Synergy Stables

02/12/2025

Just a little fun and exercise on a cold and windy, but sunny day at Synergy Stables with Moreno and Vinny 🥰

02/09/2025

Between the red ears on a winter day with a hint of sun ❤️

01/29/2025

Our elder statesman, Moreno Del Norte, enjoys a nap in the sun while the “red girls,” Ella and Red, keep watch ❤️

01/07/2025

UPDATE: Thanks to all the good candidates who contacted us! We have hired a new team member, along with a couple of much needed back up folks. Thanks for responding. 🐎🐎

We’re hiring!!!! Our equine team is looking for just the right person. Immediate opportunity.
🐎🐎Synergy Stables in Junction City, OR is looking for part time stable help. Ideal candidate lives in the Junction City area. Good opportunity for student or second job for extra money. Must have solid experience with horses and be comfortable with handling them, cleaning stalls, and other barn chores. Must be physically fit enough to clean stalls, run wheelbarrows of manure to manure pile 💩, lift water buckets, etc. Must have reliable transportation and good communication skills. At this time, about 2 to 3 hours of work Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 4 to 5 hours on Saturday, although days and workload may shift. Some flexibility for morning or late afternoon. Night work is not an option. Generally work will include cleaning , watering, possible turn out/turn in for well behaved herd, sweeping/blowing aisle way, etc. Pay by the task, but experienced and efficient person should make between $16 and $20 per hour. Additional special project barn chores pay $16/hour. We’re a small facility that offers boarding, lessons, and equine assisted psychotherapy. PM with your experience and availability. Moreno, Ella and Red look forward to working with the right person. 🐎

01/05/2025

We were very sad to learn of the passing last summer of a long-time friend of Synergy Stables, Lynne McKinney. We knew she was very ill, but somehow missed the news of her passing. Very sorry for this delayed tribute. She was our first client and long-time friend. She accomplished so much in her time with us and had such an impact on all of us. Her horsey love here was Lucero Del Norte, “The Big Guy,” as we jokingly called him. She and Lucero did arena rides, trail rides, clinics, and shows. Lynne was so proud of her and Lucero winning Paso Fino Pleasure Geldings at the Oregon State Fair Horse Show, she wrote an article about their challenges and successes for the magazine of the Paso Fino Horse Association. After Lynne moved on and discovered donkeys, we followed her successes and cheered on her accomplishments with them. Your smile and strength will be missed, Lynne. I know Lucero was there at the Rainbow Bridge to welcome you. Here are some favorite memory pictures. Be sure to read the captions. ❤️

01/03/2025

Absolutely!!! This….

Lets bust a myth...

A buddy sour, barn sour, arena sour, sweet n sour horse is not actually sour, they are anxious, uncomfortable or feel unsafe.

Tying a buddy sour horse up, or stalling them, a long ways away from other horses, will not fix his struggle. The struggle isn't the other horses, it's the simple fact that the horse doesn't feel safe, doesn't feel comfortable or feels more anxiety than he can dissipate on his own.

Another myth, is horses that are raised in herds are more likely to be buddy sour. FALSE!!! Again, buddy or herd bound horses aren't that way because of other horses, the other horses simply reveal the insecurity in the horse when that horse feels separate from a "herd". Isolating a horse to box stall it's whole life doesn't stop them from being herd bound.

How do you help a horse with separation anxiety, barn sourness, buddy sourness, herd bound issues, etc.?

Build their confidence! Help them feel safe by teaching them how to regulate their emotions.

Build their confidence with you, build their confidence in their environment. Don't just pull them away from their friends and expect to fix it. If you do this... you can expect a higher likelihood of injuries because a horse feeling like his survival is in jeopardy, will do what they feel they need to do to be safe. Pain sensations go out the window when a horse is in fight/flight.

This weeks groundwork lesson on my online platform will teach you the first step to helping your horse manage his emotions when he feels separate from comfort. Teach your horse tools that you can then use when you want to go do things with your horse. You don't just fix it, it's something you manage. When a horse feels vulnerable, remind him how to settle his body and mind back down.

It's 2025, time to evolve away from cowboy ways of thinking!

No halter required on this one 😂

12/26/2024

And in loving memory of those we lost and who are no longer with us for holiday fun. We will always love you and miss you, July, Lucero, Legado, and Epona. 😥

12/26/2024

Barn Days 2024 continued! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all 🎄🧑‍🎄🎶🐎

12/21/2024

Holiday barn days 2024! Cheers and warm wishes to all our friends and critters. More pictures to come!

12/20/2024