Elk Haven Equestrian Center

01/26/2025

This weeks pattern has three heights of raised poles. You could walk one line and trot the other. Remember to adjust the distances between poles to match your pony’s strides

01/25/2025

Such a pretty day and Natalie and Enzo did a great job with this tough grid!

01/25/2025

Georgie went out for an unsupervised walk about and made a new friend.

01/25/2025

So many variations

Screenshot this to use in your lessons later!

Four Poles, Six Exercises!

Don’t forget that you can adjust transitions and pole heights to match riders of all levels. I like to keep it simple by setting up one exercise in the arena for the day or even the whole week, then modifying it as needed. For beginners, I lower the jumps to ground poles, and for advanced riders, I raise the poles. This saves time and effort, with less equipment to move around!

You can also try different variations to keep things fun and engaging. For example, turn it into a timed challenge: riders compete to complete the exercise in the fastest time. Adjust the speed to match their level—whether it's walking, walk/trot, or canter. In private lessons, students can try to beat their own best time.

Another option is to focus on smoothness rather than speed. Riders can be judged on who performs the exercise most fluidly, maintaining a steady rhythm without pulling on the reins. Private students can repeat the exercise multiple times, aiming to improve their smoothness with each round.

Riding instructors —are you in need of more creative mounted and unmounted lesson plans? Check out our website for more inspiration: https://horseridinglessonplans.com/

01/24/2025

Morning work for Dutch involved long lines.

01/23/2025

Edited: Found a post in my memories that Georgie Porgie started shedding on this same day three years ago! Not early at all...

Time to put away the fleece jacket!

01/23/2025

01/23/2025

Cold and pink while feeding tonight

01/22/2025

Beautiful day here and Dutch was being perfect. Here he walks at liberty through this weeks pattern!

01/20/2025

Feeling like in a Doolittle painting. I expect to see the paint pony at any moment.

01/20/2025

I found the explanation for the second comment (found in comments) to be exceptional!

•Sometimes good training looks like slow quiet work at the walk.
•Sometimes good training looks like matching a reactive horse’s energy.
•Sometimes good horsemanship is about making sure the horse is relaxed and enjoys every moment.
•Sometimes good horsemanship is about teaching a horse to handle the stress of life.
•Sometimes being a great rider means having soft quiet, well-timed, tactfully applied aids. 
•Sometimes being a great rider means having the strength and balance to stay in the middle of a spook or buck, without suddenly clutching the reins or scaring the horse even worse.

(Everyone is free to share! But please do not copy/paste.) 

01/20/2025

Have you ever stood on a concrete floor all day? If so you will have empathy with the ponies standing on this frozen ground! Interesting article and perhaps motivation to have a spa day for the pony!

Why Does Cold, Hard Ground Make Your Horse Stiff?

If your horse feels extra stiff or uncomfortable during the colder months, you’re not alone! Cold weather and hard ground can make movement more challenging for horses, especially as they age or if they have a history of joint or soft tissue issues.

Here’s why:

• Hard Ground: Hard ground absorbs less of the concussion created by each step or landing your horse takes so your horse has to absorb the extra concussion through their own soft tissues. That means more stress and strain is put on the back, hocks, shoulder sling, feet, and other joints. This leads to tension, soreness, and potential injury over time.
• Reduced Circulation: Cold weather naturally slows blood flow to muscles, making them less pliable and more prone to stiffness.
• Impact on Joints: Hard, frozen ground increases the impact on your horse’s joints, ligaments, and tendons with every step, which can lead to discomfort.
• Tighter Muscles: Horses tend to brace against the cold, leading to tighter muscles and restricted range of motion.

Massage Can Keep Your Horse More Comfortable

Massage therapy is a powerful tool to keep your horse moving freely and staying sound through the winter. Here’s how it helps:

• Relieves Tension: Concussion causes muscles and other soft tissues tighten and tense up. Massage can soothe, soften, lengthen and separate tight muscles and fascia.
• Improved Circulation: Massage promotes blood flow to stiff muscles, warming them up and restoring elasticity.
• Relief for Sore Areas: It addresses tension and pain caused by bracing against the cold or uneven movement.
• Preventative Care: Keeping muscles and fascia loose helps reduce strain on joints, minimizing the risk of injuries caused by frozen footing.
• Increased Comfort: Regular massage helps your horse feel their best, improving mobility and overall well-being.

Keeping your horse warm, mobile, and supported with therapies like massage can make a big difference during the winter months. If you want to help your horse stay comfortable and sound this season, let me know 👍

Learn more here - Tips for Maintaining Your Horse’s Muscles, Tendons, and Joints in Cold Weather - https://koperequine.com/tips-for-maintaining-your-horses-muscles-tendons-and-joints-in-cold-weather/

01/19/2025

Monty the moldy moose has returned to watch us practice straight lines with raised poles and missing poles!

01/18/2025

Something to practice again and again

01/18/2025

Edited: within 5 minutes of posting this I may have found one!

Dear Friends, my soon to be nine year old grandson is coming to visit this summer and wants to learn to ride (his parents considered a weeklong camp experience but decided Nana could offer horseback riding and more!). So I'm seeking a Kid safe pony/quarter horse for grandchildren and son-in-laws! Think BuckWheat (Alison's), Blaze (Molly's), Gypsy (Hart family), Fox (mine), past great ponies. No Boomers. Can be a permanent home or a summer loan... anyone have such a horse? (Photo is of Blaze, the wonder pony!)