AOPF Stables

05/31/2026

This!

05/28/2026

The 3 loose horses are safe in a paddock at AOPF.
Call Flo 678-899-3401
Or Barry 765-891-1459

05/23/2026

This is so obvious. And BTW, do you know that Phenylbutazone has been removed from the market in human uses for GI and kidney side effects, about35-49 years ago.
I was so shocked when I came to the U.S to see how often, long and without second thoughts this drug was/is used in horses!

Phenylbutazone—nicknamed “bute”—is one of the most widely used painkillers in horses. It’s cheap, effective, and commonly given for everything from arthritis to post-competition soreness. But there’s a well-known catch: bute can potentially cause gastrointestinal ulceration, and by the time a horse shows obvious signs of stomach or gut trouble, significant damage may already have occurred. This study set out to find early warning signals in the body — measurable proteins that could flag the problem before it gets serious.

The researchers used a cutting-edge technique called proteomics, which is essentially a large-scale scan of all the proteins present in a biological sample. They compared protein expression in the blood and f***s of seven horses treated with a standard clinical dose of bute (4.4 mg/kg) against seven horses given a placebo. Think of it like running a detailed ingredient check on the body’s chemistry before and after the drug — looking for anything that changed in meaningful ways.

The results were striking in scope. The analysis identified over 5,000 proteins in blood and over 3,500 in f***l samples, ultimately finding 226 significant proteins in blood and 181 in f***l samples that were notably different between the bute-treated and control groups.

One protein stood out from the crowd: fatty acid-binding protein 6 (FABP6). This protein, found in the intestinal lining, is normally involved in absorbing fats, but it leaks into the bloodstream and stool when the gut wall is damaged. The researchers validated FABP6 as a potential biomarker using a standard lab test called an ELISA — an important step toward making any future diagnostic test practical and affordable for veterinary clinics.

Why does this matter for horse owners? Early detection of bute-induced gut injury would be useful for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bute toxicity. Right now, vets often have to rely on scoping the stomach or watching for clinical deterioration. A simple blood or f***l test that could catch gut damage in its earliest stages would allow vets to intervene sooner — adjusting doses, switching medications, or adding gut-protecting treatments before a horse ends up seriously ill.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/05/14/can-a-blood-or-stool-protein-warn-us-when-a-common-horse-painkiller-is-damaging-the-gut/

05/08/2026

We do not take this into consideration often enough!
Being aware and accepting it, is the first step toward recovery!
Stop blaming yourself and your sudden lack of skills. Recognize the change in your psychology and giddy up, you can still ride.
And don’t blame your horse, he probably found out your problem before you, and as a prey animal decided that he needed to take care of himself, since you seemed so disoriented for him.

The invisible weight that no one prepares you for in midlife riding.

When riding begins to feel different, confidence is often the first thing questioned.
But for many women, what’s happening has very little to do with confidence in the way it’s usually understood.

It’s a physiological shift that is not often spoken about in riding, but has a very real impact on how safe, capable, and steady you feel in the saddle.

Hormonal change alters more than just mood.

As oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline, the nervous system becomes more reactive and less buffered. Stress responses can become quicker, stronger, and harder to settle. Situations that once felt manageable can begin to feel sharper, more intense, and less predictable — not because the rider has changed in ability, but because the system regulating those responses has become more reactive.

And something else that comes hand in hand at this stage of life is sleep disruption, which plays a significant role.

When sleep quality drops, resilience drops even further. The ability to process pressure, regulate emotion, and recover from a difficult ride becomes compromised. What might once have been a small wobble can start to carry over, linger, and build.

There are also physical changes to navigate too.🫣

Weight distribution shifts, muscle tone starts to diminish, meaning the way you feel in your body — your balance, your connection, your sense of control — may no longer feel as instinctive as it once did. Even subtle changes here can affect confidence in a way that is difficult to articulate but very easy to feel.

So the experience becomes layered.

There is the riding itself, but also a body that feels different, a system that over-reacts more quickly, and a baseline level of anxiety that is harder to shake. Together, these can create a sense that something is “off,” even when nothing obvious has gone wrong.

From the outside, this is often labelled as a loss of confidence.
From the inside, you just know that it’s more complex than that.

