Bear Paw Barn, LLC

01/07/2025

Language warning.⚠️ But funny as hell!

12/29/2024

Oh dear 😳🐴🤦‍♀️

12/17/2024

12/12/2024

💪🙌🐴

Don’t come for me Luigi 🍄

12/10/2024

12/02/2024

A horse with no manners is a horse at risk.
Unpopular opinion:
If putting a chain on the halter reminds them of good behavior, then put it on the halter. You don’t “have” to apply pressure to it. You can walk on a loose lead, no tension no pulling.
If the horse learns to bolt in hand they become a safety and LEGAL liability for the horse and barn owner. If you could have prevented an injury but “chains are mean” you could be technically negligent by not keeping the horse under control when you could have. And remember- what they do on the ground they will do under saddle!
This is so huge!!! People don’t understand how critical the ground relationship is with horses who have developed dangerous habits.
And the consistency of using the chain! If the horse needs it for one person- use it. Because you don’t think you need it doesn’t help the horse. It only allows opportunity to pick an argument with the next handler. For gods sake none of this using a chain nonsense about YOU. It says nothing about you skill, ability, kindness, superior communication, confidence or EGO, it’s about the horse.
A horse who is dangerous on the ground will potentially be really abused and/or sent to auction. Behavior is a huge reason why people give up on horses. I train these horses. I have trained dozens of them. Put the chain on and get some guidance on proper use.

In 2024 there are those who will see a horse being led with a chain over its nose who will instantly have a melt down.

Any true horse person will know that there are situations where you can lead a horse with virtually zero restraint, and be safe, and other times when the horse could easily leap, pull away from you, and let loose with a double barreled kick that could kill you.

Being rough for rough’s sake is totally different from being safe, and while some may think otherwise, those are people who have never led a high as a kite horse on a chilly windy day in from the paddock.

There’s much good in having a be kind to horses attitude, but there is also a huge degree of misunderstanding by those who are not hands on horse people.

11/26/2024

Ruby had a body work visit with Lindsay Keating from Equitouch Bodywork & Rehab, LLC Lindsay identified some of the areas of soreness and weakness that we can continue to work on with correct schooling. Ruby had “mare face” for a lot of things, but ultimately Lindsay won her over.

Sumner Brook Farm Equine Rescue and Retirement

11/24/2024

What an incredible thing to see! The power that Secretariat had was unbelievable.

11/23/2024

So what about the inverted, miserable horse? The horse ridden “upside down” head in the air, back hollowed, hind quarters disengaged. While flexion and over collection are under the microscope (and I agree it’s an awful problem when you see the methods used to achieve it 🤬) I haven’t heard discussion about basic good riding.

Working the horse using their hind end, coming through their back towards the bridle in a comfortable balanced position.

The damage caused by really awful riding is equally as bad as the other extreme of over-riding seeking perfection in a harmful way.

The upside down horse experiences pain and Lameness, permanent skeletal injuries, soft tissue damage, and serious behavior problems are caused by lack of skill on the part of the rider.

A basic understanding of horse biomechanics should be part of every rider’s education, no matter what the discipline.
The methods and equipment may be different, but the end goal must be the same.

Balanced, strong, soft, adjustable, powerful and HAPPY horses who look forward to working with us.

Education is the most critical aspect of being a horse owner and trainer.

I’ll be talking about this stuff a lot!
Below is Ruby working in various positions and the newly revised dressage training scale.
Amy Gardner Anderson Sumner Brook Farm Equine Rescue and Retirement

11/19/2024

Glad I’m not the only one who “invents” movements. 😂🐴 I’ve often said it’s not the word, it’s the tone and intention. You can train a horse to canter from the word banana. Just use the right inflection and away you go!

We come up with these categories of movements…. Leg yield, side pass, shoulder in, counter shoulder in, haunches in (travers), counter haunches in (renvers), half pass…. to help us describe the different ways, we can position a horse, and so that we don’t miss anything.
But that said, if you want to ride a banana, or even a counter banana, go for it! Just because it doesn’t have an official Dressage name (assuming you reject the term banana) doesn’t mean it’s an “incorrect” movement. It’s not in any dressage test, but so what.

I have a student that I just gave some homework to - I told her to work on counter bending. I also told her that I don’t care if it looks like a counter shoulder in, or a counter banana, or even a horse that is aligned on the circle, but with just a little counter flexion. Any of those are fine!!! She’s just now learning how to separate the conversations of bend and steering. I also told her to initially keep her weight in the middle, but then to play with shifting her weight a little to the inside of the circle, and then the outside of the circle, to see how it influences her horse. I told her there is no right or wrong answer- this is just exploratory. 
Not everything has to fit exactly into a little category. Nothing is rarely ever as black or white, correct or incorrect, as we tend to make it.

11/16/2024

If we get snow this year we have to do this!

Bucked off by a snow horse. Brilliant!! ❤

11/14/2024

Sneak peek…🤩
This adorable pony mare Charlotte, is coming available for sailing ⛵️ very soon! She is being evaluated to ensure the best possible match for a new owner. She is a gem! ✨


Amy Gardner Anderson Sumner Brook Farm Equine Rescue and Retirement High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

11/10/2024

Catching some air. 🤩
Amy Gardner Anderson

11/10/2024

Look at that hind leg action 😍🤩👍👏

11/08/2024

Thanks Ashley May for the pics in between Ruby’s fancy dancing moves. 😂
Amy Gardner Anderson