Bear Paw Barn, LLC

10/24/2025

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

10/09/2025

I love teaching horses to do this. It creates relaxation through the body and trust that your hand will be consistent in the contact no matter the length of the rein.

10/07/2025

😍 New video!

Coralie 13.3h Sport Pony mare Age 12 Dressage Schooling Located at Bear Paw Barn LLCMiddletown, CT 06457

09/29/2025

For your consideration- Coralie, the ultimate Sport Pony, is searching for a new superstar rider to take her talents to the next level! Coralie is fancy, fancy, fancy and forward. She is currently excelling in dressage, schooling 1st with unbelievable potential in a small package. Coralie is 13.3h, "grade" pony, approximately 12 years old.
Coralie is flashy and sensitive, not for a timid rider or a child. (Unless the kid is a brave and ambitious rider with some skill. Pony Club?) Smaller, balanced, confident adult riders are more than welcome, she is the trainer's favorite ride!
Prior to her current owner, she did some jumping and schooling shows. With the right rider to give her confidence, sky is the limit! We can't wait for you to fall in love with her sweet demeanor and adorable personality. We just know her perfect match is out there to unlock her full potential in the sandbox and beyond. Coralie could be your next adventure! She's barefoot, easy keeper, low starch diet. Lives out 24/7 with shelter, can do stall at night if necessary, but 24/7 turnout is preferred.
Set up your appointment soon before she is scooped up.
Carrots- mid-lower fives starting with a two.
Location- Bear Paw Barn, LLCMiddletown, CT 06457
Text Amy 203.710.5307 or email [email protected]
Amy Gardner Anderson

Coralie 13.3h Sport Pony mare Age 12 Dressage Schooling Located at Bear Paw Barn LLCMiddletown, CT 06457

09/28/2025

09/25/2025

I totally agree with this. I have definitely encountered horses whose learning ability is very different. Some retain every detail about each interaction. Others, every day is brand new and you have to start from the beginning with every session. These horses are extremely frustrating to work with and require extraordinary patience. Horses who don’t seem to retain knowledge are often labeled as bad, stubborn, stupid, mean or aggressive.
While they may not progress on a typical training timeline, consistency will work eventually. But eventually is sometimes years. Most people can’t or won’t give them the time they need. They are not born with inherent trust. We have to earn it every single day, every interaction.

🐴 MENTAL DEFICITS IN HORSES
A topic I have not yet encountered in the equestrian world, yet I believe it is extremely important to talk about.

In human society, we have defined a wide spectrum of cognitive and intellectual disorders—reduced intelligence, attention disorders, or learning difficulties. We understand that individuals with such diagnoses face certain limitations and (ideally) we adapt to their abilities and provide support.

For some mysterious reason, however, we tend to assume that every horse is born fully functional and ready to perform for humans. In my therapeutic practice, I have worked with horses who showed signs of various mental or cognitive deficits. I have met horses I would certainly place somewhere on the autistic spectrum, as well as horses that displayed clear signs of intellectual disability.

These horses are not to blame for their condition. They are not capable of performing at the same level as their healthy peers. They may struggle with focus, attention, and learning, have difficulties forming social bonds with horses or humans, or be emotionally unstable and unpredictable. This does not mean they are “bad.” They are simply different.

Owners of such horses are often under extreme pressure from their surroundings. They are criticized for not training or disciplining their horse properly, they move from trainer to trainer, trying every possible approach and level of pressure to make the horse behave “normally.” But such a horse will never be “normal.” The only way forward is to accept this reality and offer support.

💡 Not every horse with unusual behavior necessarily suffers from a congenital mental deficit. Cognitive function can also be influenced by:

👉 Aging – degenerative changes in the brain or nervous system
👉 Chronic pain / physical discomfort – pain can take up attention and reduce focus
👉 Neurological disorders – infections or degenerative diseases of the central nervous system
👉 Metabolic disorders – diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, or hormonal changes affecting the brain
👉 Lack of stimulation – horses kept long-term without proper enrichment
👉 Stress / anxiety / depression – psychological factors that slow reactions and reduce concentration

❓What can we do? Let’s talk about it! Let’s explore and study it. Let’s support such horses and their owners instead of blaming or shaming them. Every horse has its place in this world—though it might not be the one we imagined for ourselves.

K.

09/16/2025

This might be the best bra hack I’ve ever seen.😂

09/15/2025

Balance is the key to a relaxed and supple horse that moves forward over their back.

09/08/2025

There are many myths about saddle fit.

This horse was ridden in a wool flocked saddle by a 135 pound woman for 20 minutes in 85° weather in August. No saddle pad was used.

Based on the fact that almost the entire area under the panel was dry, what do you think happened?

A) The rider levitated (no weight in the saddle for entire ride).

B) The ENTIRE saddle bridged, only touching where there is sweat.

C) The ENTIRE saddle put too much pressure on the back where it is dry, causing the sweat glands to malfunction.

D) The wool flocking inside the panels absorbed the sweat and heat off the horse’s back.

Comment below!

08/29/2025

💯💯💯💯💯