Duo Horsemanship

09/13/2024

Just a couple pretty mares I’ve gotten to enjoy working with this month 🎀
Daisey is just getting started under saddle, and Dixie has been working on turning loose, following a feel, and letting her guard down.
Excited to see how both these girls go in the future!

08/28/2024

Some of y’all are SMART! 🤓

You got it… Elvis is adding to his repertoire. Our little ass has gotten his first wedding invitation for October, and he’s getting his flower crown ready. 💐

Follow all of his adventures here!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563512777346&mibextid=LQQJ4d

08/27/2024

We have a big announcement coming soon… any guesses?

08/26/2024

Talking about whisker clipping is a really great litmus test to get an idea of how much of competition is human centred.

It’s a far more controversial topic than it should be.

In FEI classes, whisker clipping was banned recently and this caused a major uproar.

But in lower level classes and many other show organizations, it’s perfectly legal.

Regardless of anyone’s personal preferences, a simple fact remains — whiskers are a sensory organ for horses.

Each individual whisker even has its own blood supply.

The debate of how much they help with sensation is still ongoing but what is fact is that we know they’re used for sensory input by the horse.

It really isn’t up to us to argue to what extent they are used when that argument is only being used to justify us clipping them off for totally shallow reasons.

The only “benefit” humans get from whisker clipping is a “cleaner look” that they’ve been conditioned to like better.

There’s no other incentive, it’s all aesthetic based.

So, the fact that this is still as controversial of a debate as it is when it’s rooted in shallow human preferences really speaks for how much competition centres around human desires.

Because WHY are we enabling ourselves in promoting mindsets that flippantly take away protection and sensory output from the horse, with no care of the impact, just because we like they look better?

Whiskers are cute, for one.

For two, you can’t even see them in the show ring, only close up.

And then third, and most obviously, THEY ARE A SENSORY ORGAN.

Competiton can be done ethically, in my opinion.

But we will struggle to get to the destination of ethical competition so long as human desires are centred to the extent they currently are.

08/06/2024

Torque got to be the “dressage” horse for a local business’s “Average Joe Olympics” last week! What a fun way to spend the morning!

08/06/2024

One of several new projects around here… we should have another fun announcement soon! 🔜 📣

07/30/2024

💥 Super cute young prospect! 💥

Effie is a 4-year-old Gypsy Vanner who has a fun, bright personality and is put together right. She has been lightly started with a western, horsemanship-based foundation but could truly excel in any direction. (Even carriage driving?) Effie has always been barefoot and an easy keeper, although she does benefit from allergy pills in the summer, otherwise, no maintenance required. She has wonderful ground manners and will remain in partial training until sold. 14.3 hh. Located in Runnells, Iowa.

06/30/2024

06/26/2024

Your daily dose of something feathered 🪶

06/20/2024

Needed to break out the big rig to haul a little ass today… 🫏 Elvis’s first day of driver’s ed!

06/19/2024

Good news of the day! In the wise words of my vet, “I can’t tell you if it’s a filly or a c**t, but I can guarantee that it’s not a gelding.” 🎀🦋

06/19/2024

This is one to watch and rewatch.

06/18/2024

It’s honestly a crime that I don’t have a pink flag to go with the rest of Tomato’s ensemble… 💅🏼

06/14/2024

Watching Buck rope his c**t’s feet up-close in Sheridan has me inspired to get it done with all of mine! Pretty Roulette passed with flying colors; I’ll go ahead and hobble her the next time I pull her out. Then maybe she can assist with some lawn mowing 😉

06/09/2024

Last day. Good boy. 🩵

06/09/2024

Today’s highlight reel. Bowie had some moments of really great lightness and forward today and was a solid citizen when a little bit of chaos erupted around us in the roundpen. Lots of transitions, one rein stops, and first and fourth methods of moving the hindquarters.

06/08/2024

Day two! We did about how I expected we’d do with the level of preparation Bowie was at going into this. He is mega chill, but that means it’s easy to dull him off, and dealing with a large group of horses in a small space was challenging to find enough places to move him out like he needed. He’s good-natured, and really wants to do the right thing for his human, so I know it won’t be hard to get him to find what he should be doing. Buck had us bridle them, and get them giving to the snaffle, tonight as homework in preparation for tomorrow.
The afternoon horsemanship class covered a lot of lateral work at the walk, some lateral work/leg yielding at the trot, and then most of the group worked on changing leads. It was a fun study in watching different feels and experience levels.

06/07/2024

Sheridan so far… Bowie is being a champ. It was beautiful to sit on the roundpen fence and watch the c**ts get flagged around me! We’ll ride tomorrow.

06/05/2024

Bowie is all settled in & ready for the Brannaman c**t start! Here we go 🤠

05/31/2024

Looking forward to the Brannaman c**t start in Wyoming next week 😄 ready as we’ll ever be!

05/31/2024

05/23/2024

It’s a beautiful day to work c**ts! This sweet thoroughbred filly is working on getting to be okay with things in her blind spots - something that’s always on the pre-ride checklist. So close to that first ride!

What groundwork exercises are your go-tos?

05/19/2024

Here’s some great information for folks who’ve gotten to ride our Icy mare, Freyja, in lessons!

Most horses have 3 “gaits” which are walk, trot and canter. Icelandic horses are known for having 5 gaits, which are walk, tölt, trot, canter and flying pace. Hermie is demonstrating tölt. What is it?

“The reason the Icelandic horse can tölt and pace is that there was a DMRT3 gene mutation. This gene is responsible for synchronising the left and right sides of the horse's body, and this change means that the legs can move in new patterns, and also that the horse can run faster without breaking into gallop.” -Noemi Ehrat, The Reykjavic Grapevine

05/16/2024

Thanks Circle T Equine Massage, LLC for working on some of our crew today! It was so interesting to find out how what I feel during rides correlates to things happening in their bodies.