Charming Stables

09/19/2022

ash 🤠 on TikTok

ash 🤠 on TikTok

the side of it that we don’t always post

08/02/2022

Things I think EVERY BEGINNER BARREL RACER SHOULD HEAR:

1. One run a day is enough for your horse, rollovers are your friend! This one will make most of your alley issues disappear.

2. A good farrier is important, cheap isn’t saving you money. What you don’t spend on the farrier, you’ll spend on the vet.

3. Have a good performance vet on your side, the simple shots and coggins vet isn’t going to cut it.

4. A broke horse is a great horse. Teach your horse to do more than just turn circles.

5. You’re as much as an athlete as your horse. Treat yourself like one.

6. Don’t let small minded friends keep you from your goals. Don’t let others opinions keep you from growing.

7. If someone hauls you and your horse, or lends you a horse. Say thank you, return the favor. Buy them a drink, pinch in for fuel, or buy them dinner. It goes a long way!

8. Negativity shouldn’t be allowed in the truck. Positive vibes only.

9. Find a mentor, someone who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth when you need it and don’t want to hear it.

10. If the horse isn’t working or it’s keeping you from growing, it is okay to sell it. Horses are stepping stones.

Stay tuned, over the next few weeks I’m going to hit each of these points in depth and give you the “whys” behind these thoughts. ❤️

04/27/2022

Photos from Progressive Equine Services & Hoof Care Centre's post

01/18/2022

We have shared this before, but it is always interesting to see how old our horses are in human years...especially as they change.
This week our 26 year old has just been diagnosed with Ring Bone and I was devastated, then I realised that he is "75 1/2 yrs old" so of course he will have some degeneration, but just like my Dad I think he's invincible.💪
Today our youngest horse turns 3...so effectively 18....and we all know about 18 year old males 😂

01/06/2022

…heartbreaking…

01/05/2022

FOALING SEASON IS UPON US!

Are you ready to assist your broodmare when her time comes?
 Here are some tried and true guidelines to remember during foaling:

• Unless there's an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it’s breathing.


• Generally, it’s not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.


• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.


• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.


• Foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.


• Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.


• A foal must receive colostrum (the mare's first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start!

Additional information is also available on our website:
Foaling Mare & Newborn: Preparing for a Safe & Successful Foal Delivery | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/foaling-mare-newborn-preparing-safe-successful-foal-delivery

Equine Reproduction From Conception to Birth | https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-reproduction-conception-birth

11/30/2021

Timeline photos

Correct hock angle is a matter of fact and opinion. Judge these six examples of horse conformation and learn how deviations impact horse’s hind leg function ➡️ www.aqha.com/-/the-right-angle-studying-the-hock

11/25/2021

Photos from Old Wire Stables's post

11/15/2021

Rider: Sometimes I wonder if I want to even ride anymore.

Mind: You should probably just quit.

Rider: But i've come so far.

Mind: This is a lot of heartache and emotional and financial stress.

Rider: But sometimes it's ok to not be ok. Sometimes if you want to ride the pendulum of success, you will hit some lows before swinging up even higher.

Mind: But this slump is taking forever. You'll never get out of it.

Rider: Just like when you are training horses, sometimes in order for the horse to learn, you just have to wait it out. Patience is powerful.

Mind: But this is too painful.

Rider: Pain means you have passion. That you care. And you should never give up on something that you care this deeply about.

Mind: Lets keep everything comfortable and stop pushing ourselves. Comfort is easy. Pushing is more pain.

Rider: I'm sorry.

Mind: No need to apologize, lets just ease off for a while.

Rider: No, I'm not apologizing. I'm telling you I'm sorry so you can prepare yourself for more pain. I'm going to keep on pushing harder than ever.

Mind: No, you can't!

Rider: Maybe I can't. But I would rather can't than won't.

Mind: Noooo!

Rider: Yes, so get ready to roll.

Mind: Alright then. Lets go for this.

Rider: Seriously? You gave up that easy?

Mind: Yes.

Rider: But all those years, all that self doubt, all those times you told me I couldn't. All the pity, the frustration when you said I'd never succeed. You are giving up just like that? All it took was one time to fight back?

Mind: We will do whatever you want to do. You do realize you've just been talking to yourself this whole time.

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” Keep on keeping on, cowgirl. 💖

11/03/2021

When your horse is truly patterned they are able to run barrels by reading your body positioning and listening to your feet. Here I am riding a mare bridleless, aside from being well patterned she knew when to turn by the position of my body and the ques I gave with my feet. We should speak to our barrel horses through our legs while whispering with our hands. Work on your horsemanship you don't want to compete brideless, however, if you can communicate with your bodies your times will get faster as the runs get smoother.

