Big Lake Farm EQ

18/11/2024

A beautiful mustang on a froggy morning

22/08/2024

As if this has ever happened

19/08/2024

This gorgeous girl arrived for training yesterday, check out her brand! That is the prettiest happy accident I’ve ever seen in a freezebrand 😂. Prada is a 4yo mustang from Saylor Creek, Idaho. Melissa Davis Tripp she was brilliant for her first day of school 🤩
Pic of Reno’s nice normal brand for comparison

18/08/2024

Afternoon procrastination project…I hung the heart rocks I’ve picked up around the farm outside my tack room. (And some feathers from the crow family I’ve been trying to befriend forever, but I think they’re just training me, and also some mustang tags). This is my office 💜

11/08/2024

Hi friends, here is the link to help the 13 mustangs that were saved from northern MI. This is the worst neglect/abuse case I have ever heard of. Every little bit helps—Cady and Kody have a long road ahead of them getting these poor horses healthy again.

28/07/2024

Having the right tools for the job is so important. Here’s a quick video on finding a rope halter with the right amount of “feel.” You’ll be surprised at what a huge difference this makes in your groundwork!

28/07/2024

08/07/2024

When the hose comes out on a hot day, Willow’s gonna bring you her butt

03/07/2024

Every time

04/06/2024

We had a horse not want to be caught until Cheyenne Comerford took her sunglasses off the other day. So this is how she comes today

03/06/2024

Education vs Gentling 🤔

I look at training our mustangs as a two fold process...the actual gentling part and education part. I find that mustangs can have an education and not actually be gentled. They have be taught skills, but they are still afraid of people (even through they try to "comply").

These are the mustangs that have "skills" such as trailer loading, saddling, they may even take a rider. However, they are jumpy, snorty, spook easily, and they are unpredictable.

When unhandled they had a fear of the unknown with people. After handling, they have a fear of the known. Meaning, they know or they have learned that interacting with people is a negative and scary experience for them.

Our domestic horses grow up believing we exist to feed them. Our mustangs grow us believing we exist to EAT them. Please try to sit with that difference for a moment. They are not the same. We need to gain our mustangs trust and confidence so they KNOW we are partners, leaders, and SAFE to be around 💜

At SMA, we gentle all our mustangs at liberty using a positive reinforcement approach. This way they can honestly tell us when they need more confidence in an area, instead of just complying because they know they are snapped and can't get away. As our mustangs get gentled, we add the education part as they are ready for new experiences.

All horses start with different levels of fear and temperament so that will make a difference in how quickly they progress. However, we consistently develop mustangs that are confident and engaged. Mustangs that want to be with us and are eager to start their training season each day 🥰

I write this in attempt to encourage adopters to look for ways to help their mustangs develop into willing partners too 💖

Here is Lucky 45 days from unhandled 🍀
He LOVES his family! We are LUCKY have him 😉

03/06/2024

I had a great weekend of intensive learning and adventure down at Westfall Horsemanship with Stacy Westfall. I’m always amazed at how my lessons in horsemanship apply to my broader life. This happens all the time in boxing and martial arts, too—it’s not like I turn into a different person in the barn or gym or anywhere. I’ve found I have the same habits, beliefs, strengths, and limitations everywhere. (Hint: These aren’t just physical.)
There’s gold to be found in even the tiniest technical maneuvers. What’s not working? Why? Dig deeper.
🌟 One of my biggest takeaways from this weekend:
You can stay safe, and comfortable. Or you can get better.

11/05/2024

When your bucket list comes to you, it’s really something.

20/04/2024

I took my Queen B down to Stacy Westfall’s for some boot camp and mostly took pics of her foals 😂.
Stacy has been my teacher for 4 years now (that was fast???) and I still have to pinch myself every time I walk into her barn. I am so, so grateful to learn from her.
Well, I will be tomorrow. Today I’m just sore and my brain is mush. Riding with an expert is intense lol

19/04/2024

Last night we got to visit Micah’s 2022 TIP Challenge baby, Maybe (and we did call her Baby Maybe lol). We a big gorgeous monster she has grown into 😍.
We both got back in the truck and said immediately, we should not have sold that horse. 😂
Kathryn Meyer is the most perfect person for her though and she lives the most perfect horsey life. Thank you Kat ❤️❤️❤️

08/04/2024

Words of wisdom from Lovely Assistant Rachel Richard today. She said the horse was telling me this, it was a light hearted moment but I was like OH RIGHT 🙌