Avery Happy Horse LLC

02/09/2025

I don’t think people realize just how many horses out there carry trauma with them.

With that, I don’t even mean severely abused horses that have been starved, or beaten heavily. There are plenty of those around, and those usually cause a lot of outrage (as they should).

What I am talking about though, is the horses whose trauma is never really recognized as such. The ones who tolerate humans and their requests, but never learned to trust them. Those who get extremely obsessive about food which are labelled as “bossy” or ”dominant”. Those who deal with severe Separation anxiety, which are said to be “dramatic”. Those who cannot self-regulate, or co-regulate and constantly carry tension. Those who try to express their pain, which get punished for it because “just a mare”.
Those who are “perfect” until they finally get a choice.

Between Unethical weaning practices, unsuitable welfare, constantly moving homes & and ownership, and aversive training/handling approaches, most horses at some point experience trauma. And this trauma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some are more subtle than others.
Trauma doesn’t have to be this huge explosive reaction. Just like people, horses can carry trauma and move on with their lives fairly normally. It can shape their personality just like it can shape ours.
However, that doesn’t mean doing so is healthy.

The horse that has been in 6+ homes before the age of 10, and thus can’t cope with changes. That is Trauma.
The horse that has never had consistent companionship and becomes obsessive with certain herd mates. That is Trauma
The horse that has only known corrections when they tried to express their confusion, fear, or dislike, and turns from “a perfect beginner’s horse” to “Don’t touch me” the moment you stop using corrections. That is Trauma.
The horse that never had a chance to learn from other horses or connect with people and thus can’t trust people to make good choices for them, can’t self-regulate or co-regulate, and can’t think their way through a situation. That is Trauma.
The horse who was only ever fed 2 times a day and was left without food for 6 hours each night, and has thus become food-aggressive. That is Trauma.
The horse who experienced highly aversive training techniques, and thus now gets frustrated, tense and severely stressed out anytime they are handled in a similar manner. That. Is. Trauma.

Sometimes, awareness of this can be a frustration and defeating realization. I think as equestrians we are often blind to this reality, because sadly, it’s just so common to see horses like that.
It’s not until you work with young, untraumatized horses, or rehabilitated horses, that you realize: “Oh! This is how it should be!”

01/31/2025

I still have some availability to travel for Clinics for 2025. Please message me if you would like more information.

01/20/2025

11/18/2024

Poor Posture & Muscling vs Good Posture & Muscling

Observing a horse’s posture and muscling can reveal what they can and cannot use in their body when ridden. Saddles play a significant role in this. Proper shimming and pads are essential for achieving good results.
Starting with our VersaFit™ Saddle Pads and Shims is an excellent way to create a better-fitting saddle. The next step is investing in a saddle designed to allow your horse’s full range of motion and accommodate the VersaFit™ system. Consider Contour Saddlery’s brands: Natural Horseman Saddles, Glenn Saddles, and Parelli Saddles.
Of course, good riding and overall health are also crucial factors.

Which does your horse look most like?

Poor:
- Overall shape looks concave
- Wasted muscle, flat croup, poor topline
- Muscle more developed under the neck ("bull neck") with protruding chest
- Front legs look short, overall look "downhill", back looks long and sunken while neck looks too short
- Hind legs strung out, not enough angle in joints, hocks/stifle
- Abdomen sags

Good:
- Overall shape looks convex
- Topline more developed with plump muscle
- Muscle builds on top of neck, under neck is more lifted
- Withers look level or "uphill"
- Length of neck-to-body ratio looks balanced
- Hindquarter muscles more rounded and hind legs under hindquarters
- Tighter abdominal muscles
- Behind scapula is not hollow

@2024 contoursaddlery.com

11/14/2024

Test your work often! I say to my students frequently; when you’ve finished your movement, drop the reins and see what you have.
If you actually have both hind legs flexing equally, a horse rewarded with a loose rein maintains the same rythm and direction with ease. Just as happy to be with you as anywhere else.

If you get sudden veering, speeding up, slowing down, anxiety, rooting etc, you missed something, or aren’t there yet.

It’s easy to make a “shape,” anybody can make a horse look round manually.
But to actually feel the legs and bring them harmonious and soft controlled swinging , to feel the hind legs beneath the seat and flex them, to create the most basic and most rare tenant in good movement of all: rhythm- that takes a real rider, a thinking rider, a feeling rider.

Don’t get caught up in shapes and looks - feel, and rest often. Drop the reins and see what you have. And that result gives you your answer on where your work lies.

10/25/2024

I have a couple openings for coming to me for a 1 week extensive private lesson week. And have one opening for a full time lesson student /horse development mix. Message me if interested.

10/19/2024

What a great afternoon for a horse/human corral for liberty! Can't wait for all to do even better tomorrow!!! Some amazing connections today and connection improvements.

09/23/2024

“Just a trail ride”

It’s trail riding season here in New England, which means I repeatedly hear the phrase “I just want to go trail riding”… which is often followed by the story of their most recent trail riding adventure that didn’t go as well as they had hoped.

Trail riding is a big ask for your horse, especially if you are heading out alone. Make sure you set yourself and your horse up for success by preparing appropriately. Here are some things that I put on my checklist to know if my horse and I are ready to head out on the trail:

1. We can ride in the arena on a loose rein, including making turns and downward transitions.
2. We can ride backwards and sideways with minimal effort.
3. My horse can stand still for mounting on both sides.

There are other things on my checklist as well, but these are the big 3 that I’m constantly checking on.

Next time you plan to head out of the arena, remember that it’s not “just a trail ride”. It’s a big ask of your horse, and they need to have the skills and the confidence to say yes.

Happy Trails!

09/21/2024

09/20/2024

Love this one!!! It is amazing when you feel it!!!

“All the aids are for relaxation and awareness. Once that is accomplished, the horse simply follows the riders balance.” -Theresa Doherty

09/14/2024

I have one rare opening for retirement board or young horse development board. 24/7 Turnout. 24/7 huge shelters/stalls. 24/7 1st cut tested hay. Alfalfa or 2nd cut as needed. Forage based mineral feed mix once per day. 12 hours on a 1 mile paddock paradise track system with hay stations and more. Pm me if interested or want more information.