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.

06/14/2024

Enzo made it part way through and the froze. Noodle under him, beside and in front. He finally calmly walked through and repeated a few times before we left it

06/13/2024

A question I hear often asked is "how long do I keep squeezing?" Well hear is the answer...

You don’t create a responsive horse by being light- you create a responsive horse by getting a response and immediately releasing!!!!

Don’t be afraid of strong aids - but DO BE VERY LEARY of aids that last beyond a few seconds. If you are holding constantly, or if you are peddling your horse, every step THAT is going to create dullness, no matter how light those aids may seem.

Please don’t take this as permission to yank and whack- start with “the dream aid”, escalate enough to be clear/firm (this is going to be very different for each horse), so you can get a rewardable response. Pretty soon the dream aid will work! 😍

Too often people create dull horses because they don’t want to get strong so they end up nagging.

05/24/2024

Sometime I get distracted while changing irrigation... did you notice the dandelions in the field?

05/04/2024

I love ground work and this one is interesting. If you try it let me know how it goes. I have done something line this when Dexter was not respecting the inside leg and not moving laterally...we practiced this around a barrel with me in the saddle. The hind legs must make a larger lateral step than the front to stay perpendicular to the barrel.

05/02/2024

Lots of fruit blossoms this year

04/27/2024

like this

04/05/2024

We were just talking about this particular set up for the cloverleaf pattern...thinking it might be a good one for Dutch

In this engaging equestrian tutorial, join us as we explore a unique exercise using plus poles. These specially designed setups serve a dual purpose: teachin...

04/05/2024

Grandma Grace’s Corner. She always want a stump there to rest

04/03/2024

What a great week for puttering around! From the ground or saddle. The one time I really tested this philosophy was with Dexter and the new bridge on the west fork of Teanaway. ( new back then). I couldn’t get him over that bridge without a lot of frustration. So this particular day I loaded him and brought my tea thinking this was going to take hours. But without an agenda and a destination in mind , Dexter relaxed and walked right over that dang bridge. Didn’t even get thru one cup of tea.

04/03/2024

Tha arrival of spring

04/03/2024

I don’t believe I have ever been in this arena, working it up and useable , this early in a year. Hope we don’t regret this early dry spring

04/03/2024

I’m putting this here because I want Jim to see this!

Wow.........Absolutely beautiful😍👍❤️

03/29/2024

In our last post we had the wrong year... now this is correct! Please contact Tina with questions and to reserve your spot.

03/23/2024

Anyone want to log miles and support Tevis? We have 100 days to complete 100 miles and you can earn some cool looking swag!

03/22/2024

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.

03/22/2024

Kristine is working Dutch...she wants softness and bend thru the body.

03/21/2024

So excited to have this clinician returning this summer! I audited last year and learned so much can't wait to ride with her- one of the best clinicians I've experienced.

03/19/2024

Off to my morning job

03/17/2024

Such a nice day here at Elk Haven

03/17/2024

It has taken years and then with help from the boarder we have tie posts at the arena. Special thanks to Raven and Mike and to Jim for getting this done!

Address

321 Elk Haven Road
Cle Elum, WA
98922

Website

http://www.elkhavenequestrian.com/

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Videos

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.

"No idea how he got so dirty".. says Nana

I called in the experts to smooth the arena!

Enzo and Natalie completed their first solo trail ride and rocked it! All the ground work certainly pays off.

The boss says." Yep, that was pretty tall!" You can hardly see the header cutting.

Natalie and Enzo enjoying the water!

Moving all trail obstacles to the hollow (couldn't find a noun to adequately define this area, but hollow is a small valley) and all jumps to the area for cross country and then it rained!