Appalachian Equestrian Academy

09/09/2024

2 more hours until our first Homeschooling Class!! We are so excited to see everyone today!!! We still have a few spots left, so if anyone would like to join in our class, please message us to sign up! Stay tuned for our recap after class today!🐴

09/03/2024

We love Biscuit so much! Taking a snuggle and power nap break inbetween trots. 😆🩵

09/03/2024

Hey Everyone! We are super excited to announce that Appalachian Equestrian Academy is launching the
“Homeschool Horsemanship Class”

This class is an unmounted, hands on, equine science and safety course. We will learn how to communicate, interact, and care for horses! This is also a good opportunity to give our students real farm life knowledge and experiences.

Class will be held on Mondays (Sept - Oct, and March - May)
$20 per student
12pm - 2pm
Ages 7- 17
First come first serve. Max 10 students per class

Tickets are listed by date

Ticket link: https://form.jotform.com/242265489249165

08/30/2024

Yes, we teach our Western students to jump! But, why?

When our Western students sign up for lessons, their goals are usually barrel racing, or trail riding, or really anything that doesn't involve hurling one's self over fences. BUT....

What if, on your chill trail ride, there's a fallen tree in the path? I guess you could turn around and go home, but wouldn't it be nice to have this skill in your back pocket to not ruin your outing?

Or, you may have seen the reel of the horse during a barrel race running home, slightly off center, and the barrel just happens to be in their path. The horse decides to jump over it instead of crashing into it!

You can never be too prepared when things get western. 🤠

08/24/2024

Cash and his loyal companion, Biscuit, spreading joy and love to whoever they meet! 💜🩵

08/23/2024

Our students have been smashing their goals lately! Great job to Brittany and Maci for earning their Red Level ribbons! 🎉

08/20/2024

Mr. Bug and I are happy to announce that our student, Miss Anna, received her Red Level ribbon!! We are so proud of you Anna, let’s keep up the good work!!

08/17/2024

Bug's field trip to the Equestrian Preserve at Old Mill 💕

08/15/2024

Work hard, play harder 😎💖

08/14/2024

Elias has shown he has the determination and spirit to achieve anything he sets his mind to, like a true cowboy, by earning his Rainbow Ribbon. Great job! 🎉🤠

08/12/2024

"😘"

Love, Cash

08/10/2024

Biscuit knows no bounds when it comes to snoozing spots! 😴😂

08/08/2024

We're all sharing the fan this evening. 😆 Happy August!!!

08/06/2024

Miss Emily is demonstrating some of our warm up stretches before her lesson today. Even in the summer, it’s always important to make sure that you and your horse are warmed up on both sides, as to avoid any injuries! At red level, we strive to set up fundamentals, like warm ups,
for both our students and our horses! What are some stretches that you and your horse do to get ready for your ride ?

08/03/2024

Our Horses Deserve the Best: Treating the boys to a well deserved spa day. Reconnecting with old friends is an added bonus!! Thank you Grace Renner of Stable Motion for delivering top-notch care and making our horses feel great today! 💕

08/02/2024

Miss Karli takes on jumping without a saddle (or stirrups😉) this summer as one of her goals for the year!

08/01/2024

🙌

07/30/2024

Leah, one of our diligent working students, is enjoying the company of her favorite horse, Indy. We love the hard work Leah has put into building such a beautiful relationship with her! 💖

07/28/2024

07/26/2024

A leader is calm, focused and balanced - and then the horse follows. A leader is someone who makes the horse feel safe in their presence.
A leader is not someone who simply tells the horse what to do.

07/23/2024

Bug requests an indoor grazing facility 👀🌧️

07/22/2024

A little encouragement for the rainy week ahead 💗🐴

Hard hard day 💔

07/16/2024

It was SO good to see our sweet Aalena this morning before she goes back across the country!! Even though she doesn’t get to see us full time, she always comes by to see Bug when she is here🤍 It’s always special to us as instructors to watch our kids make their best memories, whether it’s weekly, biweekly, or even just for the summer🐴💕

07/12/2024

That's a wrap! Our final day of camp was filled with fun and we're sad to see it end. Our campers learned so much, made lasting friendships, and created unforgettable memories. A big thank you to our instructors, ground buddies, and perfect saintly ponies. We're excited for next year! 🥳🌈🐴

07/11/2024

Ba****ck day!!! Campers did a great job making their ponies look beautiful and showing off the riding skills they've learned this week!! 🌈💕💘

07/10/2024

Day 2! We played a couple mounted games. We rescued some ducks and princesses! Biscuit showed us all of his cool tricks. Super fun day! Looking forward to ba****ck day 🐴💕

07/09/2024

Good morning🌞 What better way to start your day than with horses!! Our sweet rising rider campers get to learn all about how to ride and get an insider peek of how to care for their ponies! After that, we’ll be spending our afternoon learning important horse keeping skills, making krafts, racing hobby horses, and of course, pool time to cool off!! Stay tuned for all of our fun this week 🤍

07/03/2024

Congratulations to McKenzie for powering through her red level! We love the motivation and determination this young lady has! Great work!!

06/28/2024

Your horse will never "respect" you, and that's okay! Horse's don't experience human emotions. But knowing this means you can have realistic expectations for them, and in turn, a more meaningful relationship with your horse! ❤️

WELFARE WEDNESDAY 🐴 Today, we're discussing the fascinating topic of dominance patterns in horses.

The social dynamics of horses are intricate and reveal unique dominance patterns among individuals. While the idea of a strict dominance hierarchy has been popular, recent insights show that this concept doesn't fully capture the reality.

Instead, horses exhibit 'bilateral dominance,' meaning each horse understands their position of dominance or submission in relation to others for specific resources.

For instance, in a group setting, horse A might dominate horse B, and horse B might dominate horse C. However, horse C could dominate horse A, and horse D might dominate both horses B and A, but not C. This dynamic demonstrates that dominance is fluid and resource-specific.

One horse might be more dominant when it comes to food, while another could be more dominant in securing space. Although in some cases, a horse might appear dominant in all areas when paired with another horse, this is not the norm.

A common misunderstanding arises when terms like 'dominance' are used to describe a horse's behaviour toward humans, often attributing undesirable behaviour to the horse's dominant nature. However, what is perceived as dominant behaviour is usually a result of inadequate training. Horses do not see humans as part of their social hierarchy, nor do they understand human notions of 'respect' in the same way we do.

Successful trainers recognise this and take responsibility for their horses' learned behaviours, rather than attributing issues to dominance or disrespect. Embracing this perspective helps in fostering a more harmonious and effective training environment.

⭐This information is adapted from Pony Club Australia's rider manuals, which members study on the way to achieving their proficiency certificates.

06/26/2024

Evading the heat. The horses are hanging out in their "tree fort" 🌳🌞