High Standard Equestrians

High Standard Equestrians Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from High Standard Equestrians, Equestrian Center, Glendale, CA.
(17)

Located among towering pines and wine vines, High Standard Equestrians boasts a highly rated Hanoverian breeding program and hunter/jumper show training and coaching, led by trainer Clint Sawyer, USEF Licensed “R” Jumper, Hunter & Equitation Judge

10/23/2024
High Quality Hunter Prospect Alert!“Polynesian French”2023 Westfalen C**tExceptional movement and all the chrome!
10/03/2024

High Quality Hunter Prospect Alert!

“Polynesian French”

2023 Westfalen C**t

Exceptional movement and all the chrome!

10/01/2024
10/01/2024
02/06/2023

Paradise
2019 Westfalen Mare
Puerto Banus x Willa (Williams)

Ready to start her performance career, she’s smart and willing with a sweet and curious attitude. Well handled on the ground, good mannered. 15.2hh and expected to grow a little more. Great opportunity for an ambitious junior or amateur with a trainer to develop their own.

1️⃣2️⃣🥕

10/13/2022

I hope one day you meet a difficult horse.

A horse that frustrates you and sometimes says no.

A horse that shatters your dreams and makes you feel hopeless because you cannot solve their problem with what you know.

Why would I wish this upon you?

Because this horse will show you the limitations of your understanding and challenge you to step up and learn.

Sometimes the lessons you will need to learn is to improve your knowledge, skills and self awareness and how you directly impact the horse and make the feel.

You will work hard spending hours in the dust, sun, wind and rain making yourself better to help this horse - and you will do it.

Sometimes the lesson will be one of acceptance that the horse you love and have poured so much time and money into is not sound.

Your heart will break as you now see your difficult horse was just telling you it was struggling.

This horse will teach you to see and know things about horses that you will never be able to un-see or un-know. You will see horses struggling and people (no different than you past self) blind to that struggle.

But this horse will make you a better horsewoman or man, and you will be grateful they came into your life and what they taught you.

The story of you and this horse will always be a hard story to tell. Sometimes when you tell it, you will get tears in your eyes. But it will be one of the most meaningful stories of your life.

You will share this story with others with the hope that it will help them with their horse. So that your horse, can help their horse too.

This is my difficult horse. His name was Skuda and I am grateful what this horse taught me...and if I have helped you with your horse.....well you can be grateful for him too ❤

‼Please use the SHARE button ONLY to share these words. You can only reproduce these words by not using the share button if you contact me directly and ask for my permission.‼

08/11/2022

26 seconds.

He has a job to do, and he knows it.

Kodak is an air scenting horse. He's ready and eager to do his task and when Sharon asks him to search, he gets down to business.

26 seconds into the search he indicates he's found a scent. He follows into the wind, working his way up the scent cone towards the source. He locks in on the treeline and, when he finds he can't go farther because of the terrain, he circles around and locks in again.

A K9 team comes in and, with the general area identified, makes quick work of finding the subject. A large field and accompanying treelines have been narrowed down and cleared in just a couple minutes. While it is a training exercise, neither the horse nor the rider had any clue where the subject was hidden; it was a blind search exercise with successful results.

For someone who doesn't actually work in search and rescue, I've spent a lot of time with search and rescue groups over the last three years. This weekend was unique and incredible: I was over with Highlands Search and Rescue - HISAR for an equine air scent detection clinic.

It was not ideal weather conditions. It was hot and humid, and the wind kept playing games, but it was still a good weekend.

I hid for a different team with just a few days of training. Hidden a few yards in the woods under a camouflage blanket, with a huge hay field spread out above me, I could watch Zephyr and Elsie conduct their search.

They begin with a basic grid search, back and moving along the field, searching for the scent cone. The rider isn't visually searching for the subject; she's focused on her horse, watching for the cues that show he's found something.

A snort, a blow, an increase in speed and energy: you can tell when he's found something. He's not using his eyes. His nose is locked on, soft velvet and whiskers twitching a mile a minute, his ears pointed forward.

He comes as close to the treeline as he can, still locked on to me, and his rider calls out, "is someone there?"

"I'm here."

He's looking for the scent and if I move too quickly, since he's only been learning this game for a few days, I'll scare him. He's still learning that there's a person attached to the scent. I am part of his training, so I move slowly and reward him with a treat.

Search and rescue operations use resource layering to accomplish the goal: bring home the missing person safely. In Maine, the Maine Warden Service is responsible for search and rescue operations. They work with local agencies such as fire departments, law enforcement, EMS, and public safety, along with volunteer search and rescue organizations like HISAR, and if necessary, volunteer civilians. Search methods vary based on the specific details in each case but resources available include ATVs, horses, K9 teams, helicopters, and good old fashioned walking.

