“An 8 sec video that will give all the internet trainers insight into what a terrible rider I am.“
Flashback to a green pilot moment during schooling a few seasons ago. I am grateful for Metro’s scope and smarts for keeping us both safe and in one piece!😅
When Tonalli was born in July 2023, I had to resist the urge to flood TikTok with videos of her every move. I think I showed some decent self-control.😂 Here’s a little throwback to Tonalli’s first trot across the diagonal.😉
Throwback to when 13 month old Odie competed in his second show! We entered the trot-a-pole division, took home division champion, and snagged a blue ribbon in grasshopper cross-country! 🏆🥇 I’m still slightly concerned that we were faster on foot than the horses under saddle.🥲🤣
Can you spot what’s missing in the second part of the video? 🔍
Let’s play a little game: How many strides did Metro get through this coffin combination?👀 Bonus question: How many strides do you think it was measured for?
Drop your guesses below — let’s see who gets it right!🐴💡
Throwback to March 2023 for what was Metro's and mine's first event of the season. He was so confident at this warmup run at modified.🏇🏼💨
As temperatures regularly drop below freezing, it’s important to be mindful of the workload you ask of your horse to protect their lungs and respiratory system from potential damage.❄️
This winter, I have been leaning more heavily on pole work. It’s a low-impact, versatile exercise suitable for horses of any age or training level. In the video above, Zenith is coming back into work after time off and is still rebuilding his topline. For this exercise, I set the cavaletti and ground rails approximately 2.5 feet apart, though you can space them up to 3 feet for horses with larger strides. This is strictly a walk-only exercise.
This exercise provides numerous benefits:
• It improves the cadence of your horse’s walk.
• Strengthens their core, topline, and hindquarters.
• Increases joint mobility in the stifles, hocks, and fetlocks without high impact.
• Enhances balance, coordination, and proprioception.
• Mentally engages the horse by encouraging focus.
When approaching the poles, ensure your horse has enough impulsion to complete the exercise successfully. A sluggish approach will make it more difficult for them to finish. Conversely, if your horse tends to rush, reduce the number of poles to help them stay calm and focused. For a confident, eager horse with no anxiety, consider adding more poles to increase the challenge and further encourage focus and body awareness.
Most horses will naturally slow down to navigate the poles; during this time, the rider should quietly support and not interfere. Allow them to prioritize their thought process, even if it means making a mistake. Mistakes at this low-pressure level provide valuable learning opportunities. It’s better for them to problem-solve now than in higher-stakes situations (looking at you, jumpers and eventers).
I love using poles and cavaletti as visual tools for horses, whether it’s during their first rides or with seasoned competition partners. Poles provide instant feedback - horse
Sometimes the best plans are the ones made at the last minute! I realized late one night last month that a venue I’ve been wanting to attend was hosting jumper classes the following day, so I signed Metro up. Early the next morning, we tootled off for our first competition together in what was far too long.
It’s been awhile since Metro and I stepped into the jumper ring (because let’s face it, “show Metro” has his own vibe compared to “lesson/ clinic/ home Metro”!), but it felt like no time had passed. All the buttons were right where I had left them, and it was such a reassuring reminder of the partnership we’ve built over the years, and nothing had diminished since our last outing.
We won both our 1.05 m and 1.10 m classes, and capped things off with a solid schooling round at 1.20m. He’s always game for whatever crazy ideas I throw his way, and even though we haven’t been jumping much at all recently, he was more than happy to step up and show off. 🥰✨
Madaket Road - 2012 Thoroughbred Gelding
Madaket Road - 2012 Thoroughbred Gelding
Lay It On over fences
Lay It On over fences - shot with Pivo
Lay It On flat video
2011 16.2 hh OTTB gelding for sale - flat video shot with Pivo
I never knew the horses and I would need a pet pig 🐖