Golden Reins Equestrian Center

08/13/2024

We're working through our schedule shift these next few weeks as school approaches and it looks like we may have some openings for lessons, we can also accommodate most pony experience requests. Reach out if you're interested in either, and we'll be working on contacts the next few weeks.

08/10/2024

What constitutes a circle? It’s probably the most mis understood, over done and poorly executed exercise in the mainstream horse world

A poorly done circle is a wet noodle flopping around, a disconnected body with a nose pointed onto a figure, while the hind legs flail around and the rib cage collapses.
A poorly done circle is a plywood board that someone is attempting to pound softness into, by pulling pieces and parts around

A well done circle is a masterpiece, a thing of beauty
A well connected body, straight on a curve

But the horse has to know how to turn with the shoulders, and to keep the hind legs behind them
A horse has to learn how to keep their neck center
A horse has to know how to expand the rib cage to the outside
A horse has to know how to stretch the outside of the body

That’s no small feat, and it’s quite the athletic endeavor, not to be taken lightly, and nothing to flop around on mindlessly

A circle deserves our respect, awareness, and time put in to develop it well

08/07/2024

I have some extra time today and possibly Saturday afternoon to squeeze in a few pony experiences. Yes, the weather is crazy but let's schedule, and if it rains, no obligation to pay or ride in the rain. 😄

We have ponies for the littles and horses for all ages.

We also may have a few spots available for weekly lessons. Send a message to get on our contact list.

07/19/2024

This is a regular conversation here with riders weekly! ❤️❤️

Good riding requires that we re wire our natural instincts. When we get afraid, we tip forward, or clutch, or pull. We stop breathing, and somewhere deep down we hope the horse will adapt and take care of us. But a good steward takes responsibility: it is our duty to practice honing our reflexes. It is our job to practice controlling our position, our breath, and learning to create a productive mindset.

It is the hardest thing in the world to do to control our natural instincts- but it is the most important. And expecting the horse to adjust to us without the necessary skills is folly. Take the time, put the hours in, get a good coach and an appropriate horse, and master your body and mind.

07/17/2024

If you are newer to following us I wanted to let you know that the next 10 days (and the last several) life revolves around the Lebanon Area Fair, that said if it takes me a little longer to get back to you that is
why.

If you're interested in visiting us at the fair you'll be able to find our pigs in the hog barn, look for the Fisher kid names. Our horses will be doing pony rides several days with our 4H club, Sunday 1-4 and 6-8:30 hopefully every night through Saturday.
We will have goats at the dairy show on Friday and the kids sell their pigs at the market sale Friday. This sale is always fun, a great way for local businesses to support the 4H program. If you purchase the pig you are sponsoring a 4H kid, you don't get to keep the meat but are reimbursed the packer price. Any questions please ask, and I have a digital copy of their letters I can send out to anyone interested in checking it out.

07/12/2024

It's always good to learn something that might be a little better than what you already know. I hate the "quick release" that gets tight when they do pull on it.

06/16/2024

We had an opening pop up for camp this week tomorrow to Thursday, 9am-1pm.

If anyone would like to claim it, reach out to me tonight! If you can't make every day that wouldn't be a big problem either.
If you are signed up for July and can move to this week, we can do that too!

06/12/2024

We still have 2 spots available for our pony camp tomorrow and Friday 9am-12pm, ages 4-7. No experience required, and we have riding helmets to borrow.

Send a message for more information!

06/04/2024

We still have a few spots for next weeks tiny tots camp for ages 4+
This is perfect for this horse loving littles to learn basics, meet other horse crazy kids, and just have fun!

05/29/2024

The thing about horses is, they can't tell us anything without body language. We choose to recognize it or ignore it. They give us so much and deserve the best.
This video is for sure fascinating, my learning brain is always looking for more to learn and grow.

