Rabbit Mountain Horse Training

09/01/2024

If you're wondering how Whinny's driving debut went well here is a quick upload before I get through my camera photos. We had an absolutely amazing team out today and Whinny made us all so proud 🤩

09/01/2024

Yeehaw 🤠

08/30/2024

We are almost ready for Hymers this weekend! Just a few more outfit fixtures to procure and a harness and a cart that needs a good clean and we are all ready. Hopefully Whinny is ready for his debut 🤩😍

08/29/2024

These sunsets 🌅 😍

08/23/2024

Yesterday was a really exciting day for Whinny the Mini because we had our first off property pull!!🤩🤩

I am so proud of this little guy and have really been enjoying having him in the training roster this month as a cool “break” from all of the young riding horses.

He did an excellent job at his first time out and we could not be more proud of him! 🥳🥳❤️❤️

Next stop ??? If you see us driving to Kakabeka to get groceries just remember; gas is expensive 😂😂⛽️⛽️

08/23/2024

08/12/2024

Today’s project is restoring some obstacles for this weekends Adult Pony Camp 😍😍😍 Alex was a big help this morning!

08/07/2024

In ten days
We find out
Who will be
King 👑
Of
The
Cows
🐄 👑😈

Katie and Griffin

08/06/2024

Happy Tuesday 🌻☀️🍉 We are soaking up every minute of sun in between horses this week

08/03/2024

It’s almost time!!!!🥳🥳🥳

Adult pony camp takes place this August! Pm us to send a deposit to hold your spot. We are so excited for this year 🤩🤩🤩

07/24/2024

Dolly’s bum dapples are helping me get over the fact that she’s not grey 😍😍😍

07/20/2024

Friday night paint night 🎨🎨🎨🐴🐴🐴

07/12/2024

What a day!! ☀️🥵 We got all of our small squares in and a huge thank you goes out to everyone who came out tonight to help!! We got them all unloaded and put away. Those bales smell fantastic even if we all ended up with the infamous hay scritches all over us 😂😂

What a fantastic year for hay we are having here 😍😍😍

Here’s a pic of Dolly from her ride with Miss Jayda just because I love this horse and how she is developing ❤️

07/07/2024

“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”

💪🐴

07/03/2024

Opting for a professional horse trainer brings a wealth of benefits. Professionals have the experience, knowledge, and skills required to train horses effectively and safely. They understand horse behavior, training techniques, and can tailor training programs to suit each horse's needs. This expertise helps in achieving desired results efficiently and ensures the well-being of the horse during the training process. On the other hand, choosing someone inexperienced can lead to ineffective training, potential harm to the horse, and may not yield the desired outcomes. Investing in a professional trainer not only benefits the horse but also provides peace of mind to the owner knowing that their horse is in capable hands.

Training a horse to load into a horse trailer is a crucial skill. We start by desensitizing the horse to the trailer by allowing them to explore it freely(usually days if not weeks leading up to our expected travel date and definitely not the day off when things tend to be already stressful). Using positive reinforcement like treats to create a positive association with the trailer in a low stress situation is key. Practice leading the horse in and out of the trailer, rewarding each step towards progress. Take it slow, be patient, and always end on a positive note. Consistency and gentle encouragement are key to successfully training a horse to load into a trailer.

Happy training and remember; egos don’t belong in horse training🐴

07/02/2024

🎥🎥🎥🎥

I have waited a long time to share this on here. This video compilation of 💜Dolly💜 is very close to my heart. I had ages to spend on the ground with her while I was pregnant and I am so happy with her progress and where she is at now. It was not an easy journey; it was a long road of hard work.

And it’s far from over. Developing any horse takes time. Years. Decades even- before they are solid citizens. But my goal with this filly is to make sure she is set up for success in the future. Teaching her how to use her body correctly is just a small part of setting her up for long term soundness and longevity.

This is just a part of our time together 💜 Enjoy.

07/01/2024

"The horse is a mirror to your soul. And sometimes you might not like what you see in the mirror." – Horse trainer Buck Brannaman

07/01/2024

Well I had a fantastic ride back in the saddle today; how about you guys? 🐴🤔

06/30/2024

Okay I need some opinions 🤔🤔🧐🧐

I picked up a new to me trough on the left and gave it a good scrub. We’re on the way to getting it nice and clean and ready for use HOWEVER I know how fast this little bu**er is going to turn green with our hot weather this week.

