Resolute Training Stables

11/05/2024

Hoping for just a bit more time before the snow but today was a reminder that winters all but here and I need to get my s**t together.

09/21/2024

Gracie the pony is coming along well. She struggles with working away from the other horses but we’ve made progress through ground work.

Cowgirl Spirit Rescue Ranch

Groundwork with Gracie the Pony

Gracie is still very green under saddle but has taken well to riding. Our biggest problem is working alone and riding away from other horses.

08/10/2024

Welfare

I am a firm believer in that things need to get worse before they get better. Which seems to be happening now in sport horse land.

Recently, and I point to SM media for making this possible, there has been an increase in horse welfare. A lot of this comes from non-horse folk who see videos, such as Charlotte D. that are alarming. While I’m glad there’s light being shown on this issue, we need to accept a few realities that drive poor ethical decisions.

1. Horses need to have economic value. This is not new, what makes them valuable just changed (leisure vs survival). Horse welfare today and in the past, is mostly focused on soundness for their job, whatever their job may be. Once they cannot fulfill that job, they no longer hold value, and if they are lucky, when they are done working, they are euthanized. Some horses get a retirement but, most don’t. Your crippled 24 yo horse doesn’t “want” or “need” to be a lesson horse.
2. Abusive training is widely accepted in all disciplines. Shanked bits, double bridles, to tight nose bands and flashes, whips, twisted wire bits etc etc. There is a fine line between a technique used to train a movement and abuse. For example, whips are often used to teach the horse piaffe. I’ve seen trainers that have done this and show skill and knowledge in pressure and release, and can skillfully use a stick to teach a horse without great stress. But, I’d argue most trainers don’t have the time patients or skill. Every disciple has their issues. Professional or amateur, we are all guilty.
3. Judging needs to change. A lot of what happens behind closed doors is to figure out how to make the horse go in a way it’ll win in the ring. There’s a trickle down effect from top riders to back yard horsemen. Example, in the hunter ring, we need to stop judging poor riding (ducking over fences) and lifeless horses. A TB should be able to be as competitive as a WB and hunters shouldn’t be lunged into exhaustion.
4. Listen to the science on horse management. Horses belong in a field with friends, moving and eating. Their bodies are designed to move and eat all day. Stalled horses colic and have soundness issues at far higher rates. They display and develop neurotic behaviors that if seen in humans would warrant corrective action (running teeth up stall bars, weaving, excessive aggressiveness etc). At some point, the convenience of keeping horses in stalls needs to be reconciled with welfare.

I believe most people want what’s best for their horses, and if presented with affordable options to keep their horses in “better” conditions and, to be able to show and compete in a manner more respectful of the horse, they would. But as of now, judges reward bad riding, bad breeding (halter & pleasure QHs for example), and in the name of “safety”, allow excessive hardware and tack. They put absurd rules in place like DQing a rider for a bit of blood (which was obviously not from abuse) in place to make it seem like they are doing something, while at the same time, refusing to make any meaningful change (FEI).

Maybe it’s time for a new guard in the big governing bodies which should include amateurs, trainers, vets and spectators? Better yet, throw a few pony clubbers on the board, the ones who still have the passion for the horses and haven’t been corrupted by the sport. If the kids think it’s wrong, maybe the adults should too.

https://theconversation.com/the-paris-olympics-horse-whipping-scandal-shows-the-dangers-of-disneyfication-in-horse-sports-235672?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=bylinefacebookbutton&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0vMb8xnyIUFEWoEgjGnVIFOOXcCKJRKnjluQPyuBWAuSCFJvuLwGYieCY_aem_vbiz0EBYyAPbSjuUbSx92A

A controversy involving one of the world’s best dressage riders highlights the need for more protection of horses in equestrian sports.

07/11/2024

So grateful for the opportunity to start Steele. He’s been so easy. This is his third ride and he’s showing nice cadence at the canter and a big ground covering rocking horse stride.

06/24/2024

It’s taken for ever but, starting to get the tack room together. Two saddle racks done, 4 more to go 😱

05/14/2024

Saddled Rolo up for a bit. He’s having a major growth spurt so we just walked around and tried to get a picture which was impossible, he cannot stand still. Then grass time with Chubs.

05/13/2024

Rolo helping keep Chubby sane during what’s hopefully his last month of stall rest.

04/21/2024

Threw a saddle on Rolo for the second time ever, hopped on, just sat and walked a little. No buck, no bolt nothing crazy.

He’ll be the only horse I’ll have had from day one, so if anything isn’t right it’s my fault. But today I’m hopefully he’s going to make it easy on me. Probably will sit on him a few more times, get walk trot, then throw him away till next year.

04/12/2024

He still loves face snuggles.

04/07/2024

So handsome. Rolo will be three on the 15th, where has time gone?

😢

03/29/2024

I saw a cool new hoof product the other day and I couldn’t remember what it was called. Whilst Googling, I came upon these “block socks”. These looked like they might be what I saw so I clicked the link.

This is a total scam, apparently Paddocksaddlery.com is the SHEIN for horse folks. While this is somewhat enraging, any with a horse could probably figure out it’s a scam. It also makes me less worried about AI for the near future.

Had to get a good laugh out of “bonus puss pocket” and “abscess enhancer”

03/27/2024

It’s SPRING !!!

01/08/2024

Winter is finally on its way. 9” in the next two days then temps plummeting to sub 0’s for multiple days.

In preparation, all loose minerals have been topped off, unlimited Timothy will be provided, some extra grain for extra energy and all horses (especially the colts) fitted for warm blankets.

❄️

12/27/2023

The Chonks is on day 3 of three legged lame abscess. Bought the new Hoof Soak from in hopes it has some more power than just epsom salts. I’m hoping that the price reflects the quality, we shall see.

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas from Rolo.

Christmas is the only 3 year comparison I have of Rolo. His color keeps changing but he stays the same shape year in and out. He still has that baby look to him and probably always will. ❤️