Progressive Riding Program

09/27/2022

Photos from Southern Cross Ranch's post

09/15/2022

True but cheaper than rehab.

I've not seen a more perfect statement on a horse truck!

08/30/2022

77 years ago - August 22, 1945 - US Army General George S. Patton rode Favory Africa, a Lipizzaner stallion from Vienna’s Spanish Riding School. The stallion was one of many under the protection of U.S. Army as the director of the School, Colonel Alois Podhajsky, had sought the safety of the American military to keep his priceless stallions and the art of classical dressage secure in the fallout from WWII.

On August 22, 1945, General Patton asked for the chance to ride Favory Africa, a stallion that Hi**er had intended to gift to the Japanese Emperor Hirohito - the Emperor was almost always featured on a white horse in propaganda leaflets, and Hi**er felt he could gain favor with the Emperor if he made him a present of one of the famous and intelligent Lipizzaner stallions. Colonel Podhajsky willingly granted the General’s request to ride the prized stallion:

“…At the end of the performance I rode up to the dais and thanked General Patton for his tremendous support, and with this the improvised show on the castle meadow reached its climax and fitting conclusion. Before the General left St. Martin he expressed a wish to see the horse that Hi**er intended to give to the Emperor of Japan, and asked me whether he might also ride it, and was obviously delighted to be able to execute various movements with it.”

- excerpt from “My Dancing White Horses” by Colonel Podhajsky

08/24/2022

2022 USEF/AVA Vaulting National Championship highlights

There are many ways to enjoy horses.

08/22/2022

Many Thanks to Ginny Belotti our working student over this summer!

08/21/2022

08/17/2022

Lottie Fry's Winning Round | FEI Dressage World Championship Individual Grand Prix Freestyle | Herning 2022 |

Lottie Fry's Winning Round | FEI Dressage World Championship Individual Grand Prix Freestyle | Herning 2022 |

08/15/2022

08/09/2022

Intro 573 would replace carriage horses with electric vehicles and put the equestrian horse carriage drivers out of work, but what about the horses opinions in this? Horses may not have a voice in a language we speak, but they have no problem communicating with those who can read their body language, facial expressions, and behaviors. Those closest to them understand them the best and should be the only ones able to speak on their behalf. Don’t you know how your dog or cat is feeling and what they’re trying to tell you most of the time? Why would anyone expect it to be different between a horse and their person?

If the horses remain working in the city the high cost of their care is covered. They may not be able to understand what a dollar is, but they do know that they enjoy eating hay which those dollars buy. They may not know how much their vet bill totals, but they know that they don’t like feeling ill which that financial transaction and practice fixes. Their NYC carriage regulations guarantee them at least two veterinary exams per year, routine vaccines, and regular hoof trimming/teeth filings. They may not understand they’re working when they’re giving rides with their carriage, but they certainly enjoy partaking in the activity with their human partner. When you throw a stick, you don’t force a dog to chase it, instinct takes over. Horses were bred to work, so it’s hardwired within them to crave a job.

Every equine veterinarian that has examined the horses has found them to be healthy. Every equestrian who has toured their stables has found them to be more than adequate. NYC regulations ensure the minimum stall size, that fresh water is always available, and that a salt block and enough clean bedding is in every stall. The horse’s lightweight work and routine benefits both their physical and mental health. Domesticated draft horses never existed in the wild and depriving them of work that keeps them physically and mentally fit would be cruel. It’s low impact work that’s much easier than pulling a plow on a farm or galloping over jumps when being ridden. Their shoes protect their hooves and every piece of their harness/collar/breeching/bridle make the work even easier & safe for them. Their regulations restrict them to the amount of hours they work in a day, how many breaks they get, how many weeks of vacation they get, and from working in extreme heat or cold weather, which other privately owned horses don't have to abide by.

