Softwind Stables LLC

03/29/2025

03/14/2025

WEAR YOUR HELMET!

03/12/2025

Please contact me with any questions! This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about Sure Foot!

03/02/2025

I often recommend instability pad training, so I am super excited to be partnering with Softwind Stables to bring Wendy Murdoch for a wonderful educational evening about her amazing surefoot products! Come join us to get your learn on! 🤓 This will be a smaller event to allow the best experience for all involved so spots are limited and registration is required. 🐴
Wendy will also be giving a mounted clinic at Affinity Farm in Skaneateles the next Saturday and there are still spots available for auditing. If you are interested PM me and I can share the link!

02/11/2025

Let's talk wolf teeth! 🐺
Wolf teeth are small vestigial teeth (meaning they serve no function) which are immediately in front of the first pre-molars. We used to think the bit would contact these teeth and cause discomfort so every riding horse needs them removed. We now know that a properly fitted bit will never contact the wolf teeth. However, some horses still find the pressure of soft tissues (such as cheeks, tongue) pressing on these teeth uncomfortable so removal is still recommended in some cases.
Now wolf tooth removal is an EXTRACTION! It involves cutting soft tissue attachments down the entire length of the root. This should always be done with proper local anesthetic (numbing), sedation and pain medication. The tooth may be "small" in terms of horse teeth, but they are about the size of a full adult human tooth. Even though only a small amount of the tooth is visible in the mouth (yellow section in the photo) there is much larger root under the surface (red section in the photo). Would you want a tooth fully extracted from your head without any Novocain or pain meds? Probably not!

Importantly: It is ILLEGAL for anyone besides a licensed veterinarian to perform dental extractions! This means lay dentists are NOT legally allowed to extract wolf teeth! They do not have the training and medications to do it safely. If your non-veterinary dental provider offers to extract your horse's wolf teeth, just say NO THANK YOU. I NEED TO GO HOME AND WASH MY HAIR. GOODBYE. Also fun fact, there is a MAJOR artery that runs underneath the roof of the mouth that is right near the wolf tooth which can be inadvertently lacerated if the tooth is aggressively extracted or if the horse shakes their head in the wrong way. If this happens to someone without medical training the horse can literally bleed to death! 😳 (Okay maybe not so fun fact) Also if someone offers to remove the wolf teeth and "it will only take a second" they are likely taking a pair of pliers and snapping the visible tooth off at the gumline, leaving the tooth root still in place and now broken. (Not ideal)

Thanks for reading! 🐺🐴

01/30/2025

Sun, Feb 16 Free Virtual Event

01/22/2025

Excellent visual! Correct lunging is extremely important. I’ve always thought of it as riding from the ground. The lunge line is rein aid , the whip is your leg aid and your body position reinforces both aids. Proper lunging is useful for you, your horse and allows your vet and farrier to use their expertise by watching a controlled rhythmic horse on a circle!

Do you understand?

10/02/2024

Vincitore N2 MW 17 in seat dressage saddle for sale! Beautiful saddle, soft and very well cared for! Mono flap, trials are welcomed! Shipping in US only! If purchased shipping cost will be reimbursed to buyer! Asking $3000.00 well below value! Picture has exact measurements!

09/25/2024

Michelle LaBarre clinic held Saturday October 5th at Softwind has a few openings. Wonderfully relaxed atmosphere with bright indoor ring! No ring or audit fee! Contact me for additional information.

08/22/2024

“Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” - Churchill

07/27/2024

06/25/2024

This!

05/27/2024

A great beginning with a ton of firsts!

My first show with Linosso was successful in many ways!

Returned to show ring after a 6 year break!
First year as a professional!
Competed in a level I have never shown!(3-3)
Got my qualifying scores for regionals!

My horse is wonderful and besides thanking him for taking care of me, my trainer/coach and mentor Michelle LaBarre gets a huge shout out! She’s perfect for me and I could not have accomplished this first set of goals without her!

My farrier Jason Turk for working countless hours and who is dedicated to his profession.

My vet and friend Dr. Sonya Lawlis who supported Linosso and me all the way!

My Softwind family for being awesome and always routing me on!

My family for never letting me forgot who I am and keeping me positive. Randy Swart
who stays behind and takes care of the farm so I can relax and concentrate! Without his support and love I would never leave my comfort zone!

Esther Mortimer for the opportunity to purchase a horse with an education,
a wonderful brain, a work ethic that matches mine and the kindest horse I have ever known!

I’m looking forward to what lies ahead!

05/17/2024

Softwind Stables has a few openings with Michelle LaBarre on Saturday, June 1st. An opportunity to learn while having fun with a bunch of people that love riding. Large, well lit indoor with great footing. Contact me for more information or to set up a ride. Stalls available and generous parking for trailering in.

http://www.labarredressage.com/