Morning Glory Equestrian

02/06/2025

Gerd Heuschmann shared this and it's so true! When your basics are solid, the rest is easy (or at least easier).

01/13/2025

Truth right here. Patience is so important. They are worth it.

In any dealings with a worried horse one statement holds true---“Patience isn’t patience if you are only patient when you feel like it.”

As in having a not so great day with a horse and giving it a pi**ed off yank in the mouth because “I’ve lost my patience with you!”

NOPE---You didn’t have patience to lose. You only had YOUR definition of patience.

And one yank in the mouth of an already anxious horse can undo days, even weeks of trust building. Reschooling is an attitude game, and it isn’t something that all riders have enough emotional control to take on.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from the MGE herd to yours!

12/17/2024

The stretch is so important!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YFo2bxB3/

12/12/2024

Dental day. So thankful for Dr Kari of Advance Equine Dentistry for her expert care!

12/11/2024

❤️ this

The difference between relaxation and centeredness -

The goal for many for their horses is calm, or relaxation at all times. That can sound like a good goal, and a kind one - but ultimately, unfair and really quite impossible.

If we factor in the world at large, we realize quickly that being calm requires environmental control - can we really be calm in the face of all emergencies? Can we be calm if our friends horse has bolted, if the barn is on fire, if there is some factors outside our control?

What we ask the horse, in order to be calm at all times, is really to ignore the environment, and to flatten a nervous system and body designed for survival into only one mode we find acceptable.

Relaxation often is lost when energy or external input is brought in, and relaxation offers us no avenue for higher energy movements. A very relaxed horse cannot have the power required for upper level movements - no athlete is supremely relaxed in their endeavors

They are very focused, energetic, and alert

BUT

They should not be anxious

That is the different between relaxed and centered

Centered does not require calm, but can be calm when appropriate. Centered is the horse’s ability to have an adaptable nervous system, molding itself to the necessary requirements of the moment and the environment.

A centered horse can find balance even in moments of high energy or adrenaline, and is able to calm down when appropriate.

It is not appropriate to be calm in a barn fire. We need adrenaline to manage our way to safety - but panic doesn’t help. Therefore we need energetic clarity.

And this has to be taught by a centered person.

It’s easy to teach a horse to “relax” by controlling the environment fiercely or teaching them to tune out. It just requires repetition.

But a centered horse requires the education of a centered person- one who is highly aware, disciplined, attentive, and constantly engaging in appropriate dialogue with the horse - not micro managing, but guiding.

The first is easy to sell - it sounds good, makes people feel good, and requires very little of a person with high reward societally.

The second is a harder sell because of the work load involved, the self discipline and improvement, and low societal reward.

But, you gain the trust of a horse through low and high energy situations both. And that is what a true horseman aspires to.

11/12/2024

Emmett and Rosie hanging out before their lesson ❤️

09/14/2024

I know I'm biased, but I think he's right! ❤️ my OTTBs! https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/trainer-dan-skelton-rehoming-ex-racehorses-769004?fbclid=IwY2xjawFRxilleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbSGUfxF2gdZXlyXsDm_r926rJOclvMVcIlBjt7F4z4aPCl79X7UPgFFMA_aem_ZncIGTRpkfVLHlWkzwZ9Zw

08/28/2024

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 Anna Geduldig, Theresa Ali, Terry Bauman

Thanks for following!!

07/30/2024

🤩❤️😎 Love those TBs and hope more come back "into fashion"

When your $1000 off-track-thoroughbred takes you to the Olympics 🤩

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture in action at Versailles 🙌

Photo: Australian Olympic Team

07/27/2024

Welcome to MGE, Diego!

07/26/2024

Wow what a view!