JKF Dressage- Julie Franzen Dressage at Turning Leaf

08/12/2024

This is why your turn does not come from pulling on the rein. Note the riders hand and leg position and hip angle in each sketch. Note the development of the horses muscles in each sketch. Note the shape of the horse in each sketch. A truly supple, truly bent horse is working through their entire body. It is OUR job as the rider to guide the horse to become soft, supple, and through in all movements.

Rider one is pulling the nose around, and trying to push the haunches in, with a following outside rein offering the horse no balance, and a hardly supportive inside leg to wrap around. This has created a rigid, stiff horse that will surely be back sore, weak in the hind end, with front end bulk in all the wrong places. This horse has every opportunity, and will likely be so uncomfortable that it will try every time, to run out of his right shoulder.

Rider two is pushing the horse from his inside leg to his outside rein. The outside rein is providing a balance point for the horse, allowing him to be both comfortable and willing to carry himself. Because the riders rein is supportive and blocking the shoulder, the horse can not blow out the shoulder, and can only become truly bent along the entire length of the spine.

In order to build the athlete you want, and to allow your horse the opportunity to have a long, successful, and most importantly SOUND career, it is important to understand how we ride, even in seemingly simple tasks such as the walk or trotting circles, is effecting each muscle in your horses body. Not all muscle is good muscle!

- Ali Hamann / South Coast Sport Horses

08/06/2024

Thanks to our friends at Equus Now! Donovan is all set to start training!

07/12/2024

Our boutique Dressage barn is searching for a Week Day Barn Manager. We are a no drama family centered training barn located in Galena, Ohio on 24 acres. 12 stalls have dutch doors leading to dry lots. We have 7 grass pastures for turnout. The morning is the most labor intensive part with probably about 5 total hours of work and getting things staged for afternoon feeding. Monday-Friday 7:30AM -4:00PM. We are looking for someone that will treat each of our horses as if they were their own. We pride ourselves on going above and beyond for our horses!

Duties include, but are not limited to the following;

Managing all aspects of barn including vendor relationships with feed mill, hay supplier, bedding supplier including working with owner/trainer on barn budget. As well as direct contact with clients on each horse’s management.
Making all grain including for weekend barn manager in order to ensure proper amounts and supplements are fed every single day.
Working closely with Weekend Barn Manager on duties that need to be completed during the weekend shift. This includes notifying weekend of any changes made during the week.
Cleaning stalls Morning pick takes the longest, and then picking at least 2 more times as the day goes on. This is not limited to just the stall, but also the dry lot turnout areas.
Cleaning and refilling water buckets as well as adding water throughout the day. Cleaning feed pans during warmer days.
Stuffing hay bags and making sure horses have consistent access to hay throughout the day. Includes also checking hay for things like mold (it happens to some bales) and other objects in flakes- we’d rather throw it out then risk a horse getting sick.
Adding bedding as necessary- we don’t bed heavily but reasonably; some horses are tidy and some are not!
Changing blankets according to our barn temperature guidelines. Common sense applies here, including checking horses when the temps are borderline.
Feeding grain 2x per day.
Hand walking as needed.
Assisting trainer on the ground with young and unpredictable horses (babysitting trainer). This would including lunging and some general grooming duties as time permits. For the right candidate this could include some riding.
General care on an as needed basis, sure as applying topical creams, cold hosing, ice boots, fly spray, administeringmedications as required.
Monitoring horses for signs of abnormalities such as colic, eating habits, wound assessment and care as well as other possible injuries, because they are domesticated animals and tend to find ways to hurt themselves. Call barn owner or Vet depending on severity.
Being on hand for clients riding outside of our lesson/training program. Think of it like an easy babysitting gig where you get to watch horses and people. Calling for help if needed.
General barn cleanliness; sweeping, dusting, Pine Sol/water aisle to keep dust down, mirror cleaning, lounge cleaning (we run a Roomba each night, but mopping and dusting are good things to do during downtime).
Requirements:

We are looking for the right fit within our small community. Ability to field questions and concerns from clients in a professional manner is expected. Asking questions is encouraged. We need open lines of communication for this to be the right fit. Need a sense of humor. Horse experience is great, but we can train the right person with the right attitude. Lifting is part of this job, muck tubs, water buckets, hay. We have equipment to make the job easier, we expect you to respect our equipment and try your best to take care of it, drive slowly take your time. If interested send resume to [email protected]

05/28/2024

Today Edwin documented the proof that Royce is progressing!

05/19/2024

So proud of Hannah and Krystin this weekend at ODS spring show at Brave Horse! Both came out at Second level; Put up solid scores and made improvements! Krystin won 3 out of 4 classes and Hannah came in 2nd and 3rd in hers on Saturday until an unfortunate accident at the wash rack caused them to scratch (and get stitches!)

Cannot wait for the next show!