Statistically accidents among NYC carriage horses are extremely rare and even more rare involving traffic, injury, or death. Typically traffic related accidents involving horses happen more frequently in rural areas where cars travel at faster speeds and accidental injuries among horses happen more frequently on pastures, rather than when horses are under constant watchful eyes like they are with their drivers or 24/7 stablemen in NYC. Horses often feel stressed when they're encountering something unfamiliar, but their human partners consistently reassure them that they're not alone and have nothing to fear when new situations arise, so it's rare that they spook. A recent peer-reviewed study on their Cortisol (stress hormone) levels that appeared in the American Veterinary Association journals revealed not only are the horses not at all stressed working and living in the city, but that they’re slightly stressed on the rural pastures they vacation on.

The horses live pampered lives fed, bathed, groomed, and loved by their drivers/owners and stablemen. Many of the horses come from Amish farms where they have worked, but never been spoiled. They actually have to be taught what treats like carrots are when they arrive in NYC. They primarily work in Central Park which was designed for and by horses. They get to safely interact with their equine neighbors passing them in the park or protected from their kicks and bites behind stall walls on a daily basis. They appear to be relaxed and content with their surroundings at work and lay flat out for their deep REM sleep back at their stalls. Only horses that feel safe will lay down for their deep sleep. Much of their workday is often spent relaxed on the hackline where they snack on oats/grain or have access to water troughs. They receive carrots and attention from the public every shift and they get to interact in an activity with their human partner where they can feel a sense of purpose and reassurance about the world around them. They get to show pride in their work rather than being sentenced to simply stand, exist, and drop manure in a field, isolated from the world they’ve thrived in for so many years.

There are absolutely no provisions to guarantee the future fate of the horses in the bill beyond stating that they must be “humanely disposed of.” Tens of thousands of horses wind up being shipped to slaughter every year because there just aren’t enough financially stable homes to take them in. Any place available to care for a horse should be looking to take in one of those in need of rescue and no one should be attempting to create *less* places for horses to thrive. This bill expands upon the definition of “humanely disposed of,” as stating the horses may not be shipped to slaughter, but there is absolutely no guarantee as to what happens to them if things don’t work out wherever they wind up if the bill passes. Feral horses have short life spans and tough lives dealing with things like starvation, dehydration, illness, injuries, no hoof or dental upkeep, stress of fighting for herd dominance, predators, harsh weather and lightening, or possibly being rounded by the BLM.

The horses wouldn’t want intro 573 to pass because they would be separated from the people they have known for years who have cared for them and been part of their routine. They would no longer be working a job they enjoy doing. Horses are creatures of habit that are most comfortable with a routine. Intro 573 entirely disrupts that routine from where the horses live and work to being with the people they are most familiar with. Imagine what your dog or cat would feel like if you were suddenly separated from them. We’re talking about suddenly ruining relationships some of these horses have developed with their driver over 5, 10, or even 20 years! Horses are herd animals and this bill would separate the horses from their herd family of horses and people in NYC. It’s a bill that would mentally cripple hundreds of horses and risk their condition in depression just so some people who have never even met them could feel like they had made their lives better or profit off the land their stables sit upon. It’s a bill that can’t be explained to horses in terms they would understand. They would simply wonder what they had done to deserve this punishment for the rest of their lives. It’s a bill that could ultimately leave these domesticated horses without the human care they depend on.

Why are people uneducated about the equine species being given the privilege to pass laws about them that will directly impact their lives without heavily relying on the facts from those most educated about them?

Please contact NYC council members with your opposition to intro 573: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/

08/07/2022

Photos from Brock Veterinary Clinic's post

08/04/2022

VAN GOGH DAILY

𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨, May-July 1887. Oil on canvas, 45.3 x 37.7 cm. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱.

Van Gogh: The Life

08/03/2022

I know, where are the horses? Enjoy!

Dutch Post Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh's "The Red Vineyards" (1888), thought to be the only painting sold during his lifetime!

07/31/2022

Photos from Art Uptown Gallery's post

07/30/2022

I know it has nothing to do with horse but it has a lot to do with my second love.

MORE NEW ART! Woodfield Fine Art Gallery is pleased to introduce another new artwork by Marc Brechwald. This is his latest colored pencil drawing entitled "Gitana." Gitana is a reference to the name given to Roma (gypsies) in Spain. It is beautifully matted and framed with a finished dimension of 20"x30". Stop by 2323 Central Avenue to view this compelling piece of art.

