Fenner Pines Farm

01/11/2025

Equestrians interested in helping California horse owners, riders and animals affected by the wildfires are encouraged to donate money through established organizations and registered nonprofits. Local residents are asked not to show up at animal shelters unannounced and instead should contact the o...

01/11/2025

CA

The fires in Los Angeles are heartbreaking. In these challenging times, we come together as a community. Ariat is making direct donations to the Red Cross, ASPCA, Fleet of Angels (horse rescue), and World Central Kitchen to support those affected.

A heartfelt thank you to the Compton Cowboys for their incredible work evacuating animals and people and proving the power of community and care.

Join us in supporting these efforts and helping LA recover.

Photo credit: Thomas Machowicz/Sanctuary Doc

01/11/2025

CA

SO. CALIFORNIA HORSE OWNERS!!!
If you need to evacuate your horses, Jacob Deutsch has his 10-horse trailer hitched and standing by. No Charge. He is wanting to help however he can.
Jacob Deutsch: We have space for 60 horses in Bridle Path Simi Valley and room for all other animals as well if you need a safe place 310-893-9337 our whole neighborhood is hosting.

Link to Jacob's FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005170869635

01/10/2025

Honeybun 13 years old! I love her!

01/10/2025

01/09/2025

Please share this could save a horses life ❤️🐴

Don’t forget to give your horses 2 tablespoons of salt in their feed the next couple days so they will go and drink water.
Colicing is one of the most common things during a time like this. The hay is increased but the water intake decreases. This all leads up to a blockage or dehydration colic.
Promote them to drink by
adding salt,
giving “tea” ( 1/4 scoop of feed into a 5 gallon bucket with water. Warm water if you can )
Soaking feed
Adding Gatorade to a bucket of water
Adding electrolytes to feed or water.

Please share this could help prevent someone’s horse from colicing

12/31/2024

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬
If your horse is unbalanced, he’s more likely to fall in or out on turns, or be unable to maintain momentum without you supporting him. Balance is an important part of self-carriage, which is where your horse is able to carry himself correctly without input from you. Try these exercises:

𝐴. 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
Ride some three- and four-loop serpentines down the arena, but only go as far as the centerline before looping back to the track. Changing the direction of the bend tests your horse’s balance and helps you stay focused. Because serpentines require you to bend in both directions, you’ll be working both sides of your horse equally.

**For less experienced riders:
Simplify the Loops: Start with large, gentle serpentines with only two loops instead of three or four. This reduces the complexity of the exercise.
Walk Before Trot: Begin at a walk to help beginners focus on steering and maintaining balance through the changes in direction. Progress to a trot only when they feel comfortable.
Shorten the Length: Ride the serpentines within a smaller section of the arena (e.g., just between two markers) to make the exercise less overwhelming.

𝐵. 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟-𝑖𝑛
Trot down the long side of the arena. Use your inside rein to flex your horse to the inside, so that his shoulders and forelegs move onto the inside track. Your inside leg helps to create the bend and keep him moving forwards, while your outside leg supports his shoulder. Use your outside rein for additional support and, if you’re attempting shoulder-in for the first time, initially only bring your horse’s shoulders in slightly. Once he understands what you want him to do, you can start to ask for a little more angle.

**For less experienced riders:
Focus on the Feel: Instead of a full shoulder-in, start by asking for slight inside flexion (turning the horse’s head slightly to the inside) while maintaining a straight line.
Walk Through It: Perform the exercise at a walk to give the rider time to coordinate aids and feel the movement.
Reduce the Angle: Keep the angle of the shoulder-in minimal—just enough for the rider to learn how to guide the horse’s shoulders without overcomplicating the movement.
Frequent Breaks: Allow breaks to encourage relaxation and avoid frustration for both the rider and horse.

𝐶. 𝑅𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑠
In the corner of the arena, ride a demi-volte, finishing on the track. Carry on down the track and smoothly turn into two half 10-metre circles in the middle of the school, so you’re riding an S-shape from one side to the other. When you reach the track again, ride straight, then do another demi-volte so that you end up back on your S-shape. Try this exercise in walk first until you get the hang of it, then give it a go in trot.

**For less experienced riders:
Larger Shapes: Instead of demi-voltes and 10-meter circles, use larger 15- to 20-meter circles to make it easier for beginners to guide the horse.
Start with One Shape: Practice simple, large circles or wide figure-eights first before introducing the S-shape.
Walk the Pattern: Begin at a walk so the rider can focus on planning their lines and steering effectively.
Use Cones or Markers: Place visual aids in the arena to help riders stay on track and create smoother turns.

Other Tips for Less Experienced Riders:
Encourage Relaxation: Keep the pace slow and steady to allow beginners to focus on their aids and maintain balance.
Provide Feedback: Give clear, positive feedback to guide riders on improving their technique.
Emphasize Core Skills: Use these exercises to reinforce seat, leg, and rein coordination without overwhelming them.
Adjust Goals: Success for a beginner might simply be maintaining rhythm and direction, rather than perfect ex*****on of the movements.

𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴? 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮

12/31/2024

𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟!
Three poles - three different exercises!

Remember, you can easily adjust transitions and pole heights to suit riders of all levels. I like to keep things simple by setting up one exercise in the arena for the day—or even the week—and modifying it as needed. For beginners, leave as ground poles and for advanced riders, raise the poles on one or both ends. This approach saves time and effort by reducing the need to move equipment while keeping lessons flexible and efficient.

To make the exercise more engaging, try adding variations. For example:

Timed Challenge: Riders compete to complete the course in the fastest time. Adjust the pace to suit their level, whether it's walking, walk/trot, or cantering. In private lessons, students can aim to beat their own personal best.

Smoothness Challenge: Focus on rhythm and control instead of speed. Riders are judged on how fluidly they complete the exercise, maintaining a steady rhythm without pulling on the reins. Private students can repeat the exercise multiple times to improve their smoothness and consistency.

𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬—looking for more creative mounted and unmounted lesson plans? Visit our website for inspiration: https://horseridinglessonplans.com/