Twin Oaks Farm - Horses and Fun

01/22/2025

01/19/2025

I still see people posting videos and photos of themselves riding without a helmet. Every time, I’m shocked.

It’s even worse when the person is an influencer, a coach, or riding at a boarding stable.

First, you only have one head, and accidents happen so quickly.
Second, younger riders look up to you and see you as an example.
And third, it’s a matter of insurance.

I don’t hesitate to point it out in the comments, hoping that one day everyone will understand the importance of wearing a helmet and the message it represents about safety.

01/18/2025

Here you go !!!🥰

01/17/2025

Smooth and accurate handling of the lead rope, reins and other equipment attached to the horse’s head is so important to me- in fact, I believe it’s hardly possible to get a horse relaxed and straight without it. Handling that jerks, fumbles, wobbles, flops or disturbs the lead rope in meaningless ways will produce a brace in the poll and the neck. It can create a floppy horse who pivots around their head and shoulders for all their movements, or it can create a braced up, unresponsive and unhappy horse.

My aim is to create a soft horse who works in alignment, with an even bend from nose to tail. To create this, I’m disciplined about my rope and rein handling at all times. I’m feeling for the connection as we stand together on the ground, when I’m taking a break in the saddle, and when we’re working. If I tell the horse accidentally that the rope is meaningless one minute, how will they know it’s filled with meaning the next?

I like to handle my lead rope smoothly without big flops or loud, excessive releases. Step by step we are communicating back and forth, from my hand to the smallest guard hairs on the horses’ chin. This travels all the way through his halter to the shoulders, spine and hips.

01/16/2025

Nice illustration!

01/16/2025

The truth is: many of us are trying to practice above our level, and that is why things feel messy.
Many of us become frustrated or take offense to having the work lowered to a more basic level- we can feel like we are being judged, punished, or held back, but the truth is, working on those basic skills will help our work soar more quickly.
Most people I encounter (and myself included- and this is precisely what I work on with my teachers) need practice on handling their lead rope, reins and tools with better care, learning to sit with better balance and “follow through,” learning to feel the horse better, learning situational awareness, controlling their own thoughts and body around the horse and on -
While all of us want to be working on fun things or higher level things, our work is like a house of cards without control of our bodies, minds, breath - it all comes tumbling down at the first sign of trouble without these hard earned basic skills.
I don’t see these taught to the level they need to be to to the public save for a few rare teachers here and there, including my cherished mentors - and so I find when they are taught to the level needed to the public, people are often startled, offended, or confused. But I believe strongly that this is the change the horse world needs - it needs people to commit to it like their lives depend on it, and trainers to commit to teaching what the public needs above catering to what the public wants: that is what will really make both horses and people’s lives infinitely better.

01/14/2025

Why you will not see me being spectacular on a young horse:

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.
Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."
Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.
Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."
Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."
Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."
Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."
Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

01/09/2025

Teach students where THEY are at.
I get it- instructors think they are going to save their students time and agony by teaching them “right” the first time… (and I’m not saying the alternative is to teach them wrong, but rather, I understand where the mindset comes from.) But you can’t teach beginners to use advanced aids, just like you can’t pick up a canter on a horse getting their 5th ride with the same set of aids you would use on a Grand Prix horse.
You have to teach students that there is a process, and then teach them to trust the process! 

For instance, I teach beginners not to pull back to steer, but to point both thumbs where they want to go! We steer with our eyes, and both hands, and our belly button. But someday we are going to step into the inside stirrup, and use our seat to send the horse into our outside rein, and steer our horse with inside leg to outside rein connection.

Another for instance, is that I teach green riders to set in a little bit of a chair seat, and ride with hands quite wide, thumbs practically pointing out. This prevents leaning forward, anterior pelvic tilt, tight immobile hips, constant subconscious pulling backwards, looking down, twisting the wrists, and other common issues that beginner riders often run into. It’s so easy to put them in a more elegant position later! But in the beginning, I just want them sitting deep and their hips moving with the horse, and hands soft.

When we first start talking about bend, I’m not horribly picky. Get ANY bend!! I’ll take anything: lateral poll flexion, ribcage bend, or even lateral bend at the base of the neck (which later down the road, we don’t want much of). Once the rider is starting to get something, we will talk more about where the bend is coming from.

