Rich Run Farm

08/12/2024

Field trips to Southern Pines to visit Caitlin Romeo at Woodlawn farm are our favorite❤️

06/30/2024

At Rich Run Farm we do more than just train horses. We can train your pup as well! I enjoyed having two red bone hounds come for a two week board and train! Miss them already!

06/30/2024

July is soon upon us! Just wanted to remind everyone that Rich Run Farm offers unmounted horsemanship lessons whenever the heat is a bit too much to ride! This is also a wonderful opportunity for those who would like to enjoy a session loving on sweet ponies or for those physically unable to ride.

06/29/2024

Little slice of heaven!

06/14/2024

TIMOTHY ORCHARD GRASS ROUND BALES FOR SALE FIRST CUTTING 2024

4x4 rolls $40.00 per roll

All hay has been stored covered and dry.

06/04/2024

It’s bug season and Lone Ivy T is not a fan of her space suit🤣

06/03/2024

05/25/2024

Lone Ivy T doing what she does best ☄️

05/13/2024

05/10/2024

Happy 6th Birthday to Lone Ivy T!

05/07/2024

If your canter length is not 12 feet (3.6 m), you're making it difficult for your horse to find a good takeoff spot. Show jumping courses are designed to accommodate a standard canter stride length and are not adjusted to each horse's stride. This means courses with related lines (ie all of them!) and distances in combinations will be significant challenges if you can't maintain a 12-foot (3.6 m) canter.

Yes, it's possible to jump clear without a standard stride, but you'll need a great "eye". You've probably seen the "old school" riders who hold and hold and hold until they "see a spot," then they chase it down. This approach requires a reactive horse, bigger bits, nosebands, martingales, and the often yelled instruction of "MORE LEG".

There are better ways to achieve consistency.

Inconsistent stride lengths increase wear and tear on your horse, which we want to avoid at all costs. I'm not saying you don't need an adjustable canter or a sharp eye—because you do—but it should be subtle.

We've all heard people say, "riders just sit there; the horse does all the work." You CAN learn to ride like that, but it requires careful preparation. If you don't have one yet, get a long tape measure and use it for the free exercises on my website (link in comment). You'll be on your way to improvement!

Most jumping riders practice straight-line distances, but it's just as important to master the 3.6 m (12-foot) stride on curved lines. At home, you can test this by placing two poles on opposite sides of a 20-meter circle. Canter around the circle and count how many strides you take between the poles.

You should be able to canter eight non-jumping strides for each half of the 20-meter circle. If this is new to you, you might end up with around ten strides, or even more. Here's the maths: The circumference of a 20-meter circle (C = πd) is about 63 meters, which is 17.5 standard canter strides. For simplicity, we'll call it 18. Subtract two strides for the poles, leaving 16. Half of that is eight.

Don't say that's too hard! Your phone has a calculator, and if you rotate it, you'll find a scientific calculator with a π symbol. If you want to be a jumping rider there are no excuses for being lazy about distances and canter length. You cannot improve what you do not measure.

One day, you'll face a combination off a half-circle approach. If you're counting ten strides between the poles on a 20-meter circle, how will you safely jump though a combination approached from a turn? If you can't maintain a 12-foot (3.6 m) canter by riding eight strides over poles on the ground in both directions, please hold off on jumping courses for now. Nail down the right canter so you can handle bigger tracks harmoniously without pulling and chasing. Your horse will thank you.

04/28/2024

Lone Ivy T loves teaching lessons from time to time with our younger students, especially when their legs aren’t long enough to push the “Go” button. These two have been thick as thieves since they met 3 years ago

04/18/2024

Beautiful sunset to finish up lessons this evening!

04/17/2024

“How ya doin” posing for his photo op🥰 this horse keeps getting more and more handsome as he matures

04/15/2024

04/11/2024

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of hay or grass) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.

As always, please be sure to consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

03/28/2024

“How ya doin” showing off some cute moves

03/26/2024

Students! Please check BAND for our April schedule.

Homeschoolers I have lots of morning slots available for you to take advantage of🥰

03/25/2024

Here at Rich Run Farm you never stop learning! Maya and I took a trip down to Southern Pines this past weekend to school with the wonderful Caitlin Romeo at Woodlawn farm. The learning never stops!