Many animals have stronger olfactory senses than humans and can be trained to use those senses in different ways. Most people are familiar with dogs, using their noses for narcotics or explosives, for search and rescue, for object recovery, and for other jobs.

While horses have been used in search and rescue operations in Maine before, they've been used as a way to cover more terrain for visual searches. Air scent detection is a newer resource, and this weekend HISAR demonstrated to the Maine Warden Service how it could be used to assist with missing persons.

One of the coolest things this weekend was seeing how much the horses enjoy working. That's an important part of a working animal: they need to enjoy their job if they're going to be relaible and consistent. For the horses I observed this weekend, it's like a game: they are given a job to do and when they're done, they get rewarded with attention and treats.

Added from HISAR: For those who are interested - more information AND videos can be found on our website www.highlands-sar.org , our page Highlands Search and Rescue - HISAR, and the following sites owned by our instructor, Terry Nowacki. Facebook: American Equine Scenting Association

Very well said!
02/02/2022

Very well said!

Watch as legendary hunter rider and trainer Danny Robertshaw analyzes the jumping and overall performance that makes a winning hunter round.

01/10/2022

The annual USEF Horsemastership Training Series began Friday with a flatwork session taught by Olympic show jumper Anne Kursinski in which she emphasized the importance of dressage work for show jumpers, and the importance of patience in training and...

Congratulations to Lainie and Zelda! Zelda is so happy to have found her person! The future is bright for this pair! We ...
12/05/2021

Congratulations to Lainie and Zelda! Zelda is so happy to have found her person! The future is bright for this pair! We wish you all the luck and success together!

05/29/2021

The leg position of the forward hunt seat allows a rider to control the hip angle and incline the body forward to stay in balance with the horse’s dynamic position.

Do you want to improve your riding skill and your horse’s performance? Explore the elements of the American System of Forward Riding that can help you get to a new level. http://ow.ly/HZAs50EJj45

Bits explained in a general sense ...
05/06/2021

Bits explained in a general sense ...

A bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold it - true.

If the rider is good enough, it doesn’t matter what bit the horse has in - false.

Usain Bolt could not have broken those world records if his running shoes were too tight. Cristiano Ronaldo would not have won champion league titles if his boots were too large. Lewis Hamilton would not be a 7 time world champion if he didn’t fit perfectly in his car.

Horses are not one size fits all. They might have large tongues, low palates, fleshy lips or knife edge bars. They might have a dry mouth or produce excessive saliva. They may freeze with the bit or they might fidget constantly. Some have a very small interdental space leaving almost no room for a bit, and some have their first cheek teeth ahead of their lip corners. I generally tell clients that they can choose the cheek pieces but the horse gets to choose the mouthpiece of their bit.

But that choice goes deeper than their individual anatomy. Horses are living, breathing, feeling animals that have preferences. Some horses prefer tongue pressure, a lot of horses hate palate pressure and open their mouths to escape it, some will put their tongue over the bit if there is any tongue pressure, where others will throw their head if the bars are pressured. The horse gets to have an opinion on where their bit acts too. A happy horse will be an easy horse.

Anyone can make these assessments. You don’t need any specialist equipment. Just experience, and an understanding of what is normal, to know how your horse varies from the “normal”. If in doubt, ask your EDT, vet or a bit specialist.

A little about the bit mouthpieces, there are 4 main types, straight bars, single jointed, double jointed and multi jointed.

Straight bars - a mullen mouth will act mostly on the tongue with a little lip corner pressure. Often straight bars will have a port for tongue relief. The bigger the port, the more tongue relief so the more pressure is placed on the bars and lip corners whilst less is applied on the tongue. Straight bars do not have palate pressure when fitted correctly but if the port is too large, it will hit the palate. Straight bars are very still by their nature. They are good for horses that mess with the bit a lot, crunch the bit, put their tongue over (with an appropriate port for tongue relief), or sit behind the bit, over bent. They are not good for horses that are strong or lean.

Single jointed - these act mostly on the bars and corners of the mouth and less so on the tongue surface. But they squeeze the tongue from the sides in a nutcracker action, and the joint can hit the horses palate. This will cause the horse to open its mouth to escape that palate pressure. There are some anatomical single jointed bits which curve with the horses mouth and reduce these side effects. Being more mobile than a straight bar, the horse is less likely to lean. Better suited for those that dislike tongue pressure but are too strong for a straight bar.

Double jointed - there are 4 types, peanut, french link, Dr Bristol and barrel. All double jointed bits share pressure equally across the tongue, bars and lip corners.
A peanut is smooth and rounded so very gentle. This is generally the ideal starting place when starting along the journey to find your horses ideal bit, or as the first “grown up” bit for a youngster.
The french link has a plate which sits flat on the tongue, the edges and joints can cause more uneven tongue pressure than the peanut. This bit takes very little space between tongue and palate, suited for those with large tongues and low palates.
A Dr Bristol plate lies opposite to the tongue, meaning the plate edge digs in the tongue making it quite a harsh bit, even in gentle hands. A horse can not move into the riders hands for a true outline with this bit.
Barrel bits act as a straight bar when in action but each side moves independently. Barrel bits can come with ports to offer more tongue relief. These are ideal for horses that like a straight bar but become confused and require the reins to work independently to understand the rider clearly, or perhaps lean on one rein in a straight bar.

