Equinox Equestrian Center

08/17/2025

Yes I know i am supposed to be doing the course but the doom phase is real 😃😃

We often hear the words "pain is in the brain" and while it is correct the brain does not feel pain because of the lack of nociceptors (specialised nerve endings), it is responsible for sending the signal of pain to the body in order to warn that area to down tools and limit activity, yet i find now we are so focused on the "nervous system" that we are beginning to lose sight that the areas of all the horse still need addressed and correct movement can only occur when the body is no longer on red alert

Muscles often lose out and are somewhat thought of as puppets besides structures like fascia but they are important in whole horse health and a severe muscle injury can takes months to heal
We must not forget every muscle will tell us a story what lies deeper so it is important that the health of these are

So if you horse has say done the spilts in the field we have to think, how much out of range did the muscles and joints go and how long would it take to heal and how quick we bring them back into work because there is no "lameness"

Has your horse scrambled over a gate?? Gone over a stable door with those hinds legs trailing mid air?? What about the illiopsoas or the groin muscles.

Often running your hands on the pectorals or hamstrings it may feel stringy like guitar strings and that can tell you a story of maybe the horses past incidents.

Rehab and recovery ? As I sit nursing a torn gastrocnemius i can tell you the pain is not there all the time but one wrong step and I dont know where to place my foot to alleviate the pain, my achilles tendon is affected, so what about the horse that stops dead, explodes we often miss muscle issues because we jump straight to a bone issue, yet the spasm from a sore muscle can be sporadic and intense.
Has your horse had surgery?? What about the muscle that was cut through ?? Is the area now weaker as scar tissue has taken over from healthy muscle tissue are we bringing the horse back to work to soon once the surgery sight has healed.

Rapid muscle loss or an injury must always be seen by a vet it is so important that the underlying issue is first diagnosed, recovery time can vary from a few days to months

Hope this helps xx

08/01/2025

Applies to drivers as well as riders says the pot to the kettle. Sigh.

I have a friend who deals with lots of adult amateur riders, and she has a strong conviction that the ONE CHALLENGE faced by that group as an entirety is lack of physical strength and fitness.

Obviously, she’s painting in too large brush strokes, There are 70 year old adult amateurs who also run marathons, but her point is that the sedentary lifestyle that’s so normal in modern America has allowed lots of adults to lose what they had I high school and college. It’s not that many of them CAN’T get it back, she says. The problem is making that a high priority when so many other obligations clamor for their time and energy. And, of course, illness and injury restrict some.

Strong athletes can do so much more, though, than weak athletes, and that is a simple reality that supports Susan’s theory. But this is actually good news, because it CAN be changed, which is hugely more positive than if all hope was gone.

In this photo, Walt Gervais, who took up riding in his mid 50s is entering the steeplechase starting box for his first preliminary 3-day event, and he was 75. It CAN be done. Hard as hell? Yes. Possible though? Also yes.

07/14/2025

Gareth was only with us a short time. He will be missed. Rest in peace.

05/25/2025

05/16/2025

'Allowing the horse to stretch on a long rein' (sometimes called 'chewing the reins out of the hands') requires your horse to lower his head forward and down while maintaining an elastic contact with your hands. His nose should be slightly in front of the vertical (not curling up behind the vertical), and his mouth should be at least level with his shoulder.

The purpose of this movement is to test your horse's willingness to work through from behind and into the contact, and to demonstrate balance, relaxation, and suppleness.

Here's what the judge wants to see:

✅ As your horse stretches forward and down, your horse's mouth should reach inline with the point of his shoulder.
✅ Although your reins are lengthened, a consistent and elastic contact must be maintained throughout the stretch.
✅ Your horse must remain balanced, with his hind legs stepping under to support the stretch and remaining light in his shoulders.
✅ The rhythm and tempo of the pace must remain the same before, during, and after the movement.
✅ The rider should take the reins back smoothly, and there should be no loss of balance, resistance, or tension.

05/12/2025

https://amzn.to/3RWMMEv

04/28/2025

The April/May newsletter is out with results from our USEF show at the beginning of March. Take a look.

Email from Equinox Equestrian Center E-Newsletter April/May 2025 USEF Show at Equinox Equestrian Center Written by Gareth Archer Selwood For our first official USEF Horse Show at Equinox Equestrian Ce

04/27/2025

Last Call For Entries for our Spring School Show on May 3.

Equinox Equestrian Center Spring Schooling Show

Saturday May 3, 2025
Driving Dressage and Speed Course Event
Entries Open: April 1, 2025 Close: April 27, 2025
Equinox Equestrian Center
22507 NW County Road 1493; Alachua, FL 32615
Divisions: Training, Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced by Request
Classes: VSE, Small Pony, Pony, Horse
Turnouts: Single, Pairs, and Teams
No Special Qualifications
Show Manager and Contact: Kami Landy
email: [email protected]
Phone: 305-781-3882
page: Equinox Equestrian Center
Judge: Gareth Archer Selwood
Course Design: Gary M. Yeager
Veterinarian: Springhill Equine (352)472-1620
Tentative Schedule:
9:30 AM Dressage Test
Small Break
Speed Course
Lunch
All trainers (Gary Yeager, Marianna Yeager, Gareth Selwood, and Kami Landy) are available for a private lesson either riding or driving. You can make arrangements with them directly.
The wooded trails will be open for leisure driving eg take your pony or horse for a drive through marked trail in the woods if you wish.
Dressage Test: Choose your dressage test. Tell us what test you want to drive for the judge so we can have the correct form for the judge.
Footing: Grass, all rings 40m X 80m
Speed Course will be two marathon obstacles; the mound and the grid; with a mini cones course (ten cone sets) in between. Cones: standardized settings for cones You must wear a helmet and a vest for the speed course. A marathon carriage is preferred for the course.
Arena/warmup footing: Fiber arena and grass area
Negative Coggins REQUIRED
Full refund on scratched entry prior to closing
Stabling: There are a limited number of 10 x 10 stalls under pole barn by covered arena
Food on grounds: TBD
Entry Fees: $75 per driver
Stabling Fees: $25 per horse/night
Extra shavings: $8/bag
Hotels Nearby:

