Hanging F Horsemanship

09/13/2024

HORSEMAN
There are horse trainers, horse traders and horse whisperers. There are show men, show boaters and show offs. There are fast talkers and would be magicians.

But then there are true Horsemen and Horsewomen, and these are harder to find and sometimes even harder to recognize because they are often tucked away in quiet hidden places, working slowly and silently without national recognition or appreciation.

Often times, the true horseman or woman does not have the most horses in training or those horses that are exceptionally bred or high priced. Often times, the true Horsemen and Women do not have access to big money owners or run through dozens and dozens of prospects in order to find the few that can take the pressure of aged event prize money or high profile exhibition. Many times, the true horsemen and women are slow and steady, methodical and patient, training on an individual horse's timeline and not to a rigid show schedule set by the seasons or show management.

These people recognize a horse's physical and mental capabilities and showcase their assets without sacrificing their bodies or minds. Horsemen and women take their time developing their horses' skills and confidence through a traditional steps, one before the next, placing just as much credence in their teaching relationship and equine partnership as they do in show pen results. Horsemen and women are humble because their reward comes from within; from knowing that they have taught through kindness, patience, fortitude, and logic. Their rewards coming from creating a confident horse that works with them and not for them, horses that are not scared or intimidated, horses with solid foundations that last season after season and that carry a gamut of riders from the experienced non pro to the Amateur to the Green Reiner. Always Dedicated. Always Patient. Always Consistent. Whether it be riding young horses, resurrecting older horses, or maintaining the Steady Eddy, a True Horseman is one of the first ones to throw a leg over in the morning and one of the last ones to pull their boots off in the evening.
Horsemen and women are a pleasure to watch in the arena or on the ranch as they diligently and patiently impart their knowledge and logic to both horses and students.

In an era where the horse industry is so economically driven and success is measured primarily in prize money and accolades, the tradition of the true horseman and the process of training horses seems to be changing; giving way to an assembly line mentality where immediate success and financial compensation take precedence over handcrafted quality and longevity. Dedicated to their craft, loyal to their students, ambitious, hardworking and a role model for anyone interested in making their way in an industry dominated by pressure to build great animals in less and less time, old fashioned horsemen are women are now Artisans, assets to our heritage and traditions and harder and harder to find.

A thoughtful teacher, a thorough instructor, a gentle hand, a firm guide, a rational yet fearless showman, the greatest compliment that I think could ever be given to someone who works with horses, is to be thought of as a Horseman.

📝Becky Hanson

BoRussia at sunset
📸Dana White

03/26/2024

12/24/2023

A very Merry Christmas from our farm to yours.
The page became so riddled with scam followers that I stopped posting as per usual. But to all those who have been following from the start my family wishes you all the Christmas blessings and a beautiful New Years 2023.

11/29/2023

If you ain’t riding this poised or disciplined then you’ve got some work to do. This is how all riders should strive to carry themselves regardless of discipline.

05/31/2023

Yes, yes and yes! We don’t run em around like a giraffe, we teach them how to work properly from the ground up.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2776445875808023&id=1086500204802607&mibextid=qC1gEa

05/21/2023

~Smokey skies~

Well here we are a distance from any active wildfire but engulfed in smoke non the less. Suppose it was a matter of time before we became exposed to everything happening around us. We’re fortunate in the way that our stability isn’t being threatened and we can go about our daily without the fear of evacuation. My love and support goes to those who aren’t as fortunate. It seems like yesterday when we were set up in a high risk area of BC, always ready with a plan in place as soon as the smell of smoke was in the air. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic breathing the thick haze in that we’re currently experiencing, all the while thinking that I intended to leave that part far behind.

Unfortunately there are things out of our immediate control, this being one of them. But there are things we can do to reduce the stress on our horses. Coming from a veteran wildfire smoker here’s what I do to help my horses out…
- Unlimited fresh drinking water. Keep those waterers clean with ample refills.
- I water down my dry pens to reduce dust and momentarily provide cool contact frequently.
- Limit or avoid physical exertion altogether. Your upcoming show is important but not as important as your horses health. There will always be other shows or events.
- For horses with compromised respiratory issues watering down or soaking feed goes a long way. This is helpful for all horses as well.
- For those in immediate high risk areas… don’t wait until it’s an emergency to start preparing. Have a plan to evacuate in a quick min and ensure your horses have some sort of contact information attached to them in the event you get separated.

Thank you to the crews who are working exceptionally hard to contain the 90 + active fires burning in Alberta alone. Your commitment and efforts don’t go unappreciated. Let’s hope for some heavy rain. Until then take care and keep in mind the little extra effort makes a big difference in reducing stress for our horses.

Here’s mine seeking relief in the tree cover where it stays cooler and the smell of sap and earth tend to cut the smoke down.

05/19/2023

Fact or Fiction?

“Feet like concrete” is revered as superior.

You may recall a time of two where you have seen this “ “ in a pro list (opposed to a con) for a sale ad. I have had new to me trimming clients proudly state this during our initial consultation. I grew up being educated with the old school mentality that black feet were preferred and concrete feet the peak of ideal.

I’m going to quite possibly walk the plank of debate but I’m going to come right out and say FICTION.

Why? Because “feet like concrete” can be exceptionally painful. The hoof itself is designed to flex and absorb shock. When all concepts become too dry and hard, chipping and cracking becomes apparent not to mention a hardened frog who’s main contribution is to absorb compressions and act like a pump to cycle blood supply (much like a heart). So imagine for a moment your heart turning to concrete (yes I’ve already imagined the puns associated). This becomes progressively troublesome when horses are also not self exfoliating therefore retaining a ton of false sole that undeniably hosts a variety of fungus and bacteria beneath.