07/28/2022

Photos from Sue Elliott Art's post

07/25/2022

Timeline photos

Some might call it 'character building'

07/21/2022

There are a lot of substance abusers in the Horse Industry because it can be a thankless job if you let it. Don't sell yourself short. If you think you have a weakness go take a class or ask a fellow professional to help you with it. As they said in the Seabiscuit movie " You don't throw away a life because of one imperfection."

I haven’t stopped thinking about my beautiful student who took her own life last week. This cloud of sadness has been looming over me for days. I’m so sad for her, her family, friends and all who knew her…what in inspirational light she was!

I’ve heard more and more about other veterinarians and horse trainers who have taken their own lives after my post went viral (35k, as of last night.) I can’t really speak from a veterinarian’s perspective, but I certainly have a word for most other professionals in the horse industry.

People who are horrible to you are NOT worth your life. It is only a reflection of their own shortcomings, problems, drama, baggage or insecurities. But man, it is so so hard to remember that when you’re inconveniently in the perfect position to be the punching bag.

I used to be there. I was that horse trainer. People were horrible to me. I was miserable. I wanted to help everyone, so I played the roll of that proverbial punching bag for a long time. One client at a time. I can say that those feelings of misery honestly didn’t leave me until the last few months. I wanted out, desperately. For the first time in years, I don’t feel that way anymore. I don’t have those kinds of clients anymore. Here’s why…

The best advice I can give you - stop selling cheap seats. Figuratively and financially. Get rid of those seats in your life and your business. There are 7 BILLION people on Earth and plenty who will see your worth, respect you and love you. Don’t waste a second thought on those who don’t value you.

Stop selling cheap seats and the toxic people will never show their face.

Stop selling cheap seats and you won’t have to work yourself into the ground.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will attract a different level of client, friend, etc.

Stop selling cheap seats and those who are not meant for you will get uncomfortable and see themselves out.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will enjoy your work.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will enjoy your clients because THEY are your tribe.

Raise your standards. Raise your vibration. Raise your prices.

The rest will fall into place, I promise.

You are more than enough.

❤️ Cara

07/04/2022

Photos from USA Jumping's post

07/04/2022

Photos from Brandon Cobs and Connemara’s's post

06/26/2022

Photos from Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation's post

06/13/2022

06/06/2022

chargeuse à foin hippomobile

chargeuse à foin hippomobile

06/06/2022

This is so true!

😐

05/26/2022

'Saint Gabriel': Rich Strike's Exercise Rider Known For So Much More Than His Skill With Horses - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

'Saint Gabriel': Rich Strike's Exercise Rider Known For So Much More Than His Skill With Horses - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

One of the most vital parts of the team, Rich Strike’s regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes watched the race from the clocker’s tower

05/06/2022

05/06/2022

We are not a riding school, we are a program. This program is designed to give you the information you need to become a good solid horsemen, not just a rider. You are going to hear " no jumping today because the ground is too hard." bet you haven't heard that before. You are going to hear that you need to cool your horse out even if your ride is late getting to the bridge club. You are going to learn the horse comes first and exactly what that means.

05/05/2022

Yup that is today's market.

