“As a nurse, I see this all the time with families caring for elderly or chronically ill relatives. They start out full of love and hope, but over time, the daily demands wear them down. The burnout builds.”
Seasoning young or green horses off-property poses its own set of demons. This week’s article offers three ways to get your not-so-seasoned horse to settle in like an old pro… or at least less like an aggravated electric eel. (more…)
“…growth isn’t always flashy. That real growth rarely looks like a grand finale. It’s not always shiny or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes, it doesn’t come with applause or dramatic breakthroughs.”
“… the goal for the past couple weeks has not been to increase his jumping experience or see how big of an oxer he can clear … but to shore up the foundation and his rhythm so that he can go do the big things without the need for an equally big bit.” (more…)
Happy Mother’s Day, Horse Nation. Today, we’re celebrating by highlighting some Paint Horses with Mother’s Day-themed registered names. Check them out below:
“[I]f you need to see something like a transition or change of direction, just ask. And if you like the horse, and your trainer likes the horse, and the seller thinks you’re an appropriate home, fantastic. Get the horse, enjoy the training, and go make your own highlight reels.” (more…)
“That’s what desensitization is: it’s not pretending you’re not scared, it’s choosing to stand your ground anyway. Choosing to face it, again and again, until your instincts rewire and your fear becomes focus. You still mutter curse words, but the breakdowns become breathers. The sobs become sighs.”
“After a million tack-ons and trying my very kind farrier’s patience, I gave up. I had a flat shoe and a flat hoof with existing nail holes. I had a cutely painted small hammer for art projects … And I had the tools to trim nails, clinch and rasp…” (more…)
“Whether the horses are coming off the track or they are coming back into my life after they’ve been tried and tested in second careers, dealing with hind end issues is more common than I’d like.” (more…)
The AI action figure trend has taken social media by storm! So, why not make it fun and see what AI can design in the way of different equestrian disciplines? P.S. – They really did Dressage dirty.
“The idea is pretty simple — a horse that is not entirely straight (what horse ever really is???) generally lines up in a crescent of some variation from nose to tail.” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Should you have your spurs attached to your stirrups?
“And maybe that’s the real magic here. Maybe it’s not in the wounds that missed the tendon or the graft that took, but in the horse who chooses to keep going. Who chooses to stay soft. Who still relaxes when he sees me…We’re not out of the woods yet. But we’re still walking.”
“… there isn’t any set timeline. [Horses], apparently like this year’s spring, take their time if they need it. And if they don’t — that’s great too.” (more…)
“I, too, once thought I was marrying a normal woman. She had beautiful hair, a great smile, and a laugh that made me want to listen to whatever nonsense she was talking about. Then, I heard the phrase that should’ve sent me running: ‘I have horses.'”
“…for Thoroughbreds, treats are an interesting thing. For many, what they know about treats depends on how they were raised on the race farm and how kind their trainer was at the track.” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Does desensitizing your horse to training aids make the aids ineffective?
