Allison McKenzie Sporthorses

08/06/2024

Deb found Pony’s itchy spot!❤️

08/03/2024

08/03/2024

Snoop Dogg in the house with our Olympic Silver medalists!! 🥈😎

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07/31/2024

The Ecuadorean flag-bearer Julio Mendoza Loor has enjoyed a fairytale journey to compete in Olympic dressage, with his bargain-buy horse Jewel’s Goldstrike

07/08/2024

Out there on the interwebs this month were three Facebook posts that caught my eye. One was on a sales group for dressage horses, where someone called trainers to task: “What is it with trainers these days? Particularly in the USA,” she wrote. “How come no one is willing to put in the effort t...

06/30/2024

06/25/2024

A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses after exercise in hot and humid conditions. Thoroughbreds were exercised until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to

06/24/2024

Man O' War - In the 1919 racing season, Man-O-War emerged victorious in nine out of ten races as a two-year-old. The following year he triumphed in all eleven races he participated in. Despite not competing in the 1920 Kentucky Derby, Man-O-War claimed victory in the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, the other two legs of the Triple Crown. His remarkable win at the Belmont Stakes, where he finished twenty lengths ahead, set a new world record time.

Throughout the 1920 season, Man-O-War rose to fame as a prominent sports figure and a symbol of popular culture. He achieved five world records and even won a race by an unprecedented 100 lengths, solidifying his legacy in horse racing.

06/22/2024

In dressage, the best riders develop psychological strength as a key ability because it takes a positive attitude, strong will, good work ethic, humbleness, stubbornness and overall horsemanship to succeed. You have to accept that success and failure never last in this sport, so you have to take each in stride and not make too much of a deal out of either—it is just another day at work. In the end, the best riders have this strength and an undying drive to continue because a rider still has to take care of the horses and get back in the saddle tomorrow and the day after that since this is not only a sport, hobby or business, but a lifestyle that lasts a lifetime. - Jan Brink

06/10/2024

I was coaching at an event this past weekend and while for the most part I was able to see some brilliant riding, I also saw a lot of riders who are missing a lot of basics.
Riders please stay in the two-point position when you’re on cross-country! I saw so many riders in the lower divisions sitting on their horses backs while on cross-country and bouncing around - I felt horrible for their horses. In between fences you MUST stay in two-point to save your horses energy and most of all their backs. As you approach the fence you can half-seat and make adjustments but for the most part - do your horses back a favor and stay off of it!

05/21/2024

05/19/2024

Congratulations to Kathy Snihur on her third place finish at Revel Run today!!!! What a fantastic day!

05/16/2024

Exactly!

Why do quality horses cost so much?
This is why...
I put these numbers together based on very LOW cost standards. Other places in the US can cost double based on increased and uncontrollable variable costs associated with their programs
Be nice to breeders. It's definitely a labor of love and not income 😐🙄😐

05/04/2024

BY PONYMOMAMMY I am firmly in the camp of never blaming the horse/pony when things go wrong. This concept has been engrained in me since I first put a foot in the stirrup, and I hold strong to that belief today. Sometimes I wonder if this mentality is universal for all equestrians, and if it […]

04/28/2024

It seems like there are A LOT of strangles cases running around Michigan at the moment. Maybe we should all take a moment to review our bio security protocols. Remember to never share buckets and shows and NEVER let the hose at a show drop into the water bucket that you are filling. Perhaps the hardest thing for me to remember is to not pet other horses muzzles and then pet my own horse 🙄 I mean - I love a pony squeeze ❤️
Don’t let your horse get lovey dovey with other horses if possible and don’t share grooming supplies. The list goes on - but having a conversation with your veterinarian is a good way to cover all of your bases.

Most importantly - if your horse is exhibiting signs of illness, has a fever, or snotty nose and/or swollen lymph nodes - don’t go to a show! Scores and ribbons are not worth endangering your horses life or countless others. I’m reminded of a recent article I read in Dressage Connection about a woman who lost her horse to EHV because of another irresponsible trainer. It’s simply reprehensible. Working together and being responsible can save a lot of heartache ❤️

04/25/2024

Motivation Monday……

04/23/2024

“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.

