Gentle Hooves Riding Academy

01/22/2025

We will be riding tomorrow, January 23. Dress warm

01/22/2025

Before you head to the barn this morning, remember, your horse is trying to understand you as you try to understand them. Its a relationship that is constantly working towards a mutual understanding - just be kind!

01/11/2025

The Effect of a Nervous Human.... one of my favorite studies!

Researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences looked at the effect of an increased heart rate in a human on the horse they were riding or handling.

Here's a link from the abstract... "Each horse–human pair walked or rode between points A and B (30 m) four times on each test occasion.

However, just before the fourth pass, participants were told that an umbrella⛱ would be opened as they rode, or led, the horse past the assistant.

The umbrella was not opened, so this pass was no different to the previous control occasions, but nevertheless there was an increase in HR for both the person AND the horse."

We affect our horses.

When looking at any training "issue", our first responsibility is to to know ourselves and explore if there's something we could do better.

Here's a link to the research article, unfortunately I couldn't find a full text version easily available online, but you can read the rest of the abstract here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S109002330900121X?via%3Dihub

01/11/2025

Never quit 💪

01/08/2025

12/30/2024

We are back on our regular ride schedule beginning this week on Thursday, January 2, 2025

12/26/2024

Hoping this Christmas has been wonderful for all of our barn families. Just a quick reminder that we are closed today and tomorrow we will be back on our regular schedule next Thursday 

12/25/2024

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from the Herd!!!

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

11/15/2024

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11/12/2024

"Will you still love me now my riding days are over?"

Your value in this world was never measured by how many races or ribbons you won.

Riding was a small part of your story and there are still so many chapters to be written....

The way you protect your herd with the alertness of a horse half your age.

For that I love you.

The way you nuzzle the silent tears that I hide from the rest of the world gently off my face...

For that I love you.

The way you embrace the smallest little human with such gentleness all whilst using your warm breath to touch their tiny soul.

For that I love you.

For the lives you have changed.

For the souls you have touched.

For the life lessons you have taught.

And for the sunsets you have made me notice.

For that I love you.

So will I still love you the same now your riding days are over?

No my beautiful boy I will not....

For I will love you even more.

And with that love I promise you....

Your belly will always be full...

Your ageing body will never go cold...

And your home will be for life.❤️

Jo Harmer