HawkRidge Farm LLC

09/07/2022

I'm thankful for mentors that demanded more of me.

They made me aware of my energy, my body, my movements. They guided me to a path of deep personal work, one that I'm still walking and will always be.

They told me that the things I wanted out of my horsemanship were beyond techniques, exercises and equipment. They told me the things I wanted out of my horsemanship resided within me. Covered up with layers of bias, trauma, ego and many more uncomfortable things that I would have to face head on in order to be able to offer my horses my best.

I walk into barns daily where people are buzzing about. They're quick, frazzled, fussing...jerky and abrupt in their movements. Carrying around life's baggage and slopping it all over their horses. Full of tension and insecurity. Hopping from method to method, technique to technique...totally unaware of the root cause of their horsemanship struggles. It's them, it's us, it's me...it's SELF.

You can buy the programs, get the lessons, go to the clinics, pay for the training but until you are willing to take a long hard look in the mirror...you're only going to get so far. If you're a serious student of the horse, I don't think you can avoid it.

You'll be confronted with your own uncomfortable truths at some point...the question is, what will you do about them?

- Terra

07/29/2022

Not to be outdone by his “big sister” Ollie, too, tried to pose for the camera. 😅

On the left, Herzenlied HRF “Song,” our keeper filly by Herzendieb out of EMC DeCastiglione (DeNiro/Happy Hour - Hohenstein). On the right, this year’s c**t, Saint Oliver HRF ”Ollie” (Sternlicht/EM Royal Princess OBX - Royal Prince).

07/25/2022

So… long overdue post about our c**t born this year!

Introducing Saint Oliver HRF. He is by Sternlicht out of our Elite Mare, Royal Princess OBX (Royal Prince/Brimming-Banter).

After a bit of a rough start to life Saint Oliver has certainly lived up to his name! He is a Saint!

Once we get our stuff together here at HawkRidge we will be getting video of this fantastic young man as he is available!

03/17/2022

Someone put the current state of the farm into words!

GLOP

“Glop” noun, as in, “My horse rolled in the glop.”
“Gloppy” adjective, as in “My paddocks are a gloppy mess.”

Glop is a new word that is a combination of, but not limited to, such words as grime, goo, goop, slime, and slop.

Glop is 4 parts wet manure, 5 parts mud, 3 parts slime of an unknown nature, 2 parts last year’s leaf mold, 2 parts some other disgusting substance.

My farm, currently, is under a severe glop watch. My horses roll in glop. The glop dries on their bodies in thick sheets that can best be loosened by a garden rake. We wade in glop. We haul hay carts through acres of glop.

It will be observed that glop and glitz are not related terms. Neither is glop a close relative of glamor. The horses in the big shows are not gloppy. Most of the famous riders of the sleek horses at the major venues rarely deal with glop.

Glop is a hidden reality of the joys of springtime that many never get to experience in a close, intimate and personal fashion.

02/04/2022

So your horse is lazy/ evades effort/ doesn’t give you “100%” (whatever that means?)? Thank your lucky stars 🌟🌟🌟

At least once a week I hear a rider moaning about a horse not putting the effort in or trying to get out of working properly. And it’s absolutely true, that’s exactly what’s going on but that’s a good thing! And here’s why...

Your job as a rider and trainer of horses is to make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard, that’s all. It’s that simple. Every time you interact with a horse you are training him whether you realise it or not.

Be careful of making a moral judgement on the horse’s perceived lack of motivation to do a job you decided he ought to do for you. You are the partner with the bigger, more complex brain in this pairing, don’t add meaning to a situation that’s not really there.

And it’s your responsibility to bring the horse along with you, you are leading the dance. It's why I think of that the FEI objective of the "happy athlete" would be better phrased as the "content athlete".

Your horse’s job is to consistently look for the easiest way out! That’s how a horse is trainable. He is looking for the loophole in your aids. When the horse understands the aids, he knows where the easy way out is. We need the horse to be seeking this place of lower pressure and higher comfort. Horses like feeling safe, being able to rest and having company.

Most of the time when training dressage we are using “negative reinforcement” techniques which sound a whole lot nastier than they actually are. Simply put, we teach an aid or behaviour by marking it as correct to the horse by REMOVING or stopping pressure, that’s why it’s called negative reinforcement. The negative is not a moral judgement on the technique, in fact techniques that rely on punishment are called “Positive Punishment”!

