Westmoreland Equestrian Center

Westmoreland Equestrian Center Westmoreland Equestrian Center is a full service horse boarding facility. We offer lessons from the Use your own Vet and Blacksmith!
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Westmoreland Equestrian Center offers the following amenities:
Full boarding - 12x12 matted stalls, automatic waterers, 2 wash racks - indoor and outdoor, Large indoor arena and outdoor arena, private and group turnout, heated and air conditioned lounge, restroom and tack room with private tack lockers. Lessons - From the beginner through the advanced rider we offer private, semi-private and grou

p lessons in English and Western disciplines with individual attention given to each rider. We have years of experience teaching and coaching students that compete in Quarter Horse, 4-H and IHSA competitions. Private clinics and workshops are also available. Haul ins are more than welcome! Sales - From yearlings to the seasoned horse, we offer top quality Quarter Horses for the discriminating buyer.

11/24/2024

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π‡π€πˆπ‘ π–π‡πŽπ‘π‹ ππŽπ’πˆπ“πˆπŽπ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 π‹π€π“π„π‘π€π‹πˆπ“π˜ (𝐬𝐒𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞) πƒπ„π…πˆππ„πƒ

This knowledge is a game changer in the horse training business and for those in all the competition sports, and a valuable guide for horse owners looking to find the perfect horse for their lifestyle and riding pleasure. Geneticists in three countries have provided the first scientific evidence of the inheritance of hair whorls, links to behavior, and specific genes linked to certain hair whorl patterns. There's no scientific evidence more definitive than genetic evidence. Dr. Temple Grandin and I at Colorado State University waited 28 eight years since we published the first scientific evidence of the link from hair whorls to behavior for the genetic evidence we always knew would come. We never claimed to discover the relationship between hair whorls and behavior; people worldwide for thousands of years have casually observed the relationship. What we did that was new was show the link to lateralization of the nervous system and the hair whorls association with functional specialization of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. I studied and documented the relationship for ten years before meeting Temple Grandin, working as a farrier and horse trainer. I learned the practical application of this knowledge in real-world situations before seeking and finding the academic support needed to make this useful information available to everyone.

This post aims to clarify and unify common terminology and principles of hair whorl height and position, either left, right, or center. For future posting on this page, this information is essential for you. The most important language to clarify relates to the side preference exhibited by horses and its relation to horse welfare concerns. The terminology in the horse industry, as is in the scientific language, is broad and varies between people in the US and other countries. The formal scientific term for this phenomenon is lateralization of the nervous system. Some scientists use a less formal term, π’π’‚π’•π’†π’“π’‚π’π’Šπ’•π’š. 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 is the general term used to describe the phenomenon across species that includes human handedness, paw preference in dogs, footedness in birds, and side preference in cattle, horses, and other herbivores. In my writing, I interchange the terms laterality, handedness, and side preference depending on sentence context, but they all mean the same thing.

I drew this graph on this horse because this horse represents a large proportion of horses and the hair whorl type that suffers from the most severe welfare concerns. It has a single whorl, is left of center, and is very.

π‡π€πˆπ‘ π–π‡πŽπ‘π‹ π‡π„πˆπ†π‡π“

"Very Low" defines a non-reactive horse with low fear. "Low" whorls represent a horse as slightly more reactive than the "very low." "Very Lows" and "Lows" show minimal side preferences, and the hair whorls are usually in the center of the midline. The V-lines on the graph represent how, as the whorl gets higher, the side preference increases.

πŒπˆπƒπƒπ‹π„ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 π‡πˆπ†π‡

Most horses are in the Middle and High Range. The reactivity and fearfulness are in the mid-range, with some variation. Reactivity is higher in the top portion of the High range and lower reactivity in the lower middle range. The V-shape on the graph represents side preferences. The higher the whorl on the forehead, the stronger their side preference.

π‡πˆπ†π‡ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 π•π„π‘π˜ π‡πˆπ†π‡

A smaller portion of horses are in the "High" and "Very" High range. Both high and very high define highly reactive and fearful horses. Side preference is highest in these two ranges, and the distance left or right from the midline also increases the side preference strength. This horse represents very high nervous system reactivity and laterality but not extreme laterality (side preference). A hair whorl closer to V-line would be an example of extreme laterality.

π‡π€πˆπ‘ π–π‡πŽπ‘π‹ π„ππˆπ‚π„ππ“π„π‘

The epicenter defines the position of the whorl. This horse has a very high whorl slightly off to the horse's left side. This horse is highly reactive. The side preference is strong but not the strongest., and its natural fearfulness is very strong.

