Robyn's Nest Farm

12/13/2024

😍

Today is National Horse Day, a day to celebrate our equine friends, and to remember all the economic, historic, and cultural contributions that horses have made, a day to celebrate all those special bonds and friendships between horse and person.

I’d like you to meet the 5 Thoroughbreds that inspired me to create BEYOND the backstretch (Btbs). Btbs hosts a yearly benefit horse show open to all breeds but puts a special emphasis on Thoroughbreds, the horse show partners with to award Thoroughbred specific awards. Next year the horse show will be held June 14, 2025, please check back for details !

Each year Btbs selects two Thoroughbred aftercare organizations to fundraise for, in 2025 I am thrilled to announce we will be fundraising for and .

In 2024 we successfully donated proceeds from our horse show early summer, the Russ Galatzan giveaway and the Blanket tag sale and , two outstanding aftercare organizations.

I have been a lifelong lover of Thoroughbreds, when I was a young girl that was what we rode, they are special, as a breed they are sensitive, athletic, highly trainable, versatile, majestic and possess huge hearts, they exhibit an Industrious work ethic.
They give their all and why we need to give our all when they retire.

I am grateful for what every Thoroughbred has taught me, both on the ground and on their backs ❤️.

My dream is that BEYOND the backstretch by hosting a yearly benefit horse show, offering education, and doing several fundraising events will pave the way for several soft landings. As I travel this journey or mission, I hope to continue to education people and grow and grow and grow.

For those of you who have supported us in our first full year, thank you from the BOTTOM of my heart.

Enjoy the weekend, and Happy National Horse Day



-Robyn

12/03/2024

12/03/2024

Are you looking for ways to get in a last minute 2024 tax deduction? Consider donating to The Humble Horse, Inc! As a 501c3, all your donations are 100% tax deductible.

This link offers options for things to donate towards, or you can send donations directly to [email protected] on PayPal, or on Venmo ☺️

https://thehumblehoof.com/how-you-can-help/

Photo: The geldings thank you for your help in allowing us to take in more foster and scholarship cases ☺️

12/02/2024

It's okay not to be perfect, it's not ok not to do your best. Take the joys of journey and celebrate the wins ! ⭐️❤️

11/29/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14A4Ubg5NF/?mibextid=WC7FNe

One of the Wee Wolves with a red fox found shot in a field. There's no reason to kill fox in this area -- no game bird farms, no free-range chickens. Red fox mostly eat white-footed deer mice, which are the year round source of Lyme disease. I let fox bolt clean. If you're a deer hunter and see a fox, please let it run; it is doing no harm in soy, corn, and wheat country, and perhaps a bit of good.

11/29/2024

11/28/2024

Thanksgiving

11/25/2024

As we enter the holiday season and it's a time for thanks! I am THANKFUL for all of these riders and their very supportive families, they all work hard. (and ok we have a lot of laughing too)! It's been a great year and LOTS of forward motion! Join our team!

11/22/2024

Most of you are too young to remember horse showing in the 1970's, I am grateful to have been showing and riding in this era, we as horsemen were introduced to so many adventures that the equestrians of today are not fortunate to experience.

The times back then were slower, kinder, more collaboration between people. I wish we could go back. Some of my fondest memories were made at a farm on the southside of Binghamton, NY called Torwood Stables. I was introduced to many older adults that rode dressage, and they were splendid examples of horsemen and women to aspire too. I began riding at the age of eight with a German dressage instructor, Mr. Hildebrand, strict but truly kind. A year after starting lessons with Mr. Hildebrand, I moved onto a hunter jumper trainer, Mr. Gill, and then onto another hunter jumper trainer, the late Julie Clayton a few years later. Those 6 years at Torwood were some of the most memorable times of my young life. There was a barn not far from Torwood, at the time it was called South Wind Stables, they hosted 2 shows a year. I remember vividly Mr. Gill took ten of us to one of the shows, Mr. Gill did not own a horse trailer, and we rode the horses over the roads three miles to get to the show. At the shows back in those days, there were no food trucks, the patrons would bring a dish to pass with everyone. I remember being a part of a barn rat pack, after lessons we would trail ride to the pond on summer days and have our lunch and swim with the horses. Many of the friends I made back in that time are still friends today, 50 years later.

Back in those days Binghamton hosted the best, most quaint recognized horse show at Bittersweet Farm down the road from Torwood. There were no big “all-inclusive show grounds” back then, everything was more personal.

If I could give one gift to my current students, it would be the gift to experience all of what I had back in the day. Today we all move too fast and lose out on valuable lessons and experiences.

11/20/2024

Amen

After seeing multiple videos posted by various breeders bragging about their 2 ½ year olds/recently turned 3 year olds and sharing videos of them cantering around in the arena, I have decided to once again circulate the below article.

