soft pink noses from painful blistering sunburn. It stays on and does the job so much better than any normal sunscreen I’ve tried.

☀️ Defend against bugs! I will shout from the rooftops to use Zephyr’s Garden No Fly Zone instead of Swat!!! Anything that says not to touch it to your bare skin and wash hands immediately after coming in contact with it, does not belong on my horse’s delicate areas. No Fly Zone Salve is perfect for protecting chins, bellies, and sheaths from gnats without harming soft skin. The yellow Pyranha is the only fly spray that’s working for me this year, and it also adds a glossy sheen to your horse’s coat. *Remember when using oil-based fly sprays to cover your horse with a fly sheet while in the sun as the oil can cause sunburn.

☀️ Prevent coat damage from sweat and bathing! Sweating can wreak havoc on your horse’s coat, drying it and causing skin irritation. Meanwhile, constant rinsing and bathing can strip the coat of necessary oils. I use Purvida Grooming Spray year round to protect and nourish my horses’ coats! It conditions, soothes, and provides valuable moisture.

☀️ Care for feet in the heat! Summer is rough on horses’ hooves. From longer grass covered in dew to stomping flies, droughts to extra baths, the constant fluctuation between wet and dry can cause major damage to shod and barefoot hooves alike. Currently, I’m using Venice Turpentine to toughen Epic’s barefoot feet and block against cracks and too much moisture. Be sure to ask your farrier what they think can benefit your horse’s feet the most! Additionally, keeping fly boots on your horse can serve two valuable purposes: keeping them sane and limiting hoof damage caused by stomping.

☀️ Protect legs while cooling! I’m big on leg protection, but know how important breathability is for tendons and ligaments in the heat. These mesh LeMieux brushing boots are super breathable and I put them on last and take them off first to avoid overheating tissues while providing protection while working.

19/05/2024

Imagine you’re assigned a partner project in school. Only one of you gets to read the directions for the assignment, and then you have to explain it to your partner in a language that is secondary to both of you. You’d expect some miscommunications and misunderstandings, right?

That’s basically what’s happening while riding a horse. Whether in a lesson or a ride of your own direction, you as the rider are the only one who knows the assignment. It’s then your responsibility to relay that information to your horse, speaking through intention and cues that are a second language to both you and your horse. Your horse doesn’t understand what your trainer is saying he’s supposed to do - he’s relying on you to tell him.

Keep this in mind any time you’re riding and you feel like your horse isn’t listening, or you get frustrated with a missed distance or a sloppy transition. Remember that you’re the only member of this team who knows the assignment, and your horse is relying on you to tell him the game plan. Sometimes we make mistakes in our cues or our timing, we start thinking too many steps ahead or we forget to clue him into the next movement in time. Sometimes the horse is a little distracted, or tired, or not feeling it today. But most of the time, he’s doing his best he can with the information you’re giving him!

09/05/2024

Getting The Most Out of Group Lessons 🐴

While private lessons are great for working through specific skills or issues, well-done group lessons provide tons of opportunities for learning and growth! When you have students of similar levels, a trainer who is aware of giving attention to all riders, and riders who are focused and committed to soaking up all they can, magic can happen! Here are 3 tips to get the most of out of your group:

Pay Attention. ALWAYS
I’ll let you in on a secret: my absolute biggest pet peeve as a trainer is when students use the time they’re not actively going in a lesson to chit chat and not pay attention to the rider on course. Worse yet is when they then go off course or miss an instruction for the exercise because they weren’t listening. Distracting other riders in the group with your chatting or ignoring your trainer’s instruction is rude and disrespectful of everyone’s time. Watching other riders go through the exercise is an opportunity to learn from their mistakes or successes or what your trainer says to them to make your ride even better.

Save The Socializing for Another Time
Similarly to the last point, use the time before or after your lesson for socializing, not during it. I know that riding with friends is one of the most fun parts of group lessons and I don’t want to discourage that camaraderie! However, a lesson is not the time for chit chat. Get to the ring 10 minutes early to give your horse a good walk while you catch up, or take the long way back to the barn after the lesson for a change of scenery and time to talk.

Use Each Other as Good Pressure
Getting confident riding in front of others is another benefit of group lessons. Some friendly competition among riders can encourage students to perform their best and push themselves with the right mindset. Think of each other as good pressure to rise to the occasion and ride your best. If you’re one of the more experienced riders in the group, use that to boost yourself to show off what you’re capable of. If you’re one of the less experienced riders, get inspired to rise to the level of your group mates.

02/05/2024

Common Hoof-Related Issues (that riders often miss!)