Hampton Inn & Suites Alachua I-75
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
America’s Best Value Inn
Camping: Limited camping is available in the pasture near trailer parking. No hookups.
Directions to EEC: Exit 399 on I-75; take US 441 South through Alachua (heading toward Gainesville); Turn left onto CR 235; stay right at the fork in the road; turn left onto CR 121; drive through La Crosse; at the railroad crossing turn right onto CR 1493; Equinox Equestrian Center is 1.4 miles down the road on the right.
Spring 2025 Registration Formhttps://equinoxequestriancenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/EECRegistrationForm_Spring2025.pdf
Send check and entry forms to:
Equinox Equestrian Center
22507 NW County Road 1493; Alachua, FL 32615
Or scan and email to [email protected]
Paypal fees to [email protected]

04/18/2025

🐎COOLING HOT HORSES - THE STATE OF THE ART🐎

*** PLEASE SHARE ***

Apologies to those in cool climates at the present time :)

Seems we need to keep sharing this basic information to counter the myths that keep being circulated by certain "experts" :(

🐎WHY DO WE NEED TO COOL HORSES AFTER EXERCISE OR IF THEY GET TOO HOT?
-Horses produce heat 3-5 times faster on a per kg basis than we do
-Although horses are 6-7 times heavier, they only have 2 to 2.5 times as much surface area
-The majority of heat (~85%) is lost at the body surface
-Heat loss is also impaired in horses because they are covered in hair
-Horses can sweat faster than any other animal
-Sweating is efficient but slow
-Cooling with cold water is fast
-When horses compete in hot climates they can struggle to cool down after
-We cool them down with cold water (less than 15°C/60°F) to reduce the risk of heat illness and because there is no advantage to them being hot and uncomfortable after exercising. The quicker they cool, the quicker they drink, eat and recover.
-The methods to cool them are now well understood.

🐎Since Atlanta 1996 we have known that using continuous application of cold water (less than 15°C/60°F) all over the horses body without scraping is the most effective way to cool down horses that are moderately to severely hyperthermic (re**al temperature in excess of ~40°C/104°F), especially in hot or hot/humid conditions.

🐎The sources for this evidence are:
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLISHED PAPERS
1) Williamson, L.S., White, S., Maykuth, P., Andrews, F., Sommerdahl, C. and Green, E. Comparison between two post exercise cooling methods. Equine Vet J., 27(S18), 337-340.
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/7MBUJJWJZPVWQKTNIJWN?target=10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb04948.x
2) Marlin, D. J., Scott, C. M., Roberts, C. A., Casas, I., Holah, G., & Schroter, R. C. (1998). Post exercise changes in compartmental body temperature accompanying intermittent cold water cooling in the hyperthermic horse. Equine veterinary journal, 30(1), 28–34.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9458396/
3) Kohn, C.W., Hinchcliff, K.W. and McKeever, K.H. (1999) Evaluation of washing with cold water to facilitate heat dissipation in horses exercised in hot, humid conditions. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 01 Mar 1999, 60(3):299-305. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10188810/
4) Takahashi, Y., Ohmura, H., Mukai, K., Shiose, T., & Takahashi, T. (2020). A Comparison of Five Cooling Methods in Hot and Humid Environments in Thoroughbred Horses. Journal of equine veterinary science, 91, 103130.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32684268/
5) Kang, H., Zsoldos, R.R., Skinner, J.E., Gaughan, J.B. and Guitart, A.S. (2021) Comparison of post-exercise cooling methods in horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 100 (2021) 103485
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103485

🐎DATA COLLECTED & ANALYSED AT
a) Atlanta 1995 Olympic Test Event
b) Atlanta 1996 Olympics
c) Athens 2003 Olympic Test Event
d) Athens 2004 Olympics
e) Beijing 2007 Olympic Test Event
f) Beijing 2008 Olympics
g) Tryon 2018 World Equestrian Games
h) Tokyo 2019 Olympic Test Event
i) Tokyo 2020(1) Olympic Games Dressage and Eventing

🐎Cooling hot horses with cold water DOES NOT
1) cause muscle damage
2) cause laminitis
3) induce shock
4) give horses heart attacks
5) prevent them from cooling by constriction of skin blood flow
Water left on horses DOES NOT
1) insulate and prevent heat loss
2) cause them to overheat

🐎It is NOT MORE EFFECTIVE TO
1) start at the feet and work up
2) scrape water off whilst cooling (it causes them to warm up)
3) focus on large blood vessels
4) cover the horse with wet towels
5) place ice on large blood vessels near the surface such as the jugular veins or femoral arteries
6) put ice in the re**um
7) rely on misting fans

*** PLEASE SHARE ***

04/12/2025

Three weeks until EEC's Spring School Show om May 3, 2025. End your season with a bit of fun!

Equinox Equestrian Center Spring Schooling Show Saturday May 3, 2025 Driving Dressage and Speed Course Event Entries Open: April 1, 2025 Close: April 27, 2025 Equinox Equestrian Center 22507 NW County Road 1493; Alachua, FL 32615 Divisions: Training, Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced by Request Cl...