05/16/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/N2jpejxyqcBtcWnD/?mibextid=WC7FNe

One of the very misunderstood things we often run into is the ‘opinion’ of the audience watching their fellow riders that saddles aren’t fitting because they may seem to be too curved in the back (i.e., not lying flat on the horse’s back). There is actually method to the madness of making saddles this way and making them fit this way. Let me try to explain…

A saddle’s supporting surface on top of the horse’s ribcage is generally almost always flat from front to back. The majority of all saddle trees made have a slight arc so that the shoulder (which moves 6-8” upwards and backwards) has room to engage. The back, which we like to see with a “swinging” motion, should be able to come up without too much interference from the rear of the tree. The panel stuffing is mainly at the pommel and at the cantle, in an effort to provide extra cushioning at these areas.
Every effort should have been made during saddle construction to increase the weight-bearing surface from front to back in order to stabilize the saddle. Some saddle companies even go to the extreme of straightening the tree even further in an attempt to prevent “rocking”.

However, research using thermography, computerized saddle pads, fibre-optic photography, and other state-of-the-art technology has indicated that in contrast to this belief, a saddle sitting “perfectly flat” can actually inhibit the horse’s movement and cause heat, friction, etc. – resulting in a sore back.

So yes, we want to see some movement under the cantle of the saddle, to ensure the horse has the ability to lift the back. What we do not want is rocking side to side or even daylight between the horse’s back and the panels during movement. The challenge to your saddle fitter is to fit the saddle so it does indeed have a slight ability to rock without becoming a teeter totter.

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the 2 and 4 leg moms out there!

05/01/2024

Anyone in the Columbus area interested in a professional bitting clinic? I will host at our facility if we have enough interest! Comment or PM me if interested!

04/28/2024

Kicking off the second day of the clinic at 9am this morning! Auditing is free and he will be back a few more times!

04/25/2024

Ryan yap clinic schedule auditors welcome

04/25/2024

Thankful that we have an amazing group at our barn that already knows everything in this article. So this instead is a thank you to our current barn family for getting it! ❤️😘🦄

BY Jamie Sindell Now that I finally own my own barn after years of boarding, there’s SO much I didn’t realize as a boarder that I TOTALLY get now…. Dear Barn Owners of My Past: I would sincerely like to apologize for believing it was appropriate to grab hay whenever I wanted. I had to […]

04/02/2024

03/28/2024

Sunbathing!

03/23/2024

Happy 25th anniversary to our friends at Equus Now! We had such a great time shopping this evening! We love our local shop!

03/12/2024

Spread the word. Looking for a weekend only stall cleaner 7:30- 10:30. At our farm in Galena 14 horses. Morning shift available! This job is normally two people. Opportunity for more work and more hours. Send me a message if interested.

02/28/2024

Tornado Sirens went off at around 530 this morning. Thankfully our barn never lost power and everyone is safe. I am hoping the rest of the Columbus area is safe this morning!

02/22/2024

Today was a big day for rescue Royce! First time with a bridle on!

02/19/2024

February 17, 2024 – Wilmington, OHIO – Following the report of a positive EHV-1 case at a local Ohio horse show facility, World Equestrian Center (WEC) extends its thoughts and prayers to the affected horses and their owners, trainers and caregivers. While no horses have tested positive for EHV ...

02/18/2024

Wednesday, Friday, Sunday pictures of how quickly Ohio weather changed! !

02/17/2024

To help your horse become lighter in front ...

Imagine your horse’s haunches and forehand as sprocket wheels inside a machine. Your leg and seat control the back sprocket wheel, which turns and brings the hind end under. Your hand controls the front one, which keeps the front end aligned with the hind end, creating energy into the bridle. The horse lifts his front end by shifting weight rearward through his whole body; that’s what makes him lighten in front.

—Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel

02/14/2024

USDF gold medalist Dennis Callin explains how to keep an elastic feel on the outside rein.

02/01/2024

Our friends at Bella vista have a job opening! Spread the word!

Seeking an enthusiastic candidate to join our equine veterinary practice to assist our veterinarian in practicing at their best!

We are seeking a dedicated Veterinary Technician/Assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with horses, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment. This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the health and well-being of equine companions while working alongside experienced veterinarians.
*Please note that this position may require occasional evening or weekend shifts to accommodate the needs of our ER ambulatory service. Veterinary assistants play a crucial role in providing quality care to our equine friends, so attention to detail, compassion, and a strong work ethic are essential.

If you are looking for a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine, we encourage you to apply. We offer competitive compensation, opportunities for growth, and a supportive work environment. Join our team today and make a difference in the lives of horses!

Veterinary Assistant Requirements and Qualifications:

Horse experience is required
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
Basic understanding of equine behavior and health care
Passion for working with horses and their owners
Attention to detail in order to maintain accurate supply inventory
Physical ability to lift at least 50 pounds
Must have a driver’s license and be able to provide a clean driving record
Communication skills and speaking with clients

Contact us today at 614-540-0040 or [email protected]