Trademark Quarter Horses

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Trademark Quarter Horses At TMQH, kind & willing is our goal. Offering horseback riding lessons/horse training/baby boot camp.
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Here at TMQ, we strive to produce horses with trademark willing disposition, conformation, and a pedigree to match. Our horses are utilized for our family, lessons, friends, and for special needs therapy. They need to be able to win a 4H show one day and teach a beginner lesson or help a disabled child do therapy another day. We have stallions standing to the public, mares, and horses for sale, pl

us offer all levels of riding lessons. Please look through our page here or our website and contact us with any comments or questions.

14/08/2024

If we talked about changing times for your lessons during the school year and you aren't sure what was decided, please reach out to me! I have the schedule ready and we can check to make sure that we have the same times. 😊

LESSONS MONDAY 22ND WILL BE CANCELLED!!! Lillianna and Zoey are going to 4-H Regionals and I won't be available for less...
20/07/2024

LESSONS MONDAY 22ND WILL BE CANCELLED!!!
Lillianna and Zoey are going to 4-H Regionals and I won't be available for lessons. Anyone that wants to come watch what 4-H looks like, it'll be at the Kaysville arena starting at 7am.

Monday students, we'll catch you next week!

One of my biggest frustrations in this industry is the lack of understanding and consideration for the role that lesson ...
19/05/2024

One of my biggest frustrations in this industry is the lack of understanding and consideration for the role that lesson horses play. So often, I see riders complaining about lesson horses for a huge variety of reasons: for their perceived lack of quality or value, for having to ride one they don’t like, for not getting to ride the one they do like, for their trainer not having enough lesson horses, or for the lesson horses not being available at their convenience when their personal horse is out of commission. I’ve dealt with all of the above and I know I’ll continue to do so, but I think it’s important that people understand the reality of lesson horses, and that’s that they aren’t here for your kid to ride forever and climb the levels with your one or two lesson a week commitment. They’re here to get you started, safely and productively, while you decide just how far you want to take this.

Lesson horses are incredibly special creatures. They have to be easily caught by beginners who don’t know how to properly approach a prey animal. They have to stand like statues on the crossties while tiny kids take the better part of an hour to get them clean. They have to hold their head still while beginners jam the bit into their teeth for the fiftieth time in a row to put the bridle on. They have to stand still at the mounting block while someone stands for too long with all their weight in the left stirrup and then slams down on their back with no consideration for their comfort. They tolerantly teach riders who are unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unclear, who catch their mouths and bounce on their backs and kick at their sides, and every single time, they are expected to just come again without so much as a swish of their tail or pinning of their ears. And any time one of these horses has a moment where they act like a regular horse or force the rider to really ride, they’re labeled annoying or rude or bad or lazy or whatever.

Lesson horses are not intended to take you up the levels and jump big jumps and win all the classes. If these horses were this beginner-friendly and this tolerant AND the hack winner with an auto lead change, you couldn’t afford them! That’s not to say these horses can’t be winners if you ride them well and pull your weight, but their ability to win in the show ring is not where their real value lies. Lesson horses exist to bring new riders into the sport. To teach them the ropes and get them started, lay a foundation and prepare them to make a bigger commitment to the sport by leasing or purchasing the next step horse. Lesson horses are not responsible for chasing your Olympic dreams for you. They’re responsible for getting them started in the first place. For riders to act like a lesson horse isn’t valuable because he isn’t the winner in any company is ignorant and unfair.

Every horse you ride has something to teach you. Whether it’s the crotchety old school pony who likes to root when you’re not paying attention, or the younger lesson horse who will only pick up the right lead if you ask *just right*, or the ultra reliable skip-change king, they all will add to your toolkit that you can one day apply to the fancier model you get to take you to the next level. Don’t forget about all the lessons you learn along the way and remember that without lesson horses, you wouldn’t be riding at all!

