Close Ranch

Close Ranch is an equine retirement facility that is also home to Humble Hoof Horsemanship and Rescue

Close Ranch, owned by Chad & Lindsey Close, is home of Ideal Horsemanship ran by Miranda Deal. Contact Miranda Deal of Ideal Horsemanship for training inquiries from c**t starting to tune ups or consignment sales.

07/08/2025

Super thanks to Double L Arena Builders for coming out today and making sure our arena footing stays safe ✨

06/25/2025

Over 6 years ago, mostly out of frustration, I created this graphic and accompanying article on how to best set up a trail course at a horse show. I was frustrated with show organizers designing & setting courses that didn't allow exhibitors an opportunity to succeed! All of the tips still ring true and can be very helpful to show managers and exhibitors, enjoy! 🤠

While these are the measurements set by AQHA, I've found the easiest way to remember is "2 x 3 = 6".

Setting a Trail Course For Success: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/setting-a-trail-course-for-success

06/18/2025

We have some exciting changes coming up at the ranch! Stay tuned for more updates as we keep working on some projects 🤩

While we currently do not have any openings, we are accepting interested clients to our Wait List.

06/17/2025

Muscle Monday - Trapezius

Welcome back to , the series where we will talk about the many muscles of the equine body!

We are starting today with the trapezius muscle. The trapezius muscle is one of the most superficial muscles in the body. This muscle is thin and triangular (think triangle = trapezius). The exact size and shape of the trapezius can vary widely between individual horses.

--- Function ---
The trapezius muscle can be divided into two sections.

- The cervical trapezius (neck) contracts to swing the scapula forward. ⬅️
- The thoracic trapezius (back) contracts to pull the scapula backwards. ➡️
- If both sections contract simultaneously, the shoulder will elevate. ⬆️

Although this muscle connects to both the neck and back, its primarily influence is to the shoulder. The trapezius is not one of the thick, weight bearing muscles of the back and it can be easily damaged by poor saddle fit. This can lead to reduced shoulder movement, pain and muscle atrophy.

Stay tuned for part two this Wednesday!

06/05/2025

Excited to test out the new footing this evening! Thank you, Joey Quadros, for delivering and spreading sand ✨

Please make sure to water the round pen before use to help keep dust down - thank you!

03/19/2025

Did you know horse teeth erupt throughout their whole life.
Once the growth of a tooth stops it has only that amount of tooth to erupt and wear for the span of its life.
This is a picture of approx a 24yr old on the left and approx 10yr old horse on the right. It shows how much wear a tooth can have.
Every horse is different, and there are factors that can change the wear pattern and eruption of their teeth.
Having proper regular dentistry done is a key factor in the proper wear and eruption of the teeth.
Horse teeth wear and erupt to pressure. If there is a hook and wave complex this will cause hyper eruption on some teeth and premature wear on other teeth. If there is a missing tooth the opposing tooth will hyper erupt and grow into the hole of where the opposing tooth used to be. There are many other scenarios, but that gives a general idea.
When a horse’s mouth is balanced correctly the teeth all work in unison, wear and erupt at normal rates of speed, and extend the quality and life of the teeth.
This picture is not concrete on a eruption scale because of the circumstances on each horse, but gives a visual on how much eruption and wear horse teeth can have.

Mark Allen Advanced Equine Dentistry
“It’s all about the balance”

03/18/2025

Unlike humans, horses don’t have collarbones. Their shoulders are held to the rest of their skeleton via a sling of muscles and ligaments instead, often referred to as the “thoracic sling.”

Why is this important? We often ask our equine athletes to perform complex movements that require tremendous strength and coordination, and horses carry the majority of their weight in their front end. Therefore, it is imperative that the bulk of the muscles that support the front end are kept healthy and conditioned, and the horse is trained to use their “motor” — that is, engaging the large hind end muscles as much as possible to avoid excessive weight bearing on the front end.

If the front end of the horse is consistently overweighted or not at an appropriate level of fitness, repetitive biomechanical stresses get transferred down the leg to the smaller ligaments and tendons that were not designed to bear this weight, which can then lead to injury.

Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

Address

Valley Springs, CA
95252

Website

https://closeranch10179.wixsite.com/closeranch

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