TKS Dressage & Grooming

02/08/2025

Cleaning day again! All my equipment is cleaned and sanitized after ever single clip. It may be more work, but it gives me peace of mind.

10/07/2025

How do we recognize relaxation in our horses? Why is it important?

None of us, as people, learn well under stress so why do we expect our horses to? Learning in a relaxed frame of mind makes it easier for the horse to understand what the correct answer is to the questions we are asking.

How do we identify relaxation? Common indicators are chewing the bit (with the mouth closed), production of white foam at the lips, snorting, bringing the head down, and becoming softer through the body. Each horse can show relaxation differently though, so it’s important to know how your horse shows it.

How does your horse show relaxation? How do you encourage relaxation for your horse?

02/07/2025

My main mini man, Bailey was a good sport last night, tolerating me trying scallop braids on him. Some better spacing, and I’ll be delighted to offer these to clients with long manes for shows and photoshoots. Also tried my hand at a hunter tail braid and pinwheel and it… went haha. Don’t think I’ll be braiding at WEF any time soon 😂

04/06/2025

Myth: Spring clipping will “ruin” a horse’s summer coat.

Fact: False! Spring clipping can aid in shedding and provide a polished look even in early spring months.

Take a look at the dapples on this gorgeous 4year old mare, and that shine - even on a cloudy/smoky evening! She was clipped exactly 1 month ago and this is how her coat has grown in. You can barely see the saddle patch or hearts on her bum!

03/05/2025

Top tips for your horse’s best bath EVER!

1. If your horse is nervous, ride them first! A tired horse stands better (usually!)

2. Let the shampoo do the work for you. Let it soak, especially on tails, for at least 5 minutes before rinsing.

3. Shampoo the tail first, then wet your horse, then rinse and condition the tail, shampoo the horse, then rinse the horse and tail.

4. Never brush a wet tail! After washing and conditioning, add a good detangler with lots of slip to it, and let it air dry completely before brushing.

5. A good rubber curry after your horse is dry is the secret to a shiny coat and dapples!

01/05/2025

Conrad nails it once again 👏

29/04/2025

From shaggy to show ready! Nothing makes your horse look tidy more than a clean leg!

23/04/2025

“Banning equipment will not overcome the problems of poor riding instruction.”

Horsemanship often comes down to the details. The image is a detail of a larger picture of a rider just riding along, not appearing to cue their horse for any purpose. The detail is of their foot position that is at an angle, not parallel to the horse's spine, which would be correct.

When I saw this rider's picture, the foot position stuck out because I constantly deal with the shoeless, bitless, bridleless folks who want to ban equipment as a solution to today's common quine abuse. As anyone who reads my page knows, I believe the solution is better horsemanship education. I have heard all the excuses, "There isn't time", "Competitors don't care about their horses, only about winning" and so on. But I blame the instructors or trainers who let the details slide. Correct foot position starts in a new rider's first lesson.

Even without spurs, a turned out toe puts the edge of the boot heel into a horse's side. This can create unwanted behaviors and if done constantly, you get a dead sided horse. Either way the horse suffers. Banning equipment will not overcome the problems of poor riding instruction. The decline of horsemanship will continue until riding instructors start doing a better job of teaching. It is really that simple.

18/04/2025

All done and feeling fresh!

18/04/2025

“I wouldn’t even know where to start with clipping a horse!”

I hear it all the time and my answer is always the same - start with the parts your horse is most fussy about! I like to start with the head and legs as much as I can, because my clippers are coolest and the horse has the most patience.

18/04/2025

Now she’s fluffed and dry, I put a conditioner spray in her tail to sit, and we are ready to get rid of this trace clip!