Crouse Equestrian

04/14/2024

Registration is open for camp!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NeOItW6P-CzpW1-kAL8cfafzra1sCtY4HBVTPVgcNFA/edit

07/03/2022

Don’t assume that every horse with a high poll is correct, and don’t assume that a horse that is low and round is incorrect. You have to look at the state of the horse’s *back* to truly judge how correct it is. The horse’s back should be relaxed, swinging, and elevated under the saddle, rather than still and hollow. When the horse’s back is properly “up” (arched upwards under the rider’s seat,) he will be correctly seeking the connection. And this can be achieved with many different relative heights of the horse’s neck. Never forget that it is equally as damaging to horses to ride them with a high head and neck with hollow back as it is to ride a horse cranked down in Rollkur.

05/13/2022

Summer camp registration is open!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5rxCWkjgqgtxXUxvgmJcOHhALlR2E8ERB28y4PNC75PDR0w/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1V0O7MstAcS1ZtzJyI_Zg__s830is9ZC7Dha7JYquhHGXM1edEdB2moxA

Summer camp sessions will run from 9am-3pm. Please make arrangements ahead of time if early drop off or late pickup is required. Campers should bring their own lunch/snacks. Appropriate riding attire including pants, helmet, and boots with a heel is required. For the Discover Horses camp, some helme...

04/17/2022

Happy Easter! Online entries are now open for our first show of the season! Please have entries in by 5pm on Friday the 22nd.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GLQP1yqhttLPg2MC07DGN-Qv7EvrNad4-3SqTEUYVEk/

03/01/2022

https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/dressage-basics-small-dressage-arena-20-meter-circles

Learn how to ride a 20-meter circle in the small arena.

01/15/2022

I talk about this a lot since I have several students/horses that compete in both ranch riding and dressage (or western dressage)! It is possible for a horse to have both a quick stop (we don't have reiners so we don't do sliding stops) and a correct dressage halt, as the movements are cued for differently. I put a quick stop/good set of brakes on all my young horses early on, for safety. I've found it is natural for most horses to stop when you simply "quit riding". In a dressage halt, you don't quit riding, you keep those hind legs stepping under.

11/20/2021

10/18/2021

Patterns for the show this weekend!

10/18/2021

Please have payment and current coggins/proof of rhino/flu vaccination ready at the sign up desk, or e-mail them to [email protected]. Checks can be made to SWMAHC.

10/08/2021

What an amazing time we had at the WDAA world show! Not only did we have fun, but the girls had stellar rides and brought home a pile of ribbons in some very competitive classes. They have worked very hard with their horses to earn these achievements!

Karley McCall and her gelding GW Lee's Last Encore brought home a world championship, 2 reserve world championships, and 5 top ten finishes.
Katie McCall and her mare Tabihas Perscription brought home 4 world championships, 1 reserve world championship, and 2 top ten finishes!

I'm already looking forward to next year!

09/27/2021

Just a reminder that we won't be having lessons this week. We will be at the WDAA world show. Good luck to all horses and riders competing!

06/19/2021

While the bigger shows are a lot of fun, it is always important to remember where it all begins. I'm so proud of how these girls handled their first off property show at the Greene County Fair 4-H horse show this evening. They are off to a great start in the world of showing horses, and they had a lot of fun doing it!

06/08/2021

Congratulations on a great Region 11 Championships to Karley McCall and GW Lee's Last Encore, better known as Levi!
Reserve Champion Showmanship JTH
Reserve Champion HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding Open
Top 5 HA/AA Ranch Horse Riding ATR
Top 5 HA/AA Western Trail Open
Top 5 HA/AA Western Trail ATR
This was their first time EVER showing trail and both of them handled it beautifully! The future is bright for this awesome pair!

06/02/2021

This is a good summary of how horses are different from us and why they behave the way they do!

http://9thus.spalding-labs.com Dr. Robert M. Miller explains why horses act and react the way the do. This video discusses the ten traits every horse inheri...

05/28/2021

Meet another lesson horse! Miss Thermo King Bee, better known as Bug!
Bug is a 20 year old registered American Quarter Horse. She earned the name Bug because I got her from an exterminator. I first met her working at the auction. She was just 6 years old. I was hired to ride her through the sale, where she didn't bring enough money so she was passed out. Her owner asked if I would be interested in taking her for training, and the rest is history!
She was always so easy to train, she wanted to be slow and quiet. I decided to keep her and not sell her when I realized she was a horse I could have my younger (non horse) sister ride, or let friends ride. She never had the ambition to run barrels or jump big, but she thrived in the pleasure classes, especially western pleasure. When western dressage took off, it became her forte. She always loves the trail, but beware, she loves water a bit too much and keep her moving if she starts to paw!
Bug is actually very responsive and fine tuned, but lazy at heart and will ignore her rider if she can. She is also highly food motivated and loves people and attention! She is my go to horse for turning a young rider loose (off the lunge line) for the first time.
Another fun fact is that she has a daughter! Her name is Cricket. I raised her, trained her, then sold her to some friends of mine. They have owned her for many years now and she is very well loved.
Being a grey, she has had quite the transformation over the years. She went from being dark and dappled, with a black mane, to the fleabitten grey we know today.

05/21/2021

I have several kiddos stepping up and learning how to handle split reins at the moment, so I thought this would be a helpful article to share. I love the versatility of split reins and they are definitely worth taking the time to master!
https://horseandrider.com/western-horse-training-tips/solve-reinmanagement-issues

Pro Al Dunning explains different ways to use split reins and how to master each rein position.

05/16/2021

Good rides at the MoRHA show in Carthage this weekend!