Aside from the obvious- dumping, scrubbing and refilling every 2-3 days does anyone have any proven ways to keep the algae away? I read on Facebook about a new copper wire hack but haven’t any personal experience with it myself. My priority here is clean, fresh and cool drinking water for all of our ponies but I am wondering if I anyone has any trough “hacks” 💦💧🤔

06/29/2024

👩‍🎓👩‍🎓👩‍🎓A very happy graduation day goes to our wonderful co-op student Daylynn!👩‍🎓👩‍🎓👩‍🎓

Thank you for being such a kind and caring integral part of our team this year especially while I was very pregnant and not able to get around quite as well as normal😂❤️🥰

We are so lucky to have Jayda back as our summer student just in time for training season. Both of these hard working young girls deserve a round of applause for doing the hard work day in and day out while maintaining excellent grades💪📗 We are so proud of both of you 🥰

06/28/2024

If you’re looking to buy a horse, please don’t buy one that is in a daily program if you, at best, ride two or three times each month.

If you primarily trail ride, don’t shop in the arenas. It isn’t fair to you; it isn’t fair to the horse.

If you’re a rider who needs a great deal of control, don’t buy the horse who revels in freedom of movement, the one who can—and must—go for miles.

If you're in the place where your learning is new and almost overwhelming, don’t buy the horse who still needs a teacher.

Why not? I’ll repeat, it isn’t fair to the horse.

Riders, we need to get honest with where we are in the saddle! Now. Not someday, not maybe, but now. Our reluctance to do so is perhaps the biggest reason it’s so hard to find a good match.

If we’re afraid, even just a little bit, then we need to own it. If we no longer ride as often, or as athletically as we once did, then we need to say so. Why?

Because until we get honest with ourselves, we will never be fair to the horse.

Photo: Mary Durant.

06/28/2024

Dreaming of sunny days with all of this rain today ☔️
What a busy week on the farm! So excited to share some progress updates from the ponies but for now I am spending the afternoon on the couch catching up on some paperwork 🙈🌧️📝

He is almost past his awkward teenage stage

06/25/2024

It’s been a slower start to our training season after welcoming a second son to our family 🥰❤️ But we are so excited to share some of what we have been up to the last few weeks!

04/22/2024

Our second featured horse for lease this spring/summer season is Miss Diamond 💎

Diamond has done some extensive local travelling and just last year was successfully shown in the jumping ring. She is looking for a potential partner for the 2024 show season.

This is what her mom has to say about her:

Introducing Ms Diamond
She is an 11 year old quarter horse draft cross available for on site part time lease.
She goes by many names of endearment; Big D or Double D - for this conversation we will stick with Diamond.
Diamond is a big comfy couch with a smooth gait. She is eager to please and has a high work ethic. Diamond is dependable and takes care of her rider.
Diamond can be ridden in either English or Western tack.
Diamond lives at Rabbit Mointain Horse Training where she is well loved.
Lesson are available and can be arranged on site. Travel for clinics, shows etc is also an option. She is great on and off property.

Please send us a PM for more information or to set up an appointment to try her 😊

04/20/2024

We often get asked what Neil can do with a c**t in 30 days…. But the answer is completely dependent on your horse! No two horses learn at the same rate.
Breeding, confirmation, temperament and maturity all play a major part in your horses training, especially in the beginning.
30 days is just a START. Some horses are loping circles and riding quiet outside in 30 days, some are not ready to leave the round pen!
Broke horses are not made in months, it takes years!
When sending them to a trainer- you are taking them to a new barn with new people, a new routine, new water, hay and feed and so many new experiences. It can be very overwhelming for a horse! And rushing the process just adds to the stress.

This is such a crucial time as your c**t begins its career! Stop putting unrealistic expectations on your horse. And your trainer.
Give your trainer time to work and your horse the time to progress at his/her own rate.

04/19/2024

😅😂

04/18/2024

Well I think it’s safe to say spring has finally sprung! 🌸🌼☀️

Our 2024 is going to get under way soon and we have some awesome opportunities for some local riders here.

We have two extremely talented horses coming up for lease this week here on site. Both have local show records and will be available to intermediate riders. If you are looking for something fun and safe to ride this year send us a PM! We are allowing some test rides to find the best possible fit for these horses and our farm 🐴🤠

03/14/2024

Well I’m certainly not complaining about this 😍😍😍☀️☀️☀️