**Thank you so much for all of the shares!! The fact that this took off the way it did shows that people love and appreciate their lesson horses, as they should!! If you wish to share my words with your own photo, I would really appreciate being given author credit. Thank you!**

-Jeanette Arnout

We've got Trademark Quarter Horses down at Cross E Ranch helping with pony rides for the 4H Fundraiser. Come down, grab ...
10/05/2024

We've got Trademark Quarter Horses down at Cross E Ranch helping with pony rides for the 4H Fundraiser. Come down, grab a ride, and support a group at the same time! 💕

09/05/2024

To think this mare used to be afraid of everything if she was in the front on a trail. Now she's not only in the front, but you can also trust her enough to have one hand on the phone videoing and the other hand on the horse you're ponying, with her reins down on the her neck, and have her walking willingly through the water. What an enjoyable ride!

Top- how your kids are taught when they come to TMQH. Bottom- how my kid is taught. 😂(Ok, maybe not that extreme.)
07/05/2024

Top- how your kids are taught when they come to TMQH.
Bottom- how my kid is taught. 😂

(Ok, maybe not that extreme.)

Those wanting to get on the summer schedule, I'm booking it now, shoot me a message. My "after school lessons" that are ...
28/04/2024

Those wanting to get on the summer schedule, I'm booking it now, shoot me a message.

My "after school lessons" that are already booked, if you're wanting to switch to mornings when school is out, please reach out and let's get you on the calendar so you don't lose your spots.

The trails are open and finally drying up...Let the trial riding commence!
24/04/2024

The trails are open and finally drying up...
Let the trial riding commence!

Time to start getting our lessons scheduled! Reach out to get on the calendar! 😁
09/04/2024

Time to start getting our lessons scheduled! Reach out to get on the calendar! 😁

The hard reality of all our animals....https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NamjhWpcvJTtntoY/?mibextid=CDWPTG
20/02/2024

The hard reality of all our animals....

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NamjhWpcvJTtntoY/?mibextid=CDWPTG

Today I want to talk about the problem with being really good at taking care of horses:

You will have to decide when their life ends.

Not always - once in a blue moon a horse will do you the favor of tipping over quietly and instantly. I've seen it happen. It happened to our Perry last year, who was about 30 years old, and laid down and left the world in excellent weight with a shiny coat, sounder than the day he arrived, and no apparent issue that would have prompted a call to the vet.

But most of the time, when you're good enough at taking care of horses that your horses live to be 25+, you will have to make the call. Not only is this a big responsibility, but it's so hard for some people that animal control is kept busy every day with situations like horse owners who cannot accept reality and call the vet for a horse who can no longer get up on his own, or hasn't even tried for days. While you probably would make a better choice if you're here on my page - my content does tend to attract horsepeople who think mostly with their heads - I think we can all understand the emotions that make someone think, well, let's just call the fire department for help getting him up. Look, he's eating, he wants to live!

(Wanting to live does not = not wanting to die by starvation. They are two different things, even for human beings.)

Since we're mostly a senior horse sanctuary at this point, I'm going to share the guidelines we use here and maybe they will help someone else. There are other rescues with different standards, and we align with that more when it goes in the direction of "a day too soon" than months too late. This is just what we think, not necessarily the one true answer, and it's all debatable obviously because it tends to be a hot button issue -- but we need to normalize the discussion because that helps people make better and more humane choices for their animals.

Lameness: A horse can live quite happily, unridden, with a bit of chronic lameness even on a straight line - if that level of lameness is not inhibiting him from normal behavior. What's normal behavior? When the herd runs, he runs - he isn't gimping along far behind the others at a creaky trot. He still has a buck & fart in him on a cold morning. He can get down for a good roll and get up again without falling or needing assistance. He doesn't look worse than stiff like an old person would be at the walk - he isn't head-bobbing lame. He doesn't have a leg so arthritic that it looks like the letter C. He gets some pain management drugs if needed and he gets a quality joint supplement. Ideally he lives on turnout or if that's absolutely not available, someone gets him out of the stall every day for a long walk that will help him not to feel so stiff.

I saw a video from another "rescue" of a horse that was three legged lame trying to get back to the barn (on a downhill, ffs) at the most painful walk I have ever seen, and they thought it was great that he was such a "fighter." Ugh, no, he's only "fighting" because he has no way to put himself down.

Colic: Look, call it early. Either you have the money to go to the hospital, or you need to put them down if there's no improvement in a few hours. If they're really painful, that window of time is shorter. Horses have varying pain tolerances and there is absolutely the drama llama that will look like they are going to die for sure when the vet arrives and after an oiling and a walk, are perfectly fine and screaming for food six hours later. (Don't feed them. As a vet I know says, nothing ever died from not eating for 24 hours, but a lot of horses die from colic.)

