Horse Ways LLC

30/07/2025

Think you know ALL the body language? Think again.

🧠 Basic Horse Body Language Cues Beginners Often Miss:

1. Tense Jaw or Tight Lips

💬 What it means: Worry, discomfort, or anticipation
👉 Many beginners focus only on the ears or eyes and miss subtle facial tension that can signal building anxiety.

2. Blinking or Lack of Blinking

💬 What it means: Blinking = thinking, processing.
Staring or "zoned out" = bracing, confusion, or shut-down.
👉 A horse that stops blinking may be freezing before a reaction—or mentally checking out.

3. Muzzle Movements (Licking, Chewing, or Tight Mouth)

💬 What it means: Processing, relaxation—or stress if the mouth is tight
👉 Many confuse licking and chewing as “submissive” rather than signs of nervous system release or coming down from tension.

4. The “Frozen” Horse

💬 What it means: Not calm—but likely scared and shut down
👉 A horse standing perfectly still isn't always "being good"—they may be mentally frozen and about to explode.

5. Hard Eyes or Wrinkled Brow

💬 What it means: Worry, pressure, or emotional buildup
👉 Beginners often look past the eyes, but a hard, worried eye tells you a lot about how the horse is feeling in that moment.

6. Swinging the Head Away Slightly

💬 What it means: Avoidance or subtle pushback
👉 Instead of a big movement, the horse may quietly “say no” by just tipping their head away—and it often goes unnoticed.

7. Tail Clamped or Swishing Repetitively

💬 What it means: Frustration, irritation, or pain
👉 Beginners may assume tail swishing is just bugs—but it’s often the first sign of stress, confusion, or even a poor saddle fit.

8. Shifted Weight or Resting One Hind Leg

💬 What it means: Shifting = preparing to move, possibly nervous
Resting a leg = sometimes relaxation, or compensation for pain/discomfort
👉 Interpreting context is key—many beginners assume “resting = relaxed,” even when paired with tension elsewhere.

9. The "Thinking Ear" Flick

💬 What it means: They’re listening, even if not looking
👉 One ear flicking toward you shows attention and focus. If both ears are locked elsewhere, so is her mind.

10. Quick or Shallow Breathing

💬 What it means: Tension, nervousne

29/07/2025

Sometimes, animals have ideas of their own—and it’s in those quiet moments we’re reminded to pause, listen, and let their presence soften our own.

22/07/2025

16/07/2025

21/06/2025

We have a heat wave locally the next 3-4 days. Unfortunately, much of the country will experience it as well. Stay safe!

05/06/2025

The kids at Equine Elevated get to have lots of summer fun with camps so we decided to make some fun for ADULTS! Please share this flyer with anyone you know who may want to try out “horse camp”

Our kids get to have lots of summer fun with camps so we decided to make some fun for ADULTS! Please share this flyer with anyone you know who may want to try out “horse camp”

28/05/2025

Stable ground is needed on both ends to build the bridge.

Building Bridges

There is one thing people don’t talk about when they discuss building a bridge: bridges must start and end on stable ground.

I have recently been writing about my experiences as a teacher and psychologist, focusing on the challenges I faced starting out and the personal qualities I had to foster and develop to elevate my teaching and consulting. Not surprisingly, I concentrated on my own regulation—the ability to manage my energy, anxiety, frustration, thoughts, and behavior.

In the role of teacher, mentor, instructor, or trainer, we are all called to expand our self-awareness and commit to personal growth. This includes growth in our knowledge and skills but, perhaps more importantly, growth in our mental and emotional fitness and our capacity for self-regulation.

Teaching and mentoring are all about building bridges. Before we can impart knowledge, provide support, or challenge our students, there must be an established path of connection and communication. Like all bridges, that path must start and end on solid ground.

As a mentor to many riding instructors and trainers, I find that the most common challenges they face revolve around their students’ emotional regulation. I hear about struggles with their students’ tears and fears, anger and frustration, acting out, and shutting down. When our students are dysregulated, we cannot teach, and they cannot learn.

When this happens, we need to rebuild the bridge, starting with establishing stable ground in ourselves and helping our students find theirs. ~ Paul

P.C- Erin Gilmore Photography

16/05/2025

According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, a horse in Olmsted County tested positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) on May 6, 2025. Recent cases of EHV-1 in Minnesota and across the country serve as a reminder to practice good biosecurity before, during, and after traveling with your horse. Share memories not disease by following these simple steps.

✅ Use your own trailer & gear—disinfect borrowed items.
🐴 Avoid horse-to-horse contact (especially nose-to-nose).
🚫 No shared hoses in water buckets.
🌱 Don’t hand-graze where others recently have.
🙅‍♂️ Don’t let strangers touch your horse.
🧽 Disinfect tack, boots & grooming tools before returning home.
🛁 Shower, change clothes & blow your nose when you get back.
🌡️Quarantine and monitor returning horses for up to 30 days—feed & care for them last.

And always... wash your hands! 🖐️💧

For more info and to see the Board's full press release visit: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNBAH/bulletins/3e08d94