“The horse market will never be the same. Welcome to the new normal. It has become a luxury again to be a horse owner. The great ones are going above $40k. One in MT brought $100k. A Gypsy Vanner brought $500k last week. The average cost of a decent and safe family horse that is well broke, nice looking, not lame and not old is over $10k now. If you want a cheap horse you have to be ok with green or old or some lameness. If you are waiting for the market to come down I personally do not think it will. We are in new territory. The audience that can be reached now for horse sales has no limit due to the world wide web. Horse auctions that use to only have buyers sitting in the seats in front of them now go live online and have bidders from all over the US and beyond. When you view one of these sales you will hear the auctioneer say "sold online!" Over and over and over. You may think that an auction in Montana or Texas has nothing to do with local private sale prices but it absolutely does. The internet has also made it possible for Private sellers to have a wider audience. We went from hanging up a "horse for sale" sign on telephone poles to online horse groups with thousands of members in such a short time. Now shoppers are willing to travel and some willing to buy and have the horse shipped just from viewing videos. Buying the horse is only the start. Everything else about horse ownership has gone up. Gas prices effect every bale of hay, bag of grain, dewormer and suppliment. Now we cannot even get our own penicillin. Equine Vet prices are triple what is charged for dogs or cats. I don't sell very many horses anymore because people are still expecting to get a great one for $3500. I cannot even get one for that price right now but IF I DID then I would need to tune up, vet up, feed up, haul around and experience up, farrier up, dental up, pay teen riders to test and test and test up to make sure it's safe for anyone AND then be able to price it so that I am covering all those expenses and still have good profit. Most people who enjoy improving a horse even if it's just to resale have invested their heart too. How can you not love them after all that time spent but you still have to come out ahead financially. The horse is only part of it. Sellers have to deal with hundreds of people. The just curious, just looking, just want a thousand questions answered on text and then ghost you without even a thank you, the not in my price range even though I knew the price before coming, the rode your horse for two hours then say I don't have all the money, the bring my trainer and my 3 friends and all of them ride your horse for 3 hours and then say we have 10 more to look at before deciding, the people who say they can ride then do not know how to get on, the know it all with attitude, the rude, the lonely who just like to test ride all over the state and talk for hours,, the loose kids running all around your property, the ones you coach and give free lessons to for hours and then say they do not plan to buy until next month, the can I make payments?, and the ones who just do not show up after you have bathed, groomed and braided the horse. And in my case I do it ALL with a smile and kind words because I like people. If you encounter a less patient seller keep all this in mind. They go through a lot 😅😅 The moral of this story is save up and increase your budget before shopping but still ...you only live once! Buy the horse!”

Written by Donna Gardner-Hale

05/01/2022

On this day in 1945, a coalition of American and German soldiers work to save the famous white Lipizzaner horses from an advancing Russian army.

World War II was not yet over, but the mission united the two sides, if only for the moment.

“The 2nd U.S. Cavalry put a hold on the war for two days,” one American soldier later said, “while we extracted a sliver of culture for the rest of the world.”

None of it would have happened but for Luftwaffe Colonel Walter Holters. The desperate German officer came to 2nd Cavalry headquarters in southeastern Germany, near Czechoslovakia. He waved a white flag, but his was no ordinary surrender: Instead, Holters demanded to speak to the American officer in charge.

That man was Colonel Charles “Hank” Reed, and he was stunned by Holters’s story: The Germans were holding hundreds of purebred horses at a stud in Hostau, just inside Czech territory. Among these horses were all the brood mares for the prized Lipizzaner show horses.

These horses were normally housed at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, but the German high command had different plans: It intended to use the Lipizzaner mares as the base for a new warhorse. They were breeding (essentially) an A***n horse.

But now the Germans were going down in defeat, and the Russian army was advancing. The Red Army had already shot Lipizzaners at the Royal Hungarian Riding School. They’d turned those priceless horses into steak. Holters feared his horses could be next. Would Reed help?

The two worked out a deal: Holters would surrender information he possessed, and Reed would try to get the horses out. Importantly, Allied POWs were also at the stud, so both could be rescued simultaneously.

The plan received an unofficial blessing from General George Patton: “Get them. Make it fast.”

“Fast” would prove difficult. Others at the stud didn’t realize that Holters had gone for help. Emissaries went back and forth, but, in the end, a plan was made. Americans would fight their way into Czechoslovakia. The Germans at the stud would surrender as soon as Americans arrived.

Unfortunately, no one could control the more political arm of the German army, the Waffen-SS. In other words, no guarantees could be made about the trip to the stud. Americans would have to get there on their own.

The operation began on April 28 with an artillery barrage that blasted a hole in the German forward defenses. Just over 300 men went in with light tanks and armored cars. They fought their way through, village by village, until they came to the stud farm. There, those German officers surrendered, just as promised.

They did it in style, marching down the street, holding a white bed sheet between them.

But the hard part was yet to come. “They were eighteen miles behind German lines,” historian Mark Felton describes, “a tiny American island in a sea of German troops, connected to the Allied lines by a single long and thin umbilical road that for long stretches was barely protected.”

