Blackbird Equestrian

04/06/2024

Sometimes ya just need a little sparkle and spice!

02/14/2024

Hate when that happens!! 🤣🤣🤣

02/02/2024

Super exciting news to come!! Stay tuned!!

12/23/2023

12/02/2023

Super excited!! We now have the Sportiva Dressage saddle for demos! Let me know when you're ready to ride in it!! BLISS OF LONDON - Saddle makers of distinction

11/07/2023

10/21/2023

Don’t forget about our Happily Ever Acres Winter Wonderland!! 💙❄️ We’ve got a great list of vendors, like Blackbird Equestrian and Nancy Slater Natural Horsemanship clinic! Come out to audit Nancy’s clinic for $40 (bring a chair) We will also be raffling a 2 night stay for 2 people/2 horses at Nancy’s Cowboy Camp!
We’ll have a 50/50 as well; proceeds will go to a random rescue of choice!💙💙💙
Come out for some fun, education, shopping & food!

*Interested in being a vendor? Message us directly for more info!*

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd 10am-3pm

06/11/2023

Upcoming English and Western saddle fitting trips to: New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Wimauma, Sarasota and Eustis. Contact me to get on the schedule!!

Www.blackbirdequestrian.com
Www.bliss-of-london.com
Www.dp-saddlery.com

Bliss of London - Saddles of DistinctionBliss of LondonSaddles of DistinctionWatch our new videoBliss of London - Handmade to the highest qualityBliss of LondonHandmade to the highest qualityWatch our new videoBliss of London - We share your passion for horsesBliss of LondonWe share your passion for...

05/30/2023

Cattle dog friends! Sydney is looking for her forever home. She is 7 months old, spayed and utd on medical. She is very active and needs a job! Typical cattle dog mentality, no small dogs or cats but loves to play with dogs her size. She is about 30lbs. Located in Lakeland.

05/29/2023

Welcome W***y Valor! He is 6 months old and 57lbs, our latest recruit to be a service dog. W***y is super chill, wait till you meet him!!

05/09/2023

Super exciting things happening for Blackbird Equestrian!! We will be unveiling a new saddle line during the Sunshine State Show at the Florida Horse Park May 19-21st. Make sure to come by and see the Cavaletti Collection, sister company to our amazing Bliss of London saddles!!

They are:
✨️ Wool Flocked
✨️ Adjustable Trees
✨️ Monoflap or dual flap options
✨️ seat sizes 16 - 18

Oh ya and did we also mention they are ALL UNDER $2000!!!!

We will have demos at the show for you to sit in! Www.cavaletticollection.com

04/19/2023

Ex-demo model of Smith Worthington's Ultimate wool flocked and spring tree dressage saddle. Very wide spread on the width fitting. 18ins seat.
This saddle is eligible for a FREE 5 DAY SADDLE TRIAL. Click this link to take you through to its web page where you can order a trial or purchase outright:

https://goodappleequine.com/product/smith-worthington-ultimate-demo-model-18ins-xw-2873-9/

04/17/2023

🐎🐎🐎!!!ANNOUNCEMENT!!!🐎🐎🐎

The Oxbow Ranch at Oxford will be available to rent around June-July.

Full trainers 300’ long barn, 26 stalls total. Enclosed AC tack room, AC feed room, wash racks, 150x300’ reining pad with stopping fence, and a pro cutter system that runs down the fence. 1/1 apartment and additional office building with rest restroom, washer, and dryer. Possible tractor and manure spreader for rent. Many other things to offer.

More videos and pictures to come. Located in Oxford, Florida.

Serious inquires only. *Owner lives on premises*

03/10/2023

This gorgeous saddle is for sale! Contact me for more info

03/05/2023

Loxley by Bliss of London Saddlery monoflap dressage. Long flap, French calf leather with berry facings, piping and Swarovski crystals. 18" seat, wide hoop tree. Retail $5895 SALE!! $3500

03/04/2023

Something about this makes me realize how far I've come. My Blackbird Equestrian logo on the jumbotron at the World Equestrian Center. 13 years later I'm still amazed how blessed I am to be doing what I absolutely love.