04/02/2024

"...Oliveira took several young trainers aside and asked us a series of questions.

"What were our goals? Did we wish to teach? To train horses, either personally or professionally? To compete?

The answers we gave him determined the direction of the conversation. When it came my turn, I answered: "I want to train horses."

He considered the answer with the sincerity it was given, then replied: "Then ride a lot of bad horses. I don't mean ride dangerous horses - you are too valuable now to get hurt - but ride
the difficult horses and learn."

He elaborated a little on this theme during our last interview.

"Nowadays riders learn one system because if they have a horse that isn't suitable for dressage they sell the horse and get another,
he observed. "So instructors now don't know the old systems - for instance, Baucher's flexions - and don't know how to use those
systems to improve the horse. Now everybody learns one way, but that doesn't mean that every horse will respond best to that way.

"You can take pieces of a different system and apply them, and riders can understand why they do something from a different system to correct specific problems. But no one teaches the other systems anymore, so riders don't learn to be able to do that."
- Stephanie Grant Millham

03/29/2024

The guest column of this week is by Angelika Fromming, retired international dressage judge, and Hannes Müller, former head of the German Riding School in Warendorf and chair of the German Professional Riders Association. Both are highly esteemed clinicians.

08/04/2023

Dear Small Breeder…. I see you!

I see you pouring your heart and soul into those mares praying for a good heartbeat check.

I see you, missing family gatherings because a mare needs bred. Or one is about to foal.

I see you, sleepless nights hoping nothing goes wrong at foaling time.

I see you, crying because you lost a foal, mare or both.

I see you standing over that prize yearling, that just broke its leg.

I see you, struggling wondering which incentives to pay into. Because everyone wants them all paid into every incentive possible.

I see you, as you are saying goodbye to the old mare that started it all… wondering if you should keep going.

I see you, struggling on which mare to breed to which stallion to hopefully make someone’s super star!

I see you, smiling because it all went right this time!

I see you, smiling because someone called to tell you how much they love that foal you raised. And it is their heart horse!

Keeping going small breeder! Because without you, there are a lot of people missing out on that once in a life time horse.

www.tienquarterhorses.net

(Copied from Forked Horn Ranch)

07/30/2023

Let's face it, as a horse owner, we have all relied on a boarding facility at some point to be able to enjoy our equine friends. Here are some facts and figures with what goes into boarding your horse.

06/26/2023

Quinn AMS - Visit www.allisonmckenziesporthorses.com for video or go to our FB page. $15,000

06/18/2023

Don’t worry - I am supervised by a pony at all times…

06/05/2023

All I can say is what a weekend! The beautiful Avery Popejoy and her handsome Edmond started us off at Waterloo where she improved by leaps and bounds to earn her last First Level score towards her Bronze Medal. I’m so proud of how hard this young lady works - she’s an inspiration ❤️ Then today Gillian Gray and Kathy Snihur represented AMS at Woodbine Farm and were awesome - so much improvement and tests to be proud of!
After four days of coaching I now feel like I have emptied my brain…I am devoid of all knowledge and need to reboot my brain. I’m tired!!!!

05/23/2023

A recipe for soundness...

Ok, not really, there's no such thing. But here's my best attempt. I have some students shopping for young horses, and I've sold some super nice horses recently, and everyone is trying to figure out the best crystal ball that will tell them if their future horse will stay sound in the long term. Spoiler alert - no one (not even the fanciest vet) can tell you that. Horses are horses, and they do incredibly dumb things to hurt themselves all the time. But here's what I advise my students:

