Breezy Acres Equine Services, LLC

01/27/2025

I heard a story today about a construction worker who shot a nail through his boot with a nail gun. He presented to the ED in excruciating pain. They did an xray and guess what????

The nail went right between his toes! No injury whatsoever. So the question is - was he really having pain???

My answer, yes I believe he was experiencing pain. His brain told him injury. Go to the ED. So even though he did not have a physical injury, he still was experiencing pain. The nervous system keeps us safe! Once the brain realized the nail did not go through any tissue, I’m sure the pain also went away.

The brain 🧠 is so powerful! Stories like these intrigue me.

01/26/2025

Our readings at church today were about the gifts God gave each of us. Interestingly last week the second reading was about the same thing.

How often do we wish we were something else? Someone else? Better at this or that?

I think it’s great to work towards goals, but I don’t think we spend enough time focusing on what we are good at.

What gifts do you have? How do you nurture your own gifts and grow from there?

What do you consider your weaknesses to be? Could these very weaknesses also be strengths?

A little humor to remind myself that one of basils strengths is her ability to always be ready to herd and her endless energy is also a strength 😊

01/18/2025

This looks like a great event!

I'm excited to announce that Hudson's Tack and More and I are working together to host Varina Luttrell from Good Graces Equine, LLC here at MKH!

There is so much more to good horsemanship practices than how we handle and work with our horses. Knowing first aid for your horse could have a big impact on the outcome of your horsemanship journey!

We hope to see you there!

Tap on link to find out more information on the clinic classes.
https://forms.gle/m4j1DNAeMkjVrfT39

01/18/2025

Don’t let your horse drag you into their dysfunction.

What do I mean by that?

Think about the last time your horse was more excited than normal. I usually work with my horses in the evening when it’s dark outside. Being in the arena when it’s cold and dark can make my horse a little more uppity.

The last time I had her in, she was walking quite fast and I realized I was following her speed.

Normally this happens and we aren’t even aware of it, but we need to be aware of it.

I had to breath, check my speed, and focus. And then I had to do that over and over so that I didn’t get caught in her dysfunction. After a few times of working on myself and working on a few exercises with her she also breathed, slowed her speed and focused.

The same thing can happen in the saddle. They get tight. We get tight. They get tighter.

I always go back to myself. What am I presenting to them? What am I giving them to help them?

Photo just because.

01/17/2025

PROGRESS

This meme popped up at the perfect time. I was talking with my friend about progress. She was worried she wasn’t progressing quickly enough.

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others. It’s easy to feel like we’ve been working on the same thing day after day and aren’t advancing.

She has been advancing but when you’re in it, it can be hard to see where you started.

Working slowly and consistently with precision will do more for you and your horse than working hard and fast inconsistently.

01/15/2025

I was working on shoulder in with Shine. Going to the left it felt ok but going to the right she felt a bit sticky.

Then I thought maybe I’m a bit sticky! So I unhooked her and set up the camera so I could see what I looked like. Recording your sessions is a great way to see what’s going on in a session.

So often we are more than willing to say what the horse is doing wrong but we don’t often look at what we are presenting to the horse.

And yes when I’m with her, I talk with her nonstop😬

01/11/2025

Way to go Tina Fox!!! I’ll be there to cheer you on

🌟CLINICIAN ANNOUNCEMENT- TINA FOX🌟

An independent western saddle fitter and certified Equine Ergonomist, Tina is dedicated to improving the comfort and performance of horses and riders through proper saddle fitting. Additionally, Tina is a certified equine massage therapist, offering a holistic approach to equine care that emphasizes both biomechanics and well-being.

Traveling extensively with her husband, Mike, and having fit and sold saddles as far away as Capetown, South Africa, Tina works tirelessly to educate riders on the importance of saddle fit and its impact on horse health and rider effectiveness. Whether working with recreational riders, competitors, or professionals, her passion lies in helping horse-and-rider. She loves it when the horse and rider find harmony through a saddle that fits!

➡️Come learn from Tina at the Midwest Horse Fair, April 11-13th at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin! 🐴😀💖

01/11/2025

Yesterday I posted about bringing my mare in the arena with a new mare she has not met. Both mares were excited to meet each other. I spoke about working through things when horses are anxious.

This could include - being alone in the arena, being with another horse in the arena, or having a horse leave the arena.

Now I grew up in the world of make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. A horse is a herd animal. Of course they want to be by their friends. When they would “act” up, I use to back them, send them in a circle, disengage their hindend. If they wanted to move their feet, I would move their feet and I would decide when they stopped moving their feet.

Now if my horse is anxious, I will walk with her and focus on my own body first. Am I breathing? Am I walking fast to keep up with her or am I setting the pace? Where is my focus? Is it on the ground or looking up and out? How is my posture? Am I pulling on my horse?

I will keep checking in with myself. As we walk I will connect in with my horse and see where she is at. I may walk over a pole to get her focus on something else. I will walk on the inside of her and change direction to be on the outside of her. Not change sides but change directions.

Once I feel my horse relaxed and ready to focus, I will then begin to ask more of our session.

We want our horses to learn to turn to us in times of stress. Not feel like they want to get away from us. I now enjoy the opportunity to connect deeper with my horse in these situations.

01/10/2025

Yesterday when I went to the barn with Shine, my new boarder was in there with her mare. Both horses hadn’t met each other yet and were quite excited to be in the arena together.

I was happy to have this opportunity. Often I am in the arena alone.

Amy skinner was here in December. My two mares were in the arena and my friends cute little mustang. Shine was quite excited about the experience.

Before Amy comes back, I want to set up some experiences with the boarders that we are all in the arena together. By doing this it will lessen your horses anxiety when the clinician is there.

Don’t be afraid to work on the hard things. Many horses get quite worried when a friend leaves the arena. They are herd animals. Ask a friend to leave with her horse for a moment and then come back. Continue to build on that so it’s not a big deal.

Don’t wait til the farrier or vet is there to get your horse used to being alone or being with other horses. Work on what ever issue you may have in a calm safe place.

01/09/2025

Anyone want to guess why my crazy horse was gonna give me a heart attack?!? The horse calling out was actually outside. I guess my phone has pretty good sound on it!

Answer is in the comments 😬

01/09/2025

01/07/2025

It was cold and dark. I was going to skip tonight and then thought “you’ll be happier if you bring your horse in”. So I did.

Winter can be a hard time to be consistent with your horse. The thing is is that you don’t have to do a lot with your horse to get results.

A small improvement day after day equals big improvements after a week, a month and think ahead to next year after this time!

Walking in the dark to the barn. Thank goodness for head lamps!