First of all, breeders *should* have the knowledge to understand a horse’s fragile and slow maturing musculoskeletal system. Breeders should not condone their own horses let along anyone’s horses being cantered around under saddle at an incredibly young age. Period. This sets a terrible example and is quite honestly animal abuse. Just because a horse does not object does not mean it is right. And quite frankly, most of the videos posted show animals that are already in pain or developing pain…

As breeders, we should strive to produce healthy and sound animals. We should promote horsemanship that produces long term soundness. No, starting a horse later does not guarantee soundness. But it certainly helps.

I am a firm believer in scientifically backed approaches to horsemanship. You can’t argue with science that has been proven time and time again. Let’s dispel some stupid rumors:

1. There is no such thing as a (skeletally) slow maturing horse or one that is fast maturing. No horse is skeletally mature before the age of 6. And that is on the low estimate for age.

2. Growth plates are not just in the knee. Every bone behind the skull has a growth plate. Not every single one needs to be converted to bone before starting. There is a schedule of when bone fuses…this is the information needed to know when to start a horse. Not their outward appearance. It is a known fact that during growth, proprioceptive awareness can regress, greatly increasing the risk of injury.

3. Starting a horse is not the same thing as riding a horse. Starting a horse does not mean cantering it 3-4 days a week in an arena.

4. Injecting a horse that is in pain does not mean you fixed a problem. You masked it.

5. You can build correct muscle and teach a horse how to move their body from the ground. This creates a solid foundation to work from once your horse is ready to actually be backed. Teach a horse to use its body correctly before backing and you’ll save yourself a lot of vet bills down the line.

Hocks are “late” for maturity. The growth plates on the tibial and fibular tarsals do not fuse until a horse is 3-3 ½. Ever wonder why so many horses seem to have hocks issues?? Horses need to learn to carry themselves and their own weight well before adding a rider.

The growth plates that are LAST to close are at the base of the neck. This area is where we ask a horse to raise the base of their neck and come round. If under too much stress, the growth plates can fracture or be permanently damaged.

There are DOZENS of activities you can do with a young horse to build healthy muscular development. None of them involve a saddle or your weight on their back. Teaching a horse to carry themselves correctly BEFORE adding a rider is essential and cannot be done in a week. A 2 ½ year old horse is a baby. Mentally and physically. We see far too many injured performance horses at VERY young ages - broken down and/or sour from work. It’s wrong. Period. They need slow and steady work and need time to recover from even the slightest of injuries.

PLEASE, if you are considering when you should start your horse and what that work load should look like, please read the below. There are some wonderful things you can do with your young developing horse. Please don’t rush a year out of greed.

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

11/20/2024

❤️

When Myra Utterback purchased off-the-track Thoroughbred Deceiving in November 2022, she wasn’t imagining she’d be competing in this year’s Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship. But less than two years after the horse came off the track, the pair put in a solid round at the Na...

11/20/2024

Follow your ❤️ "The journey may be jagged and long but the reward is priceless" Featuring JC: Heavy Hitter aka Huddy the heart OTTB.

11/19/2024

Following your dreams may require a detour in the road occasionally.

I have always since I can remember loved horses, loved riding horses and being around them.

When I was a young girl riding, and showing I remember vividly telling my parents I wanted to become a full-time professional trainer, give lessons, ride horses, show horses own a big facility. Of course, at that tender age I had no idea of the money involved with my
dream, I was just ready to chase it at any cost.

My parents were always supportive with kind words, but consistently and strongly suggested that I go to
College and get an education to fall back on and a career to support myself just in case. At the time I thought “Naaaa they just don’t understand”

Entering the equestrian world is overwhelming from my point of view, our community isn’t always an easy community to break thru. We “old, experienced” trainers need to remember what it was like to start
out and be supportive and helpful to the younger generation. It is the only way the sport will survive.

The initial cost of opening a farm these days is exponential, purchasing lesson horses, showing, attracting business all cost money and experience.

I have been lucky enough to have straddled the best of both worlds, I married young and had children, and I at the time was the bread winner of our family. As much as I wanted to quit my full-time job, I really had no option but to follow my dream part time.

People reading this think part time? Part time was the 40 hours after I put in the 40 hours in Cyber Security and raising my children. BUT THIS DID NOT MEAN I WAS GIVING UP, there is always a path. It takes perseverance, hard work, and never loosing site of the dream.

I admire and respect my fellow trainers that were able to do horses’ full time. Horses and the industry demand hard work, long days, hustling as well as flexibility.

Whether you are able to do horses as your full-time career, or part time career, my best advice is still seek an education while working on your dream.

No regrets here, I'm grateful!

11/18/2024

Let's start the week with a positive vibe and a round of applause for Cody & Sallie Kalmbacher Young, months ago Sallie wasn't sure of a path forward with Cody. With patience, perseverance and trust the path is unfolding in front of her eyes. 👀Happy Monday, have a positive week 💜

11/13/2024