Complicating matters still more, it was foaling season. Transports had to be contrived for pregnant mares and foals. Worse, the Waffen-SS attacked and had to be fought off.

Indeed, logistical challenges kept delaying efforts to leave—at least until a Russian advance guard showed up on May 14. The window to escape was closing. The time to leave was NOW.

Horses, vehicles, and cavalry all left together. The convoy stretched for miles, and it took two days to make the trip—but they finally crossed into Germany.

Not only Lipizzaners, but also POWs and local refugees, had been saved.

“We were so tired of death and destruction,” Reed concluded, “we wanted to do something beautiful.”

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If you enjoy these history posts, please see my note below. :)

Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2022 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the shar e feature instead of cutting/pasting.

04/27/2022

It isn't all bon bons and roses with a young horse!

04/02/2022

Our team deployed this week to assist Animal Control Officers with the emergency removal of 4 older horses in distress. This case, like all the others, is heart breaking. The horses had to be removed from the only world they had ever known. Over the past 10 years, they slowly watched all of their herd mates perish and were the only horses remaining. There was no water in sight, no nutritious food and no evidence of veterinary care. The temperature was dropping into the 20s at night and two of the horses were running dangerously low on the energy needed to survive. Thankfully, Animal Control was able to act fast and give these horses the best chance at survival. When the on scene veterinarian authorized an emergency seizure, DEFHR’s team deployed immediately, ready to welcome all 4 horses into our rehabilitation program.

Once the horses arrived at our farm, they were seen by our vet and an individual rehabilitation plan was created for each one. Our goal is to ease their current state of pain and suffering and give them the best chance at making a full recovery. All of the horses are suffering from severe dental neglect and are in varying degrees of starvation. Kleo, has the worst body condition scoring a 1 out of 9. Her coat is thick and wooly; our vet noted that her body is putting all of its remaining energy into growing fur to protect her from the harsh winter weather. At 25+, Kleo’s age and declining condition are major concerns, however, at the moment, she is bright, she is strong and she is stable.

She is ready to fight for her life – and so are we.

04/02/2022

Photos from Savannah Simo's post

03/30/2022

We are talking really windy and cold yesterday. These people braved it all on their clipped steeplechase horses. That first horse over timber looks like he could make a very nice Derby horse in his next life!

03/27/2022

Island Gallery West presents our Featured Artist for April — Pat O’Neill

Island Gallery West presents our Featured Artist for April — Pat O’Neill

Island Gallery West presents our Featured Artist for April — Pat O’Neill March 26, 2022 by Post Title:  “Art from the Heart” Acrylic Paintings by Pat O’Neill Dates: Friday, April 1 – Saturday, April 30, 2022 Pat O’Neill is a uniquely talented self-taught artist from Dora, Alabama wh...

03/26/2022

Training and Bone Development - Kentucky Equine Research

Training and Bone Development - Kentucky Equine Research

The main role of the equine skeleton is to provide structural support. In addition to bones, the skeletal system also includes tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Each element of the musculoskeletal system must be functioning correctly in order for the horse to travel soundly.

03/23/2022

People need to read this. The more you drill "to get it right" the more often you are really drilling " to cement it wrong".

What happens AFTER you know that you have had a bad day with your horse?

So, say, you had a bunch of refusals jumping---
Or lost your temper, and roughed up your horse---
Or know that you relentlessly drilled, and it made it all so much worse instead of better---
Or know that you worked him too hard for his degree of fitness---

There are lots of things that we do that are examples of poor riding, poor judgement, poor horsemanship. And I don’t think there’s a horse person alive who hasn’t “gone there.”

Usually we feel guilty, ashamed, remorseful, and these are, I think, good emotions to have, even though they feel terrible. Because we can use the remorse to work on ways to lessen the chances that it will happen again.

What we should NOT want to feel is being so frustrated that we just CAN’T WAIT to get back on the next day to revisit what went wrong today, because almost always, because of frustrated intensity, we will be right back in it, and now we have TWO bad days that the horse has to recover from.