And because this conversation isn’t had openly enough, many women assume it is something they should be able to push through, manage better, or simply ignore.

But riding, as always, has a way of reflecting what is actually happening.

A horse introduces uncertainty by nature. That uncertainty may once have felt manageable, even enjoyable. But when the system is already working harder to regulate itself, the tolerance for that unpredictability narrows.

What feels like you are not quite who you used to be in the saddle is often the system trying to create safety with fewer available resources.

Not because you are no longer a good rider, but because something has changed.

Understanding that matters.

Because it shifts the narrative away from blame, and towards working with the body you are in now — not the one you had ten or twenty years ago - which is why some riders barely recognise themselves anymore.

Your physiology has changed, and accounting for that and starting to work with it instead of against it is the way forward.

Just know that you are not alone.

Anna

If you are ready to get back to the rider that you used to be and start enjoying it again - message me RESET.

05/07/2026

That!

𝗟𝗮𝘃 𝗵𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻

Når “frem og ned” bliver misforstået biomekanik

Mange ryttere har lært, at hesten skal gå med lav hoved-hals-position for at styrke ryggen, strække overlinjen og “bygge sig op”.
Det lyder logisk.

En længere overlinje. En mere bevægelig ryg. Et roligt udtryk.
Men her sniger nogle misforståelse sig ind 🧠

👉 𝗟𝗮𝘃 𝗵𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗿æ𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Det svarer lidt til at tro, at man bliver stærkere af at stå i foroverbøjning, bare fordi det strækker ryggen.
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🏛️ 𝗛𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗱é𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗮?
Den klassiske dressur, bl.a. hos François Robichon de La Guérinière og Gustav Steinbrecht, beskrev princippet om “frem og ned”.

Men:
✨ Det var en 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗲
✨ Det var 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗸𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘁
✨ Det krævede 𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗶𝘃 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁

Formålet var at løsne, mobilisere og invitere hesten frem til hånden.

👉 Ikke at parkere den i en lav form.

Med tiden skete der en lille, men afgørende forskydning:

🧬 Kompleks biomekanik → simpel visuel regel
➡️ “Hoved ned = korrekt arbejde”

Og så begyndte kæden at hoppe af.
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⚖️ 𝗛𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱-𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘀-𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹

Hestens hals er en aktiv del af dens balance-system.

Når halsen sænkes markant:
➡️ Tyngdepunktet forskydes frem
➡️ Belastningen på forparten øges
➡️ Hele bevægelsesmønstret ændres

Forskning viser, at hoved-hals-position påvirker både rygbevægelse og belastningsfordeling.

Men her er pointen:
👉 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗸𝘁 𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Bare fordi noget ændrer sig, betyder det ikke, at det bliver bedre.
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🧩 𝗦𝘁𝗿æ𝗸 𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗸𝗲

En ”lang” overlinje kan se korrekt ud.

Men lav hoved/halsholdning forstyrrer hestens naturlige bevægelsesmønster og disponerer den for en række problemer.

Du kan sagtens få hesten til at:
🔸 strække overlinjen
🔸 ”svinge” i ryggen (rygsving er sin egen blog værd, lad os blot sige at rygsving ikke er hvad du normalt lærer det er)
🔸 se afslappet ud

… uden at udvikle reel bæreevne.

Hvis bagbenene ikke tager vægt, vil hesten ofte:
➡️ søge ned for balance
➡️ lægge sig på forparten
➡️ aflaste bagtil

👉 Det, der ligner korrekt form, kan i virkeligheden være en kompensation.
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🚨 𝗡å𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁 𝗴å𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝘁
(især i rehabilitering)

I genoptræning er spørgsmålet ikke bare hvordan hesten bevæger sig men hvordan den belaster sig selv.

Og her bliver lav form ofte en stille faldgrube:
⚠️ Øget belastning på forben, sener og led
⚠️ Ringe evne til thorakal stabilisering
⚠️ Fastholdelse af vægt på forparten

Mange heste med:
🆘 svag bagpart
🆘 smerte
🆘 manglende kropskontrol

… vil naturligt søge ned og frem.

Det er ikke fordi de arbejder korrekt.

Det er fordi de prøver at klare opgaven bedst muligt, mens de beskytter deres svagheder.