Also, take a look at that barrel cover! Haven't they come a long way? Check out the current style on joseywesternstore.com

10/11/2021

Equine chiro for tomorrow (Oct. 12th) just canceled… No chiropractor for the month of October… sorry guys!

09/27/2021

07/27/2021

07/23/2021

Anyone starting a young horse who can relate??

07/21/2021

Donkey gets excited when owner brings him a new ball

Donkey gets excited when owner brings him a new ball

07/18/2021

A bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold it - true.

If the rider is good enough, it doesn’t matter what bit the horse has in - false.

Usain Bolt could not have broken those world records if his running shoes were too tight. Cristiano Ronaldo would not have won champion league titles if his boots were too large. Lewis Hamilton would not be a 7 time world champion if he didn’t fit perfectly in his car.

Horses are not one size fits all. They might have large tongues, low palates, fleshy lips or knife edge bars. They might have a dry mouth or produce excessive saliva. They may freeze with the bit or they might fidget constantly. Some have a very small interdental space leaving almost no room for a bit, and some have their first cheek teeth ahead of their lip corners. I generally tell clients that they can choose the cheek pieces but the horse gets to choose the mouthpiece of their bit.

But that choice goes deeper than their individual anatomy. Horses are living, breathing, feeling animals that have preferences. Some horses prefer tongue pressure, a lot of horses hate palate pressure and open their mouths to escape it, some will put their tongue over the bit if there is any tongue pressure, where others will throw their head if the bars are pressured. The horse gets to have an opinion on where their bit acts too. A happy horse will be an easy horse.

Anyone can make these assessments. You don’t need any specialist equipment. Just experience, and an understanding of what is normal, to know how your horse varies from the “normal”. If in doubt, ask your EDT, vet or a bit specialist.

A little about the bit mouthpieces, there are 4 main types, straight bars, single jointed, double jointed and multi jointed.

Straight bars - a mullen mouth will act mostly on the tongue with a little lip corner pressure. Often straight bars will have a port for tongue relief. The bigger the port, the more tongue relief so the more pressure is placed on the bars and lip corners whilst less is applied on the tongue. Straight bars do not have palate pressure when fitted correctly but if the port is too large, it will hit the palate. Straight bars are very still by their nature. They are good for horses that mess with the bit a lot, crunch the bit, put their tongue over (with an appropriate port for tongue relief), or sit behind the bit, over bent. They are not good for horses that are strong or lean.

Single jointed - these act mostly on the bars and corners of the mouth and less so on the tongue surface. But they squeeze the tongue from the sides in a nutcracker action, and the joint can hit the horses palate. This will cause the horse to open its mouth to escape that palate pressure. There are some anatomical single jointed bits which curve with the horses mouth and reduce these side effects. Being more mobile than a straight bar, the horse is less likely to lean. Better suited for those that dislike tongue pressure but are too strong for a straight bar.

Double jointed - there are 4 types, peanut, french link, Dr Bristol and barrel. All double jointed bits share pressure equally across the tongue, bars and lip corners.
A peanut is smooth and rounded so very gentle. This is generally the ideal starting place when starting along the journey to find your horses ideal bit, or as the first “grown up” bit for a youngster.
The french link has a plate which sits flat on the tongue, the edges and joints can cause more uneven tongue pressure than the peanut. This bit takes very little space between tongue and palate, suited for those with large tongues and low palates.
A Dr Bristol plate lies opposite to the tongue, meaning the plate edge digs in the tongue making it quite a harsh bit, even in gentle hands. A horse can not move into the riders hands for a true outline with this bit.
Barrel bits act as a straight bar when in action but each side moves independently. Barrel bits can come with ports to offer more tongue relief. These are ideal for horses that like a straight bar but become confused and require the reins to work independently to understand the rider clearly, or perhaps lean on one rein in a straight bar.

Multi jointed - apart from the chain bits which I won’t mention, these are mostly Waterfords with many joints across the mouthpiece. These act equally on the tongue, lip corners and bars. Be careful when choosing these bits as the cheaper versions have joints on the lip corners which nip and bruise. Better quality Waterfords have short straight sections for the lips. Lots of joints prevent the horse from taking hold of the bit. Good for those that lean or are strong. Keep in mind they can prevent the horse from moving into the hand for a true outline due to the mobility of the bit. Similar to the French link, the joints can cause uneven pressure across the tongue and those joints tend to make these bits chunky so not ideal for those with big tongues or small mouths.

