Little Bear Stables Inc.

15/08/2024

The art of riding is being an easy weight to carry!

When the rider is in complete harmony with the movement of the horse, the inconvenience of the weight of the rider will be minimal for the horse. However if the rider is against the movement of the horse, ie. if he loses his balance often or if he falls backwards or forwards, then he asks a great deal of adjustment from the horse.

01/08/2024

27/07/2024

Olympic Equestrian TV Guide

25/07/2024

I wish this wasn’t the case, I wish all was what it seemed on the surface… Unfortunately the truth rises to the top once again.

Disappointed yes, shocked no.

I think we can all pretty much agree that what we saw in that video was no error of judgment and is an unacceptable way to treat any horse.

Charlotte has been someone I seriously idolised over the years. Valegro to this day has probably been one of the only horses I have witnessed who was ridden at such a level, showing very few signs of stress and tension in comparison to others. Dare I say it, he even looked as though he enjoyed being ridden through the GP tests..

I still stand by the fact that CD has helped us make some powerful, positive shifts in the competitive dressage world. So we cannot lose sight of that…

I feel what we witnessed in that video is unfortunately rampant at the higher levels in piaffe/passage/building collection/cadence training.

Notice how very few/none of the riders at the higher levels will speak out about unethical training practices in the industry, despite being the ones who are more than likely exposed to such practices more than your average equestrian… Why is this?

If you truly felt empathy for and respected the animals that are enabling you to fufill your dreams, would you really be able to stay silent when you see the injustice they are being exposed to in the name of sport?

In the few previous experiences I had working on dressage yards, I witnessed some sights that were not far off from the video being shared.. In order to get to the root cause, we of course have to be asking ourselves why this is the case? How did we get here?

In my opinion I feel one aspect is a lack of education and being shown any other way… (If there is a lack of education when it comes to an Olympic gold medal winning rider, who has access to the best of the best, then god help the horse industry 🙈😭).

A few years ago I went down the rabbit hole of trying to learn more about piaffe/passage, with the intentions of teaching my own horse some steps one day.

Trying to find a rider/trainer who showed the honest full video process of teaching the piaffe/passage was like trying to find gold dust. Why is this? Why do none of the top riders ever show their process?

The internet is not shy of first piaffe steps being taught from the ground videos… The internet is not shy of videos showing the end result, of a highly collected horse, piaffing and passaging with incredible cadence and lift…

However the internet is almost devoid of those who show the middle part… Those who show the full process. Why is this? Why should learning about piaffe and passage be a secret that is exclusive to a select few…

I even paid for multiple piaffe subscription courses, to see if I could discover the magic answer… However I was mostly disappointed to find highly edited videos, clearly missing out crucial moments of the training process… Or I would find “how to videos” showing the beginning - end process on a horse who has already been fully trained in what to do. (Which in my opinion is absoultely useless, if you are truly trying to educate someone on the process).

Yes I get that things won’t be perfect, it’s a learning process etc… However, if there is enough confusion/tension involved for the trainer/rider to think to themselves “hang on, this might not look so good to post on social media..” Then perhaps another process needs to be explored by many…

Every part of the process should overall be palatable for our eyes and our hearts… If it is not and people are refraining from posting those moments, then we have to ask why?

Which brings me to my next question…

Is it actually possible to teach a horse these high levels of sustained collection and exaggerated movements that with see in competitive Grand Prix without creating emotional stress and physical tension in the horse? I’m speaking of those who can ride a horse through a full Grand Prix test, one movement sequence after the next whilst also maintaining the physical and mental relaxation… Is this level of riding really possible whilst maintaining a happy, relaxed horse?

Or are Valegro and maybe a few others just anomalies to this… Exceptions to the rule? Rare types who have the ideal conformation and the mental capacity to respond to negative reinforcement training (sensitive enough that pressure is never escalated to get results) and therefore responding in a way that looks pleasing to our human minds…

In which case Is it fair to keep chasing this romantic ideal that it IS possible to have horses performing unnatural movements on our terms, that push them to their physical and mental limits, whilst simultaneously believing that these horses should be happy and tension free whilst doing this?

Or are we just setting ourselves up for failure with this unrealistic expectation?

As 8 times out of 10 we are being shown that this ideal we are chasing is just not possible…

Too many horses are suffering at the expense of ego, money and medals…

If nothing changes, the industry is going to be forced into change in the not so distant future…

If that time comes, all I can say is that it would be well deserved 🤷🏻‍♀️

P.s the ironic thing in all of this is that one of the riders who has now been called up, is one I personally witnessed whilst on work experience using a very similar ‘training method’ when trying to teach a high profile clients horse piaffe from the ground . This person was my reason for starting on this journey of trying to find another way… They are just replacing one person who has participated in abusive methods with another 🤷🏻‍♀️ Only difference is one was caught on camera, the other was not 🤷🏻‍♀️. The system is well and truly f**ked.

23/07/2024

Chief’s Column

I have received several inquiries about motorists coming upon horseback riders so I decided to reprint this column from a few years ago.

QUESTION:
It is my understanding that as a driver approaching a horseback rider, I need to stop and wait for the rider to signal me that it is safe to pass them and that I need to do so slowly as horses are unpredictable and I do not want to see anyone hurt. I have seen drivers fly by horses and I have seen horseback riders who look at me like "why are you stopped?" What are the rules of driving when coming upon someone riding a horse?

