Salty Horse Ranch

06/28/2024

We are hoping to have several horses go to compete here at the liberty Festival this fall! We went to years ago and it was a great thing to be a part of!

Overview of Liberty Festival and early ticket discount code

06/28/2024

So very exciting to have 3 combinations from Salty Horse Ranch on the Liberty Buckle Series Leaderboards!!!!
Carter and Boone
Erica and Cricket
Cianna and Tanner

Frog and Lisa and Doug and Rooster need to get to work since we seem to have fallen off the Pro Leaderboard!!!!!!

If you are interested in basic Liberty lessons or a clinic at your barn please message us!!

06/24/2024

We are very serious about the AQHA horses that we breed and raise! This guy is proudly offered for sale! You might find another 15 month old cheaper but you won't find one with the breeding, excellent handling and already shown to JR Circuit Championship! This guy is ready for his very own person that wants a wonderful home and show partner!
Take some time to watch his video!
https://youtu.be/by7eAgcLO5c

06/21/2024

Liberty, Jumping, Poles, Dressage, Starting Babies, breeding, foaling, rehabbing horses…you name it, we do it 😝! Being an all around horseman opens the door to allowing you to experience all of the fun you can have with horses!
We will have one training spot open August 1st!
Reach out if you think we could be of service!

06/19/2024

Wow!! This is remarkably well written and should help people understand how your trainer may have you work at home vs what you need to show a judge at a show!

I thought I would talk a little bit today about the difference between using a lateral movement and performing it in a competition or in an exhibition. There is a general tendency among dressage riders to have a somewhat rigid view of lateral movements and to evaluate them only as a judge in a competition would do. There is also a tendency to ride lateral movements mostly down the long side of the arena, and to stay in the movement for the entire long side. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it is only scratching the surface of the gymnastic potential of lateral movements.

These movements were not (only) invented to evaluate a horse’s training, but they also have very valuable gymnastic properties that can be used to improve the horse’s balance, straightness, suppleness, and collectability.

In order to take full advantage of the gymnastic effects of the movements, it is often better to ride them only for a few strides as part of a compound exercise in order to engage or flex one hind leg.

And I have found that smaller angles are often perfectly sufficient, and sometimes even more effective than the familiar versions on 3 or 4 tracks.

Biomechanics background

The angle between the horse’s body and the line of travel depends on the horse’s ability to collect, because in a true lateral movement (i.e. excluding the leg yield) the horse needs to bend laterally to maintain his alignment. The steeper the angle, the more the horse has to bend and to collect.

The bend in a lateral movement is actually equivalent to the bend on a circle of a specific diameter. That’s why the Spanish Riding School in Vienna used to ride a volte in the first corner of the long side before a shoulder-in, haunches-in, or half pass. The volte helps to establish the bend, which facilitates the initiation of the lateral movement. As you transition from the volte into the lateral movement, you maintain the same bend.

If you look at a photograph of a horse in a shoulder-in with the hind legs on the first track and the front legs on an inside track, you can’t easily tell whether this is the beginning of a circle or whether the horse is in a shoulder-in. If the horse follows the direction of his front legs without changing the bend in his body, he will move onto a circle whose radius corresponds to the degree of his lateral bend.

If you look at a photograph of a horse in a haunches-in, it could be the last stride of a volte, with the front legs back on the first track, and the hind legs still on the line of the volte, or it could be a haunches-in (depending on the moment of the footfall sequence in which the picture was taken).

The steeper the angle of the horse in the lateral movement is, the smaller is the corresponding volte. The smaller the volte, the more collected the horse needs to be. This is perhaps the reason why lateral movements were not introduced in German competition tests until Medium level, because a 3-track shoulder-in or haunches-in with an angle of approximately 33 degrees is the equivalent of a volte that may require a higher degree of collection than a lower level horse is capable of.
If you ride a lateral movement with a steeper angle than the horse’s ability to collect allows, the horse won’t be able to bend in his body enough, which results in the haunches or shoulders leaving their line of travel. In other words, the horse gets crooked, and one of the hind legs no longer steps under the body, so that the movement loses its gymnastic value.