Now back to the effort piece - If your horse was genuinely putting 100% effort in, I can pretty confidently say 99.9% riders wouldn’t be happy riding your horse. The horses that are routinely putting 100% effort in are top racehorses and the best broncs, both on high adrenaline and performing like their lives depend on it. Horses usually give high effort when they are in high anxiety, that's how a prey animal is hardwired.

Most of us want a horse performing in a relaxed, content state of mind, at a certain lower agreed level of effort. Be careful what you wish for and be grateful for the tolerance our equine partners show us every day!

02/01/2022

Why I love my mares! They have certainly helped shape me for the better more than I could possibly ask for!

Dumbing down mares sassy behavior into stereotypes is a shame. As partners with our horses, we should do better.

01/25/2022

01/03/2022

Great info!

We all know that Bute (and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) can cause gastric ulcers. Here is some good information on why and some supplement options that can decrease the damage caused by NSAIDS from Dr. Juliet Getty equine nutritionist.

Bute functions by blocking the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes responsible for converting arachidonic acid (a fatty acid) to prostaglandins, some of which contribute to pain and inflammation. There are two types of COX enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, which differ in their impact on your horse’s digestive system. COX-2 is the one we want to inhibit because it is involved in producing the problematic prostaglandins. COX-1, however, is a beneficial enzyme that maintains a healthy gastrointestinal lining and also promotes proper blood clotting. Unfortunately, Bute blocks both of these enzymes, alleviating your horse’s discomfort (because it blocks COX-2), but making the mucosal lining of the stomach more vulnerable to stomach acid (by blocking beneficial COX-1), potentially leading to ulcerations anywhere along the digestive tract.

Bute disrupts the natural surface barrier within the stomach’s mucosal lining. Within this lining is a fatty bilayer made up of two rows of molecules called phospholipids. The outer portion is hydrophilic (attracted to water) while the inner portion is hydrophobic because of its fat content. Because Bute inhibits COX-1, it causes the inner hydrophobic barrier to become hydrophilic, allowing acid to permeate the mucosal lining, resulting in ulcerations.

here are two important foods you can add to your horse’s diet that can prevent or repair gastrointestinal damage from Bute:

1) Lecithin plus apple pectin

2) Colostrum

Researchers from the University of Texas[iv] Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology described this mechanism using human subjects on NSAIDS (in particular, aspirin and naproxen). They created a formula that combines the NSAID drug with phosphatidylcholine (PC). When PC combines with NSAIDs, it creates a complex that is more fat-soluble, thereby promoting its transit across the hydrophobic mucus layer of the stomach, with reduced surface mucosal injury, while not altering the efficacy or pharmacological activity of the NSAID. They also found that not only does PC significantly reduce gastrointestinal injury, but in some cases, it even eliminated gastrointestinal ulcerations.

Lecithin and apple pectin
Lecithin is the common term for PC. Other research indicates that lecithin is effective in providing protection and treatment of equine gastric ulcers. PC is a naturally occurring substance; it is the most abundantly found phospholipid in animal and plant cell membranes, and is most commonly derived from soybeans, though can be derived from other plants. Chemically, it primarily consists of essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega 6) and alpha linolenic acid (omega 3), along with a molecule of choline (an essential B vitamin-like nutrient).

Apple pectin, when combined with lecithin, offers a synergistic approach in preventing and alleviating ulcers. Pectin is a water-soluble fiber which acts with lecithin to form a hydrophobic barrier on the gastric mucosal membranes, protecting them against the corrosive effect of HCl. Lecithin granules and apple pectin can be purchased in any health food store, or in bulk through online providers. I recommend feeding ½ cup of lecithin plus 2 Tablespoons of apple pectin with each dose of Bute (for an 1100lb horse). It can be mixed with any feed and is quite palatable. Another option is a lecithin/apple pectin supplement called Starting Gate (SBS Equine Products), which may be more convenient.

Colostrum
Colostrum has been shown to prevent stomach and intestinal ulcerations and also increase new, healthy cell proliferation. The Transforming Growth Factors (TGF) present in colostrum actually stimulate gastrointestinal repair and maintain the integrity of the epithelium layer of the gastrointestinal tract. I recommend 20 grams of colostrum per day (for an 1100 lb/500 kg horse) while your horse is receiving Bute.

