Sagebrook Stables

10/13/2024

Sagebrook Stables welcomes trainer Emily Smith! ❤️

Emily has ridden competitive dressage for over ten years and has her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. Additionally, she had her National B rating from the United States Pony Club. Successfully competing in both the national and CDI rings, Emily brings an elevated level of experience and education to every training and instruction session.

Her undeniable passion for both the horse and the sport shows through in her empathetic training philosophy. The horse's welfare and enjoyment always come first--no exceptions. This belief shows through in her happy and succesful horses.

Emily has worked with young riders, adult amateurs and other professionals, as well as a variety of different breeds of horses. She offers full training as well as individual private lessons.

10/06/2024

Now that the sun is setting earlier, I caught a beautiful view while leaving the ranch.

09/19/2024

Taken just a few days ago at Gilroy Gaits, this photo captures the moon shining in a bright sunny afternoon.

09/06/2024

A quiet stroll over the wooden bridge at Gilroy Gaits.

09/04/2024

Careful nutrition and diet plan, medication and a consistent exercise program have really helped this beauty lose inches of belly fat!

07/17/2024

Interesting horsey book alert‼️ Shall we add to our Sagebrook Stables library?

Yes, it really happened! And what this young woman wrote about her cross-country trek with only her dog and her horse is memorable, to say the least. Listen to a brief but powerful excerpt in Barn Stories, Ep. 80: "Lost and Found in America," brought to you by My New Horse: https://bit.ly/BarnStories_Ep80

07/17/2024

We love barefoot horses and hoof boots. We also love our farriers to help our horses that clearly benefit from shoes for healing or performing the hard work required of these amazing athletes.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently and is being acknowledged as a leader in the natural horse movement.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently for its leadership in the natural horse movement. After transitioning to barefoot years ago, the Unit has now also opted to go bitless.

The mounted unit herd was previously managed in a very traditional manner, however, the officers soon realized that they were frequently faced with hoof issues and other ailments that could be attributed to the use of metal shoes. Metal shoes on asphalt create concussive force that travels through the hoof and up the leg of the horse. In 1984, the Swiss Cavalry at the University of Zurich conducted a study on the effects of metal shoeing. The research revealed that the impact force on a shod hoof on hard ground is 10-33 times greater than that of an unshod hoof. The vibration caused by the shoe in the hoof is approximately 800 hz, a level that is high enough to cause damage to living tissue.

The metallic footwear was impeding the natural flexibility of the hoof under pressure, consequently reducing essential blood flow to the hoof and lower limb.

As a result of these challenges, the unit concluded that it was worth trying something different. In 2004, they decided to experiment by allowing one horse to go barefoot. The outcome was extremely positive, leading them to transition their entire herd (40 horses) to barefoot. They observed a significant improvement in the health of their horses, resulting in a 50% reduction in vet bills. Moreover, they noticed enhanced traction on slippery surfaces, contributing to a sense of safety for both the officers and horses during patrols. It is difficult to dispute the benefits of these changes! Furthermore, the force has recently made the decision to transition to Bitless equipment, which has been met with great success.

06/16/2024

Indoor arena footing renovation.

05/28/2024

Emmy helping with arena footing inspection…

She rates it perfect for barefoot. We did some inhand (actually no-hand 😅) pole work. Good girl.

05/28/2024

Still some grass left.

“Mom, don’t make our butts look so big!!”

05/01/2024

Libby sleeps comfortably 💤💤

03/24/2024

Rainbow and sunshine after a brief downpour

02/14/2024

Yoga for horses

It’s a lovely -4 degrees out today! You can still do things with your horse in the comfort of your barn in the place of working and riding. Carrot stretches are a great way to bond and keep you and your horse limber in the cold months.

02/09/2024

Hi, mom, look I can bend to the right now.

02/07/2024

Basking in the radiant sunset, refreshed by the revitalizing downpour

01/29/2024

Forage quality is important!

Learn about 5 key physical indicators of forage quality and how to gather and interpret a chemical analysis.

01/29/2024

A helpful advice…

Research showed that housing horses on deeper bedding might improve sleep quality and mood.