Either way, you cannot screw around - get the vet out, make a decision. I do not think anybody is a bad person for not racing horses to the hospital for thousands of dollars they simply may not have any access to. We don't do it. If there's an infinite amount of money somewhere, we surely have not identified its location and we understand that many horse owners are in the same boat. A swift veterinary euthanasia is never a morally wrong choice, full stop - our duty to our horses is to prevent suffering, not make sure they live to see the next election. They don't care.

Accidents: These are hard. Your vet is going to explain to you all of the rehab options available to you -- that's their job. If a horse is 30 years old and steps in a gopher hole, do you really think a year of stall rest is how he wants to spend the last part of his life? Would you? We always have to think about the fact that a horse is designed to run with friends. If the odds are they'll never have that ability back - call it. It's going to be the right thing for both the horse and your financial situation. It absolutely pains me to see someone, often someone who doesn't have much of an income to begin with, bankrupting themselves trying to keep an animal alive. I know they are your best friend. I know death sucks. But you're not giving them a quality of life they even want, and you're annihilating your own life. It is absolutely fine to make the call.

Neurological conditions: This is a hot button for me. I cannot comprehend people keeping a horse alive who walks sideways, falls down, loses control of his hind end, etc. Please stop. A horse isn't you - he can't lie in bed comfortably, scrolling Instagram reels and watching reality television when he's unable to move around safely due to an injury or illness. It's incredibly scary for a horse to be out of balance and at risk of falling. He is a prey animal in nature - one of his intrinsic needs is being able to run away from a threat. If the neurological issues are from a disease like EPM, you can certainly try treatment but you should see improvement within a month or so if it's going to happen. If the neurological issues are from an injury and not getting any better - please, please do the right thing and put them down before they get stuck in a fence with a broken leg or neck from falling the wrong way. You do not want that to be your last memory of them.

Foals with serious problems: I could write pages on this but I already addressed some of it in my recent post about things you should know about if you're going to breed. A foal that will be permanently crippled has a very poor chance of any quality of life or of being fed and cared for and not coming to a bad end. If the vet can correct the issue with surgery, and you can afford the surgery, and it has a good chance of success, by all means go for it. But sometimes all you're doing is creating a $10,000 pasture pet that someone will have to care for forever, and the number of people who want to take care of any pasture pet (even their OWN that they used to show and compete with!) is a tiny percentage of the horse owning population and getting smaller by the day. No one enjoys putting down a foal but it's always a possible outcome when you breed your mare.

While I'm on this topic, please stop keeping mares alive long enough to give birth if something has gone horribly wrong for them. If they can't walk, put them down. I saw some moron once that had a pregnant DSLD mare in a sling after her tendons ruptured because they just had to get that baby. This is animal cruelty.

General quality of life: Sometimes there is not one specific bad thing, but a collection of things. Your elderly horse is arthritic and needs a lot to keep them comfortable day to day. They've also got Cushing's and need daily meds. Now they have a chronic eye issue. They won't take meds in food. Every day, you have a struggle trying to syringe meds into their mouth and treat their eye, while they bang you against the fence. You do all this just for them to continually rub the eye, making it worse, no matter what kind of hooded contraption you put on their head. The vet is at your house constantly, trying to patch this horse back together. You can't afford it and, worse yet, the horse isn't getting any better. At a certain point, some of them just sort of melt down - it's very common with the Cushing's horses, because that disease tends to make them prone to other infections. If there is a lot wrong, every day is a struggle to treat the issues, and there's no improvement, it may be time to make the call.

They just quit: Sometimes, without a clear diagnosis even after you spend the money for bloodwork and have carefully examined the mouth and the vitals, horses just quit. They go off food. They start staring into the middle distance. They don't interact with other horses anymore. They are borderline cranky or just dull to everything. I've seen them where they'll only eat cookies, and are even unenthusiastic about that. The life has left their eyes. We all want a diagnosis, but sometimes you are not going to get one, and you will have to call it. It's just part of being a senior horse owner. You can certainly necropsy, if you can afford it, and that may give you a clear answer, but when we see horses in this state who are not in this state due to long term starvation and neglect - if they are normal weight and well cared for but acting like this? Our experience is they are not coming back, and it is time.

