King Equestrian

08/19/2024

I am so pleased to welcome McChayne into my program! He is a 5 year old ottb who came off the track a couple months ago. His owner is hoping he will make a hunter jumper! Keep watching my page for updates of this cutie🤎

08/19/2024

“Confusion begins where knowledge ends” - Tim Bourke

Dutch and I continued our education this weekend during a Tim Bourke eventing clinic. Switching from hunter jumpers to eventing has been extremely hard, but we are up for the challenge 🔥 So thankful God kept us (me) safe even though I could have gotten seriously hurt many times. Also thankful for the people that continue to support us along the way.

I am starting to work with 1-2 new horses this week so keep your 👀 peeled!!

08/10/2024

After a much needed break and time to adjust to my new job and new housing, I have finally opened back up to take client horses. I’ve taken this time to clear my head and improve my training and horsemanship. I have officially taken on my first client horse since stepping away a couple months ago. Check my page to see him added on here!

07/19/2024

Let’s talk about back sore horses…

Dutch here is a 5 yr old ottb with a developing top line. I have not had the motivation to regularly ride him and unfortunately that did not help his back. The past couple rides, I’ve noticed he’s been slightly back sore even though his saddle is custom flocked to his body. There are many symptoms of a sore back but here is what HE was presenting

- grumpiness when the saddle was placed on him
- grumpy during sitting trot
- would dip his back when being hosed down

After some thought, I decided to drive to the tack store and take a look at what they had. I talked to the two workers there and we agreed on the half pad below (mine has white fleece as seen instead of black, but it’s the same pad) the waffling is a very bouncy foam that absorbs a lot of shock from the saddle. It is EXTREMELY thin with the thickest part being in the back. Since there are no issues in the shoulder area of my saddle, we decided to give this one a try. After today’s ride, which included WTC in the outdoor jump arena and some gallop sets in the XC field, he had no reaction in his back area! Who would have known that such a small change would make the biggest difference?!

Moral of the story, what we think are training issues, are normally something else going on. Listen to your gut and trust your horse!

07/03/2024

I sincerely apologize for the inactivity… Dutch and I moved to a new barn (and house) at the beginning of this month. Unfortunately at this barn, I will not be able to train unless I take on an outside client. HOWEVER, we will start training with our new eventing trainer. Content will still be posted, just not like before.

(Ignore his bloody nose… he sliced the inside of his nostril🤦🏻‍♀️)

What kind of content do you want to see? Training advice? Equine behavior? Injury care? Lameness identification?

06/15/2024

As a trainer, witnessing the rekindling of one's passion for horses is truly gratifying... I am thrilled to see my boy play a role in re-igniting the spark within Bethany Quinn ❤️

06/12/2024

First ride back for Tripp since his ulcer treatment! He forgot how to horse during the time off so we had to take it back down to the basics. He clearly thought he had been retired lol.

*the tag in his mane is an insecticide tag that was braided in. The Indiana bugs are brutal this year🥲*

06/05/2024

Due to some unexpected vet finds, Willow will not be continuing training. I will not go into details out of respect for her owner. I appreciate the people that have been following her progress.

On another note… I will not as active during the next 1-2 months. I am moving and starting a new job. Hoping for more exciting things to come!

05/25/2024

Willow is finally riding in a bit and picking up new things really fast. I’m excited for her to grow in my program

05/17/2024

Congratulations to Bonnie on the purchase of Willow! I am happy to welcome her to the King Equestrian family. Watch the page to follow her progress!

05/09/2024

Thank you East Coast Tack Exchange!!! I can’t wait to wear this nice shirt and try my guy in the bit. Follow her page!! Super sweet and professional

05/08/2024

Spring grass is here🙌🏼 Make sure you introduce your horses to the grass in small grazing increments or use of a grazing muzzle. Dutch is getting daily hand grazing time to prepare him for his move in July!

Drop a picture of your 4 legged friends enjoying the spring grass!!

04/30/2024

Expectation VS Reality🤣 Tripps first time seeing a jump outside of the arena

04/25/2024

Update for everyone! Doctor is starting me on PT for my knee but I’m allowed to stay in the saddle🎉 more content will be uploaded. We do have a show planned for May, but it might have to be postponed due to some equine health concerns in our area

04/18/2024

04/08/2024

Tripp is getting his grind on for show season! He also requested to wear his Solar Eclipse glasses during the field work😏

How are you prepping for show season?

