Kruse Equestrian

01/11/2025

These fluffs have been steady busy on holding down the fort!

01/07/2025

📍 January 7th has been a landmark date for the Scotchmans Glen Gypsies herd! 2 years ago today, Marley and Cammy debuted their first under saddle show. It is also Gidget’s 1 year anniversary of her first under saddle show. The show goes on during the winter, and has made for some great horses in very little time! Take a look at some of our adventures over the past two years as we look forward to 2024 series end prizes and the incoming 2025 season!

01/06/2025

Happy Snow Day! ❄️

01/03/2025

Outdoor winter lessons build confidence. This picture was taken in what we called the "baby pool" on my farm. I also had a big outdoor arena that was unfenced for a reason and a round pen. The baby pool was approximately 40' (12 meters) x 60' (18 meters) with rounded corners. This student had not yet earned her way out of the baby pool into the large arena, which means she has had 8 to 12 lessons so far. She is in a balanced position with loose reins, doing fine.

This is an old picture, and I am not sure if parents would send their children today to an outdoor lesson like this, but lessons like this offer unique learning opportunities. Riders become stiff in the cold and it is important that they learn early that bracing your body, regardless of the reason, interferes with communication between horse and rider because it violates the primary principle riding of, "Let the horse move you." A stiff braced rider body separates you from your horse as your horse will withdraw from a braced rider. Riders cannot communicate effectively with their horse if they have little or no unity of balance and motion.

My point today is that we should be teaching the so called "advanced" principles of riding like unity from day one and every day after that. I see too many instructors teaching static forms that judges reward early in their lesson programs, but not the true primary elements like unified balance and movement with the horse. For example, ba****ck lunge line lessons are among the best to start a student learning these primary elements, but this once common teaching tool is hardly seen anymore.

This student might as well be on a lunge line because that pony is very well trained. Well trained lesson horses and ponies are absolutely essential for a first rate lesson program that begins with the essentials of horsemanship. You cannot expect a new rider to find sympathetic balance and movement with their mount if they are constantly distracted by flaws in the horse's training.

But with the right horse in the optimal contained area, students of all ages can learn proper horsemanship starting with their first lesson. Additionally, if you continue teaching through all kinds of conditions, students learn from a depth of experience much more powerful than can be found in an indoor arena. Just make sure that the rider is dressed correctly for each ride. We need better lesson programs that do not "teach for the test", meaning how to please a judge and win a ribbon. We need lessons that teach effective riding.

* note - important post for 2025

www.facebook.com/BobWoodHorsesForLife/posts/pfbid02BvFUx5yo9H4vqp2W12UyKmqSjqchTkQftP8SsArtAev5ZBDMRMwHsaEnMqjWX3Gwl

01/01/2025

2025 is here 🥂 time to think on the things you want to do, be & see in this new year!

12/30/2024

More leg!

Many of us who’ve learned about riding horses from the leg into the hand have been taught to lay our legs on endlessly. This often makes a horse stiff, resistant, and requiring more leg aids. It can be exhausting! When I teach, many riders often complain about having to constantly push their horses with their legs. This is unpleasant for both horse and rider.

The truth is, the more leg you put on your horse, the more leg you will be required to keep on your horse. A bracing leg from a rider creates a bracing rib cage in a horse, and this makes their backs tense, which in turn makes it harder for them to go forward.

In riding a horse with lightness as the goal, we look for the horse to be responsive to the leg, and to carry himself. This means the seat is the first and most important message, and the leg is used as needed. Once the leg aid is received, it comes back off. Leg aids are never applied in a tight or “grinding” way, but rhythmically, to maintain looseness in the horse.

A horse in true self carriage is a joy to ride, but they can’t get there if we constantly hold them up.

Leg position and timing here is the key - if your low back and hips are tight, your horse will brace against your leg. Too, if your timing with the leg aids isn’t right, it will be hard to achieve lightness.

When I think about applying a leg aid, I think first:

-is my seat blocking what the leg here would ask?
-Am I asking with the leg at a time my horse would be able to carry out my request? Do I know what the order of footfalls is in the current gait and do I know when to take my leg off?
-Am I able to apply the leg aid without my hands, seat or body moving out of position?

Some food for thought in the journey toward self carriage.
Happy riding!

12/30/2024

Open for lesson & session scheduling all of this week minus January 1st. Get ready for a New Year! 🥂

12/28/2024

Guess who made the logo cut 💗

12/27/2024

🎉 January 2025: Subscription-Style Lesson Packages 🎉
Ring in the New Year with deals on riding & unmounted lessons! Guarantee your weekday slots for the month & streamline your riding experience with invoices delivered to your email at the beginning of the month. Text, PM or ask at your lesson for more information!

•Individual purchase lessons available for weekends, holidays & trial periods until the next month•

12/26/2024

🐴 Kruse Equestrian sweatshirts are here!🐴
•Sizes adult XS-XXL•
•Pink (S pictured) & grey (XS pictured) options•
•$30 each•

12/23/2024

Our trusty lady, LV Cammy! Cammy is a 9 year old Gypsy Vanner that was started in her 7th year, balancing a career & mama status. She has gathered ribbons up & down the East Coast in various classes with different riders. She allows a safe ride for anyone coming to lesson, although she will teach you lots!

You can view our horses at https://www.kruseequestrian.com/meet-the-horses

12/20/2024

No sessions or lessons 12/22 through 12/25. ❄️ Will resume on 12/26!

12/18/2024

12/17/2024

Are you a client of Kruse Equestrian? Whether you’ve had lessons, rides, farm sitting services or otherwise, consider leaving a review on Facebook and Google! 🌟

⭐️ Google Reviews can be made here
https://g.page/r/CbQEl0uo-fpkEBM/review

Considering Kruse Equestrian for your equine needs? Visit kruseequestrian.com to see how we can help!