Gold Creek Farm

01/09/2024

01/09/2024

We've got this! 💪🫶

📷 Emily Cole

01/09/2024

Some amazing stars out tonight 🌠 🐎

01/08/2024

The snow was perfect the girls were even riding in the outdoor this afternoon.

01/08/2024

Daisy our head of security escorting Tina, Stella, Annie and Shadow to their paddock on a snowy Sunday.... 😆

01/07/2024

Woody and his mom Alicia with a little lunging exercise this afternoon, doesn't he look amazing he's the only standardbred on the farm.

01/06/2024

01/04/2024

“ ….years of experience”
Okay cool but what does that actually mean?
Some people say they have been riding for 20 years, but the truth is they rode one hour a week back in their teens, spent six of those years, not having sat on a horse once, and then spent about eight years, where they rode one horse anywhere from 0 to 3 times a week, depending on the weather.

There are 8765 hours in a year. So if you really had “years” (plural) of experience, that means you’ve had well over 17,000 hours of direct horse time.

 Sometimes parents expect to see all of this progress out of their kid because the kid has now been riding for six months…
 If they practice basketball for six months, you might see some real noticeable improvement but that’s because they are probably getting in 8 to 10 hours of practice in a week. If they go to a basketball camp, they could easily get in more hours of practice then an equestrian does in three months. Not to mention it’s a heck of a lot easier to practice basketball at home!!!

My students that make the most progress absolutely spend more time in the saddle. They are also the ones that are more likely to hang out and watch other lessons.

 Although that said, I have had times where students made less progress because they were riding in between, but not actually practicing any of the stuff we work on during lessons. These were people who owned their own horses and it’s happened with kids and adults.
Most people would be better off taking a second lesson a week then they would leasing or buying a Horse. So often when people say they have all of these years of experience with horses, the truth is, it’s only been with 3 to 5 horses. If you are an amateur with no huge goals and ride because you love it, that is absolutely fine but it sure doesn’t make you a trainer. I mean, young trainers have to start somewhere, but if someone’s credentials is that they’ve been riding horses for 20 years, you might wanna find out a little bit more about what they’ve actually been doing for that 20 years.

Also, showing horses, starting horses under saddle, teaching beginner riders, teaching competitive riders…. These are all totally different skill sets!!! so again if someone’s credentials is just how long they been doing this for make sure that what they’ve been doing is the skill set that you are actually seeking.

Amelia getting in some extra ride time !

12/31/2023

12/31/2023

Searching for something...

That feels like this.

The more I practice this art, the more the desire of schooling "display skills" fades away. The focus is pointing towards the potent quality those skills bring out. The gift they bring to the horse, used in the right way at the right time.

That is my thought this morning 🌱

12/31/2023

It's funny how a farmer spends countless hours getting the land ready, from plowing to planting. He spends $1000's of dollars on fuel, equipment, and repair bills. He spends many hours praying for rain or sunshine instead of sleeping. He sweats like no other job will make you. He works like most people wouldn't.
He gets yelled at and cussed out by people who get caught behind the tractor traveling down the road, and he spends many times of the day wondering if it's worth it! The deer, coyotes, hogs, c***s, gophers, grasshoppers are just a few pests to contend with!! He does all of this for what??? Ask yourself, "Why would he do that?"
The answers are all around you. The plate of food sitting in front of you, the clothes on your back, the shoes on your feet, and the last answer is the one that puzzles most people. It's the dust, love for agriculture, and the satisfaction of knowing he has done his part at the end of the day! I'd like to thank all the farmers out there who help make the world go round!
God bless our farmers!
copied

12/29/2023

Future, Tina and Stella just taking a moment to appreciate each other.

12/28/2023

Have you been thinking about taking lessons for yourself or a family member? Well look no further, We have an absolutely amazing group of lesson horses and lesson programs hand built from years of experience for a wide variety of skill levels, we can and have also customized lesson programs for clients with particular needs or concerns, stop by and visit Tina our amazing instructor for more details on any of our lesson programs and meet our amazing equine coaches.

12/25/2023

Ever wonder what your horse might say if he had one hour to talk? According to legend all animals are given the ability to talk for one hour tonight, precisely at midnight. The tale began as far back as the 5th century when a Christian poet suggested that farm animals kneeled at midnight and spoke in adoration of Baby Jesus, who’d once shared a stable with some of their ancestors. Centuries later, St. Francis of Assisi included live animals during a retelling of the Nativity, which caused a resurgence of the legend throughout Europe. Even today, many animal owners believe that their livestock—along with their household pets—acquire the gift of speech on Christmas Eve. Of course, to overhear what they’re saying requires quite a bit of stealth, as the animals will only talk when they think they’re alone. But maybe… just maybe… if you tip-toe out to the barn a few minutes past midnight you might hear your horse expressing himself in the most human of tones.