1. Turn your horse out. Motion is lotion, and horses who move around as much as possible, on varied terrain, are going to be stronger and have more resilience than horses bubble wrapped and kept inside.
2. Buy the best conformation you can. The horse doesn't need to win all the breed shows, but certain conformation problems are a deal breaker for me - long sloping pasterns, super straight hocks and stifles, super long backs, crooked legs. You're just asking for problems down the road. No horse is perfect, and even those who are close can go lame, but set yourself up for success. Good basic conformation is MORE important than fancy movement.
2. Buy a horse with good feet. "No hoof no horse" is not just some old timey adage. If you are dealing with a horse with super thin soles or walls, chroically slung under heels, negative palmar angles, or a high/low problem, you will be dealing with lameness more often.
3. Hire a good farrier. To go along with the last point, your horse's feet need to be in the best shape possible. I'm not getting into it with the barefoot vs. corrective shoeing people. I'll just say try to find the best farrier you can. Ask the vets, ask people who have horses with beautiful feet at the shows, whatever you can. And be good to that farrier!!
4. Ride on decent footing. Notice I didn't say expensive footing! Super deep, super hard, slippery or uneven are no nos. A nicely mowed field that's decently flat is better than a pretty looking arena that is way too deep.
5. Give your horse good nutrition. Especially with young, growing horses - keeping them healthy but NOT fat is important. Work with your vet to design a program that gives your horse enough vitamins, minerals, protein and fat. Making a horse super fat and shiny might look nice for pictures, but that is not a kind thing to do for their long term health. On the other hand, not feeding a horse enough can have seriously negative consequences for their development as well.
6. Get tack that fits and then focus on something else. Yes, you need a saddle, bridle and bit that fit your horse. But you probably don't need to spend half your life savings on it, and have it adjusted 4 times a year by a wizard from Europe. Make sure your saddle is balanced, doesn't pinch, and isn't making your horse's back sore (or you sore) and then move on. All the fancy pads, newest ergonomic designs, latest in bit technology etc are mostly just marketing.
7. Stick with a regular training program. Horses who sit around doing nothing are likely to get stiff, overweight and lack muscle. Horses who are overworked are likely to damage joints and soft tissue. 3-4 days a week is a great goal to aim for. More is not always better, and if you have to give your horse an extended period off, please be mindful as you bring them back into fitness and don't push it just so you can get to a show.
8. Come up with a long term plan with your vet. Most vets would love to see your horse for a once a year "wellness exam." This does not need to be terribly expensive, but just an overall soundness check where the two of you are able to plan out the best course of action for your horse. Depending on age and level of work, this could include supplements, injections, body work, etc. But allow your vet to have a baseline and get to know your horse BEFORE there is a problem!

These are not necessarily in order of importance. Just my rambling thoughts. What I did NOT include is x-raying every joint in the body, all manner of drugs, supplements, fancy equipment, bloodlines, etc. I'm not putting any of that stuff down, but sticking to tried and true basics will do you better in the long term than jumping on the latest bandwagon.

05/18/2023

After a rough beginning, Allison Mckenzie Sporthorses is now proud to announce the arrival of Quinn AMS! Quinn is a HUGE c**t by Qredit Hilltop and out of our own Cada Sueno (Soprano). We are beyond thrilled to finally be able to announce Q’s arrival!!!

05/10/2023

Woohoo!!! It’s about time!

Agreement Reached to Recognise Thoroughbreds in Olympics & FEI Events Agreement Reached to Recognise Thoroughbreds in Olympics & FEI Events May 9, 2023 Posted on behalf of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) At next year’s Paris Olympic Games, Thoroughbreds competing in an...

04/28/2023

Everyone needs to pay attention to this. Two local riders have been seriously hurt this week after falls from their horses. Under no circumstance should you ever sit in a saddle without a helmet on. If you ride English, wear a helmet. If you ride Western, WEAR A HELMET. If you're jumping, you should be wearing a helmet. If you run barrels, you should absolutely be wearing a helmet! If you're out on the trails with your friend, both of you should be wearing a helmet! Check your ego and your coolness factor at the door. A cracked helmet could have been your skull. Not everyone comes away from a fall okay. Some people are left paralyzed and worse yet, some people die. Don't take your life for granted by not wearing a helmet.

04/08/2023

Your horse should have a constant desire to move forward without tension, to willingly step under and engage his hindlegs when asked.