Multi jointed - apart from the chain bits which I won’t mention, these are mostly Waterfords with many joints across the mouthpiece. These act equally on the tongue, lip corners and bars. Be careful when choosing these bits as the cheaper versions have joints on the lip corners which nip and bruise. Better quality Waterfords have short straight sections for the lips. Lots of joints prevent the horse from taking hold of the bit. Good for those that lean or are strong. Keep in mind they can prevent the horse from moving into the hand for a true outline due to the mobility of the bit. Similar to the French link, the joints can cause uneven pressure across the tongue and those joints tend to make these bits chunky so not ideal for those with big tongues or small mouths.

Other considerations -

Bit material - horses with dry mouths find stainless steel very uncomfortable. A horse needs a moist mouth to be comfortable with a bit in their mouth. Warmer metals like sweet iron encourage the horse to salivate and makes them more comfortable. Copper rollers or other mobile parts can encourage a horse to mouth the bit and produce saliva, but may also encourage the horse to mess and fidget with their mouths and heads. Some horses hate all types of metal and prefer the softer feel of nathe or plastic. These need to be inspected very regularly as they are easy to damage and can have sharp points. The plastic/nathe bits are very good for those that over bend or sit behind the bit.

Over salivating - some horses produce large amounts of saliva. This is uncomfortable and distracting for the horse. Consider sitting in the dentists chair desperate to swallow, it’s not a pleasant feeling. These horses need a bit that remains as still as possible and does not encourage salivation to be comfortable.

Bit positioning- the old advice use to be you should see 2 wrinkles in the corner of the mouth when the bit is in the correct place but this varies between bits. For example, a straight bar needs to be a little lower than a jointed as a jointed bit lays lower on the tongue so needs to be a little higher at the cheek. Some ponies, in particular shetlands and welsh ponies, have shortened noses with normal sized teeth which brings the first cheek tooth forward of the lip corners. These need the bit to be lower than normal. Those with very fleshy lips will also need the bit a little lower to allow space for them. Be sure to part the horses lips with the bit in place and check the position in relation to the lips, teeth and tongue.

Bit thickness - the fleshier the horses mouth and larger the tongue, the finer the bit needs to be to fit between the tongue and palate, too thick a bit and the horse wont be able to close its mouth. Thicker bits tend to be gentler as the pressure is spread further, where the horses mouth has space to accommodate.

Bit width - if a bit is too narrow, it will pull the lips into the teeth and cause internal bruising (even when the teeth are perfectly smooth and rounded) or cheek and lip ulcers (if the teeth are sharp). It can also cause external nipping if a loose ring. If the bit is too wide, it will not act on the intended areas of the mouth and the bit can slide across the mouth. Generally speaking, with the bit pulled tight across the mouth, a little finger sideways on should be visible each side, no more, no less.

Bitless/hackamore bridles - some horses have no/almost no space for a bit. With big tongues, low palates, short interdental spaces and fleshy lips, some horses just can’t comfortably take a bit and may prefer an alternative.

Bit rings - eggbutts are better for horses that sit behind the bit and over bend, loose rings are better for horses that lean or take hold of the bit.

Cheek pieces - there are many many options for cheek pieces, gags, drop cheeks, full cheeks, D rings, Pelhams etc etc. Once you have found the mouthpiece your horse likes, you can find a cheek piece that suits you and the horse for the discipline you are in and your capabilities. But the horse chooses the mouthpiece.

Please remember to make sure your horse’s teeth are perfect before messing around with their bit. Get a BAEDT qualified EDT or a dental trained vet to check out your horse. Do not assume you would know if your horse is in pain. They are very good at hiding pain and humans are very poor at picking up on their subtle signs.

EDIT - it has been brought to my attention that the Dr Bristol has been used incorrectly for the last century. Apparently according to the patent, the inventer intended the bit to be used the other way up which makes the bit a more ‘anatomical’ French link and would be a gentler bit.

A very special thank you to the Durbin family for the ride on their Iron Madien for a win in the Open Pleasure Champions...
03/03/2021

A very special thank you to the Durbin family for the ride on their Iron Madien for a win in the Open Pleasure Championship class and Riverbend Equestrian for their expert preparation and support!

Address

Glendale, CA
95684

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 7pm

Telephone

+15305216930

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when High Standard Equestrians posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to High Standard Equestrians:

Videos

Share


Other Equestrian Centers in Glendale

Show All