Transitions Training Center, Inc

01/03/2025

01/01/2025

Caymans, hitting the ripe old age of 20
He’s travelled some miles with us, met and amazed so many people with his wonderful nature as he’s shown how adaptable the thoroughbred can be in a new career after racing
He’s introduced numerous guests to the joys of falconry from horses, wowed audiences across the country as he’s done his displays and met the public , and really enhanced our field falconry as he’s hunted with falcons and golden eagles
Just a little tribute to the old man of the team, one of the best examples of a well retrained racehorse

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!

01/01/2025

We hope you had a fantastic night! Bring on 2025, 200 years of the NSW Mounties 🤩

12/30/2024

12/26/2024

“He’s 1100 pounds of baby fat, he eats too much and too often. The only reason he doesn’t eat more is because he’s too busy sleeping. He only does what he wants to do, exactly when he wants to do it. He lays against the back of the starting gate like he’s in a hammock in the Caribbean. When he finally does get out of the gate, it takes him forever to find his stride”
~Lucien Laurin, Secretariat’s trainer

Did You Know that Secretariat not only had a larger heart than the average horse (three times the average size!), but his stride angle was a lot wider than other race horses. The stride angle is the maximum opening between the front and rear legs, usually occurring at push off from the rear foot.

Secretariat’s stride angle was 110°! Researchers found that for every degree a horse increases the stride angle, he increases the stride length by 2%. This means that if the stride angle is increased just 10°, the horse will cover 20% more ground with each stride!

12/24/2024

Pet your horse. And be thoughtful when you do.

Some people do not pet on their horses enough.

Some people do it too much, and render their touch meaningless to the horse.

Some people lack consideration when they do: they smack the horse's neck or shoulder, a gesture that to me is far more about letting everyone else know your horse did something well than letting him know he did.

Touch is for the receiver, not the giver. Be aware when you pet your horse what it means to him. Be aware if his body softens or tenses. Be aware if he leaves mentally or is drawn more strongly to you.

Meaningful touch should encompass comfort, encouragement and support. It should cause the horse to seek you more and become more engaged with you. It should bring about focus and relaxation of both mind and body.

Touch, when done well, can act as a magnet for the horse's brain, appearing to magically center his thoughts and bring them back to the present moment.

When done poorly, touch can push a horse deep down within themselves, or far away to a place where the horse can mentally feel safe.

Pet your horse, but think about him when you do.

12/21/2024

Dressage Training_ How To Collect Your Horse

12/18/2024

The Michigan 4-H Horse Program is hosting a six-part winter webinar series. The series will focus on an array of topics centered around Youth who are just getting started with horses and the Horse and Pony Project.

The schedule is as follows:
January 15th at 6pm: How to buy a horse with Paula Hitzler, Farm Manager at the Michigan State University Horse Teaching and Research Center
January 29th at 6pm: The basics of Equine Management with David Lindsay, Extension Education, Michigan 4-H Youth Horse Programs
February 5th at 6pm: Equine Nutrition basics with Dr. Christine Skelly, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
February 18th at 6pm: Being a better boarder and Running a boarding facility with Taylor Fabus, owner and Manager of Fabus Farms
March 12th at 6pm: From the judges’ perspective: Showmanship with Dr. Karen Waite, multi-carded judge and Associate Professor at Michigan State University
March 26th at 6pm: From the judges’ perspective: Ranch Riding with Dr. Alyssa Logan, multi-carded judge and Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University

The webinars will be via zoom and recorded. Be sure to join and get involved to learn as much as possible for the upcoming year of fun!

Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/97121881938
Webinar ID: 971 2188 1938
Password: 4HHORSE

12/18/2024

Found this nice surprise on the corner of East 6th Street and Phillips Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Brian Abeling / Iowa Road Trip