❄️Even though it’s cold and snowy, if you’re planning on showing this spring, now is the time to start increasing your horse’s workload.🥶
We want to share some of our most valuable tips to help you make sure your conditioning is productive and not hindering your progress.
1. Start by just walking!!!! Long walks are proven to be more beneficial than a shorter high impact workout. There is a LOT you can work on at the walk such as lengthening and shortening strides, walking over ground rails, bending and flexing, working on shoulder and hip control, etc. Walking is IMPORTANT!
2. Our general rule is for every week your horse has been off it will take 2 weeks to recondition. If your horse has been off most of the winter please do not think that they will be ready to compete in 4-6 weeks. This is a good way to get them hurt. Plan on 12 weeks minimum to get your horse fit enough to start competing.
3. Maintenance while they are getting time off is still important. They should still be receiving regular farrier care and bodywork. Do not slack in those areas just because “they aren’t doing anything”. They work plenty hard during the show season.
4. Schedule a performance exam with your vet. We schedule our vet to come out about half way through our conditioning process to do a lameness evaluation, to see if we need to tweak our conditioning plan for a specific horse, and see what type of maintenance is needed.
Do you need some guidance on getting your horse in shape for spring? Or don’t have the time or amenities? Reach out to us and see how we can help!!
This brisk weather has Spice and Biggie Smalls feeling a little fresh!!
Sneak peak of one of our signature horses that will be available this spring 👀
How much work do you actually put into your riding?
Do you work on yourself outside the saddle?
Are you eating to fuel your body?
Are you stretching your tight muscles?
Are you strengthening your body?
Are you improving your balance and coordination?
Are you setting yourself up for success or just hoping for improvement?
We expect a lot out of our horses, and we need to hold ourselves to the same standard. We have been putting a lot of focus on rider fitness during our time off from showing. We have been putting a lot of focus on rider fitness during our downtime, so we are strong and ready to take on 2025!!
What's your favorite way to train to improve your riding?
➡️ Why I Choose Horses for My Kid: Lessons Worth Every Penny
People often ask me, “Why do you spend so much money on horses for your kid? They’re just ‘money pits,’ emotional heart-breakers made of tissue paper that can kick your lights out. Why?”
The answer is simple: because horses teach kids more than any iPad, social media influencer, or textbook ever could.
Yes, you’re right—horses are relentless in every way. They demand your time, energy, and finances. They can test your patience, challenge your emotions, and consume you entirely. But look at what they give in return.
⚡️ Lessons That Last a Lifetime
Horses teach my child skills no technology, trendy outfit, or peer group could ever provide:
• Nonverbal Communication: Learning to “speak” with a 1,200-pound animal without words develops awareness, empathy, and understanding.
• Responsibility: Early mornings, late nights, and putting the needs of another being before their own teach kids accountability.
• Confidence: The triumphs and struggles in the saddle or barn instill self-belief and grit.
• Emotional Intelligence: Handling setbacks, managing fears, and celebrating successes alongside a horse build emotional resilience.
• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: When something goes wrong, as it inevitably does, kids learn to think critically and act swiftly.
• Goal Setting & Consistency: Progress with horses comes through small, consistent efforts—a powerful life lesson. swiftly.
• Value of Networking & Mentorship: The horse industry molds kids to be coachable and open minded to collaboration with their peers. Success in this industry requires a network - they learn that quickly.
Beyond the tangible skills, horses bring kids closer to nature, science, and even spirituality. There’s something deeply humbling and awe-inspiring about working with these magnificent creatures. I know for a fact they bring you closer to God as well.
🔥The Physical and
It was a good morning for a jump school with some of our English riders!🎄🐴🎅
This video never gets old…. JJS Flit N Cash, one of our spoiled retirees, complaining when he got to his stall and the door wasn't already open for him to eat his breakfast! 😂💜
We always have our students best interest at heart. When they complain about being cold we help keep them warm by having them do their lesson without stirrups! 😜
Spend time with your horse.
I don't mean riding. Or hauling. Or groundwork. I literally mean quality time. Whether it's brushing them down, braiding their mane, or hand grazing them in the yard, a little genuine love and effort really go a long way.
In my line of work, we go through horses like an assembly line. Saddle, groundwork, ride, unsaddled, wash off, turn back out. Next day, repeat. That's the only way we can get horses trained efficiently. We don't always have the luxury of time to spend quality time with each horse who comes throogh our barn, or we'd never get anything ridden, and our bills wouldn't get paid.
But sometimes we have to sow down and remember why we started this all in the first place. For most of us, we were horse crazy kids years ago, happy and excited to merely be in the presence of our horses, whether we got to ride or not. Take yourself back to those days, and remember how to enjoy your horses, not for the ride, but for the feeling they give you, by simply existing in your presence.
Credit for this goes to Lee Bailey Bradshaw. We couldn’t agree with you more. ❤️
2 year old RH Wild Indigo Blue handled going over the bridge for the first time like a pro!!
When we have horses come through our program we flat out tell clients that we won’t be spending time desensitizing with pool noodles and tarps. The horses do, however, get sweaty saddle pads and exposed to a lot around here.
Eli and Cooper were having way too much fun helping out during this training session!
Docs Hot Continental getting a tune up for Bucking Nightmare next weekend.
