Areion Equestrian

02/17/2025

02/17/2025

Check your emails for 2025 IEA info,and upcoming cross country event sign up!

02/15/2025

02/15/2025

Life goals right there! What an incredible lady.

Head to the link in comments to find out more about this heartwarming story!

02/15/2025

Tiffany Lynn Gould

02/14/2025

Looking good Laiya Maree

02/14/2025

Not only does my cheering team rock, but Bella was a fabulous animal...she's winning hearts and ribbons up in NY still....
If your ready for some xc , get signed up for our mar 8 schooling at calais .
* I can have 1 horse signed up as my schooling mount, and fit 6 more in the trailer...

02/12/2025

Well..... this is pretty much our week...and weekend.....

Horses are happy though :)

02/12/2025

I don’t think people realize just how many horses out there carry trauma with them.

With that, I don’t even mean severely abused horses that have been starved, or beaten heavily. There are plenty of those around, and those usually cause a lot of outrage (as they should).

What I am talking about though, is the horses whose trauma is never really recognized as such. The ones who tolerate humans and their requests, but never learned to trust them. Those who get extremely obsessive about food which are labelled as “bossy” or ”dominant”. Those who deal with severe Separation anxiety, which are said to be “dramatic”. Those who cannot self-regulate, or co-regulate and constantly carry tension. Those who try to express their pain, which get punished for it because “just a mare”.
Those who are “perfect” until they finally get a choice.

Between Unethical weaning practices, unsuitable welfare, constantly moving homes & and ownership, and aversive training/handling approaches, most horses at some point experience trauma. And this trauma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some are more subtle than others.
Trauma doesn’t have to be this huge explosive reaction. Just like people, horses can carry trauma and move on with their lives fairly normally. It can shape their personality just like it can shape ours.
However, that doesn’t mean doing so is healthy.

The horse that has been in 6+ homes before the age of 10, and thus can’t cope with changes. That is Trauma.
The horse that has never had consistent companionship and becomes obsessive with certain herd mates. That is Trauma
The horse that has only known corrections when they tried to express their confusion, fear, or dislike, and turns from “a perfect beginner’s horse” to “Don’t touch me” the moment you stop using corrections. That is Trauma.
The horse that never had a chance to learn from other horses or connect with people and thus can’t trust people to make good choices for them, can’t self-regulate or co-regulate, and can’t think their way through a situation. That is Trauma.
The horse who was only ever fed 2 times a day and was left without food for 6 hours each night, and has thus become food-aggressive. That is Trauma.
The horse who experienced highly aversive training techniques, and thus now gets frustrated, tense and severely stressed out anytime they are handled in a similar manner. That. Is. Trauma.

Sometimes, awareness of this can be a frustration and defeating realization. I think as equestrians we are often blind to this reality, because sadly, it’s just so common to see horses like that.
It’s not until you work with young, untraumatized horses, or rehabilitated horses, that you realize: “Oh! This is how it should be!”

02/12/2025

https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/galloping-into-your-heart

Purchase your raffle tickets this week to win a chance at a romantic ( or friendly) trail ride for two! First place - Trail ride for twoSecond place - Equestrian photo shoot All proceeds will support The Hampton University Equestrian Club, and help their journey to IHSA shows and further their compe...

02/11/2025

The morning got progressively more snowy!! 🥰 and nyx got her stretch on

02/07/2025

Top photo is 3 rides apart from bottom photo. Horses are sooo smart and good at returning to " centered". ( when we help them).
As always, thankyou to my wonderful clients letting me show your babies the way

02/06/2025

Well written...and now I'm on the search for a plane jump....

Please guys - this mentality that you can get a thoroughbred that’s been out and about, a true allrounder, that will hack down the motorway alone, with no vices lumps bumps or sarcoids and quiet enough to put your granny on for 1000 just because it’s a thoroughbred NEEDS to stop.
A sports horse the same would be costing you 15k+!
A TB is not a lesser breed. A TB should not be given away just because it’s a TB.
I’ve had fancy warmbloods, sports horses, Spanish, Connemara’s.. and I’ve gone back to TBs for a reason.
There’s no breed that is as versatile or will work as hard for you when you push the right buttons.
No they aren’t more prone to break down, every breed can break down! The only young retired horse I have with injury issues is a Connemara! Warmbloods and sport horses are just as prone to KS, tendon and suspensories, even more prone to OCD. Welshes and cobs are prone to PSSM, or CPL. Connies are prone to having hock issues.. they are horses! It’s not breed specific that TBs are the only ones that might get injuries!
I’ve never had a TB a fraction as sharp as some of the warmbloods I’ve sat on. (And don’t ask me to sit on a cob; I won’t! I’m terrified of them!)
Even if they are racehorses, someone still has or needs to put a lot of time money and energy into making the school master you are looking for.
I’ve not found one TB that can’t be turned round into a fantastic allrounder with patience!
Time is money!
Stop undervaluing these fantastic horses and start respecting their abilities!
Picture of my wonderful crystal tiger I had for nearly 10 years who came off the track a nappy moody mare and turned into a horse of a lifetime who would jump through fire for me.

02/06/2025

New partnerships growing !

02/06/2025

Abby and little charlie rode great :)

02/06/2025

I thought a free lunge would be fun...I forgot I also xc this horse 😅... can't be mad at bravery.