Other considerations -

Bit material - horses with dry mouths find stainless steel very uncomfortable. A horse needs a moist mouth to be comfortable with a bit in their mouth. Warmer metals like sweet iron encourage the horse to salivate and makes them more comfortable. Copper rollers or other mobile parts can encourage a horse to mouth the bit and produce saliva, but may also encourage the horse to mess and fidget with their mouths and heads. Some horses hate all types of metal and prefer the softer feel of nathe or plastic. These need to be inspected very regularly as they are easy to damage and can have sharp points. The plastic/nathe bits are very good for those that over bend or sit behind the bit.

Over salivating - some horses produce large amounts of saliva. This is uncomfortable and distracting for the horse. Consider sitting in the dentists chair desperate to swallow, it’s not a pleasant feeling. These horses need a bit that remains as still as possible and does not encourage salivation to be comfortable.

Bit positioning- the old advice use to be you should see 2 wrinkles in the corner of the mouth when the bit is in the correct place but this varies between bits. For example, a straight bar needs to be a little lower than a jointed as a jointed bit lays lower on the tongue so needs to be a little higher at the cheek. Some ponies, in particular shetlands and welsh ponies, have shortened noses with normal sized teeth which brings the first cheek tooth forward of the lip corners. These need the bit to be lower than normal. Those with very fleshy lips will also need the bit a little lower to allow space for them. Be sure to part the horses lips with the bit in place and check the position in relation to the lips, teeth and tongue.

Bit thickness - the fleshier the horses mouth and larger the tongue, the finer the bit needs to be to fit between the tongue and palate, too thick a bit and the horse wont be able to close its mouth. Thicker bits tend to be gentler as the pressure is spread further, where the horses mouth has space to accommodate.

Bit width - if a bit is too narrow, it will pull the lips into the teeth and cause internal bruising (even when the teeth are perfectly smooth and rounded) or cheek and lip ulcers (if the teeth are sharp). It can also cause external nipping if a loose ring. If the bit is too wide, it will not act on the intended areas of the mouth and the bit can slide across the mouth. Generally speaking, with the bit pulled tight across the mouth, a little finger sideways on should be visible each side, no more, no less.

Bitless/hackamore bridles - some horses have no/almost no space for a bit. With big tongues, low palates, short interdental spaces and fleshy lips, some horses just can’t comfortably take a bit and may prefer an alternative.

Bit rings - eggbutts are better for horses that sit behind the bit and over bend, loose rings are better for horses that lean or take hold of the bit.

Cheek pieces - there are many many options for cheek pieces, gags, drop cheeks, full cheeks, D rings, Pelhams etc etc. Once you have found the mouthpiece your horse likes, you can find a cheek piece that suits you and the horse for the discipline you are in and your capabilities. But the horse chooses the mouthpiece.

Please remember to make sure your horse’s teeth are perfect before messing around with their bit. Get a BAEDT qualified EDT or a dental trained vet to check out your horse. Do not assume you would know if your horse is in pain. They are very good at hiding pain and humans are very poor at picking up on their subtle signs.

EDIT - it has been brought to my attention that the Dr Bristol has been used incorrectly for the last century. Apparently according to the patent, the inventer intended the bit to be used the other way up which makes the bit a more ‘anatomical’ French link and would be a gentler bit.

07/01/2021

People ask me why I do it..

•Why I miss birthday parties, family dinners and any other special occasions.
•Why I spend hundreds upon thousands of dollars.
•Why I put a billion of miles on my truck running up and down the road.
•Why I choose to leave early or stay late just to squeeze in those few more moments in the saddle.
•Why I haul 3 hours to the vet at the first sign of a issue when I won't spend the money or time to go to the ER for myself.
•Why I wake up early and stay up all night.
•Why my horses eat on a strict schedule, while I eat anytime, anywhere I can.
•Why sometimes it seems I'm choosing horses over relationships, people, and everything else in my life.
•Why do I do it? Why do I put myself, my family, my body, my finances through it? "what is one ride going to matter?"

The answer is simple but not understood by most everyone unless they live it.

•What I do is who I am. It's not meant to be understood by anyone.
•It's an addiction, a hobby, a lifestyle and a world only us horse people understand.
•You won't stop... no matter the circumstances, the bad luck, how much you spent and wasted, the time you can never get back, you CANT stop.
•You can take a break, sell out, lose faith, leave the horses standing in the pasture,

*But you never give it up.*

•It's always there, in your every thought, memory and future dream. Goals will change but the desire never will. Months and years may shift how and when you go, how many horses you own and your level of interest. BUT, it never leaves. It's a God given passion to learn from and to use as a tool.