π’π”πŒπŒπ€π‘π˜

Approximately 70% of horses have a left side whorl in the medium to high ranges. 10% to 15% have hair whorls on the right side. Approximately 10% have two side-by-side whorls, always in mid-to-high ranges, never low. The double side-by-side whorls we considered normal in our research.The doubles, either side by side or one above the other, are harder to define and require a separate post to clarify.

The remaining 5% have multiple or two whorls, one above the other. In our research, we considered these types of whorls abnormal.

The horse in this picture will favor the right lead and travel better in a circle to the right or clockwise. The left whorl and right turning preferences are similar to most right-handed people. The right side whorl is opposite, like left-handed people. The horse with a high right side whorl favors the left lead.

This horse's left eye is the "look out for danger" eye in horse's with a left side whorl, and prefers the right lead. The side of the whorl is the side the horse will give a farrier the hardest time. The opposite holds for the horse with a right side whorl.This horse's right eye is the "look out for danger" eye in horse's with a right side whorl, and this horse prefers the left lead.

The high reactivity(fearfulness) and the laterality (side preference) of the horse in the photograph and a horse with the opposite on the right side are the types of horses I encountered most while working as a farrier and horse trainer. The horses with the high right and left hair whorls show the most potential as high-performance horses, but they also represent the horses with the most severe welfare concerns. Unfortunately, when they have behavior problems, they are the most dangerous and unpredictable. It all depends on how they are raised and handled. Any clarifying questions are welcome.

11/05/2024
Lesson horses are the best! They are some of the most patient, knowledgeable, stubborn and most loving, kind hearted hor...
11/02/2024

Lesson horses are the best! They are some of the most patient, knowledgeable, stubborn and most loving, kind hearted horses you’ll ever meet. If it wasn’t for all of them you’d never be where you are as a rider today.

I am a lesson horse.
I am a horse that isn’t as recognized as the top hunter jumpers, the best western pleasure horse, or the 1D barrel horse, I am a lesson horse. I am the backbone of the foundation to do all of those things. I am a lesson horse.

I am not loved by one person. I am loved by several people. I don’t have my person, I have my people. I am a lesson horse.

I will teach your child and yourself more than just to ride. I will bring your child out of their shell. I will teach your child about life. I will be yours and their shoulder to cry on. I am a lesson horse.

I will bring my family the joy of teaching kids. I will bring my families business growth. I am so loved by my family, even if they don’t express it everyday. My family allows others to show me love and enjoy me. I am a lesson horse.

At the end of your childs’ journey on a lesson horse, they will out grow me. They will find one that jumps higher, a horse that is show quality, a horse much faster than me. But, I will never outgrow being a lesson horse. I will be the one that loved your child and helped your child grow into the rider and person they are. I am a lesson horse.

At the end of my time as a lesson horse; I will be covered in grey hair. Each grey hair came from each hour I spent as a lesson horse. I will be in a field of green grass, I will be taken care of as I was when I was a lesson horse. I will watch your child from across the pasture love her new horse. But, I will love your child more than any horse can. I will be the backbone of the business, the family, and your child. Don’t forget about me, I am a lesson horse.

I am a lesson horse.
*stolen from a friend *

Shared by Barn Mom
Triple L Ranch LLC πŸ₯°πŸ¦„πŸŽ‰

10/13/2024

As some of you may already know, yesterday a massive fire destroyed our entire hay barn, which was full of hay for the winter. Although it was completely devastating, it could have been a lot worse, and we are so thankful it wasn’t.
We want to thank each and every person who came and offered their support and help in a time of need. From our family of boarders who helped get stalls ready, contained horses and helped bring horses down from the field, to all the firefighters who worked tirelessly battling the fire for hours upon hours, to our friends who graciously stepped in and helped us into the early morning hours, and to Daniels excavating for bringing their excavator and working into the early morning hours- THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!! And THANK YOU!!! Words cannot even express how incredibly grateful and thankful we are for all of you! We have a long, tough road ahead of us to rebuild everything but you showed us what good people are all about. THANK YOU!!

10/06/2024
09/12/2024

He is SO right!! I hate to see people ride like that.

09/11/2024

Oops!

Address

1265 Business Route 66
Greensburg, PA
15601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 10pm
Tuesday 8am - 10pm
Wednesday 8am - 10pm
Thursday 8am - 10pm
Friday 8am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 10pm
Sunday 8am - 10pm

Telephone

+17248368277

Website

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