ANSWER:
The wonderful thing about living in New England is the fact that from time to time, you can still come across someone riding a horse or in a horse and buggy on one of the scenic back roads. A partial list of Grafton roads where motorists are likely to come upon someone riding on horseback includes Brigham Hill Rd., Old Upton Rd., Browns Rd., Keith Hill Rd., George Hill Rd., Merriam Rd. and Upton St.

The operator of a motor vehicle should take special precautions when approaching a horse and rider so as not to frighten the horse causing him to run off unexpectedly. Here are some good rules to follow when approaching a horse and rider. The following information comes right out of the Massachusetts Driver's Manual that may be found online at www.mass.gov/rmv.

Always give the right-of-way to any animal that someone is leading, riding, or driving. Animals are easily frightened by motor vehicles so when you approach any animal or horse-drawn vehicle, remember to be careful:

• Slow down.
• If the animal or vehicle is coming toward you or is crossing your path, stop and allow the animal to pass.
• If the animal or vehicle is traveling in the same direction you are, allow plenty of room for passing safely, and use reasonable speed.
• Do not sound your horn or make a loud noise.
• If the animal you are passing appears frightened, you must pull your vehicle to the roadside and stop.
• Proceed only when it is safe.
• You must stop if a rider or driver signals you to do so.

In rural areas, take extra care when passing “hayrides,” which are usually animal drawn and full of passengers. The law applies to horses, cows, and any other draft animals.

The exact statute for the above is in the MA General Laws as follows:

Chapter 90 (Section 14) Precautions for safety of other travelers
“Every person operating a motor vehicle shall bring the vehicle and the motor propelling it immediately to a stop when approaching a cow, horse or other draft animal being led, ridden or driven, if such animal appears to be frightened and if the person in charge thereof shall signal so to do; and, if traveling in the opposite direction to that in which such animal is proceeding, said vehicle shall remain stationary so long as may be reasonable to allow such animal to pass; or, if traveling in the same direction, the person operating shall use reasonable caution in thereafter passing such animal…”

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.
Chief of Police

17/07/2024

03/07/2024

This 💜🥰🐴

08/06/2024

06/06/2024

06/06/2024

Please help end horse slaughter now!

27/05/2024

03/05/2024

This post is something I have very strong feelings about...
TURN OUT!!!!
Turn your damn horses outside!!!! They were not made to live in your 12x12 stalls for 23 hours a day!
Do you realize how important mental health is for a horse? Do you realize you are creating other issues keeping your horses stalled up all the time?
I cringe when I hear and see horses being stuck in stalls their whole lives!
I'm not saying your horse shouldn't come in a stall. But they don't need to live in that stall their entire life.
Don't want your horse getting dirty??? Get over it... it's part of owning a horse. It's part of them being happy and having fun! They make water and hoses and brushes everyday -- They will clean up if you put a little of your own elbow grease into it.
Afraid to turn them out because you spent too much money on the horse.... That's not your horses fault. Get insurance if you are concerned. Make sure you have safe turnout. But good grief, stop torturing your horse.
This filthy, muddy horse in this picture is HAPPY, HEALTHY, and he gives me his all when I ask for it!

15/04/2024

How does a horse like this end up here 😔😔

I HAVE A HOME!! THANK YOU HAY BURR INN EQUINE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY ❣️
LOCATED IN HARMONY PA ( just north of Pittsburgh)
15 year old DHH mare, 16.1 hands. This is a classy classy gal. She is broke to drive, family had too many horses. Road shoes on with good feet and legs. Would make a classy riding horse! Don’t miss her! If the guy can find her papers you will get them. IF.

22/03/2024

Owning horses be like… 😂😂

04/03/2024

💔💔

22/01/2024

FUN FACT FRIDAY! Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice, good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
•
Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

22/01/2024

One from my sketch book last night.

Happy Sunday

18/01/2024

I love this! What a wonderful way to bring attention to such an amazing organization 👏👏👏

02/01/2024

As we enter 2024, I would like to take a minute to thank everyone who supported us in 2023. Last year was impossibly challenging for us for several reasons. Physically, I suffered through more injuries and broken bones than I've ever had in one year, in my entire 40 years of my life, and my husband was no different. Trying to take care of a farm full of animals with two broken adults (and two young children) was a feat, to say the least. Mentally, it drained us. Financially, it drained us, as did the continued rise of inflation and costs of basic care items. We questioned on more than one occasion if giving up was something we should consider...but then I remembered everything we've conquered and been through to get to where we are and I remember that giving up is NOT an option. We have put our entire hearts and lives into making our rescue a success, and we will continue this mission for 2024. For these reasons, I can say with confidence that we are more grateful for our village and our supporters than most. Truly, every single dollar that was donated, every share that you helped us share, every word of encouragement. Every single act of support was another reminder that we have the BEST village and that we CAN do this, even when it feels impossible. You guys mean the absolute world to us and to the horses because we couldn't do it without you! So thank you, from the very bottom of our hearts. We are looking ahead to 2024 and hoping for the very best year we can have saving as many equines as we can, and we have you to thank for it! Onward and upward! We're coming for you 2024. You have ALOT to make up for..

15/12/2023

Not everyone agrees on this topic, but here at the Dorset Equine Rescue, we strongly agree. Horses are naturally herd animals and are happiest with at least one of their own kind.