Dreaming Fields Equine

12/16/2024

A woman recently came to me asking how quickly she could learn to canter. Her plan was to take just a couple of lessons, then find a horse to practice on—essentially bypassing the depth of the learning process. The way she framed her question made it clear she saw riding as a task to be rushed, a box to check, much like assembling a burger at a fast-food chain: quick, standardized, and efficient. On the horse, off the horse, no time wasted.

But here’s the truth: horsemanship is not a factory line. It’s not about stamping out a product in record time or skipping foundational steps. Riding isn’t about simply sitting on a horse and pressing the right buttons to get results. It’s a craft, an art, and, at its best, a lifestyle. A true horseman is more like a Michelin-starred chef than a McDonald’s worker. Chefs spend years learning to season, to taste, to adjust. They don’t rush through their recipes, and they don’t cut corners. Instead, they invest in mastering their tools, honing their intuition, and crafting each dish with care and precision.

Similarly, a skilled rider invests in their education. Lessons are the school; they build the foundation. The knowledge you gain through time, effort, and repetition is your seasoning. It’s how you learn to communicate with the horse—to listen as much as you direct, to understand and refine your aids. And the end result? A successful ride—a seamless partnership between horse and rider—is your star dish, your masterpiece.

You can’t achieve that level of excellence by rushing the process or taking shortcuts. A McDonald’s skill set will never create a Michelin-star meal, just as a rushed, shallow approach to riding will never create a true horseman. So, invest in yourself. Take the time to learn, to grow, and to embrace the process. After all, horsemanship is not about reaching a destination quickly—it’s about savoring the journey and the relationship you build along the way.

- Shannen Borges

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12/11/2024

What does it really mean to "let them go on a good day?"

It means it will be your hardest day. It won't matter if you've never done it before, or if you're gifted a dozen good days, each good day is always the hardest one.

It means they won't know what the fuss is about, why they're getting so many treats and extra belly scratches and hugs.

It means you will second guess your decision right up to the very last moment, the very last breath. You'll second guess yourself afterwards.

They'll knicker at you when you arrive, just like any other day.

The weather, perfect. They are content. They look sound today. They are breathing well, eating well, they get up easily enough from a nap in the sun....the list goes on. Whatever issue they struggle with, today they aren't.

Today you euthanize them.

This is what going on a good day means: sending them out while they are happy, while they are healthy, while they are eating well, walking well, etc. You make the choice to do it before an emergency takes the choice away from you, before your horse has to experience any more trauma or pain.

Their last memory will be filled with love.

It'll rip your heart out every time.

We can see the patterns and the increasing trends. We can predict it a little. We can obsess over the past and worry about the future.

Fortunately, horses, all animals, live in the moment. They don't worry about those things. They aren't worried about winter. They aren't worried about July, or allergies, or progressive diseases like cushings or dsld. They don't think about the close calls they've had before, and they certainly aren't thinking about the close calls that are destined to come, as their body continues to age and break down. They just are. They are happy and healthy, or fearful and in pain, on that day, in that moment.

It is the most difficult, most loving gift we are blessed to be able to give.

And that first ice storm will come, that first deep snow, that first heat wave....and you will find a little relief, no longer doubting the choice you made.

They were happy, and safe, and loved. That is all that matters.

It is never easy. ~Kelly Meister, author

12/08/2024

12/05/2024

Christmas pony

12/01/2024

these are from this morning. Her belly is pretty wide and her teats look looser to me than normal. She’s not as into my cleaning them as she usually is.

12/01/2024

11/30/2024

Anyone want to play fat or pregnant?
17 year old maiden mare.

Stud c**t broke fence at the boarding barn and spent the night with the mares on 2/29/24.

Vet scanned 4/16/24 said they thought not pregnant but said to call back if she didn’t come into season.

We just kind of forgot about it. I haven’t noticed her being in season all summer, but I don’t often notice when she is anyway.

then maybe 3 weeks ago we noticed her belly moving in a way that doesn’t look like digestion to me.

she’s an easy keeper so she’s usually a little fat. The past year she has been on hay only no grain no grass-her body isn’t fat but her belly is.

We are going to have the Vet out and do a blood test to know for sure, but I would love guesses in the meantime.

11/30/2024

There are many urgent situations that require our help right now.

By fostering horses we have already vetted waitign to go to training or be adopted, you help us save lives.

Fostering is a tax deductible way to help us save more horses. We always have horses, minis and ponies in need of a foster home.

Fosters cover feed, bedding and offer daily care. Heart of Phoenix covers vetting and farrier costs, as needed, unless a foster can afford that care, too.

All foster costs, including your transport to pick up your foster, are tax deductible.

To foster:

1. Typically you need to be local or able to pick up the foster horse from us

2. Need to be an experienced horse owner

3. Be able to cover feed and bedding costs

Apply today: www.wvhorserescue.org/foster

11/28/2024

11/27/2024

11/27/2024

Let’s go 😍😍

11/27/2024