05/25/2024

Good training read

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT TEACH LATERAL FLEXION

My previous post started some debate about the use of lateral flexion in training. This has prompted me to explain my view on lateral flexion by reposting an essay I wrote in August 2022.
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Lateral flexion is one of the most common exercises taught to horses that are being started. Virtually every trainer, 90% or more, in the “Natural Horsemanship” sphere teaches it. I am one of the few trainers who won’t teach lateral flexions and discourage its practice at my clinics.

For those that don’t know what a lateral flexion is, it is when a person applies a feel to the inside rein and asks a horse to softly bend its neck around in the direction of the feel, while the horse keeps its feet absolutely still. It can be one on the ground and under saddle.

The purpose of teaching lateral flexion to a horse is to ingrain them to offer a soft lateral bend to the inside rein. From talking to trainers who teach lateral flexion to horses and riders, it is intended to teach a horse to give to the inside rein without resistance and to build strength and control. That sounds like a worthy goal, right?

So what’s my problem with teaching lateral flexion?

I have two objections.

The first objection is easy to explain and get out of the way quickly.

I have never heard a single trainer, who teaches lateral flexion, talk about the horse giving its thought to the feel of the inside rein or to be looking in the direction of the bend. Not one person! Without a change of thought, bending the neck is just a trick and avoidance of rein pressure. Nothing of significant value is learned without the horse thinking in the direction of the feel of the rein. Go to YouTube and watch videos and notice how all the talk is about how the horse bends and how light the feel is in the reins. Nothing about getting a change of thought. Even more telling, is the fact that when most riders release the inside rein, the horse instantly flips its neck straight like a spring, as if he has been just waiting for the second the rein is dropped. Anytime we ask a horse a question we should be waiting for a change of thought, not just a movement.

My second objection to teaching lateral flexion is gravely serious.

Trainers make a big deal that when performing a lateral flexion the feet should not move. I believe this is a serious mistake that makes lateral flexions damaging to how a horse operates. When asking for flexion to the inside, the thought should follow the feel, the neck should follow the feel and the inside hind foot should yield across the outside hind foot. This should occur because the inside rein inspires the horse to think to the inside and line up its body in that direction without the need for the rider’s leg to drive the hindquarters to disengage. The inside rein should connect to the entire body, not just from nose to wither.

By insisting the feet are stationary when the horse yields to the inside rein, we are teaching a horse that the rein should not connect to the hindquarters. In other words, giving to the inside rein should only go as far back as the wither and not to the whole horse. To create straightness, balance, softness, and correctness I need the inside rein to connect to the inside hind.

Without a connection to the inside hind foot, when we ask a horse to move in a circle or turn, the hindquarters will push the shoulders to the outside of the circle or turn. It creates imbalance and crookedness. We taught the horse to be crooked. Then to fix it we often apply an outside rein to block the shoulders from drifting to the outside. The outside rein blocks the shoulders, but the real cause of the problem stems from the inside rein not connecting to the hindquarters.

At the very least it causes crookedness, and we need to call on the outside rein. But in the worst case, it causes rubber-necking and we need to call an ambulance (rubber-necking is when a horse is bent say to the left, but traveling to the right). Don’t ride a horse that rubber-necks until it has been re-trained to connect the inside rein to the hindquarters.

I have asked dozens of trainers and clinicians who teach lateral flexion why they require the horse’s feet to be still. Some of these trainers are the biggest names in the business and people some of you no doubt admire and follow. Not one of them can give me a rational explanation of why the horse must stand still. Never have I heard a logical reason why you can’t teach a horse to softly bend to the inside rein while at the same time connecting the hindquarters to the inside rein. It stuns me that so far nobody has been able to explain what it is about lateral flexion that I don’t understand.

The closest it has come to an answer is that lateral flexion is setting a horse up for the one-rein stop. But this is not true because it is the disengagement of the hindquarters that sets up a horse for the one-rein stop. When a horse is having a meltdown, your best chance of gaining back control is to disengage the hindquarters as soon as possible to shut down any bucking or bolting.