👉 𝗞𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘁𝗶𝗴 𝘂𝗱.

Hvis man træner videre i det uden at ændre funktionen, træner man problemet stærkere.
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🔄 𝗛𝘃𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮̊ 𝗳𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻?

Det afgørende er ikke, hvor hovedet er, så længe det ikke dykker under zonen hvor halsmusklerne arbejder (som regel bringehøjde).
Det afgørende er, hvordan kroppen organiserer sig.

Tænk i:
✔️ 𝗔𝗸𝘁𝗶𝘃 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 (bagben der decelerer)
✔️ 𝗟ø𝗳𝘁 𝗶 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘅 (ikke kollaps)
✔️ 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗿𝘆𝗴 (funktion og kontrol)
✔️ 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (uden at rytteren holder hesten)

Når det er på plads, vil hoved-hals-positionen typisk falde på plads som et resultat.

👉 Ikke som noget, der skal manipuleres frem.
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🎯 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

“Frem og ned” startede som en tiltrængt pause i arbejdet, hvor hesten kunne afspænde de muskler den lige havde trænet, reorganisere og mobilisere sin krop samt give musklerne et ”stræk” gennem kroppen, som moderne forskning viser hjælper med at opbygge muskelmasse.

Men i stedet blev det til en genvej.

Og derefter til en misforståelse, hvor man tror at man kan træne sig frem til styrke og balance gennem pauseholdningen.

En hest bliver ikke stærk af at få hovedet ned.

💬 𝗗𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁æ𝗿𝗸, 𝗻å𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝘆𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘁𝗶𝗴🐎.
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🔚 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗴𝘁

👉 𝗟𝗮𝘃 𝗵𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗸
👉 𝗗𝗲𝘁 𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗸𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Lav hovedholdning kan aldrig bygge de muskler op der skal bære hestens krop – fordi den simpelthen ikke bruger de muskler i den holdning.

Hav en dejlig forårs onsdag og tak fordi du læste med 🌸🌞🐴

04/26/2026

That is what we try to do every day, every lesson every training session in hand or in the saddle!

Ce que nous acceptons aujourd’hui nuit à l’image de l’équitation

L’autre jour, je me suis exclamé, presque atterré, en découvrant sur les réseaux sociaux une jeune cavalière qui riait d’avoir enchaîné neuf « georgettes » (lorsque le cavalier anticipe le saut et se jette en avant avant que le cheval ne décolle) sur un parcours de onze obstacles. La scène était accompagnée d’un extrait sonore de film humoristique. Comme si c’était drôle.

Mais derrière ces images, un cheval en difficulté. Déséquilibré. Contraint d’encaisser des coups dans la bouche et dans le dos à chaque abord manqué.

Quelques jours plus t**d, une autre vidéo. Une cavalière en « taxi » (lorsqu’elle reste en arrière et subit le saut au lieu de l’accompagner), ballotée sur une combinaison mal abordée. Le cheval, lui, fait tout pour compenser, pour passer, pour réparer. Et là encore, on rit. Pire : on applaudit.

Comment peut-on en arriver à banaliser, voire valoriser, de tels moments de désaccord et de mal-être pour le cheval ?

Et ces images ne sont pas isolées. Cette semaine encore, sur une épreuve Pro 2 des championnats de France, un cavalier apparaissait en grande difficulté, secoué dans sa position, dans une équitation manquant de stabilité et de cohérence. Des situations qui interrogent, surtout à ce niveau, où l’on est en droit d’attendre davantage de justesse, de maîtrise et de respect dans la manière de monter.

On critique souvent le haut niveau. Mais les dérives existent à tous les étages. Dans les petites épreuves comme sur les plus grandes pistes. Ce n’est donc pas une question de catégorie, mais bien une question d’exigence.

L’équitation n’est pas qu’un sport. C’est un art. Un art de précision, d’équilibre, de discrétion. Monter, ce n’est pas “passer coûte que coûte”. C’est être à sa place, accompagner sans contraindre, dialoguer plutôt qu’imposer.

Cela demande une préparation réelle, y compris physique. Être capable de se tenir, de ne pas gêner son cheval, de l’accompagner dans l’effort. Lorsque ce n’est pas le cas, il faut savoir s’adapter, travailler autrement, progresser différemment. Pour le cheval.

