Crooked Creek Ranch

11/14/2025

11/11/2025

11/02/2025

Half way through fall and we are feeling all the vibes! Welcome, November!

10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃
👻 We hope it’s spook-tacular 👻

10/29/2025

In German, there is a saying: “Reiten lernt man nur durch Fegen”, which translates as “Riding is only learned by sweeping”. I have often thought about this saying.

Wherever there are horses, there is a lot of work to be done: Cleaning, sweeping, brushing, feeding, repairing…It’s not only the fun sides of pushing yourself off the ground and into the saddle. Learning to ride takes commitment and discipline, and we might have to do a lot of things which are not very glorious. Sweeping teaches us humility and keeps us grounded.

For me, this saying is also about apprenticeship. You start at the bottom, you sweep, you get off your high horse and you become open to learn. You admit to yourself that you don’t know everything. Sweeping is good for our ego. If you are an apprentice, the master can afford be honest to you. You don’t pay for lessons and s/he has nothing to loose if s/he scares you off. And that kind of honesty we need if we want to develop.

When we do chores around the barn, we also have the chance to develop a more natural kind of relationship with our horses, or with horses in general. We are not directly focused on them and can observe how they interact and what they are doing.

Sweeping is also my zen practice. Whatever my troubles are, I usually feel better after the morning chores at the barn are done.

Academic Art of Riding - Bettina Biolik
📸 Makenna Patey

10/26/2025

🎃 Halloween fun at the ranch! Congratulations to Team Toby on the Pony Apple Bobbing championship and to Team Little Thunder on the win for Best Costume!

Want to learn how your kids can join in on our ranch events? DM us and ask about our Crooked Creek kids! programs.

Happy spooky season 👻

10/07/2025

MYTH: ACTH ALONE TELLS THE WHOLE STORY!

Testing ACTH levels alone seems to be the new shortcut to diagnosing a metabolic or endocrine disorder.

Here’s the truth! No single hormone defines your horse's endocrine health. To properly evaluate thyroid and adrenal function you need a panel of tests, including:

● ACTH, Glucose,Insulin, Cortisol, Leptin
● T3, T4, Free T4 and TSH

Only by looking at these together can you evaluate whether your horse has Cushing’s disease, a thyroid issue, Equine Metabolic syndrome or simply a normal biological response to metabolic diet, stress, or environment.

ACTH is a hormone involved in the chemical stress response, as it triggers the release of cortisol from the adrenals. A stressful environment, chronic pain and iodine deficiency all contribute to a significant increase in cortisol levels which require the involvement of increased ACTH.

Iodine is also one of the most depleted minerals in our soil. It's function is to trigger thyroid hormone production. A blood test related to Iodine deficiency will show a high TSH and T3 but a low T4 and both low Free T3 and Free T4, high ACTH, Cortisol and Glucose.

Accurate Cushings disease diagnostics must include:

✅ Dexamethasone suppression test
✅ Or comprehensive saliva, blood, and urine cortisol testing

The bloodwork will show normal to increased insulin and decreased glucose as well.

Ask your vet to run a complete endocrine panel to avoid taking unnecessary medications.

Equine biochemistry is a language, we need to listen to the whole conversation. 🎯

10/05/2025

The season of beauty and letting go 🍂

09/30/2025

Amen to that 🙌

09/23/2025

✨ Evening magic ✨

09/22/2025

Rayna’s new paddock project is well underway, but she has different plans! It seems that she wanted to visit with her horse friends in the night, so today is spent occupying the sand ring ☺️

09/17/2025

TONIGHT!! The last ladies night of 2025! Join us for some relaxation at the ranch, and an intimate demonstration with one of the horses, PW. Hear his story, and watch the delicate balance of pressure, release, timing and feel unfold.