All horses, even healthy ones, can benefit from this nutritious food. Bovine colostrum is very low in lactose, making it appropriate for adult horses (who are naturally lactose intolerant). As a superfood, it is a natural source of nutritive factors that have a significant impact of on your horse’s recovery from a vast variety of ailments. It has been used by adult humans and animals for hundreds of years with remarkable results. Its impact on the horse industry is starting to show promise, revealing itself as an amazing tool to help your horses maintain optimal health. Look for colostrum that is from a source that is harvested during the first few hours of lactation and has been processed at low temperatures.

Omeprazole turns off acid production and many other ulcer prevention supplements just neutralize stomach acid, while lecithin, apple pectin, and colostrum protect the delicate phospholipid bilayer that lines your horse’s digestive tract. Lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) is a naturally occurring phospholipid and can easily be added to the diet along with apple pectin. Bovine colostrum is also worth considering and has multiple benefits beyond ulcer protection.

12/31/2021

Don’t over complicate it.

There was a time when you were just happy to ride, happy to be in the company of horses. It didn’t matter if you could execute a perfect shoulder in, or jump double clear round 1.20 tracks. You were just happy to have two feet in the stirrups and ears leading the way.

You didn’t care about having the best tack, or the newest hi-tech breeches. An old jumper, your favourite, well worn jods and colourful half chaps did the job just fine.

You didn’t spend the days between Christmas and New Year planning a heavy schedule of training sessions, clinics and competitions. You threw tinsel round your pony’s neck and went hacking with friends. The new year was just another 365 days to go riding.

Don’t forget that you started this sport because you loved the animal. You loved the rush of galloping across open fields and the serenity of watching a horse quietly graze in the sun. You do this because there is nothing on this earth that makes you feel more alive than being on the back of a horse, so don’t overcomplicate it.

Enjoy the little things, because one day you’ll look back and realise, they weren’t little at all.

12/16/2021

❤❤❤

12/15/2021

12/10/2021

This applies to boys/men as well but definitely yes on the lessons horses teach you. They are invaluable.

Absolutely ❤️ this!!!

12/09/2021

Very important!

THE FRONTAL LOBE OF THE HORSE’S BRAIN IS NEARLY NON-EXISTENT.

How does this apply to schooling/training? Frontal lobes are involved in higher mental functions such as reasoning. This means that horses cannot reason or plan to be naughty. They cannot be blamed for bad behavior or poor performance. They cannot recognize future consequences. Horses simply react to the situation. They learn through conditioning and memory.

I see and hear so many riders anthropomorphize their horses instead of finding better training tools. Phrases such as, ‘he just likes to be difficult’ or ‘this pony is so naughty’ or ‘he understands or knows what I want, but won’t do it’, or ‘he moves his hindquarters at every halt just to irritate me’. Horses do not know what we want unless we explain it in a manner that they can understand immediately.

A few months ago a rider told me how her horse ‘just does not want to co-operate’. It started with overt flight behavior and then became a subtle ‘snatchy’ movement of the nose. I asked her whether it could be due to discomfort. She answered, ‘no, she is just naughty’. It turned out that the horse was suffering from laminitis and was in severe discomfort! It made me want to cry.

At the moment I am training a young horse from scratch. I also used phrases such as, ‘she has a short fuse’ and ‘she challenges me every step of the way’. Then I realized that everything I was doing on this horse was completely new to her. I realized how frightening that must be for an animal with no reasoning ability. She was actually trying hard to understand me, but when new instructions were a tad confusing, she showed me in no uncertain terms that she did not understand it. The horse’s reactions to learning new skills all depends on personality. This particular horse is extremely sensitive and an introvert. Utopia, my older horse, is less sensitive and a complete extrovert. She can deal with much more pressure than the youngster. The message for me is that I must train each horse with the kind of pressure which they can deal with. Each horse has a different tolerance for pressure. Us riders have to be adaptable to each horse’s ability to deal with pressure. Personally I find that most behavioral problems stem from confusion, discomfort and too much pressure. Photo is the equine brain in front of the human brain.

Thanks to Karin Blignault for the info!!

12/06/2021

Amen!

11/20/2021

After seeing multiple videos posted by various breeders bragging about their 2 ½ year olds/recently turned 3 year olds and sharing videos of them cantering around in the arena, I have decided to once again circulate the below article.

First of all, breeders *should* have the knowledge to understand a horse’s fragile and slow maturing musculoskeletal system. Breeders should not condone their own horses let along anyone’s horses being cantered around under saddle at an incredibly young age. Period. This sets a terrible example and is quite honestly animal abuse. Just because a horse does not object does not mean it is right. And quite frankly, most of the videos posted show animals that are already in pain or developing pain…

As breeders, we should strive to produce healthy and sound animals. We should promote horsemanship that produces long term soundness. No, starting a horse later does not guarantee soundness. But it certainly helps.

