Great Escape Stables, LLC

12/01/2023

Megan Pontious and David Pontious it only took almost 4 years, but thanks to Mike, we finally have our new sign up!!

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to all our wonderful clients and all our fantastic ponies!!

11/20/2023

100% true!

11/10/2023

Loving the fall colors while teaching lessons. Definitely a bright spot on this rainy, chilly day.

11/08/2023

100% truth

11/05/2023

Yesterday was a great way to finish our season. Everyone got a ribbon, there were champions and reserve champions, and all the horses were so well-behaved. The progress for these girls from start to finish was remarkable and we are looking forward to next show season. I am so appreciative of my awesome clients who make show days so enjoyable.

10/16/2023

10/16/2023

Today was a tough show day. There were a lot of lessons learned. The girls really rallied together and helped those that didn't have such great rides. I could not be more proud of the GES girls. But I just want to mention that one horse in particular who not only held it together but does so more often than not was Mack Truck. He is the epitome of a perfect lesson pony (he does have his moments 🤪🤪) but he really packs the kids around, including my own. I feel so thankful and privileged to have him in our program.

10/12/2023

They are never too young to start!❤️🐴

10/09/2023

We are getting near the end of our Fall show season. Just wanted to take a moment to say how proud we are to have such a dedicated team always working hard to take it to the next level. A love for the sport & horses that keeps us going! We love our GES TEAM🐴✨
(several not pictured but absolutely included)

10/08/2023

10/04/2023

10/03/2023

Happy October!! 🧡🍁✨
Favorite time of year when the bugs start to die off, cooler temps and lots of sunshine ☀️

09/24/2023

Fall is officially here!! Time for some Fall/Halloween Festivity planning 🎃🍁

GES Family - Join Us!
October 28th 5pm
Potluck Sign Up 👇
https://facebook.com/events/s/ges-fallhalloween-party/701835607942567/

09/21/2023

The hint of Fall🧡🍁I think all of us including the horses are ready for cooler temperatures and zero bugs!! Happy Friday Eve!!
Enjoy the beautiful weather!

09/18/2023

Monday snuck up on us and it’s raining🌧️ Make your week great even in the muddiest of conditions!🖤🤍

09/16/2023

"Lowering the horse's head lifts their back"

This is something I see a great deal, and whilst it's not inherently wrong there is so much more nuance to it than simply lowering the head. And it's the misunderstanding of the nuance that I believe has the power to hurt a lot of horses.

When you look at the horse's thoracic spinous processes, their orientation depicts the range of motion - the spinous processes of the wither are longer and angled towards the horse's tail, the spinous processes of the mid thoracic (where the rider sits) are more upright, and the spinous processes of the late thoracic begin to angle towards the horse's head. This enables greater flexion/extension of the spine through the mid thoracic region.

The supraspinous ligament runs over the top of the thoracolumbar spinous processes (the bright pink line on the picture) this then blends into nuchal ligament - the funicular portion of which attaches to the horse's skull - the lamellar portions fan off in sheets to attach to the cervical vertebrae.

When the horse with a healthy back (and that's the important piece here) lowers their head, the nuchal lig. tractions on the supraspinous lig. and the early thoracic spinous processes orientate slightly forwards, creating space between them and lifting the mid thoracic region. You can see this when a horse lowers their head, the dip behind the wither should lift.

From a ridden perspective, this should be supported by the thoracic sling muscles, which lift the ribcage between the front legs and the horse's core muscles (not just their abs FYI!)

When a horse moves with spinal tension (poor riding/saddle fit/management etc.) The ligament system is restricted - the muscles of the neck become braced, the errector spinae muscles become hypertonic and the back becomes extended - evidenced by the acute angulation at the base of the wither.

When the neck and back muscles aren't free and mobile, the spinal ligs. reduce their range of motion and then potentially shorten. The thoracic processes approximate towards each other and we perhaps put the horse into a kissing spines danger zone.

So if you try to force their head into a lowered position and the horse braces, you create strain.

Their back muscles are tight and to offload the weight of the head, they have to tighten up more. So you are inducing the back into more tension, but then the weight of the rider/saddle/restriction of a surcingle will possibly induce more extension still.

Add pain in here and you create a bigger issue.

If you deal with the pain, unload the horse's back (e.g. no rider/no saddle/no surcingle), help the horse to relax and then lower their head to tolerance without creating a brace, you can help to restore this system.

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There is 30 mins difference between the top photo and the bottom photo. Notice how the horse's withers have lifted in the bottom photo, but also the angulation at the base of the wither is less acute even though the horse's head is higher.

This is the starting point of restoring the activity of the ligament system, the thoracic sling and the horse's core.

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Interested in learning more? Sign up to The Fundamentals of Horse Posture:
https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/fundamentals-of-horse-posture

09/13/2023

Oliver says “it’s almost Friday!” (or maybe just screaming for food)😂 Hope everyone’s week has been productive, positive and peaceful!! Halfway to the weekend ♥️🐴

09/12/2023

There’s a new kool kitty in town
🖤🐾 Say hi next time your at the barn, he’s so sweet!

09/09/2023

Fig 🖤
Happy Weekend!

09/04/2023

☀️Happy Labor Day ☀️
Here’s to all of the hard working small business owners and GES’s amazing supportive clients!

09/02/2023

Day 2, good luck Avery and Mack!!

09/01/2023

Prepping for Colonial Classic. Good luck to Ava and Oliver and Ari and Mack today!!