Meadowbrook Equestrian Center

05/23/2024

Thursday morning education!

A Horse cannot breathe through the mouth. A horse has a long soft palate, that is in the resting position tucked in between the root of the tongue and the epiglottis. That is exactly where it will be during the breathing as well. In the swallowing, the epiglottis moves backwards and closes the entrance to the pharynx. The soft palette is elevated and closes the nasopharynx. The food bolus crosses then the larynx and continues into the esophagus.

As the long soft palate hangs down in front of the epiglottis it doesn't allow breathing through the mouth.

So when you see the horse opening his mouth, guess what....it is not that he is taking a deep breath...

For my supporters on the Patreon page, I prepared a detailed anatomy of this area video. There is also a free part of the clip for no members.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/anatomy-of-and-104754417?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

04/28/2024

Hay preference question regarding alf/grass mix.

The question has nothing to do with breed or age just, just what you would personally buy if there was unlimited supply. .

Heavy grass seems to be harder to get
- If all were available which do you prefer?
- How much are you paying per bale?

50/50 (alf/grass)
80/20 (alf/grass)
80/20 (grass/alf)
70/30 (grass/alf)
100% Teff grass
100% Orchard

03/25/2024

We have tried so many and this is the best product yet for getting sand out!
Watch the video for the demonstration.

03/20/2024

So proud of these girls for all their hard work at the Fuzzy Wuzzy show in Lincoln last Sunday ❤️🎉❤️

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1351323675638840&id=100022836603909&mibextid=5irAu0

03/14/2024

ISO BEGINNER CONFIDENCE BUILDER
We have a young girl that had a bit of a scare and needs a confidence builder to get her back to the confident rider she was.

- Would love to find a horse with some personality that loves attention and wants to bond.
- Quiet
- Not over reactive
- Experienced on trail and not buddy sour
- Good in the arena walk /trot/lope
- Prefer around age 15-20
- 14.3 up to 15.2hh
- Gets along with other horses
- She would be doing walk/trot pleasure and low key small local gymkhana shows in the future. Nothing competitive.
- More whoa than go
- Sound
- NO NAVICULAR or FOUNDERED HORSES. X-rays will be done
- no greys due to high risk of cancer

Please don’t respond with:
horses that need a tune up or “could be a kids horse with work”

This young rider needs a horse she can saddle and ride on her own with the other kids and build confidence. She is currently leasing a horse at the barn as well as taking regular lessons but she needs her own horse to bond with and trust.

This horse will literally want for nothing and will have hit the owner jackpot! Budget depends on horse.

If you think you have the unicorn we are looking for in the $$$$ digit range please pm me.

Located in the Folsom, CA area and would like to stay within 1.5hrs.

02/28/2024

We can relate!

How to spot an equestrian

02/15/2024

You are NOT “just” a trail rider…

I’ve got a bone to pick and it might surprise you to know it is with b-l-o-o-d-y trail riders. I get quite a few trail riders coming to my clinics and so I have enough experience and ammunition to make a legitimate complaint.

Actually, I have 2 complaints. The first is easy and I can deal with it in one short paragraph, but the second deserves a rant.

Okay. First up, about half of those that mainly do trail riding describe themselves as “pleasure riders”. Stop it. We are all pleasure riders! I hope we all ride for pleasure – even professional horse people. Being a good horse person is hard and dangerous work, so if you don’t love it, the other rewards (financial, accolades, ribbons) are not sufficient enough to make it worthwhile. So trail riders should stop trying to appropriate the term “pleasure rider.”

Now the second and more important reason I am cranky at trail riders is their attitude.

Whenever I meet a new student at a clinic I ask them what do they do with their horse. I would say 4 out of 5 of the trail people say something like, “Oh not much. I just trail ride” or “I just like to potter around on the trail” or “We are not serious. We just like to ride out in the bush (forest).”

They tell me they trail ride as if they have to apologize for it. It’s as if there is some sort of shame to being a trail rider and they are the second-class citizens of the horse world.

Well, I’m going to tell you that trail riders are not second-class horse people. They are the WARRIOR CLASS of the horse world.

I have come across plenty of people who have had long and highly successful competition careers that wish they had a horse they could safely ride on a trail. They practice their exercises in the safe confines of a riding facility where the most startling and unpredictable thing that can happen is that the horse gets its tiptoes wet on the water jump or it has to cope with a judge placing a rosette on its bridle. Heaven forbid those precious gold-plated ponies with their diamante browbands would have any sort of challenge that would cause their makeup to run.

To train a good trail horse is proof of a person’s skill as a horseman or woman. Creek crossings, steep descents on slippery ground, swampy ground, branches brushing the sides, carcasses of decaying dead animals, inconsiderate car drivers and bike riders are the things of nightmares for many horses trained in other disciplines. But for a good trail horse and their rider with a spine made of tungsten they are nothing more than another point of interest on their sightseeing tour.

To be able to calm a horse that is losing its manure on a trail is a badge of honour that is worth more than any blue ribbon. When on the other side of every new turn in the trail lies in waiting a horse-eating emu, it is the experienced trail rider that will see them to safety. When behind every bush hides the shadow of the grim reaper ready to unleash mayhem and death, it is the trail rider that will slay death.

Nobody should ever apologize for being “just” a trail rider. Stand proud. Be the best you can be at what you do and you will never have to feel second-class to any other horse person. Remember you are the WARRIOR CLASS.

02/11/2024

Yesterday at the barn was filled with BEAUTIFUL weather, amazing people and wonderful horses complete with a side of spice named chance. Esther and Diesel were great with no shenanigans…Chance had enough of that for all 3 horses 😂

02/05/2024

Be your horses friend and partner, treat them with kindness and patience even when they are being tough or having a rough day themselves. They are not machines but instead are living beings with thoughts emotions and feelings of their own. Be a team mate, not a dictator and your relationship will blossom 🌸

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1555592488600262?fs=e&mibextid=3iQHzw&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V

01/29/2024

Unexpected Pond shenanigans! Now we know diesel wants to be a fish 😂 Diesel is such a great addition to the barn and always makes us laugh ❤️

01/27/2024

The 2 big kids of the barn finally meet 🥰

01/23/2024

2 spots left!
Www.meadowbrookequestriancenter.com

01/16/2024

Welcome to the family Diesel!