LACE Feather Gypsies

01/19/2025

Coates Loverboy taught June tricks today. I think they will make a great team.

12/01/2024

We were so blessed to have great people in our lives this year to make dreams come true! I can’t thank you enough!

09/14/2024

Had lots of fun from our ride last weekend!

09/14/2024

Our filly, LFG The Prima Donna, that just turned two in August placed well at her show yesterday.

08/26/2024

There are quotes from horsemen that have stuck with me for decades. Ray Hunt's, "We begin training at square zero before square one" (paraphrased) changed the way I approach horse training. Henry Wynmalen's, "Let the horse move you" is another one that changed how I thought about riding. If people ever remember something I said I hope it would be, "Don't disturb a horse unless you have to".

After a divorce in the 1990's I dated for many years, mostly horsewomen. That's a book. I was living in PA and a woman I was dating told me about a breeder friend of hers who had to sell a lot of horses fast. Her divorce was finalized, and she had to leave the farm she had her ex owned. Being in denial, she waited until the last minute.

The NJ breeder bred Welsh ponies and Welsh TBs crosses. When we drove in, I saw at least forty horses in paddocks. I brought my big polo trainer filled with tack and a substantial amount of cash. Me, my friend and the breeder walked through all the paddocks filled with yearlings to four year olds. I picked eight horses to try. None had been saddled or ridden.

One by one I tacked each horse up and rode them in the round pen. Only one bucked a little at the beginning, but soon was going forward. I bought two. One was a gray Welsh TB that turned out to be one of the most profitable horses I ever trained and sold. The other one turned out to be a steady all-arounder. It was a good trip.

On the way back to my farm my friend said, "Do you realize that you rode eight unbroke horses in four hours? I told her that I really hate to buy a horse I'd never ridden. Then she said, "How did you do that?" My answer was that I don't disturb horses.

08/16/2024

I would like to let the Gypsy horse community in the US know that Potomac Fever has made a comeback in several states so far this summer and they are not listed on the USDA site. So far they are Georgia, Tennessee and (from the vet today) Kentucky. The symptoms start with spiking a high fever (even with banamine) and explosive watery diarrhea. This is deadly and the sample has to be sent to Cornell for confirmation but the specific antibiotic needs to be given ASAP to fight this. This is NOT contagious. My boy was at a show in GA when my fantastic trainers noticed he was off and with the assistance of a semi local vet and poor bloodwork, he was admitted to the University Veterinary Hospital soon after. He went down hill quickly. Over the past 8 days he has been through a lot but he is on the road to complete recovery.

07/19/2024

It’s very important to know the different ways a bit can be used to accomplish what you are looking for from your horse. I constantly hear people purchasing a bit and using it because they use the same one on their other horse, they don’t realize they each have a purpose.

A slotted Kimberwick might be the most versatile bit but they have gone out of style. This bit has three rein positions. The "A" rein placement is on the arc inside where the slots are located. The reins slide up the arc as rein pressure is increased. When the reins are relaxed with very light contact, the reins slide to the bottom of the arc and when contact is first increased, the bit starts to provide some leverage and thus light poll pressure. However, as the reins slide up the arc from increased rein pressure, the amount of leverage decreases to zero. This results in very forgiving bit action. This rein placement acts like a clutch that automatically slips so as to release the leverage pressure.

The lower "B" slot rein placement offers consistent low leverage due to the short shank (distance from the mouthpiece down to the "B" slot location).

The top "C" slot is at the mouth and acts with no leverage. If a Kimberwick has a snaffle mouth, and reins are attached at the "C" slot, the Kimberwick acts just like a snaffle.

There are many mouthpiece options for Kimberwicks. There are all kinds of snaffle mouthpieces available, some with rollers or french links, rubber coated etc.. With a snaffle mouth and reins attached at "C", the design acts somewhat like a full cheek bit due to the design of the arc shank. There are straight Mulllen mouths available with many material variations such as steel, hard and soft synthetic material or different metals. Mouthpieces with ports are also available.

The Kimberwick's versatility includes using variations on the chin chain (shown) or strap. These can vary from a kind soft leather chin strap, to a usual medium width chain with flat links, or to a narrow metal chain with small links that can be nasty.

All these variations in different combinations of rein placement, mouthpiece design and chin chain or strap make this, in my experience, the most versatile bit available. If you know of another that is more versatile, please put a picture in the comments.

Lastly, you can also use or teach the use of double reins using a Kimberwick with one set of reins at the bit slot "C" as the "bridoon" and the second reins attached at slot "B" for the "leverage bit". It's not a real deal double bridle, but for teaching it works and it is quite idiot and abuse proof due to the low leverage and if the mouthpiece is forgiving. Having largely gone out of fashion, Kimberwicks are very affordable used.

07/17/2024

Gypsy fillies born this year. And last year’s colts, some 👀for new 🏡. Pm for details.

07/17/2024

Some of the kids today playing in the water.

06/01/2024

We are so proud and thankful for our team, Classic Stables, and their accomplishments! Way to Moon!

🏆𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧🏆 (under 1 Judge) at the Great Lakes Spring Classic Gyps show in Jackson Ohio‼️


🌙Hermits Harlequin Moon 🌙
Owned by Lisa Garfield D'Avignon of LACE Feather Gypsies

Chris Shackleton
Katie Barker
Tia Barker
Kolten Frenzl