12/23/2023

🐴 Here are 15 interesting facts about a horse's brain:.
1. A horse’s brain is relatively small compared to the size of its body, and accounts for only about 0.1% of its total weight.
2. Despite their small size, horses have very complex brains, with a highly developed cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought, decision-making and memory.
3. Horses can learn and remember complex tasks, such as navigating a jump course or performing a dressage routine, through a process called associate learning.
4. Like humans, horses have a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere in the brain, each with specialized functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for the processing of logical and analytical information, while the right hemisphere is more involved in emotional processing and creative thinking.
5. Horses have a great memory and can remember specific people, places and experiences for many years.
6. Horses can learn by observation, and often they can acquire new behaviors and skills simply by observing other horses or humans.
7. Horses have a very sensitive sense of touch and can detect even the slightest pressure or movement on their skin. This helps them respond to subtle cues from your rider or guide.
8. Horses can process visual information very quickly and accurately, allowing them to avoid potential hazards and navigate their environment with ease.
9. Horses are social animals and rely on nonverbal communication to interact with other horses in their herd. This communication is facilitated by the horse’s brain, which can interpret subtle changes in body language, facial expressions and vocalizations.
10. Ultimately, like all animals, horses have a unique personality and individual traits that are shaped by their experiences, genetics and environment—all of which is reflected in their brain function and behavior.
11. Horses have a very strong sense of smell and their odor bulb, which processes smells, is relatively large compared to other parts of their brain.
12. The brain, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, is also relatively large in horses. This is because horses must be able to move quickly and efficiently to escape predators or navigate through difficult terrain.
13. Horses have a very high pain threshold, which is believed to be related to how their brains process pain signals. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also mean that horses may not show obvious signs of pain, making it harder for their caregivers to detect and treat underlying health issues.
14. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, is particularly well developed in horses.. This allows them to remember not only specific experiences, but also general concepts and patterns that they can apply to new situations.
15. Finally, studies have shown that horses, like other animals, are capable of experiencing emotions such as fear, happiness, and anger. These emotions are believed to be mediated by the limbic system, a group of interconnected brain structures that play a key role in regulating mood and behavior.
Info: Megan Bolentini Equine Bodywork

12/22/2023

Kristen and Glenn's Mission just chilling.

12/20/2023

Kristen Krzyzewski Cusano Sonnenfroh and Future with a great lesson with Tina this morning, great job guy's

12/16/2023

💜

12/14/2023

12/11/2023

What is collection truly?
Collection is not a head set, it is not “tucking the chin” and it is not the restraining of the head and squeezing of the body.

To simplify, collection is the availability of the horse’s body. It is the ability of the hind limbs to bear weight equally and of the shoulders to be free, supple, and directable.

You cannot simply get this by bringing the horse’s chin in, you cannot get this by simply squeezing the horse via the legs into a restraining hand, and you cannot get this with tie downs, side reins, Martingales, or other restrictive gear. Muscles cannot be supple by method of any restrictive positioning - muscles must be stretched, posture must be changed, the horse must be released, relaxed, and given time to understand and develop.

The only way to develop collection is through systematic athletic development over time. It is not done in a weekend clinic or even in several months. It is done by an educated seat and hand, and adherence to classical principles - guiding the horse toward equal weight bearing hind limbs and straightness through the body. This is the essence of classical dressage - the development of the horse as an athlete and partner, and to enhance his natural ability and create longevity and wellbeing.

Photo is of Manolo Mendez

12/09/2023

DO YOU LOVE HORSES?

People get involved with horses and horse related sports for a myriad of reasons. Number one, is love of horses in general, coupled with interest, that for some, grows into a lifelong passion.

I am one of the passionate ones. I have loved and learned about horses for most of my life and now that I am over 60 I think…wow, time has sure flown by.

So many horses. Lesson horses; in the early days, Lightning, and Flame, Tulip, Little Chief, horses who all gave me knowledge and experience and fostered my interest even more.

Then race horses. Seven years worth. Winners, losers, the tryers, the slackers, the clowns, and the absolute sweethearts that told me with certainty that no horse should be pushed as hard as these horses are at such a young age. I could not change the sport so I moved on, with sadness for my four legged friends whose future I had no control over.

Problem horses next. The misunderstood, the angry, the fearful, the confused and uneducated. I learned so much trying to communicate my way through their problems. I was not skilled enough during this chapter of my life to avoid injury but I learned better procedures because of each one and no injury kept me down for long.

Then a chance. To work with horses who knew more than I did. Six years at The Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Orlando. I learned SO MUCH during that time. My passion was reignited when I saw what horses were capable of. During that time I settled on dressage techniques to become what I most wanted to get good at.

KYB dressage my current training business was grown in the almost 30 years that followed. So many horses, my first, then second then 20 th Grand Prix horse and many many horses surrounding them. Each with information to share that I could add to my skill set. I kept learning and started to share my ways with others who wanted to learn as well.

Late late late. Too late, I started a rescue. I will say I was going through life with blinders on. Not realizing for every well cared for and loved horse there are three horses with naught. Horses with no food, no options and sadly no ability to survive in the world they were stuck in.

Now I do what I can. I am still learning, still training, teaching and caring for horses. I have students who want to learn to. I write all this because here is my message and thought for the day.

If you love horses, learn to care for them. Before you learn to ride. Become a servant to the horse and true understanding and knowledge, true horsemanship will flourish there.

In the barn, caring for horses.

Becoming a horseman is more important than learning to ride.

If you love horses. Make that your first goal!
Cheers,
Yvonne

12/06/2023

Rough night Woody??..... 😂