Rise Again Riding School

03/24/2025

Help! Due to changes in the Meta algorithm, my posts aren't showing up like they used to. Can you help me out by liking and sharing?

03/20/2025

With prom coming up soon would anyone be interested in scheduling prom photo pictures with horses at Rise Again Riding School ? The photo shown was taken by Carolina Sagastume Photography . We would be happy to try to set up a session with her if she is available or we could work with other photographers. Right now I am just posting this to Guage interest. If interested in scheduling a photo session with horses or with baby goats at Saarinen Farm Kikos & Karakachans please feel free to send a PM. Interested photographers may also send a PM.

03/19/2025

Wisdom Wednesday- interesting research to consider on the effects of patting vs scratching horses as a potential reward. Original sources are credited:

Patting as a compliment? What do horses think about it? Please post in the comments if you more often pat or scratch your horse and how your horse responds:

We often see riders enthusiastically patting their horses on the neck after a race. Patting is considered by many to be a way to tell the horse that he has done well.
Is "patting as a reward" or just our assumption, or does it even cause discomfort to the horse? Horses are generally very sensitive to touch. Different riders use different forces to "reward" them. From a light pat to a strong slap. A small team of scientists from the University of Nottingham Trent set out to investigate the different effects of patting and scratching horses while riding or handling them.
In the first part of the study, 16 Grand Prix dressage riders at the London 2012 Olympic Games were analyzed. The aim was to find out how and when riders pat their horses, and to monitor the horses' subsequent reactions. Fifteen riders patted their horses, and twelve of them remained patting for an average of 1 minute. A significant percentage of the horses responded to the patting. The most common response was to speed up their pace or to trot. Such a response could indicate that the patting was unpleasant for the horse. It could also be a reaction to losing contact and dropping the reins.
The second part of the study involved a group of five well-behaved riding ponies and five relatively calm horses. All ten horses were patted and scratched four times for 30 seconds. The responses to the patting and scratching were significantly different. The patting caused the horses to withdraw from the touch, the whites of the eyes to be visible, and the breathing to be rapid. The response to the scratching seemed to be much more effective as a form of praise, with the horses most often lowering their heads, moving their upper lips, and exhibiting similar responses associated with the horse relaxing.
Previous research has shown that scratching the withers reduces a horse's heart rate and can therefore be a useful calming aid in stressful situations.
Emily Hancock, Sarah Redgate and Carol Hall of Nottingham Trent University. 2014.

Please engage by posting in the comments if you more often pat or scratch your horse and how your horse responds....🐴🐎🐎🐴

03/10/2025

Make Them Carry Their Saddle
A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.
After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.
Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.
So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Originally written by:
Hannah Campbell Zapletal

03/07/2025

Can you envision the joy of learning to ride and work with horses alongside your child? We teach ages 3 through adults and offer mommy and me or daddy and me classes. We also have options for siblings to ride together as well. Pictured is Devin Denton Battles with her 6 year old son Dallas. 🐴👧🏼👦🏻

02/27/2025

Rise Again Riding School is hosting a Haul in equine Vet Clinic with Dr. Belinda Mendenhall on Tuesday March 4th from 12:30 to 4. If you wish to bring a horse or horses please send a message to Rise Again Riding Schoolon facebook messenger or text the number shown on the flyer below. There is a 50 foot sand round pen and 70 by 200 foot sand arena available for haul in riding as well. Please message if you would like to schedule to bring a horse to ride in the arena.

02/10/2025

Do you really understand how big your horse's lungs are? This picture is a horse's lungs fully inflated...amazing when you think they are enclosed in a horse's body! Did you know a horse takes in 2x 5-Gallon buckets of air ever second? Think of how much that really is. So, do the best you can to help your horse breathe!

02/03/2025

Good advice before buying your child a horse!

At ELS, parents frequently ask us for advice on choosing a horse for their child. Here is what we tell them. Sign your child up for riding lessons. Enroll your child in regular riding lessons (at least once a week) with a reputable instructor who can provide horses for lessons. Look for a program th...

02/03/2025

The bond with horses can be especially powerful for those with autism for many reasons. Great blog post below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/15xzei9pF8/

Harnessing the Strengths of Autism in Horseback Riding 🐴💙

Horses and humans share a bond that transcends words, and for individuals with autism, this connection can be especially powerful. Horseback riding and horse care require a unique set of skills—many of which align beautifully with the strengths often found in those with autism. Let’s explore how these qualities make them particularly well-suited for a fulfilling partnership with horses.