We’ve all heard the phrase “no hoof, no horse.” One of the most educational service providers you can spend time around is your farrier - understanding the choices they make for your horse and others, learning how to help your horse’s hooves remain healthy through the seasons, and soaking up all the incredible knowledge they pick up by being underneath hundreds of different horses.
{Speaking of - a quick side note to remind horse owners that farriers have a very dangerous job. Your farrier is in a very vulnerable position, being under a horse and unable to see their expressions and body language until it’s too late. It’s your responsibly to help keep your horse calm, kind, and cooperative during their farrier appointments to keep your horse sound and your farrier safe.}

Though some hoof issues such as cracks and thrown shoes are obvious, other more subtle problems can often go unnoticed by a less educated horseman. Here are a few examples of commonly missed hoof-related problems and how to handle them!

Photo 1: Sprung Shoe
A “sprung shoe” is one that is partially pulled - likely just caught with another foot and pulled out of shape but not totally off. As you can see from this angle, this shoe is not flat as intended, but likely would have gone unnoticed by a busy rider just picking hooves since it’s not loose, missing, or otherwise out of place. Always look at your horse’s shoes from this angle while picking feet and check the tightness of shoes by giving them a wiggle (by the way, they shouldn’t wiggle at all).
If your horse springs a shoe, wrap the foot to try to even out the distribution of weight and check with your farrier to see when they can come fix it. If your horse’s shoe is sprung more drastically than this one, you may need to pull it. Ask your farrier to show you how to pull a shoe safely and what tools you need to do so. You’d be amazed by how valuable this skill is!

Photo 2: Less Obvious Thrush
Thrush is a bacterial infection in the horse’s hoof that most often affects the frog. Thrush is usually characterized by having black, oozy, bad-smelling gunk, but it can sometimes be harder to spot. This horse in the photo has thrush beginning in the crevices alongside his frog, causing the tissue to be soft and the crevices to become quite deep. Left untreated, thrush can cause lameness and damage the digital cushion. Thrush is typically caused by wet conditions, but that doesn’t just mean your horse is standing in mud. If, for example, your horse keeps a messy stall or if you’re not always the best about picking out his feet, he can develop thrush with not a drop of rain in the forecast.
If you find that your horse’s hooves are stinkier than usual, the crevices alongside their frog are deeper, or the hoof seems softer and/or more sensitive while picking, check with your farrier for what they recommend to treat the infection. This horse was treated with Koppertox for a few days and was much better! Thrush that affects the horse’s frog more directly may benefit more from a different product.

Photo 3: Thrown Shoes & Stepping On a Clip
The hoof is this photo had thrown a shoe, but not before stepping on the horseshoe’s clip. The divot the clip made in the hoof can be seen in the black circle on the left side of the photo. Stepping on a clip in the sole of the hoof can be seriously damaging. Fortunately this horse didn’t injure its sole, but the clip entering the hoof did cause a bruise and leave an opening for bacteria.
If your horse pulls a shoe, you need to keep the foot wrapped in order to provide cushion and protection, and to limit bacteria from entering nail holes and causing an abscess. If you suspect your horse stepped on a clip, soak the foot in epsom salt and treat it like an abscess in order to kill any bacteria that may have made its way in. Treating a bruise more often requires hoof packing and some time off to heal. Definitely consult your farrier for their recommendations.

Photo 4: Abscess Necessities
This photo shows the must-haves to have on hand in case of an abscess brewing! Always have diapers, vet wrap, and duct tape handy to wrap feet in case of thrown or sprung shoes. Epsom salt, magna-paste, and Animalintex are all abscess superheroes.

01/05/2024

Welcome to The Extra Mile Club!
My goal behind this page is to share horsemanship knowledge, information, and theories to encourage equestrians to improve their horsemanship skills and knowledge base, seek out information, and grow their relationships with horses. I believe that going the extra mile to develop as a passionate and well-rounded horseperson isn’t optional - it’s critical.

A Little About Me 🐴
My name is Maddy Brown and I’m a professional rider and trainer based out of South Carolina. I’ve been around horses all my life. As a kid, I rode and competed locally on my personal horses and enjoyed riding any horse that was offered to me. From show horses to trail horses to unbroke ponies, I sat on just about anything I could swing a leg over. During my middle school years, I worked off lessons by doing barn chores and spent as many hours as I was able to in the barn. I soaked up every bit of knowledge available to me and devoured books, magazines, and videos voraciously - I couldn’t get enough. Later in high school, I got the special opportunity to ride for a welsh pony breeder, learning the ins and outs of training babies, breeding, and showing. That led to some catch riding opportunities on the A circuit as well thanks to lots of hard work and always showing up.

In college, I rode for the University of South Carolina’s D1 team and learned even more about horse care, responsibility, high standards, and teamwork. I then turned professional and ran my own barn for a few years before landing at my current home as head trainer. We have a very busy lesson and show program, with a very strong emphasis on building not just riders but true horsemen. Horsemanship, consideration for the horse, and responsibility are cornerstones of the entire thing!

I hope that this page will help grow your horsemanship skills and knowledge base, inspire you to learn more and work harder, and encourage you to go the Extra Mile. ❤️

The Extra Mile Club

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