We ALL know, deep down, I suspect, certain riders for whom every day is World War 3 with their horse, And the more bad days those riders stack up, the more scared and resentful they will have made their horses, so the more frustrated the riders will get, and it spirals out of control into long term disaster.

So, you had a bad day----Now what? Maybe go for a quiet walk the next day and AVOID going back to revisit the issue until both you and your horse have had a chance to recover. Think about WHY it happened, and what you could/should have done differently. Examine your thought process to be certain that you are not blaming the horse. Many riders can justify beating up on a horse if they can twist things around to say that “this horse was being bad.”

Once you start blaming the horse, it can get ugly fast. This is so key to understand, that the good trainers DO NOT BLAME THE HORSE.

The good trainers search for the real problems, and there are so many possibilities, the horse had anxiety, had pain, had no idea what the rider was asking, was tired, was excited by some outside influence, a million things OTHER than “being bad.”

It is a cliché that training a horse begins by training ourselves to control OUR emotions before we can begin to control theirs.

So you had a bad day? Join a big club---But now, try not to have two bad days in a row, Try to figure out the whys and the whats, and try again, but this time in a better way.

03/18/2022

Just a seahorse made of stone
Credit Beach4Art
Join Our group 👉👉 Fantastic world

03/18/2022

03/12/2022

Horses and sweet potatoes?

Ulcers, 60-90% of show/performance horses have ulcers. Humans created stall confinement, grain and commercialized feeding. Horses are meant to spend all day, outside free grazing. “In a natural grazing situation, a steady flow of acid is required for digestion, so a horse's stomach produces acid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – up to 9 gallons of acidic fluid per day, even when not eating.”

So what happens to that acid when there’s no roughage to break down, ulcers. How do we treat and prevent ulcers in our barn? We preventatively treat each horse with omeprazole paste the week before and during each showing. It’s cheap, easy and effective!! Want further benefits? It’s in the common grocery store sweet potato! Why?

“On top of protein and dietary fiber sweet potatoes also have a very good selection of vitamins and minerals:
* Vitamin A – As well as boosting your horse’s immune system and strengthening his bones, Vitamin A can also help to reduce the risk of cataracts.
* Vitamin C – Like Vitamin A, Vitamin C can help to improve your horse’s immune system but it can also help to heal wounds and keep your horse’s teeth, bones, and cartilage healthy.
* Vitamin B5 – Part of the B complex vitamin group, Vitamin B5 can help to keep your horse’s coat in good condition. It also works to aid digestion, especially in the digestive tract.
* Vitamin B6 – Another B complex vitamin, it’s known for its ability to reduce the symptoms of some forms of arthritis as well as keeping the eyes healthy. If your horse suffers from depression then Vitamin B6 can help with this.
* Vitamin E – Known for its ability to fight infection, Vitamin E also works to maintain healthy skin, eyes, and even a healthy coat.
* Potassium – You might not realize it but potassium is actually one of the most important minerals in the body, it works to keep a horse’s muscles working properly and will also help to reduce tiredness after exercise.
* Manganese – Not only does manganese help to keep your horse’s bones strong and healthy but it can also reduce inflammation. In my opinion, though the biggest role that manganese plays is in the regulation of blood sugar, this means that it may be good for horses that suffer from conditions such as Equine Cushings Disease.”

Maybe you will consider adding sweet potatoes to your show horses regimen, we have, and we have seen outstanding results! Our biggest sweet tater eater in the barn is 17+ hand gentle giant He’s Forrest Gump! They helped him gain over 300lbs and help to curb his proneness to colic. Thank you to Dr Mendenhall at Equine Services for your recommendation!

Source horsefactbook.com

03/10/2022

The Equine Disease Communications Center (EDCC) has confirmed an outbreak of Equine Influenza in Howard County, Maryland.

Twenty horses at a boarding facility have been exposed, with one case confirmed and a total of three suspected cases.

The confirmed case, a Quarter Horse gelding, showed onset of clinical signs of a fever, severe purulent nasal discharge and lethargy on Feb. 24. The diagnosis of Equine Influenza was confirmed on Mar. 4.

For more information about Equine Influenza go to: https://bit.ly/equine-influenza