In order to determine the steepest angle the horse is capable of in a lateral movement, you could ride the smallest volte the horse can perform on a single track. If you stop with the hind legs on the first track, you get the steepest possible angle of the shoulder-in. If you stop with the front legs on the first track, you get the steepest possible angle of the haunches-in.

If you want to ride a lateral movement with a steeper angle, you can try to ride a volte whose diameter corresponds to the lateral bend of this angle, and it will become obvious very quickly whether your horse’s degree of collection is sufficient for a volte of this size, or whether it is still too early. For instance, if the angle of the shoulder-in you are trying to ride corresponds to a 6m volte, you will need an FEI level horse to be able to bend and to collect accordingly. But if your horse is only able to perform a 10m volte or a 12m volte, he won’t be able to bend as much as would be necessary to keep all four feet aligned in the lateral movement.

What to do with a lower level horse?

So where does that leave you with a lower level horse? You can either postpone introducing lateral movements altogether until the horse is able to collect enough to perform a “proper” 3-track shoulder-in or haunches-in, or you risk making your horse crooked if you insist on the 3-track angle anyway, even if he isn’t able to trot or canter on a volte of the corresponding size yet.

But how is the horse supposed to develop collection without being able to take advantage of the gymnastic effects of the lateral movements?

There is another option, and that is to ride lateral movements with the angle that corresponds to the diameter of the circle that the horse IS able to perform correctly - even if it’s only a 20m or 15m circle. I call these shallow angles homeopathic doses, and over the years I have started using them more and more, even with horses who were able to collect enough for a full-fledged lateral movement.

Using lateral movements, rather than performing them

I also moved away from “performing” lateral movements as an end in themselves, as if I were riding a competition test, a long time ago. Instead, I like to use them for gymnastic purposes, and depending on what I am trying to achieve, I don’t necessarily need a steep angle, and I don’t need to stay in the lateral movement for an entire long side. From a gymnastic point of view it’s often sufficient to move the front legs or hind legs only on hoof breadth or even half a hoof breadth sideways. The important thing is the correct alignment of the horse’s feet and the bend through the body.

Let’s take a look at what the individual lateral movements “do” for the gymnastic development of the horse.

- The shoulder-in can be used to bring the inside hind leg more under the body, i.e. closer to the outside hind leg and closer to the front legs. Hind legs that move close together are a prerequisite for collection, as the Duke of Newcastle discovered.

- The counter shoulder-in can be used to bring the outside hind leg (in terms of the arena) more under the body. It also draws the horse’s attention to the rider’s outside leg and rein, and it helps to control the outside shoulder better and to maintain a good connection between the shoulder and the base of the neck.

- The haunches-in and half pass can be used to flex the inside hind leg with the help of the combined body mass of the horse and rider. They also draw the horse’s attention to the rider’s outside leg.

- The renvers can be used to flex the outside hind leg (in terms of the arena) with the help of the combined body mass of the horse and rider. It also draws the horse’s attention to the rider’s outside rein (in terms of the arena).

All lateral movements mobilise the hind legs, and they bring them closer together as well as closer to the front legs. Lateral movements in which the horse is bending AGAINST the direction of travel (shoulder-in, counter shoulder-in) mobilise the hind legs mostly in a lateral direction. Lateral movements in which the horse is bending IN the direction of travel (haunches-in, half pass, renvers) mobilise the hind legs also in a vertical direction. They require greater flexion of the inside hind leg.

If you have never thought about lateral movements in those terms, try walking them on foot and observe how your “hind legs” are moving, which one has to support the body mass, and which one is advancing the body mass more. Then do the same thing in the saddle at the walk so that you have time to pay attention to the details.

Developing suppleness, straightness, and collection

From the theoretical background in the last segment you can extrapolate the gymnastic potential when you combine lateral movements with each other, or with voltes, corners, and turns on the haunches.

If you want to supple and strengthen a hind leg you need to bring it underneath the body first so that you can flex it with the help of the body mass. Looking at the information of what the individual lateral movements “do”, you can quickly see that combinations of shoulder-in and haunches-in, shoulder-in and half pass, or counter shoulder-in and renvers are quite useful, because the shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in bring the hind leg that is on the inside of the bend more under the body, and the haunches-in, half pass, or renvers flex it.

