Cantau Creek Stables

03/25/2025

🤣🤣🤣🫠🫠 funny

03/23/2025

03/09/2025

Silence.

03/08/2025

Horton Holistic Veterinary Services works their magic again. Happy horses all around.

03/04/2025

“Being impatient is being unsatisfied with reality.” — Warwick Schiller

What does “being patient” with your horse REALLY mean?

I saw a Warwick Schiller video earlier today where he talked about something that’s been on my mind recently. He spoke on how so many people tell him over and over, how incredibly patient he is.

This is a comment I get too.

When sitting in the sand, analyzing my horses change in breathing patterns at the other end of the rope, clients tell me “I’m not as patient as you.” But like Warwick, I don’t feel all that good patient.

Because it’s not just waiting that I do… it’s watching.

I may not be the most patient person, but I’m sure as hell observant. My mom used to joke that I could read the McDonald’s specials and prices while driving past on the highway at speed. Before I even learned to drive, I’d notice if my dad took a wrong turn or a different route.

I’m always watching and observing and learning. Which I think is why I’ve been so drawn to the quieter side of horsemanship.

And also why I’m so patient about teaching others to be observant. Because it doesn’t feel like patient and it doesn’t feel like waiting, when you know what to look for. When you begin to notice the ear twitches, lip quivers and blinks that come before relaxation, everything is active.

Warwick mentions that being impatient is being unsatisfied with reality. We move too fast when we think things are moving too slow, and then we make mistakes.

So train your eye, quiet your mind and learn to be present. Honestly, if I were to say what the biggest pitfall in modern horsemanship, it’s this.

We think too slow and move too fast… and our horses are suffering as a result.

02/28/2025

🩶🩶🩶

“Horses regularly trained with ground work are more relaxed when ridden”

A recent study of dressage horses in Germany that looked at rein length and tension revealed a surprising finding: horses who were regularly trained in ground work/in-hand work had lower heart rates during ridden work than all of the other participating horses. This wasn’t what the researchers were investigating, but it was clear in the results. From this, the researchers concluded that, “Perhaps horses trained in ground work had more trust in their rider.”

So why would it be true that horses who regularly learn via ground work/in-hand work are more relaxed? There are a few possibilities.

1) Horses trained regularly with ground work are more relaxed because their trainers are more relaxed. It’s possible that humans who take the time to teach their horses from the ground are less goal oriented and more concerned with the process. They may be more relaxed in general and foster this same relaxation in their horses. As you are, so is your horse.

2) Horses trained regularly with ground work have trainers who are more educated about a horse’s balance.

Their horses learn to move in correct balance which allows them to be healthy and sound in their bodies and, therefore, more relaxed. Physical balance is emotional balance.

3) Horses trained regularly with ground work understand the trainer’s criteria better. They have mastered the response to an aid before the rider mounts and know the “right answer” already once under saddle. They don’t experience any conflict when the rider asks for a behavior because the neural pathway has already been installed. They are more relaxed about being ridden because it rarely has caused confusion for them.

For us highly visual humans I think that ground work is often a better way to begin exercises because we are much better at seeing our horse doing the right thing than feeling it from the saddle. Often, my feel in the saddle is enhanced by the fact that I have watched my horse perform an exercise over and over in our in-hand work. It feels how it looks. In-hand work is also a good way to teach our horses because our own bodies are often more in balance when we are walking beside our horses. With the ground under our feet we are able to be more relaxed if something goes wrong and less likely to be so busy wrapped up in our own balance that we give our horses conflicting or confusing aids. It’s a good place to figure things out. I am a huge fan of in-hand work.

I’m glad to learn research revealed ground work is good for horses. Horses with a low heart rate are relaxed and relaxed horses perform better and live longer. In this day and age of people starting horses under saddle in under an hour and increasing monetary rewards for the “young horse dressage program“, everything seems to be done in a hurry. The entire horse culture seems to privilege “getting up there and riding your horse”. But as one of my favorite writers and accomplished horsewoman, Teresa Tsimmu Martino writes, “In today’s horse culture there are clinics that brag about starting a c**t in a day, as if the quickness of it was the miracle. But old horse people know it takes years to create art. Horses as great masterpieces are not created in a day. An artist does not need to rush.” We need more scientific studies like this one to encourage us to slow down and take our time with our horses.

So why were the horses in the study more relaxed? Likely it was a combination of all three factors – a relaxed trainer, better overall balance and clear understanding of criteria.

These are things that matter to your horse, and yes, will allow him to trust you when you ride. Take some time to slow down and work from the ground, learn a bit more about equine balance and teach new things in-hand before asking for them under saddle. You can take your riding to a whole new level and help your horse become more healthy and relaxed in the process.” - from the article by Jen of Spellbound Horses https://spellboundhorses.com/2013/03/07/horses-regularly-trained-with-ground-work-are-more-relaxed-when-ridden/

02/28/2025

🤣🤣🤣

02/25/2025

Warm enough for a bath and a clip today.
Don’t look too closely but at least she feels better. 🩷

Now, who will be my next victim?! 😈

02/21/2025

All tucked in.
Stay warm Texas.

02/12/2025

Inspiration 🙌🏼🫶🏻

This is truly inspiring: a 70-year-old woman riding dressage on her 30-year-old horse, together they represent a remarkable 100 years! It is simply beautiful.

A friend of mine mentioned an event called the Century Club Ride, which could be participated in at the Michigan State University Dressage Club Fall Schooling Show. Given that Jack is now 30 and I am 70, we qualified for this unique opportunity. I took the time to braid, clip, and prepare Jack for the competition. It was a great joy for me to once again enter at A, halt at X, and share this final dressage test with him. We achieved victory in Training Level Test 1 with an impressive score of 70%. Our show careers concluded with the judge's gracious remarks: "A pleasure to watch. Thank you." I view our Century Club ride as a precious gift from Jack. Over the years, he has provided me with so much. He has taken me to places I never imagined I would visit, both literally and metaphorically. Together, we have created countless wonderful memories and friendships throughout our 24 years together.

02/12/2025

Tis the season….. smh 😑😑

02/07/2025

THIS!! 1000% babes!

02/01/2025

Everything will kill you.
So choose something fun.

01/31/2025

Amazing Sky 🌝
Good Night Ponies

01/24/2025

Your life on earth is limited.
Don’t try to age with grace.
Age with mischief, audacity and a good story to tell.

01/21/2025

SNOW DAY 2025

01/12/2025

There are hundreds of them!!
I could hear them in the house all day.
Idk why they have ventured over here this year but it’s kind of cool to see them all.

I’m pretty sure this flock usually hangs out by 123 & IH-10 this time of year. But here they are instead…

01/06/2025

A proper hay barn 🙌🏼🤌🏼