02/24/2023

BE READY TO SHOP!!!
I am cleaning out ALL the tack storage!! Will have saddles, bridles, girths, martingales, 5 point breast collars, halters, pads, reins, leathers and much more!!!

02/17/2023

We are sooo excited to be invited! Make sure you come see us!

January 25, 2023 – Ocala, Fla. – The All for the Horses Expo, an all-equine industry tradeshow presented by Ariat International, Inc. will be held on March 3-5, 2023, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala and feature a carefully curated collection of equestrian and lifestyle vendors selling ite...

02/13/2023

Thank you WDAA Family for your many insightful and supportive messages to the WDAA Board of Directors regarding the recent discussion of what constitutes a standard American Western stock saddle. The WDAA Board of Directors has determined to use the rest of 2023 to evaluate the definition of permitt...

11/05/2022

Our website needs a complete overhaul! Can anyone recommend someone?

10/24/2022

Huge Congratulations to Bogey Valor!! He has been in training with Lori the past 10 months and is now moving to advanced training in Georgia to be a Mobility Service dog for a wounded veteran. We are so excited for the next chapter in this special dog's life but of course very sad to see him leave us.

Say hello to our new recruit Coby!! He is a 12 week old black lab who will be joining us! Just like with Bogey, he will always be kept on leash and away from the horses while at appointments. He is looking forward to meeting everyone!!

10/24/2022

Bogey Valor thoroughly enjoyed watching the dressage freestyle gala at TerraNova Equestrian Center this weekend!!

10/22/2022

My niece and nephew came to visit us at TerraNova and pose to be Blackbird Equestrian's newest models!

10/21/2022

Whoohoo!!!! Been looking forward to this all year! We are set up and ready to go at TerraNova Equestrian Center! Beautiful facility, great people and of course Amazing horses!!!

08/05/2022

BLOG: DO YOU HAVE A HANDY POCKET YOUR SADDLE FITS IN TO?

Right, do you have a minute? Are you with your horse? Great… Now, stand back and look at your horse… from the side, naked (the horse, not you) just look at them, in all their glory! I know, gorgeous aren’t they!

Right next thing, really look at them, take a picture if you like.. but inspect them, head to tail. There are lots of things to pick up i’m sure, BUT do you have a saddle shaped indentation in your horses back? or large hollows behind the shoulder and not a lot of top line? When you run your hand firmly along their back, does the muscle feel different where the saddle sits? If it does, take a breath and stop! You need to make a plan.

First of all, the muscles along the back, either side of the spine, are called the Longissimus muscle. They should be lovely and plump, firm but soft and feel even all the way along. This muscle and all the connecting muscles and support structures make it possible for a rider and their horse to go on adventures! I know, great aren’t they. They need this to hold you up and function. FACT.

BUT, if this muscle is compromised - and in this rant (sorry blog), it’s a saddle shaped indentation. You can subsequently end up with lameness, twanged tendons and the hideous, kissing spines (And don’t get me started on that name, they are bones that are rubbing together because they don’t have the strength to span apart - not some cute little snuggly issue!) to name a few. A horse with any impingement, compensates - an unbalanced body, is one that is now putting too much pressure elsewhere and this is when things get ugly.

Your horse, in no scenario, should have a saddle shaped indentation on it’s back, nor should it have hard lumps behind the back of the saddle where the end of the panel sits, or hollows behind the scapula as no, they aren’t ‘handy pockets’ so any saddle fits.

If you stand back and see that, then STOP! You need to take weight of the horses back and figure out what is causing this issue, and it may be more than one thing. Make a plan as this could take some unravelling. You may start with your vet, or your trusted equine therapist, your saddle fitter, or trainer. Probably all of them, get an Osteo/Physio/Fascia - all 3 bodyworkers may be required, over several months,. If anyone says, “think it’s just the way they are” SAY NO, AND GET A SECOND OPINION! Recovery may be quick, it may take months.. but if you love your pony like we do, then do the right thing, working from the ground to get your horses back in peak condition so he can easily take you on your adventures, without compromise - it’s what we should all be doing every single day. .

There are some real simple aspects to a happy healthy horse under saddle, and knowing what a healthy back looks like is one of them.

Look. Listen. Learn. Then Make a Plan.