Such a fun weekend! Izzie and I participated in the Dressage Anywhere, UK Friesian Federation, Friesian League, virtual dressage show. The show season started in January and we just submitted our second entry for March. In January we entered the Introductory C class and for March we entered the Introductory B class. All of the... Continue Reading →
Maui Storms… not always a tropical paradise
30kt winds, sideways pouring rain, water drops the size of gumdrops. Sloppy paddocks and gutterless barns. Not entirely a picture perfect tropical post card. We love the rain…really we do. The rain makes our pastures green and our waterfalls flow. But, we really aren’t set up for rainy weather. The ground, with a base of... Continue Reading →
First Equi-Pole Ground Pole Session. Gymnastics for your horse!
Today I set out our first Equi-pole Polework App exercise; the snake. You can see the resemblance as the poles zig zag down the center of the arena. I choose this exercise because I wanted something simple as an introduction to pole work for Izzie. In our recent training sessions we have been working on... Continue Reading →
The Power of a Horse Hug
The power of a horse hug. It can make you forget the stresses of the day, lift the weight of the world from your shoulders and remind you that there is magic to be found in friendship. How and why is that anyway? Horses are incredibly sensitive and preceptive and they have a large electromagnetic... Continue Reading →
Hay Chix Hay Nets- Slow feeding at it’s best!
I’m a huge fan of Hay Chix Hay Nets!! Did you know the average horse needs 15-20lbs of forage a day. That number can increase depending on the size and workload of the horse. While hay is a great forage for meeting the nutritional needs of the horses, a typical flake can range from 3-5lbs... Continue Reading →
Having Fun Bareback Riding
Tonight was a fabulously playful ride. It was later in the day and I really wasn't feeling like "training". I went through my usual grooming routine and then moved on to a light lunge session. Lunging lately has become so boring. Athena is so good at it. She picks up each new gait on cue,... Continue Reading →
Easter Party With Your Horse
The holidays are a great break in the routine. They are a time to celebrate, to do something out of the norm and to get a little silly. I love holidays and I especially love it when I get to bring my horse to the party too! What better way to kick off spring than... Continue Reading →
Lessons I’ve learned from riding in imperfect conditions
1.) The horse can do it. When I first started riding on uneven surfaces such as in grass fields and out on the trail my horse would trip and stumble. I would get so frustrated, often complaining " this is never going to work... we can't do our "dressage" training with such crappy footing. I... Continue Reading →
Love the Fenwick LT Calming Mask and Stable Sheet!
I’m always exploring products that can help my horse perform better. For Athena, this means reducing stress, helping her focus more and soothe her tight and sore muscles from a good ride. Through my research, I discovered Fenwick Equestrian and in particular, their LT Calming Mask and LT Stable Sheet. Both are amazing and have... Continue Reading →
Hoof Treatment for White Line Disease: Therazone
Nail holes, hoof cracks, white line oh my! Thankfully, Athena has great hooves. She has been barefoot most of her life and we’ve never had any issues. In January, it became apparent that her barefoot hooves couldn’t take the beating of every day riding, rocky trail rides and gravel around the barn. A groove was... Continue Reading →