I am a firm believer in scientifically backed approaches to horsemanship. You can’t argue with science that has been proven time and time again. Let’s dispel some stupid rumors:

1. There is no such thing as a (skeletally) slow maturing horse or one that is fast maturing. No horse is skeletally mature before the age of 6. And that is on the low estimate for age.

2. Growth plates are not just in the knee. Every bone behind the skull has a growth plate. Not every single one needs to be converted to bone before starting. There is a schedule of when bone fuses…this is the information needed to know when to start a horse. Not their outward appearance. It is a known fact that during growth, proprioceptive awareness can regress, greatly increasing the risk of injury.

3. Starting a horse is not the same thing as riding a horse. Starting a horse does not mean cantering it 3-4 days a week in an arena.

4. Injecting a horse that is in pain does not mean you fixed a problem. You masked it.

5. You can build correct muscle and teach a horse how to move their body from the ground. This creates a solid foundation to work from once your horse is ready to actually be backed. Teach a horse to use its body correctly before backing and you’ll save yourself a lot of vet bills down the line.

Hocks are “late” for maturity. The growth plates on the tibial and fibular tarsals do not fuse until a horse is 3-3 ½. Ever wonder why so many horses seem to have hocks issues?? Horses need to learn to carry themselves and their own weight well before adding a rider.

The growth plates that are LAST to close are at the base of the neck. This area is where we ask a horse to raise the base of their neck and come round. If under too much stress, the growth plates can fracture or be permanently damaged.

There are DOZENS of activities you can do with a young horse to build healthy muscular development. None of them involve a saddle or your weight on their back. Teaching a horse to carry themselves correctly BEFORE adding a rider is essential and cannot be done in a week. A 2 ½ year old horse is a baby. Mentally and physically. We see far too many injured performance horses at VERY young ages - broken down and/or sour from work. It’s wrong. Period. They need slow and steady work and need time to recover from even the slightest of injuries.

PLEASE, if you are considering when you should start your horse and what that work load should look like, please read the below. There are some wonderful things you can do with your young developing horse. Please don’t rush a year out of greed.

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

11/02/2021

This is a great article from a top rider explaining the importance of the correct process for all horses (and riders!)

https://www.dressagetalk.com/single-post/Jeremy-Steinberg-How-Average-Horses-Mold-Great-Riders?fbclid=IwAR3MA-MVdvXZiyZplAKFLT_azSii2ijXIbvU0LUMKhR7TwH0OPXzdQwuB_A

Steinberg explains, "Being on something less talented puts you in a position where you have to actually think through the training process."

10/22/2021

I know, not horse related BUT, it IS breeding related and it emphasizes (in my mind, at least) the importance of breeding for BETTER traits to IMPROVE the animal’s quality of life.

As breeders we carry the burden of improving the breed and not falling into the “looks” or “glamour” trap. Can you think of instances in the horse world where this happens?

It turns out that many of the most popular pet breeds considered super cute are in fact the victims of serious health issues.

09/28/2021

Do you know what your body is doing when you are working with your horse? The most common problem I see in groundwork isn't one technical thing people do wrong, it's that they don't know what their body is doing.
For example, when you are asking your horse to yield off and go around you, do you know what your feet are doing? Are they stepping forward or backwards? If they aren't stepping forward, then you may be confusing your horse. You are asking them to yield from you but your body language is asking them to come into you.
This incongruence can cause all kinds of problems with your horse because they are getting mixed signals.
If they are getting mixed signals, then they don't feel safe.
If they don't feel safe, then they are not concentrating on what you are asking them to do, they are having to either 1. ignore you and go internal for their safety (which looks like lazy or shutdown) or 2. be on the lookout for themselves for safety (which looks like anxiety).
If I could get 1 message to every horse owner out there, it would be this: When you are with your horse, be present so that you know what your body language, energy and intention are and that they are all in alignment.

09/18/2021

Offered for your consideration: 17.0 hand 2011 Black Bay Hanoverian, Carbonado (Chivas/Wanderkoenig/), affectionately known at the barn as “Senator.” “Senator” is a ten year old gelding with a striking presence. His puppy-dog personality coupled with his trainability and willingness to work is what makes him a barn favorite. He is sadly being offered for sale due to his owner no longer being able to ride.