✨ Attention to Detail
Many individuals with autism have an exceptional ability to notice small, subtle details—something that horses also excel at. Temple Grandin, a renowned advocate for autism, once said, “Visual thinkers of any species, animal or human, are detail-oriented. They see everything and they react to everything.” This sensitivity to the environment and attention to nuance is a powerful asset when partnering with horses, who are highly attuned to even the smallest of changes.

✨ Routine-Oriented
Horses thrive on routine and consistency, and so do many individuals with autism. The structured environment of horseback riding—where routines are predictable and clear—offers comfort and reduces anxiety. As B.F. Skinner noted, “In any form of training, reinforcement must be consistent, and the sequence of actions should be predictable. This reduces stress and confusion, allowing the subject to learn more efficiently.” The shared desire for a sense of routine and consistency benefits both rider and horse, creating a strong foundation of security, confidence and growth.

✨ Deep Focus
One of the beautiful aspects of autism is the ability to focus intently on a task, and riding requires just that kind of dedication. Daniel Coyle writes in The Talent Code: “It’s the skill of focused repetition—doing it over and over again, but with more and more precision and care, and less and less ego.” Although this book doesn’t discuss autism, when I read this, I immediately thought of my autistic friends, who possess the incredible ability to be fully present and deeply engrossed in an activity. This kind of focus helps riders make steady progress, building trust and harmony with their horses over time.

✨ Non-Verbal Communication
Horses communicate primarily through body language, and many individuals with autism have a heightened awareness of non-verbal cues. This mutual understanding of physical signals creates a unique bond between rider and horse—one that transcends words. Whether through subtle shifts in posture or calming gestures, this form of communication allows riders to connect with their horses in a meaningful, profound way.

Every person with autism is unique, and by recognizing, celebrating, and leveraging the strengths they bring to the table, we can witness truly meaningful partnerships—between humans and horses.

Do you agree? Have you witnessed the power of these connections in your own work with horses? Share your stories! 💙🐴

01/28/2025

Like, comment, tag, & share to be entered to win

✨ I have a fun giveaway for y’all this week! ✨
🐴 A signed copy of my book “Rosie’s Wild Ride” along with the matching Schleich Clydesdale and Bull toy figurine.
🤠 And for you parents/grandparents/GG: a handmade leather card holder from Butch Murray (Ty Murray’s dad). Papa has been working so hard to help support my book and his leatherwork is so special!

To enter:
1. Like this post
2. Tag a friend or several in the comments
Bonus entry for sharing!

Winner announced February 1st.
Thank y’all for the support and I love being able to show my appreciation!

01/23/2025

I've enjoyed seeing many of my riding students get even more excited about checking out horse books from my library at Rise Again Riding School this month while they read equestrian related books as one of the personal growth tasks in the students are participating in sponsored by Half Halt - Adaptive Riding Instructor. Hopefully the students will remain intrinsically motivated to continue to read horse books from my equine library even when the Winter Horsemanship Challenge is over. PS- this particular 6 year old student also brought a Bridle to church to share for the "sermon in a bag" during the children's lesson and he explained how the bridle, reins, and bit are used to communicate with the horse and the pastor related it to how God communicates with us.

01/15/2025

I have enjoyed seeing Rise Again Riding School students work together and teach and encourage one another during the Winter Horsemanship Challenge we are participating in that is sponsored by Halt - Adaptive Riding Instructor

01/05/2025

Blankets available at tack store in Cullman

12/31/2024

This article shows some of the benefits of horseback riding for individuals with ADHD. However, time spent with horses is also beneficial for autism, anxiety, depression, even helps cognitive skills for children with various learning disabilities. Quote and link to article are below:

“First, there's that sense of independence and self-confidence from learning a skill and being able to interact with another mammal. Horses provide direct feedback and it comes in a non-judgmental format. They have behavioral responses and so it can help individuals with ADHD understand how their actions impact others. Riding helps people develop self-awareness in an environment that is fun, and that allows them to be connected. It also doesn't come with the social pressure of an interaction with another person, I think of it as a more neutral way to build awareness of oneself and how behaviors can impact what's going on for them.”

Brothers Julian and Cameron Harrison began riding in 2020 to ease their ADHD symptoms.

12/30/2024

Sharing this video with Dr Zach discussing Colic in horses.