Copper Light Farm

09/02/2024

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle, patience and a sense of humor.

09/01/2024

September is greeting us with all kinds of lovely fall vibes… even if just for a day. 🍂

08/29/2024

Dreaming of crisp fall days and the return of our winter friends (like these two cuties) 🍂

08/27/2024

Brotherly love 🩶

08/25/2024

Golden Sundays ☀️

08/22/2024

🔜

08/19/2024

Forward fixes everything ✨

08/17/2024

Eyes up, darling

When someone leaves a comments or a like here, I often click on their name to see their riding images on their page. I do this to keep track of what today's typical riding looks like. I see all kinds of riding. Some images and videos show very good balanced riding. What seems to be a common riding flaw that I see recently is with head position. So many riders post pictures of their riding with their eyes looking down. This might seem a minor issue, but it is not.

When your eyes are down, your horse can feel that your balance is forward, more over the forehand. This will put your horse onto their forehand. When your eyes go down, your head that weighs 15 pounds (7 kg) goes down and forward, and usually your shoulders fall forward as well. The fact that your head is up high at the end of an effective lever that is your upper body, multiplies the forward weight that you place over your horse's shoulders.

The negative effects this has on your horse show up in several ways. It makes both upward and downward transitions more difficult for your horse. This is because Horses need to push off or reach under with their hind, and you have shifted their balance off their hind. Lead changes become more difficult for the same reason.

Worst of all for riders, looking down makes it more difficult to develop "feel". I briefly had an argumentative student who insisted on looking down. She would argue with me when I said "eyes up", saying "I like to see what my horse is doing". I'd explain that with eyes up you can feel what your horse is doing and that makes all the difference.

If you look down when riding, just stop doing that. If you have to look down, move your eyeballs, not your head. If you do this, many improvements will follow. You will sit the canter better because your head and neck position will no longer interfere with your hips swinging to the 1-2-3 beat of the canter. "Eyes up". It's simple and fixes a lot of things.

08/15/2024

A lovely horse is always an experience... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. — Beryl Markham

08/12/2024

Leasing is a wonderful way to get more saddle time and dip your toe into the responsibilities of horse ownership.

We are thrilled to offer four wonderful horses for full or half lease here at the farm. A little something for everyone; a former international jumper, a beginner friendly all-around mount, a sporty jumper partner and an FEI dressage prospect.

All details available on the website. DM, text, WhatsApp or call Lindsey to discuss finding a match. 650-248-8227

https://copperlightfarm.com/horses/horses-for-lease/

08/09/2024

It may be blazing hot still but we’re in planning mode for winter season and it’s got me 😀😀😀

08/08/2024

Fear is contagious, so is hope ✨

08/06/2024

Fun local clinic opportunity 🩶

We are excited to welcome back International Grand Prix rider and USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist Micah Deligdish.

Micah has experience with horses of all breeds and experience, and focuses on training up the levels with an emphasis on harmony and relaxation. TO BOOK (pm me)
Saturday Aug 10,2024

08/03/2024

This is Dressage. This is sport.

Isabell tearing up getting her seventh gold medal. Beautiful relaxed rides being rewarded. Unanimous appreciation for the horses. The team behind the scenes. The camaraderie. 🥹

This is the magic.

08/03/2024

What we’ve all been waiting for 🤣🙌🏼

08/02/2024

It’s officially “covered arena or bust” season 🥵 Stay safe out there, Floridians!

08/01/2024

Worth a read - what I hope for all of our partnerships! 🩶

The Ecuadorean flag-bearer Julio Mendoza Loor has enjoyed a fairytale journey to compete in Olympic dressage, with his bargain-buy horse Jewel’s Goldstrike

07/31/2024

Starve your distractions, feed your focus.
- Jay Shetty

07/30/2024

Fabulous!

Our 2024-2025 competition calendar is here! 📅
When will we see YOU here?
Discover Florida's premier equestrian destination at www.terranovaequestrian.com 🐴

07/30/2024

One foot in front of the other

07/28/2024

Marcus’s blue suede boots need to be talked about more. 💯

07/27/2024

“You are stronger than your toughest days and brighter than your darkest moments“

07/26/2024

Happy little details