Combinations of shoulder-in and volte or shoulder-in and turn on the haunches are also valuable for the same reason, because the volte as well as the turn on the haunches flex the inside hind leg too.

These combinations are often most effective if you stay in each lateral movement only for a short distance (3-6 strides) and alternate between the engaging lateral movement (shoulder-in, counter shoulder-in) and the flexing lateral movement (haunches-in, half pass, renvers). This is much more effective than staying in any one lateral movement for a very long time.

As I mentioned above, it’s not necessary to ride the lateral movements with a steep angle. Sometimes the shallow angles actually seem to be more effective to me than the steeper ones. You can feel the effects of the lateral movements even if an observer can’t see that you’re riding a lateral movement, but you and your horse can feel the bend and the increased engagement in your body.

Conclusion

While there is nothing wrong with practicing lateral movements on 3 or 4 tracks, if the horse is able to collect to the necessary degree, you can expand your gymnastic toolkit by exploring the entire range of angles between the horse’s body and the line of travel from 0 degrees to 45 degrees (4 tracks). Try to find the angle that seems to have most beneficial effect on your horse’s balance, suppleness, and straightness. Experiment with riding lateral movements on a variety of different round lines and straight lines. Feel the effects of a lateral movement in which the hind legs have to cover a longer distance than the front legs because they are on a slightly larger circle than the front legs. And explore the effects of lateral movements in which the hind legs have to cover a shorter distance than the front legs because they are on a slightly smaller circle.

Try “stacking” different lateral movements and observe if there is a cumulative effect in terms of balance, straightness, lightness, and permeability for the aids.

Dr. Thomas Ritter
www.artisticdressage.com

You can also read or share this article from our website here - https://www.artisticdressage.com/blog-content/using-a-lateral-movement-vs-performing-it

06/04/2024

It’s a beautiful morning 🎶
But since it’s gonna be a hot day already on horse number 3 by 9 a.m.! 
Maybe at this pace, I will get one of the broodmares back to work today! Who thinks I can pull it off? Lol.

06/02/2024

Last week these yearlings did their first AQHA show and this weekend they got introduced to saddle pad, surcingle and girth…. Zero drama… way to easy for them 😂😂

05/27/2024

Well, it’s Monday morning and for all of you that have a trainer or coach that went to a show with you this weekend remember that as you get to take a day off they have had to get up extra early Monday morning to get a lot of the work done that may have gotten pushed to the back burner while out a show. I don’t think that any Trainer is actually bitter about this, it’s just a way of life. Our hardest workday is always when we get back home after being at a competition. There is no way around it. It is just how the job works. Instead of getting to sleep until six or 7 AM actually get up earlier to get the extra stuff done.
Currently 815 medical Horses has been walked, mare here to be bred has been done. Two training horses have their first short session of the day and now waiting on the Ferrier at 10 AM.
Still got a hustle to get the arena dragged and all of the babies ready for people that may want to purchase them to come see them tomorrow!
For those that get to be horse trainers, it is a blessed life to do something. We truly love and you would have to love it a lot to know what comes on Monday morning and still get up and do it!

05/26/2024

For about 13 years now I have told my clients over and over this as well as you should have one day per week that you ride horse at the walk only. 45 minutes. Walk Only. I learned this in one of the many rides I had with Gerd Heuschmann. He said it would make a huge difference. To this day I will tell you the best ride I have on each horse is the day after their walk-only day. It slows things down and gives the horses time to process. This is not your “hack day” where you trail ride or go ride in a field, this a walking day in the arena, walk you dressage test, walk several with the same intentions that you have when you use all the gaits.
But alas, as with many other of the best training techniques that are in the best interest of the horse, it is too slow and boring and not immediately gratifying enough for the brain of the animal that is riding the horse….

05/24/2024

UPDATE : more pictures of everybody practicing this evening! Everybody did amazing!

Well all 3 of the yearlings loaded onto the trailer in less than five minutes and had a nice ride down here to Camden AQHA show and they are completely unfazed by the show environment!
A real testament to the temperament their sire passes on ❤️
“Boy Lena 050”

05/23/2024

When I tell people that our stallion Blue (Boy Lena 050) lives outside 24/7 with his mares, most people will ask what we do with him when the babies are born?
Blue is just an exception to what most people know about stallions, he stands by his mares while they foal their babies and babysits the babies while the mares go off to graze and yes, he gives them appropriate discipline when they get out of hand.
He just is a laid back easy going guy ♥️

05/20/2024

Here are the patterns for the show!