I am totally in agreement that we should teach to softly give to the inside rein. I’m not in agreement with why we can’t do that and have the hindquarters softly yielding too.

What advantage is gained by having the feet standstill? What disadvantage is created by connecting the hindquarters to the inside rein? Maybe next time you attend a horsemanship clinic or have a lesson, you could ask your teacher these two questions. If you get a perfectly rational explanation, please let me know. I want to understand if I missing something.

05/20/2024

🐎🐎 CAMP UPDATES🐎🐎

Our original 2 weeks of camp are full, so we decided to add one more!

Send a message with your email to us so we can get you a registration packet.

We're also accepting the almost 5 kids for the younger groups. If you think this is something your 4 yr old would love don't hesitate to reach out!

05/19/2024

I have a problem, it's that I see potential in every horse, and as a trainer I can bring out that potential for the next person to LOVE them. But it takes time, especially on my riding schedule. 2-4 rides one week, none the next.

That said, I have this really nice appy mare that I'll keep working on, but she's holding a spot right now that I could use for an extra lesson horse this summer. She can do intermediate and above lessons right now, but she will thrive better with consistency.
She's approximately 15 years old and 14.2 hands, but you won't feel big on her at 5'7, I promise 😉
She's super in tune to seat and leg aids, prefers a softer hand, ridden in a simple snaffle mostly, but has been in a Jr cow bit too. Right now, I wouldn't sell her as the type that can sit for 4 months and be the same horse you rode last time. Can be a little speedy when she sits but figure her out and she's got a great jog, canter leads aren't totally there yet but coming along.

Great on trails, no spook that I've ever seen, ponied one of my other horses just last week on the road. A knowledgeable barrel coach said she could see her doing well on patterns.

05/18/2024

We have a few spots available in both tiny Trotters camps, if you have a 4 yr old you'd like to participate in, we have taken 4 yr olds in this class before.

05/16/2024

I'm loving the way this horse has fallen into my lesson program lately. She's becoming a champ of a lunge lesson horse, Macy got on her today working trot poles and raised poles, Sullivan got a turn for 15 min of lunging at the end of her lesson and loved every second of it.
We did a short lunge session this morning too for another rider.
Having a horse that's quiet and balanced on the line for riders to be able to think about all the moving parts is so helpful in learning.

05/16/2024

I've always been a "low grain" feeder, even for my workers, unless they struggle to maintain a healthy weight I'll add a little extra.

I often talk to people with backyard/pleasure animals and recommend they give none because they usually tell me they are fat.

If you believe that horses need grain in their diet to meet their nutritional needs, you are not alone. However, horses should get most of their nutrients from a good quality forage source such as grass, hay, hay pellets, or a complete feed.

Horses generally eat between 1.5-2% of their body weight each day, so an average size 1,000 lbs horse should eat 15- 20 lbs of hay daily. To help fill any nutrient gaps such as essential vitamins or minerals, a ration balancer may be beneficial. Depending on breed, body condition, and exercise level, concentrates may be added in to provide additional energy but are often not needed.

When deciding on what to feed your horse, it is best to invest in high quality forages as the foundation of your feeding plan. You can even have your hay tested to see exactly what nutrients it is providing. Please consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist about your horse's diet before making any major changes, and remember that any changes should be made gradually over time to avoid GI upset.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

05/13/2024

As much as I love just riding in snaffles, bits are always an interesting topic to be learning more about so sharing this one.
Especially because in the western world the curb strap is often in the wrong place... also guilty of that one 🙋‍♀️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UBLVvU2bupYS8KTU/?mibextid=oFDknk

05/07/2024

Update- this Thursday 530 is filled

I have an opening today at 430 and Thursday at 530 this week for a lesson or pony experiences for anyone that would like to visit!
~michelle

05/04/2024

Happy Birthday Milo!
Our baby has grown up so much! He sure is talented and has so much going for him.

