Elk Haven Equestrian Center

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Cle Elum, WA
Elk Haven Equestrian Center

Sharing thoughts, happenings, and beautiful scenes from our horse boarding facility in Central Wa
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Mission: An equestrian center dedicated to providing a natural environment that challenges the spirit, soothes the soul and awakens the senses. First Goal: Maintain a pristine natural environment for visitors and native wildlife to enjoy. Second Goal: Maintain an active, small, family farm in harmony with the environment. Third Goal: Maintain a challenging, three-season schooling facility for even

ters through the preliminary level. Fourth Goal: Hold a few equestrian events that are unique and in harmony with our mission.

10/30/2024

Don't forget!

10/28/2024

Mad scientist hangs from a tree and Dutch had no fears!

10/20/2024

Cleared an old trail. Thinking of using this with Dutch

10/20/2024

Even leading is important in your relationship. Take the time to train

Leading Your Horse
1. Be the Leader: Your goal is to be your horse’s leader, providing them with safety and comfort. This involves setting boundaries and maintaining consistency. When leading, always keep them in your sight by looking over your shoulder. Think of the mother and foal dynamic. When guiding them, you should have the ability to ask them to move at any pace you desire.
2. Connect with Their Feet: Remember that their feet should match my feet. If I stop they stop. If I walk they walk. If I speed up they speed up. If they stop to graze, it means you’ve lost control of their movement. In your mind or out loud, count your steps to establish a rhythm. If their pace changes, work to regain that rhythm.
3. Use Rhythmic Pressure: Apply rhythmic pressure to encourage movement and steady pressure to allow them to find a release. If they don’t stop when you do, use rhythmic pressure to move them out of your space.
4. Shift Your Mindset: Practice viewing yourself as the leader. Create mental scenarios that evoke urgency, such as imagining something is chasing you or that you might fall off a cliff. Use this urgency to encourage your horse to go or stop.

Things to Consider
• Watch Their Ears: Pay attention to their ears. If they shift away from you, it indicates a loss of focus. Make your exercises engaging enough to bring their attention back to you.
• Engaging Exercises: Bending, tight circles, moving their shoulders, and hindquarters can help regain focus, but ensure they’re challenging enough to keep them engaged.
• Maintain Proximity: When leading, ensure their eye doesn’t pass your shoulder. Think of the mother-foal relationship that baby locks on to moms hip and follows her everywhere, and how quickly horses make clear and precise corrections.
• Liberty Work: When working in liberty, ensure you can easily ask for transitions with a positive attitude. If you can’t achieve the desired transition comfortably, redo the transition until it’s something you’d want to ride.

10/09/2024

Need some rain The fall colors are not at brilliant

10/08/2024

8th of October and I’m enjoying fresh strawberries’

10/08/2024

Anyone needing MY help? I"m right here, not going anywhere...

10/02/2024

I just stumbled upon these cavaletti risers! How great are these? Can't wait to add them to JIm's to do list!

09/29/2024

Friends, I'm trying to get in touch with Holly Duncan of Ellensburg. She has remarried and I don't know her married name. Any one know her?

09/25/2024

Paulie got a great photo tonight of Little Hoot Hoot

09/24/2024

Birthday bouquet for new friend from Chelsea’s Garden

09/23/2024

The duo are on the trails again

09/21/2024

Jackson and the big ball… it’s okay if on the ground but concerning when it is touching him.

09/21/2024

Jackson really does not want to push against these noodles! He made it through and lived!

09/21/2024

A full week of this is planned!

09/20/2024

Dutch’s tuneup includes long lining between barrels and through pool noodles. He was so good. His go forward button is sticky so before we try this through the woods I’ll be challenging him a bit more.

09/11/2024

I found this to be so very interesting... 10 minutes of rhythmic walking before the warm up!

Jec Ballou joins Patrick King for a discussion about the warm up.Sign up for our mailing list and get access to a FREE video showing you how to improve the t...

09/09/2024

Natalie and Enzo were working together at the canter. We played Simon Says (ala Pony Club) when she tried this- was not Simon's suggestion!

Address

321 Elk Haven Road
Cle Elum, WA
98922

Website

http://www.elkhavenequestrian.com/

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Videos

Dutch has officially completed his reboot...I highly recommend Kristine Hanes with Longevity Equine, LLC for training or restarting. She listened to my goals and my concerns and designed a program that achieved those and more! Here he is- he faced the boogie men today and performed so well.

Kristine is helping Dutch relax and trust her.

Dutch is becoming such a solid fellow. Today he was ground driven down the driveway while handler drug a milk jug of rocks, past all the other ponies dancing about! He also trotted with the lines and jug! The barrels are no longer frightening and he can pass between them while banging the sides...umbrella received only a glance, and the buoys bouncing on his flank were not noticed! We are really asking a lot of this boy- but please remember he already has the fundamentals down and this is only a spring refresher course. Kristine is great for this work!

Lessons today involved being saddled and then some obstacles were thrown together. Again Dutch is telling us he know this ! Then three other horses join us and still Dutch was not concerned. Such a good boy

I shared in late September that Enzo was finally carrying his bit while on lunge. Then I added reins and today I rode. We are not 100% there yet but improving as I sit here like a sack of potatoes and give him ever so light cues. He works better off my legs and seat. So little steps in the right direction

This is huge for Enzo! He is trotting very relaxed without chomping on the bit. He can now carry the bit at walk trot and canter! Now for consistency.

Needed some activities to challenge the boys during our arena work and one thing just to another

Cavaletti is great for the horse's mind and body.... leading Dutch over these points and we nailed it! Quite difficult - you must keep them straight and not micromanage!

Reducing his manure pile meant Enzo got turned into the pasture with another horse. This is his first "sharing" of space with any other pony and he was more interested in eating grass than fighting with Doodles!

And the small ditch... Enzo nails it!

The snow is leaving! Enzo and Natalie had a chance to play with some obstacles out in the woods.

Yesterday's fire eating dragon was in a better mood today. I sat on the mounting block and he decided I was more interesting than showing off... Thank goodness1

We have almost finished the new barn...all done except for the painting-it just got to cold to do! Four matted run-ins each with their own dry lot turn out, heated water tanks, two tack rooms ... Ponies are going to love this.