Senator has been in 60 days of dressage training and would be ready to go out and show training level. Previous to that he was ridden several days a week on the flat and schooled over low level jumps. Senator has been jumped up to 3 feet in the hunter ring as well as schooled over cross country fences showing his versatility as a riding horse. Senator is honest to the jump, never refusing or spooking and has truly enjoyed his dressage training in learning to utilize his entire body and respond to the rider’s aids.

Senator is not a beginner’s horse as he needs someone who is fair and confident without over-facing him. Senator is a “give all” horse when he is treated within these parameters. Senator has had low riding mileage during his career and has the potential to make a great hunter/jumper, dressage mount, or eventing horse.

Senator is well-suited for sport as his pedigree shows a high propensity for both jumping and dressage. Senator’s sire, Chivas, comes from a well known jumping line boasted heritage to Contour and Escudo I. Chivas stood at the Celle State Stud in Germany and had many offspring compete in the jumping sport. Wanderkoenig, a popular dressage stallion from the UK, boasts a stellar temperament and was used as a foundation sire, with offspring such as Wilander-Star, Waldfee, Finnigan, and Benicio being produced from this wonderful stallion’s dynasty.

PM for price and video.

08/03/2021

Holy hind leg, Batman! Ole Fitz was showing off today!

Fitzgerald HRF (Festrausch/EM Royal Princess OBX - Royal Prince) has certainly developed into a spectacular c**t with a stellar temperament to boot! We can’t wait for his upcoming inspection.

Fitz is for sale with special consideration to a show home.

07/02/2021

Study: To prevent exertional heat illness, handlers should reapply cool water to hot horses every minute without scraping it off.

06/24/2021

“Provocable Quotient”

We hear about Intellectual Quotient and Emotional Quotient, but in terms of characteristics of a good horse trainer, I have come to believe that whether or not someone is easily provoked is one of the most telling.

Horses are big and powerful on the one hand, but also can be timid and flighty. Some humans seem able to deal calmly and quietly with all the big and little “misbehavings,” while others are constantly correcting, admonishing, yanking, slapping, jerking, easily provoked and quick to retaliate.

We can see this on the ground, how someone catches a horse, leads a horse, handles a horse on the cross-ties, saddles and bridles a horse.

We can see it most clearly when the person rides or drives. Does the rider or driver stay steady and consistent? Or is there snatching and loud yelling, kicking, lots of drama and stress?

Learning how to control one’s temper is more fundamental than any basket of physical skills. It sounds a little corny and Walt-Disney-ish, but partnerships are built on mutual trust, and of the two species trying to establish a partnership, “the burden of tolerance must be placed more heavily upon the one with the greater understanding.”

I read that quote years ago, failed back then to understand how thoroughly it applies to horse training, but have gradually come to realize that this is perhaps the greatest dividing line between horsemen and non-horsemen, the extent to which a human can accept frustration without taking it out in anger and reaction.

06/09/2021

Someone told Fitzgerald HRF (Festrausch/EM Royal Princess OBX-Royal Prince) yoga is the way to a peaceful mind and body so he decided to practice his downward dog. 😂

06/02/2021

Jet propulsion... ACTIVATE!

Fitzgerald HRF (Festrausch/EM Royal Princess OBX) having a little fun out in the sand tonight.

05/30/2021

😂

😂😂😂
credits to Pinterest

05/29/2021

This boy is getting so big! Really wish he had been born a filly. As a result this guy is looking for his next new owner!

Fitzgerald HRF was born broke! Nothing phases him. He will make an excellent amateur mount but has the movement to go all the way, which is typical of Festrausch offspring. Out of our Elite Mare Royal Princess OBX (by Royal Prince) she always out produces herself.

05/24/2021

A follow up to the last post... Fitz said he wanted to help organize as well and dirty rags are supposed to go into the laundry. Nobody told him this was the p**p bucket, not the hamper. 🤣

05/24/2021

This little champ had his first off the farm outing today so “mommy” can get preggo again and he was SPECTACULAR! I’ve seriously never had a horse (let alone a baby) be this easy with new, never experienced before things.

Never been on the trailer? No problem. I’ll hop right up. Never been inside a big barn? Yup, check that one off the list. Lots of cool things to touch and look at. Find a new object that feels different from anything else? Toy time!!

Also, we have a name change. Baby Fugue is now baby Fitzgerald aka “Fitz” after my mother. He is by Festrausch out of our EM Royal Princess OBX (Royal Prince/Brimming - Banter).