05/03/2024

This is a good one, all words I try to say but not usually as eloquent. 🤪

Horses love a confident rider/leader.
So what is confidence?

• It takes confidence to admit you don’t have the answers.
• Confidence is knowing your self-worth in spite of your insecurities.
• Confidence is knowing when to dismount  and not taking it personally, or feeling less then because of it.
• Confidence is knowing when to ask for help

Confidence is NOT the lack of insecurity!! People say that bravery isn’t the lack of fear, but is the process of experiencing fear and doing it anyways. Confidence is not the lack of insecurity, but rather the ability to cope with insecurity well.

At our last horse show, I didn’t get to watch Lise warm-up for speed round because I had to get my own horse ready. I was unaware that Mac was so beside himself that she could not do the rope gate that was set up in the schooling area. Like, she tried multiple times and failed! Lynn, a fellow competitor, rode up and told her that when she goes into the show arena, just believe he will do it. When I watched her compete, I COULD NOT EVEN TELL that she just had those types of struggles outside!!! She rode boldly and confidently, which was just what her horse needed.

You don’t have to eradicate your insecurities to be confident. Sometimes confidence comes from leaning into those insecurities!

Think about how much confidence it takes to say, “I was wrong.” Yeah- tap into THAT image of confidence.

05/03/2024

SIX hours of lessons with 7 riders! I love a good day when just about all the horses get out and worked.

Ember got to hang out tied during a few lessons, she definitely has proven to be so patient and willing.

The new pony got a good test run with 3 different riders today, she passed with flying colors!

My niece found her next love in the big goofy appaloosa.

A recent newer rider fell in love with London after one ride. She's a horse owner herself (a morgan too) and came to here to work on her seat, dressage skills, and better communication. London was great for her, a bit forward- as expected, but so very controllable, and I love how much she teaches riders about their seat. She can spend hours just teaching walk tune ups.

Buddy's faithful rider always enjoys his time with Buddy, and the two of us always have a few good laughs together. (And somehow that new arm use position snuck up on him yesterday 🤦‍♀️) I didn't even realize that was the moment I caught in the photo. 🫣

04/30/2024

Look at how pretty this girl is now that she's almost totally shed out! To the appaloosa people, will she continue to get lighter as she ages? Most aren't this roan colored. They are either super white/gray with less coloring.

I've lost track of her ride count under saddle but she's also being leased by a very talented student, it's definitely a long term project and she's going to do great.

04/29/2024

I have a lesson opening tomorrow 5pm if anyone wants to snag it!
~Michelle

04/25/2024

This very cool appaloosa is available to the right situation. Approx 15, 14.2-14.3 hands.

Ember came to us said to be an "unstarted project." I'm pretty certain that wasn't the case, we guess she sat for several years, became very buddy sour and attached to her mare friend that she came with. She would be best suited with an experienced horse owner as her buddy sour issues could be a challenge to someone unfamiliar with this behavior. The great thing about her though is she doesn't lose her mind and is very respected, this will continue to improve with work too.

Ember has been ridden by intermediate and above riders, even my 5 yr old daughter. I do think she does best in a consistent work routine for now and, in general, seems to thrive better with routine. She has settled down so much here, and we'd love to see her blossom even more. She could make a nice ranch type or even gaming prospect.
She has been out on roads here at the farm and one trail ride. I'm pretty sure she did that a few times before, too.
Currently shod in the hinds but not sure she needs them, has been 100% sound snd healthy since quarantine.

I have a few short riding videos, I wouldn't call her green broke but she's not fancy broke either.

03/31/2024

Great post!!

“Leverage” has to do with a “force multiplier”, and using various types of leverage is often a part of getting horses to submit.

If we tie a strap to the girth of a horse and run it through the rings of a bit and then tie it to the girth on the other side, we have multiplied the force exerted by our hands so greatly that we can jam a horse’s head into just about any position we want, and the force is so great that the horse will be powerless to resist.