What things have you seen and experienced that let you know it was time to make the call? Pictured is Orca, who is 38 and has Cushing's and looks old, but runs toward her breakfast mush like this every morning. She is making it clear she isn't done yet, and the day that changes, we'll help her out of this world into the next.

S***k your baby horse. I don’t mean beat them. I don’t mean give them a little tug on the lead rope. I mean a rude horse...
20/02/2024

S***k your baby horse.

I don’t mean beat them. I don’t mean give them a little tug on the lead rope. I mean a rude horse deserves and understands some rudeness right back at them far better than a sweet whisper in their ear.

I mean, when your c**t or filly is running you over or throwing their ass at you or throwing their feet at you or snatching at you with their teeth, S***K THEM. Their mama would never tolerate that behavior from them. The old babysitter gelding in their pasture would not tolerate that behavior. YOU SHOULDNT TOLERATE IT.

They don’t like you because you’re sweet to them. They “like” food, water and safety.
You want your horse to be fed so you bring them food.
You want your horse to have water so you keep water in front of them.
What do you do when you want them to be safe? You discipline them when they are unsafe. You teach them to respect humans and make good choices. When they don’t respect humans and humans get hurt what happens? THEY ARENT SAFE. They can’t be treated when they are sick. They can’t have their feet cared for. If they are hurt you can’t fix them. If something happens to you? What happens to your sweet dream horse? They aren’t going to be safe. No one wants a disrespectful dangerous horse. I don’t care how pretty they are. I don’t care how much money you paid for it. I don’t care what names are on its papers. If it’s a complete s**t, it’s a complete s**t and the good horse owners? They don’t want it! I don’t want it! You know who does want it? The meat man.

If you love that horse, don’t be afraid to give it a s***k when it’s rude.

Credit to the OG author Melissa McPherson White

⭐⭐And if you can't s***k your horse, send it to Baby Bootcamp with Trademark Quarter Horses to get a respectful and kind baby!!!⭐⭐

Let’s talk about the lack of quality coaching and lack of standards in the equine industry. For example, kids learning w...
15/02/2024

Let’s talk about the lack of quality coaching and lack of standards in the equine industry.

For example, kids learning with someone who claims to be a “coach" and all they learned is how to see-saw a horse's head down and chuck their body around a barrel like a champion.
All coaching is not equal.

But what happens when you have a good coach? One that opens their program to you, takes you under his/her wing? Becomes invested in your success? When you essentially become part of the "family"...

Eventually, something will happen...

Coach tells you that you are not Martha Josey 2.0, and not ready to make the move up to the next level.
Coach says you need to go back and fix some holes in your training or on your horse.
Coach says you have developed a bad habit, and it needs to be fixed before you can accomplish your goals.

Coach says you need to make sure that your horse is being ridden. With a purpose.
Coach says you need to dedicate more time to studying the sport, not just riding.
Coach says it isn't a "horse" problem, it is a "you" problem.

People have become increasingly more reactionary. More easily offended. In lieu of everyone getting a trophy, it is so hard to hear these words from people you admire. Some of the best coaches will be the toughest. Not ones that tear you apart constantly, but coaches that aren't afraid to have the tough conversations with you. Or conversations that you may not have wanted to have.

But remember, a good coach is in YOUR corner. They want YOU to achieve success. They dedicate so much more than an hour of time to your growth not only as a rider but as a horseman. Maybe you are burning the candle at both ends (and in the middle), and you need a reality check that this sport requires more of your time and focus.

These conversations can hurt, but while it may sting at first.... take a second. Think about why your coach is against you moving up right now, why your coach is saying to wait until the summer to be a working student, why your coach is saying that you should not enter the show until the homework and flat work is done, why they're saying your horse needs extra work on an exercise.

Surround yourself with coaches that aren't afraid to have these tough conversations with you. You don't want or need a "cheerleader" coach. You are paying you for your coach’s expertise... the positives and the criticism. Let them help make the best decisions for your horse and his training, and for your program. The lessons on the horse and the lessons off of the horse. Are you ready?
~Courtney S

We've affectionately nicknamed this guy "Monster" while we've been working with him. He's the cutest! He is only a yearl...
01/02/2024

We've affectionately nicknamed this guy "Monster" while we've been working with him. He's the cutest! He is only a yearling but is easily taller than most of my horses. Zoey had a productive day of braiding his mane at the arena today then he went to watch mounted shooting tonight.