Here’s what we can do to help this time of year where concrete feet are coming on strong. -Regular appointments with your hoof care professional, this will keep those feet manageable instead of remedial.
-Regular soakings, this will loosen off hardened material and help with moisture absorption.
-Provide a moist or muddy area for horses to self regulate time spent deep conditioning, they’re smarter than you think.
There is a plethora of assistance we can provide but these are just a few that are quick, easy and standard. Your farrier will thank you, it’s truthfully hard on our tools and equally as hard on us servicing concrete feet.

On that note happy trails and enjoy the heat.

04/21/2023

Addicted.

04/21/2023

I am amazed at the extremely poor attitude and huge ego issues many in the horse industry have. Not all, but many.
They seem to have a short memory. They forget that once they weren't very handy. That they couldn't get the correct lead or even feel when their horse was on the wrong one.
They couldn't sit and ride the lope, had no clue what their hands or legs were doing.
They forget that they weren't born knowing everything.
So, for all the ego maniacs who talk down to, belittle, yell at, make fun of, those who are paying for your time and knowledge.... Here, let me hold the reins while you get off your high horse.
We all pull our boots on one at a time :)

04/20/2023

Spring has sprung AKA cleanup time.

It felt like the longest winter of my life rolled into a very busy spring cleaning tornado. We settled into our work boots back when there was still two feet of snow and we’ve been solidly committed since then. Fencing, picking, demo, painting, building, you name it we’ve done it.

Our horses came in from their winter situation and are settling in at home. Our barn got gutted of old contraptions suited for calving, and replaced with our first hay load of the year. Old fence lines were pulled tight once again. And antique treasures have been recovered from the depths of our corals. It’s been busy.

Although we still have huge hurdles to accomplish before everything resumes to the norm, I’m relieved to know were on the path to getting there.

Here’s some snaps from the past few days since I took a moment to do so.

03/30/2023

Available in the MD of Wainwright only.
With days getting longer I’m able to take on a FEW more trimming clients.

That being said…
-priority given to new clients committing to a schedule.
-no Ill mannered or green farrier broke horses.

Experienced in rehab, laminitic and pathological cases.

PM or contact Christy 780-360-9898 for availability, price list or general inquiry.

03/30/2023

It’s the blood, sweat and tears that strains the body but soothes the soul.

I can’t remember a time where my body wasn’t physically jacked up but I can surely remember how I felt mentally after every time I put the grunt work in. The truth is after every jarred spine, every rasped off knuckle, every saddle sore…etc, I feel like I bettered myself. Even if it’s just a 1% improvement day, it was better than yesterday.

The hard work is where I find the better me after. And by god I’ll surely get to the end with a hitch in my giddy-up, poorer than Joe Dirt, and with stories to tell to anyone who will listen before I’ll compromise my happiness hocking cheap crap for an ungrateful corporate company just because that seemed normal.

Do what challenges you. Do what allows you to grow. And no matter what, do what makes you happy and brings you peace.

03/20/2023

Well hot diggity dog, here we go… finally.

I haven’t been so active with my writing lately, or anything for that matter. Winter blues we’ll call it. Complete lack of inspiration in the cold, snowy season.

But alas out popped the sun, we climbed above 0 degrees and the melting snow began pooling into glorious little puddles of spring hopefulness.
The first sign of shedding brings ambition for me. It’s like the promise of good times to unfurl in the near future. It means productivity and accomplishment.

I’ve got some rather large projects to get a start on as soon as the thawing prairie soil permits. And what finally feels like the imminent end to the long winter, I’m getting eager to do it in preparation to start a great riding/training season.

Here’s to fencing, digging, building and organizing 🍻

02/05/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=645137734289111&id=100063786693578&mibextid=l066kq

Did you know that a horse that hasn't been how to properly support and carry the weight of a rider will instinctually hollow their back away from the weight of the rider? Many riding horses spend their entire careers going around with hollow backs, even upper level competition horses.

Carrying weight with a hollow back is, at best, uncomfortable for the horse, and in many cases is actually quite painful. Many horses tolerate this discomfort because they don't know any alternative. Other horses develop behavioral problems and become labeled as bad horses.

For a horse to remain healthy and comfortable in his work he must be taught how to support the weight of a rider with first a neutral back and then later on with a lifted back. This is a process that takes time, as you can't rush muscle development.

I've found that the best way to teach a horse to lift his back is on the ground first, through classical in hand work. Without the extra weight of the rider, it is easier for the horse to learn how to lift his back and it is easier for him to develop the strength that he needs in order to maintain a lifted back for an extended amount of time.

Once the horse has and understanding of this healthier posture and has developed some strength, it will be much easier for him to accomplish the same thing with a rider on his back.

The horse will then feel more comfortable and have an easier time performing his job. He will be less prone to injuries and behavioral problems and he will be able to continue doing his job for much longer than if he never learned to move in a healthy way.

As stewards of our horses, we owe it to them to give them the best lives possible. That includes taking the time to teach them how to move in a way that is healthy and comfortable for them.

Want to learn more about the horse's back and how you can teach him a healthy posture? We invite you to join our Healthy Movement through In Hand Work course, available in our Virtual Classroom. You'll learn how you can help your horse to move in a healthier way through the use of In Hand Work.

This work is beneficial for horses of all ages, breeds, and disciplines and no previous experience is necessary.

Learn more and sign up here- https://tuskeydressage.com/register/virtual-classroom/