One of the hardest things, as an instructor is knowing how far down this path you can nudge your Rider. I have some students that do best if they know the next couple steps. It helps them recognize the importance of the step they are on. But I have other students that if I tell them too much about the progression, they overthink and shut down and can’t help but feel like they should be further along

12/28/2024

Small rant incoming..

Today we have a grids clinic, which means the course in the arena gets taken down, it gets graded and then the exercises are set up. Also meaning hires are not able to happen unless they want grids but most want arena hires..

I had 28 of you in. As of 09:22 when we start at 10:00 I’ve had 10 people message to say, not going to make it today. No explanation, just won’t make it.

Now I understand things happen, life gets in the way. But now that’s £300 worth of work that now isn’t coming and won’t get paid for. 😞

So please, just explain the situation when cancelling, I try to be as fair as possible, but you don’t see the work that goes into this behind the scenes.

How would you feel if you expected £300 of work to come in and then you suddenly don’t have it and no explanation why. It’s just common courtesy to explain.

I truly try to be as fair as possible and don’t charge; or I swap your session to another date. I know horses go lame, lorry’s don’t start or you don’t feel well.

So going forward.. payment is expected upon booking. This is for arena hires and lessons.

If you cancel within 48 hours of the date you’ve booked, no refund will be given. I will always try to move you to another date at my discretion. If cancelling before the 48 hours there will be a £5 admin charge, or you can move to another date with no charge.

I hope you can understand the reasoning behind this. I have to protect my business and myself.

12/17/2024

Trainer - What day is it?
Student - Monday
Trainer - What day is it?
Student - The 16th
Trainer - What day is it?
Student - 😡
Trainer - I kept asking you the same question and you gave me the right answer, but I didn’t accept it, so you changed your answer, got frustrated and confused.
This is exactly how your horse can feel if you miss the release…
(Author unknown)

12/17/2024

Welcome to our newest addition! My daughter Jennifer’s 4 yr old Friesian/Gypsy/Quarter cross gelding “Henry”!
He seems awesome! Congratulations Jennifer!

12/11/2024

The difference between relaxation and centeredness -

The goal for many for their horses is calm, or relaxation at all times. That can sound like a good goal, and a kind one - but ultimately, unfair and really quite impossible.

If we factor in the world at large, we realize quickly that being calm requires environmental control - can we really be calm in the face of all emergencies? Can we be calm if our friends horse has bolted, if the barn is on fire, if there is some factors outside our control?

What we ask the horse, in order to be calm at all times, is really to ignore the environment, and to flatten a nervous system and body designed for survival into only one mode we find acceptable.

Relaxation often is lost when energy or external input is brought in, and relaxation offers us no avenue for higher energy movements. A very relaxed horse cannot have the power required for upper level movements - no athlete is supremely relaxed in their endeavors

They are very focused, energetic, and alert

BUT

They should not be anxious

That is the different between relaxed and centered

Centered does not require calm, but can be calm when appropriate. Centered is the horse’s ability to have an adaptable nervous system, molding itself to the necessary requirements of the moment and the environment.

A centered horse can find balance even in moments of high energy or adrenaline, and is able to calm down when appropriate.

It is not appropriate to be calm in a barn fire. We need adrenaline to manage our way to safety - but panic doesn’t help. Therefore we need energetic clarity.

And this has to be taught by a centered person.

It’s easy to teach a horse to “relax” by controlling the environment fiercely or teaching them to tune out. It just requires repetition.

But a centered horse requires the education of a centered person- one who is highly aware, disciplined, attentive, and constantly engaging in appropriate dialogue with the horse - not micro managing, but guiding.

The first is easy to sell - it sounds good, makes people feel good, and requires very little of a person with high reward societally.

The second is a harder sell because of the work load involved, the self discipline and improvement, and low societal reward.

But, you gain the trust of a horse through low and high energy situations both. And that is what a true horseman aspires to.

12/07/2024

Thought this was really good

11/17/2024

Scary- never did like those!

11/15/2024

Do you know how people say “life is short, buy the horse!” I disagree.