Car lui ne choisit pas. Il subit. Il compense. Il donne, souvent au-delà du raisonnable.

Faire des erreurs est normal. Les afficher sans recul, les transformer en fierté, ne l’est pas. Ce que nous montrons et applaudissons construit les standards de notre sport.

Le plus préoccupant n’est pas seulement l’erreur. C’est le regard porté dessus.

Il est temps de retrouver de la lucidité. Ne pas tout accepter. Ne pas tout banaliser. Être capable de dire : ce n’est pas juste. Non pour condamner, mais pour protéger.

Les fédérations ont leur rôle à jouer : encadrer, éduquer, rappeler les fondamentaux. Car l’image de l’équitation ne se joue pas uniquement au plus haut niveau. Elle se construit chaque jour.

On le sait, l’équitation est un sport exigeant, souvent associé à une certaine élite sociale. Mais les moyens ne remplaceront jamais la justesse. L’argent ne doit pas ouvrir toutes les portes si les bases ne sont pas là. Une discipline qui renonce à ses valeurs finit toujours par se fragiliser.

Heureusement, beaucoup de cavaliers travaillent avec sérieux, humilité et respect. Ce sont eux qu’il faut mettre en lumière.

Car au fond, la vraie question n’est pas de franchir un obstacle.

C’est la manière dont on le franchit.

Monter à cheval doit être un plaisir, mais pas un jeu.
C’est une responsabilité.

Sportivement votre,
Éric

Credit Photo: Mathieu LCH Photo
Voilà ce que l’on doit valoriser : justesse, position, mentalité.
C’est pour cela que j’ai choisi Thibaut Heinguez pour monter mon cheval.

04/11/2026

What a change with our own horses!

You may have noticed over the past several years that an increasing number of horses at the pinnacle of the showjumping sport are competing barefoot, Annika Kortlang writes. This includes highly successful horses such as King Edward, United Touch S, Donatello 141, and more. At the 2024 FEI World Cup Finals, the top three finishers were all barefoot. The 2025 winner, Julien Epaillard, keeps all his horses barefoot. Riders and grooms of these elite barefoot horses have indicated in interviews that they believe their horses benefit from being barefoot.

What might these benefits be?

While I don’t show at the 5* Grand Prix level, I do compete my barefoot horses in the junior hunters and equitation divisions at A shows up and down the West Coast. My horses did not come to us barefoot, and I have been involved in transitioning all four of our horses from shod to barefoot. In the process, I have learned how to seek out science-based information about hoofcare, what transitioning horses to barefoot entails, and how transitioning to barefoot can help some horses.

The equine foot is a marvel of engineering. We usually see just the tough keratin exterior, but encapsulated in the hoof is a complex apparatus of bones, tendons, ligaments, vasculature, cartilage, and other soft tissues that are designed to absorb shock and return energy to the horse. Metal horseshoes, which have changed little in over a thousand years, provide obvious protection to the perimeter of the underside of the hoof. They do so, however, at some cost to hoof function and internal balance.

As explained by Dr Stephen O’Grady and Dr Hilary Clayton, two widely published equine veterinarians and researchers, “The equine foot has evolved as the interface between the limb and the ground. Its functions include accepting the weight of the horse, providing shock absorption, dissipating the energy of impact, and providing traction. A structurally healthy foot in its natural or barefoot state outperforms the shod foot in these functions. Furthermore, the structures of the foot have an inherent ability to change shape, strengthen and improve over time through the process of adaptation” (O’Grady, Stephen and Clayton, Hilary (2024) “Barefoot methodology as a viable farriery option.” Equine Veterinary Education Vol 36(8)). Open-heeled metal shoes concentrate load on the perimeter of the hoof, prevent the heels from expanding and flexing independently, and refer shock back up the leg.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/04/20/are-you-curious-about-barefoot/
📸 Photo © Helen ST via Flickr

04/05/2026

Aopf Stables has 2 full board stalls available, for mare or gelding.
Come enjoy our indoor, 2 outdoor rings, XCountry field with water complex, many trails and friendly atmosphere at AOPF Stables.
Contact Florence 6788993401

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