When you ask me why.. my answer is WHY NOT?!
Why not live everyday like it's my last! 
WHY not be an example to my family and friends as someone who never gave up!!!
WHY not give it my all and see just how far I can go and what I can achieve!
Why NOT???

My only hope and prayer is that everyone will find their.. "Why do you do it?"❤️

copied from a friend

06/24/2021

Keep hay in front of them whenever they aren’t grazing!!! Use slow feeders and/or grazing muzzles if you have one over weight or an inhaler! But forage all of the time for equines is SOOO important!!!

Unlike humans, horses are designed to run on a full stomach. Feeding your horse 2-3L of chaff or a biscuit of hay prior to exercise has two benefits :
1️⃣ The chaff will form a ball of feed in the stomach, which will help prevent acid from splashing up from the lower part of the stomach to cause gastric ulcers.
2️⃣ Blood is normally diverted away from the stomach during exercise, which reduces some of its normal protective mechanisms. Research has shown that feeding your horse before exercise actually reduces the amount of blood that is shunted away from the stomach and also increases the amount of blood delivered to the skeletal muscles and muscles of the chest. So not only are you helping to protect the stomach, you also might be improving your horse’s performance.
For more information : http://ow.ly/CfYy50Dmwnh

06/03/2021

05/15/2021

05/13/2021

Frenchy’s maternity photo shoot! ...Any day now... 😆🥰💗😍😁

05/04/2021

The 21/90 day Rule.

Let's be real. I'm really tired of 30 day c**t start requests. If it worked, I'd promote it. I'm also exhausted of the question of why is it 30days and my horse has been barely rode and/or not all? Or why am I not seeing a lot of progress after the FIRST couple weeks?

It's the 21/90 day rule. Humans and horses I believe are fairly similar. It takes 21 days to form a habit, 90 days for a lifestyle change. I follow this rule in my fitness journey. Not saying it takes either/or that long but I do firmly believe this theory applies to horses in a fashionable timeline. How does it fluctuate? A horse that's 2 and not 5yrs old. A horse that has been guided through the steps with trust or was it rushed? Was the foundation solid or were some unfavorable habits formed? What's the horses genetics? Are the genetics favorable in a born broke mentality horse or is he a little fearful in starting? This all plays to the 21/90 day rule. Timing is critical in horse training, just like the timing in your progression with life. I've had horses that progressed fabulously in a 30 day tune up, some I was barely riding after 30 days for a c**t start. Long story short, stop being in a damn hurry! Now I didn't say, get your horse so broke to the tarp, now hes dead to your energy. Just make sure your horse trusts you when it's time to add the pressure.

Finally learned where this came from, and I want to give credit to Lucia Clemetson Performance Horsemanship for writing this. It's been shared a lot and has reached a lot of people who feel the same way. Thank you for your words!

05/03/2021

SOLD
Who is looking for a horse? I have a client with a grade QH bay mare, around 14.2 hh, looking for a new home. Client just has other interests, and horses have taken a back burner for to long... Mare is broke nicely and started on barrels and poles, won’t take much to tune her up and finish her! Stocky girl and EASY keeper!

05/02/2021

04/19/2021

Photos from Riders Core Training's post

04/06/2021

Last night my heart was so full! Riding on his own and left me to go walk with Mitchell... 🥰

03/31/2021

Looking for 4-5 grass round bales, never rained on, no foxtail, horse quality hay. Near Muncie, IN.

03/19/2021

Meet Karen. Karen always looks like she would like to speak to the manager. 😂

03/08/2021

Mares aren’t always well liked and for the same reasons strong women aren’t.

Opinionated? Those opinions are not without good cause and maybe you can't figure them out or maybe you just don’t like her opinion of you. Change it and she will always be on your side.

Stubborn? She just won’t let you bulldoze her. Treat her with respect and her resilience will be an asset to you.

Difficult? You just can’t handle her. You don’t have what it takes.

Stick with geldings then, and leave the mare for someone who understands her and appreciates the same qualities society has subtlety taught you not to like.

Here’s to mares, to strong women, and to those who CAN and DO appreciate them!

~ The Evolving Equestrian

02/18/2021

Snow puppies!!!

02/16/2021

Class pictures! Hahaha!!!

02/15/2021

Clean puppies!!! 🛁🧼🚿

02/15/2021

Fun in the snow!

01/29/2021

After bath time snuggles!

01/06/2021

Photos from Southern Indiana Equine's post

12/28/2020

Well, Delilah had her litter last night! 10 live pups, 1 little still born... Mom is eating, drinking, and doing great! Pups all seem healthy and nursing well! Remember, we always give Delilah and the puppies 1 week to thrive before taking deposits!