Maybe don’t buy any horse. Instead take more lessons, or lease one.

So often students lock themselves into one horse way too early. Badger is one of our safest lesson horses. He’s a great guy and I feel good putting just about anyone on him…. But of those who ride him regularly, I don’t know that any of them could own him and him still be the horse he is now!!! It doesn’t take long for him to turn into a bully. He is hard to motivate and if riders don’t have a good timing with their aids, if they don’t follow through, or worse, if they never let up and just keep squeezing and nudging and kicking at him, he will get quite belligerent very quickly!
We do a lot to help riders be successful, and to keep badger happy in his work. The timid or green riders we put on him do not yet have the skill set to do that on their own.  even though they can write him in a lesson doesn’t mean they would be successful outside of lessons. And if badger was not schooled regularly by more advanced riders, then he wouldn’t be so lovely for the beginners.

The point being, even if you buy a badger, he’s not gonna be a badger for long if he’s not overseen by professionals, the way badger is here.

11/14/2024

From Keystone Equine. Interesting read!

It is a human thing, this need to touch and be touched.

So many times, I will watch someone whose horse has done exactly as they’d wished and immediately, they take the relax and let down response of the horse and turn it into something else. Another thing to be borne.

Rather than rest and soak in the beautiful feeling of accomplishment, we’ll ruin everything that came before with a pat or a sudden forehead rub.

I know that I share this observation with the risk of ruffling feathers. Yes, your horse loves you. Yes, your horse will stand to be petted for hours. Yes, he’ll leave his friends and even his feed, to come and stand with you. Yes, you have built up a wonderful relationship based on love and sensitivity. Yes.

But wait. If your horse could talk—and trust me, when I’m watching his subtle but telling responses, he is—he would thank you for noticing this heroic effort he has made. He would love that you stopped and gave the long rein, or let his lead rope hang free. He would appreciate that you stopped chattering and just stood there, breathing deeply, melting into one another’s space.

He would be grateful that you behaved like another horse.

He would hear you when you silently were still and formed the thought of contentment. He would shake his forelock out of his eyes, in relief, when you suddenly got it… that this thing you do with your hands is to please yourself, rather than to gratify him.

Hey, I’m not against stroking my horse’s neck, or breathing deeply into his soft nose. I’m not saying that I never straighten a forelock, or gently clean out a horse’s windblown eyes, or that I don’t give a heartfelt hug. I am not against all shows of affection!

I’ve spent a lifetime observing horses and their people, however. I have seen much. Our need to touch, to pat, to caress, to reassure is as often a reflex action, done without mindfulness or empathy, as it is to show our appreciation. Many times, our loving hands have all the softness of a habit, a craving unmet, or a nervous tic.

I’ll go ahead and say it.

So often, when we pat our horses, or rub their foreheads, we’re doing this to please ourselves. Those little pats can be a selfish act, uncaring of the needs of others. It’s one more ask for which they must stand still. For when we stop and really watch, we’ll see that if we sit quietly and with nothing but love in our hearts, they will yawn and rub their noses against their knees. They will feel free to self-soothe, to let down their guard and to wholly relax.

I have seen that the horses who really crave the hands-on, will stand straight on to us with their heads at our stomachs. They will stand close beside us, so that we might reach that one nagging itch. They will not be mouthing at us, or looking away when we reach for them, or standing as unmoving/unblinking/unbreathing as a stone.

It is telling that when we are praising our horses, so often they try to move away…

I have written of this before. I have learned that people will get angry about my drawing attention to such a small thing. They scoff and defend themselves, they will mock this idea and call me names. So be it; I am ready.

Welcoming one’s touch is very different from enduring it and recognizing the difference is a subtle thing deserving of our contemplation, particularly as women. We, of all people, should understand. We claim that we want relationship. This is a two-way street, my friends. Being in a healthy pairing means that one’s needs do not automatically trump another’s.

No, our petting—and even, our constant chattering—is seldom about them. Learning to stand with our hands in our pockets is a self-discipline that is darned near Zen.

That said, what a beautifully soft and private moment this is, between Henry and Cait. I think it is telling that it is he who is stretching his head out, to reach her hand.