If we take a curb bit with long shanks and a curb chain, and attach the reins to the lower end of the shanks, we can lever a horse’s head down and in in similar ways.

Leverage creates constriction and it can also create plenty of pain, and there is nothing that the horse can do about it except to submit.

If your idea of training involves creating pain and inescapable force, leverage is your go-to solution. If your idea of correct training involves creating calm, responsive reactions and responses from your horse, you will avoid leverage like the bubonic plague.

Leverage certainly works, have no doubt about that. Leverage works so well that horses learn to do anything to avoid the pain, and it becomes very difficult to get a leverage trained horse to ever have calm and normal responses.

Sometimes weeks, months of gentle handling will heal the emotional scars that leverage training creates, but in many cases, those reactions are so built in that they never completely go away.

The best trainers almost never use mechanical leverage, The worst trainers use it daily. You have a choice.

03/29/2024

I've got a few spots for an introductory lesson or pony experiences this week while one of my regular riders is away.
Tuesday 3-4:40
Thursday 3-4:30

If you want to book a 30 min or 60 min send a message.
These are great for any age rider 2 and up!

03/23/2024

I love this video of London behaving like a good citizen. She has come so far in the last few months.
One of my favorite parts about training, yes I gave a couple favorite parts, but this part is that once a horse is given the right time and tools to become an athlete and they can physically perform simple tasks the rest comes pretty easily. She's still got some areas that need a good amount of improvement, but I couldn't be happier. London is available to the right home. She's not a beginner horse but could absolutely be an intermediate or higher lesson horse. She's naturally forward and does best with a quiet rider, especially quiet hands.

03/13/2024

We've finally got everything set enough to post the official dates.

Please reach out here on our page, to me or Natalie for a registration packet. We do require a non refundable deposit to reserve your spot.

03/12/2024

Great read on the details to riding balanced. This is the good stuff I like to dig into.

Are Your Hips Sneaking off to the Left?

Here's How to Spot the Signs:

If your torso takes a nap to the right, your hips might be on an escapade to the left.

If your right leg plays peek-a-boo or your right stirrup wants a solo performance, your hips could be on a covert journey leftward.

If left turns are a breeze but right turns feel like a maze, your hips are probably enjoying a leisurely stroll leftward.

If you're clutching the right rein like a lifeboat, forgetting there's a left one, your hips are likely snoozing leftward.

If your left hand reaches high while your right hand stays grounded, your hips might be partying leftward.

If counterclockwise cantering feels smooth sailing but clockwise feels like a rollercoaster, your hips might have taken a left turn.

If you can leg yield to the right with ease but leading left is a challenge, your hips are likely playing hooky to the left.

Ever been told to step into the left stirrup to fix it all? Heard that one before!

But here's the deal: while it might straighten you up temporarily, your hips are still singing the leftward blues.

So here's the scoop: Forget the rib cage and the wandering leg – focus on bringing those hips back to center so both seat bones bear equal weight.

Here's an exercise to rein in your left hip:

Drop that left stirrup, trot clockwise, and post using only the right one. It'll feel wonky at first, but trust me, it's worth it! And if those left-bound hips won't behave, try turning your chest slightly left while traveling right. It's like a magic trick that shifts your weight back where it belongs.

By the way, in addition to riding instruction, did I mention I also do bodywork for equestrian riders? In the event your hips don’t want to listen, my hands can help. Let's get those hips back on the right track!

The Rider's Mechanic™ offers classical riding instruction and specialized bodywork for equestrian riders, including massage therapy, myofascial release, and stretching to address issues like muscle tension and restricted movement. With expertise in hip-related issues, we focus on restoring optimal mobility for riders, crucial for balance and alignment in the saddle. Our goal is to help riders overcome obstacles and maximize their potential by addressing physical issues and enhancing comfort while riding.