05/02/2024

4 AQHA babies on the ground… 3 fillies… 1 bay roan and 3 red roans… and we are still waiting on Fendrini to foal (KWPN DH x friesian)…

04/28/2024

Pole patterns and excerises today for all the ponies! Poles and small jumps are great for your core and balance and your horse no matter what discipline you ride 🙂

04/26/2024

Anybody want a 2 year old Blue (aka Boy Lena 050)??? Very nice filly ready to start - well suited to Ranch/Roping, Dressage and Western Dressage and great all around. If you buy her, I will give you a deal on training and start her for you! Blues babies are gorgeous movers, lovable and easy to start.
PM Katie Shepherd for more info

04/13/2024

Born Wednesday morning of April 10 here is a short video of the first 48 hours of the prettiest filly 😍
Her registered name will reflect her incredible pedigree “Flying High Lena 050”
You can see the wine breeding percentages at the end of the video but she is 18.75% Doc Olena 12.5% Doc Bar 7.62% Leo 
She is also the great granddaughter of “Flying X 6” and if you don’t know who he is, you better brush up on your quarter horse history! 😉

04/10/2024

So far it “looks” like fillies for our farm this year 😂 Olive had a beautiful red roan filly with a star!
She had it up and dry and nursing already this morning. This filly is sweet already coming up and wanting to be loved!

04/09/2024

This video starts with Carter starting her pattern that we were filming for competition, and as we have all said, no matter how well the liberty horses trained they will all leave eventually! Boone took it upon himself to run around like a crazy man providing training on getting the callback Moore confirmed, and it was a great training opportunity for Tanner, who had just finished his pattern, but still had no halter on and he had to stand while Cianna kept the other horse away from him. We welcome anybody that would like to try liberty to reach out to us as we have horses that we can give you lessons with, and we would love to help you work with your own!

04/04/2024

Drum 🥁 roll Please!

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As the UCSC starts to prepare for another Fabulous Show Season we wanted to say Thank You to our Wonderful 2024 Sponsors!

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03/20/2024

Well! This baby came a bit early! So when people ask me how you know when a mares due date is? my response is, just plan something important to go to and that’s your gestation date lol 
“Colorado Blues” aka Peggy foaled a beautiful Bay Roan filly that was already standing up and dried off by the time we went out to feed this morning!
This filly is sired by our stallion Blue and by parentage is 7 panel negative and we will test to verify that she is homozygous roan. She is offered for sale and would make a great addition to anybody’s competition program and a phenomenal broodmare prospect!

We offer a reduced price prior to weaning with a deposit and payment plan.

03/14/2024

A reminder!

Our next show opens on 22nd March and closes on the 8th April. At this show will be have the Best Turned Our Rider & Horse. Enter online at www.dressageshowonline.com

03/12/2024

And where do we get Beta-glucans? Mainly cereal, grains, like oats!
Doesn’t anybody find it curious that 20 years ago we did not seem to have the incident of ulcer Horses that we have today? Also 20 and 30 years ago more people were feeding plain greens like oats. … if highly processed horsefeed and human food, for that matter, was so good for you, why are our horses (and humans) having more gut issues than ever before…  just take a minute and do some research on your own. We seem to have created gut problems and are now using the original sources of food to solve them … seems odd …. 

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First off — What is a beta-glucan?

It is a prebiotic fiber from plants that helps feed the beneficial bacteria in the horse’s gut.

🟤 Helps maintain normal digestion
🟤 Helps regulate the release of sugars from the digestive system. This is extremely helpful for conditions such as insulin resistance
🟤 Helps stimulate the immune system
🟤 Helps counteract disease-causing microbes

Most supplements that contain beta-glucans have included them in ridiculously small amounts.

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To learn more about beta-glucans and 6666 Ranch Nutriments, visit https://6666ranchnutriments.com/blogs/news/the-benefits-of-beta-glucans-for-horses

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