04/07/2024

Took a quick run through Intro A today. Super happy with how he’s coming along

03/31/2024

Happy Easter from the King Equestrian crew!!

03/26/2024

Why does bodywork and training go hand in hand? Well, everything is connected so why would it not?

Here you can see my personal horse Dutch (Singh is King) enjoying a good massage with my neck massager. Lately he has been having an issue on the left lead and bending to the left. Collection is really hard and circles are even harder. After listening to his body, I quickly realized this wasn’t a training issue, this was a physical issue. Since then he has been pampered with all the bodywork you can name, including new saddle fitting. All of his workers told me the same thing, he’s locked up in the thoracic sling and right shoulder. Since then, he’s been getting a lot of stretching, massages and in hand work to help release that tension (he’s releasing wonderfully in this picture). A lot of the horses I work with have some sort of physical issue going on, making it harder for me to get the training done. This is why correct biomechanics is so important when training and riding. If the biomechanics are off, they will let you know

Keep listening to your horse and trusting your gut… The horse will never lie

03/23/2024

Exion Pro Cob bridle. Bought in August of last year. Lightly used. It’s been a wonderful bridle and love the interchangeable noseband. I’m buying an anatomical bridle so I don’t have a use for it anymore. Asking $60 obo. Willing to throw in the matching running martingale for $10. Pickup for shipping only. Located in SE Indy

03/20/2024

3 weeks off (due to my knee injury) and Tripp pulls this out😍 Getting that back lifted and starting to stretch down more. We can’t wait for his show soon!

Needing show name recommendations for him!

I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHT TO HIS MUSIC

03/18/2024

I am on a wait list for lessons and training spots! With an overwhelming number of students and show season coming up, I need to focus on getting these two fully prepared. Updates will be posted when I have a spot open! Thank you all for your support

03/16/2024

SOLD!!

Kieffer warmblood sized snaffle dressage bridle with bit and rubber reins. Leather is dry and a little stiff. I’ve oiled it many times but it could use a good soak in some oil. Definitely schooling condition. No cracks, nothing broken just won’t work for my lesson program. Located in SE Indy at 4 Locos Ranch. Pick up or shipping available. I cannot meet anyone (I work 15 hour days). $50 obo

03/14/2024

Dutch is very expressive about getting back into training.

Let’s see your spring bath pictures!

03/12/2024

Why is pole work so important? Every horse benefits from it differently. For Dutch, it really helps engage his hind end and lift through his back. He’s built extremely downhill, which makes it extremely hard to properly engage and lift. Taking it down to the ground helps him learn how to use those muscles without having to carry a rider as well. Dutch is also a horse who mentally shuts down extremely fast and gets super frustrated. Setting up trot poles in different ways helps him use his brain and figure it out himself. When it doubt, do some ground poles 🙂 

03/06/2024

Everyone got vaccines and teeth done today to prep for show season💪🏼 I’m hoping to be back in the saddle in the next 1-2 weeks. Until then, I’m focusing on groundwork and biomechanics to keep them working and looking good. Catch Dutch and Tripp in the show ring in May👀

03/04/2024

Yesterday I fell down the stairs and strained my MCL… meaning no riding for a good while🙃 While I’m healing, I will post groundwork and cute pony pictures. Here is Trip and Dutch enjoying the sunny day ☀️

03/04/2024

“I’m not a dressage rider” is a typical sentence that is heard throughout the disciplines. The word “dressage” can strike fear into the hearts of many riders. Typically because it’s seen as a rigid form of rules, that only if you “look” a certain way, with rhinestones on your browband and your Kastel sun shirt and riding with short reins and a noseband — do you fit into the crowd. *Kastel shirts are AMAZING btw 😘*

But “dressage” is so much different than it’s stand alone as a discipline.

It’s a set of theory’s that quiet and soften the muscles and the mind.

It’s a connection that forms communication to influence footfalls to create a sequence of engaged muscle pairs.

It’s strengthening and prolonging a career of soundness.

It’s increasing flexibility and strength of muscles and ligaments and tendons.

It’s applicable to any partnership, any horse, any discipline.

It’s Medicine.
It’s Movement.
It’s Balance.
It’s Therapy.

It’s applicable to you and your horse wherever your discipline choices lie. Regardless of your saddle, bridle, whether you ride in jeans or jodhpurs, whether you have a pasture, or an arena.

Dressage isn’t “picky” on who it helps. It’s inclusive to anyone willing to pursue it.