A Leg Up Equestrian

11/24/2024

This year we are thankful for happy horses, the whole ALU crew and our newly extended barn fam with the HGE team 💕🦃 This is the true meaning of barn life!

11/21/2024

When it’s your birthday but it’s still No-Stirrup-November!

11/17/2024

Cuteness overload with this pair 😍😍

11/05/2024

This past weekend was a divide and conquer kind of weekend. 2 shows, 3 different horses and endless accomplishments!

To start, and Seven took on the intro dressage classes at the All Thoroughbred Showdown hosted by coming in 5th, 3rd and 3rd in his second show ever. Seven has been transforming over the last year to become more quiet, straight and supple and the judges scored reflected that.

Second, and Divy conquered the 2’6 hunter derby at Glenayre coming in 9th in a very large, competitive class. The confidence that these two have built over the last few months has lead to relaxed, clean courses with a happy horse and rider. We can’t wait to see how that translates as they step up into higher divisions.

Last, but not least, and Macaroni have stepped into the show ring together for the first time in over a year! After multiple medical issues, setbacks, lameness, stall rest and months of slow rehabbing, this team has finally made it back into the competition world. They stood out in a large class to miss the cutoff for the derby by only just a few points. Seeing these two back doing what they love has truly been a pleasure and we can’t wait for them continue taking on the show world!!

Congratulations to all the ALU crew and thank you to all the helping hands that make days like these possible. It seriously takes a village.

10/30/2024

Shenanigans this past weekend

10/23/2024

On Wednesday’s, we wear pink. 🩷

09/09/2024

Eventing debut

08/24/2024

New definition of golden hour last night in Assunpink 😍

07/16/2024

Christmas in July this weekend!

07/10/2024

Thank you always Josh Jafar for keeping our horses feet happy and healthy!

It's National Farriers Week! Let's celebrate the hard work that our farriers put in daily to partner with equine veterinarians and ensure the health and well-being of our horses. Proper hoof care is essential for a sound and happy horse, so it goes without saying that a skilled farrier is both a necessity and a tremendous asset.

Don't forget to give a shoutout to your farriers this week and show them your appreciation for their dedication to their craft!

06/11/2024

was a success this weekend! Our riders had some strong rides out in the derby to then switch roles into the jumper ring for a gambler’s choice ride for the pledge! Our safari explorers took their giraffe, okapi, and lion through a series of jumps to raise money for the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.

06/07/2024

Best part of getting caught riding in the rain? The rainbow afterwards!

05/07/2024

03/12/2024

we take pride that we have a small group where we can provide the upmost care for our horses. but we are also so thankful for the barn family that we have that are so present and assist us in caring for all of beloved horses! it is a full time job. 24-7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!!

Full Board Isn't Full Service

A friend asked me to write this a while ago..and I have been thinking on it for several months. So here is a go.

Full board Isn't full board. The average boarding farm with anywhere from 5 to 40 boarders is so much work. Just the daily grind of getting up, feeding, haying, checking water takes up a significant amount of time. Stalls, another massive chunk, then repeat pm feed.

Then you want the boarding farm to do blankets ( something I refuse to do. I worked for a QH trainer in the 90s and spent hrs every morning and night reblanketing all the horses under lights ...cured me ) , meds, you want night check. You want their weight and physical appearance monitored through their blankets.

Now all the extras : tackroom swept, aisle perfect, walls hosed down, no rodents, cobwebs , working washrack with drain that never clogs...

Then perfectly manacured fields , mowed, fertilized, weedwacking. Fences repairs etc....

Board or bored...when your horse is in the stall more for inclement weather , you need to get there to exercise it and prevent colic ( motion is lotion for guts and joints ! ). Full board doesnt cover checking every single inch of the horse ( though most of us do take a quick look, i have trained myself to look at all 4 legs both side every day ) for bumps, bruises, shoes with sprung heels , mysterious fungus that appears on its flank. Owners need to be present, take responsibility for their own horse, make coming out to groom that retired horse on a schedule....and always always be accessible for emergencies.

When you see something needs done, just do it instead of complaining about it. We have all seen the posts about the costs of boarding and basically, if you are paying less than $1000/ month, someone is subsidizing your board. So pick up a rake, a broom, be present. Run a hose, scrub the tub. Triple check your horse. Check on the horse whose owner is ill ( with their permission ) . Leave things better than they were.
Many barns have a person or 2 that randomly helps with some stalls....I guarantee you the barn owner appreciates that person. I used to have a students father who would clean many stalls while his daughter rode. I know I'll never forget him.

Holidays....most barns have 1 of 2 ways of thinking. 1. Don't come out at all. 2. If you do come out, plan to help with feeding, haying, watering turnout and stalls. I can speak from personal experience...I havent had a holiday off since pre 2001 except for 1 Christmas, an exceptional student did all the work as my gift. I'll never forget that act of kindness. Nurses get double time for major holidays ( and still get to take off a day for Christmas , heck even the local convenience store pays double or time and half on major holidays) , barn owners get nothing, most of the time not even a thank you... I recall a colleague who boarded horses ( and of course taught lessons, trained horses, sold horses and ran shows because boarding doesnt pay the bills ) saying one day she realized her life was like the movie Ground Hog Day....and that she has done the same thing every morning every night for decades. Her farm went up for sale and she now boards her own horses.

Education. Do you know what horses diseases are, understand deworming, know what ailments to watch out for. When should the vet be called ? Can you wrap legs properly, handle an abscess, recognize fungus, spot a colic ? If not, pick up a book, watch some videos. Horse ownership means you love horses and you want to know everything about them.

Anyway...full care isn't day care you drop your "kid " off too and never pick them up from again. Be present. Your horse will appreciate the attention and the barn owner will feel relief that you are watching out for your horse.

3/27/23 update. 212,000 views. 1400 shares. And I have gotten a few nasty comments. I cannot understand the nastiness . Bringing awareness is a good thing. If it doesnt apply to you , then move on. Every barn has boundaries. Apparently some people are mad that I wont do blankets...not sure why, as none of them board with me ! Boundaries are made out of clarity and self respect. Every barn , I hope , has rules and boundaries ! Best wishes to all . Horses are my first and longest love.

( This post was made to bring awareness. At least in my area, boarding barns are becoming fewer to non existent. If we want them to stay, we must change . I have seen mostly positivity come from this...i particularly loved the person who shared it and wrote " I go a bit the other way . I try to help in some way every day that I am at the barn "
I , of course, want all the horses in my care to have good, healthy lives too. I would like to think we all do. )

01/27/2024

because we all love a good wipeout!! 😂

01/15/2024

Frigid temps and wind advisories got nothing on these two! Congratulations and Kronos Divy Z on your Grand Champion in the Low Child 2’6 Equitation and second place in the Low Child 2’6 M&S Medal!! Thank you for yet another wonderful show at the beautiful