I have *the best* clients and friends!Someone posted on a local page looking for riding lessons for their child. I had F...
14/01/2024

I have *the best* clients and friends!

Someone posted on a local page looking for riding lessons for their child. I had FIFTEEN people recommend me! You guys hold this business together and I just want to say thank you. You all are so amazing! I see you....and I appreciate you all so much. 😍

Boujee isn't so sure about all this snow. I can't say I blame her. I know I don't love it! 😂
12/01/2024

Boujee isn't so sure about all this snow. I can't say I blame her. I know I don't love it! 😂

31/12/2023

Could you ride your two year old through ice, ponying a yearling, and have them as calm and collected as these two are? This was their first day being asked to go through it, and this is the yearling's first time ever walking in it.

I guess "O" didn't feel like I needed to be seen in the picture. But at least she smiled for it! I've got one spot open ...
01/12/2023

I guess "O" didn't feel like I needed to be seen in the picture. But at least she smiled for it! I've got one spot open for training this month, it'll be mostly arena riding only.

I DID NOT KNOW... by Alissa KellyI did not know a horse could bring people into your life that end up meaning the most t...
25/11/2023

I DID NOT KNOW... by Alissa Kelly

I did not know a horse could bring people into your life that end up meaning the most to you.
I did not know a horse could make the hardest days of your life bearable.
I did not know a horse could teach you to put others first.
I did not know a horse could remind you time and time again that your gut is always right.
I did not know a horse could break your heart.
I did not know a horse could pick you up when you have fallen apart.
I did not know a horse could teach you to dream again, after you thought it was not possible.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in yourself.
I did not know a horse could teach responsibility, work ethic, and dedication.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in something when no one else does.
I did not know a horse could make you learn to forgive and forget.
I did not know a horse could humble you faster than you can say humble.
I did not know a horse could make you a winner.
I did not know a horse could also teach you how to lose gracefully.
I did not know a horse could instill patience in you.
I did not know a horse could make you listen better.
I did not know a horse could give you their heart.
I did not know a horse could change your life.
I did not know a horse could do all these things...
but now I know. ❀❀

We hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving Day!Keep fingers crossed that storms decide to cooperate and we can dry out...
24/11/2023

We hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving Day!Keep fingers crossed that storms decide to cooperate and we can dry out a bit and still ride a little more this year.

As for now, we are too wet for lessons.

Don't forget the Gift Certificates that I offer this time of year. Buy 4 lessons, get 1 free. Contact me for more info.

(Emma says hi!)

Well.... we're back to those days where we're swimming folks. No Tuesday lessons today!
03/10/2023

Well.... we're back to those days where we're swimming folks. No Tuesday lessons today!

Hey folks! I have a Wednesday 4pm still available for weekly lessons.If adults or homeschool are looking, I have more da...
29/09/2023

Hey folks! I have a Wednesday 4pm still available for weekly lessons.
If adults or homeschool are looking, I have more day options available too.

**Boujee with her fancy toes.**

20/09/2023

No lessons the rest of this week! I think I've told everyone, but just in case...

With 4h coming to an end for the year, I have room to take on two new clients. I have Wednesday 4 and 5 o'clock lesson t...
12/09/2023

With 4h coming to an end for the year, I have room to take on two new clients. I have Wednesday 4 and 5 o'clock lesson times available starting September 27th. If I have any current lessons that would like to be moved to that time, please feel free to reach out.
Also, friendly reminder to stay on top of your payments. Even though it's just a hobby for your kids, it is my business for me and how I pay my bills. If you owe me, please send it over.😉

As always, thanks everyone for being so fantastic to work with.😁

Handle your babies regularly and it makes your necessary medical care so much easier! Arrow didn't even get up from his ...
31/08/2023

Handle your babies regularly and it makes your necessary medical care so much easier! Arrow didn't even get up from his nap for his dewormer. Such a sweet boy! Reach out to me if you need help with getting your baby used to everyday care.

Jessica Armistead

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