Tristan Dressage

01/20/2025

Great Day for the polo ponies at the welcome back first match of the 2025 season. Thanks for having us at this fun event MK Ranch and Indian River Health Center

01/19/2025

Looking forward to attending this fun polo match.

Thank you MK Ranch

Welcome to 2025's Opening Game sponsor. Indian River Health Center.
We will see you at Vero Beach Polo January 19th!!
Gates open at 12 noon. Match at 2:00pm.

01/04/2025

Upcoming USDF Book Club webinar with Janet Foy discussing her book, Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse. It will be held January 15, 2025 at 8:00pm EST

Send any questions you would like Janet to answer to [email protected] – Questions can also be asked live during the webinar!

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RrilmFvtQoKxJS17lvIfSA

Want to learn more about the USDF Book Club? Visit this page: https://www.usdf.org/education/book-club.asp

12/18/2024

12/08/2024

Y’all did SO good over Thanksgiving by practicing preventative horse care. Now we need you to continue it a bit longer.

Dec 8-11th is the annual American Association of Equine Practitioners equine veterinary meeting. This is where equine vets go to get up to date continuing education to stay on top of new info to help them help their patients (your horses) stay healthy for longer.

It’s in Orlando FL this year.

What does this mean for you as a horse owner? Your vet may be out of town at the meeting.

We’ve practiced for this. We are prepared, right?!

It’s a good idea to find out if your vet is going and what their emergency backup plan is - because, you know, “horses” - right?

Just a recap: practice preventative caregiving.

During this time, as an emergency only vet, I recommend the following:

- Don’t deworm your horse right now.

- Don’t start a new feed right now.

- Don’t get a new round bale of coastal hay right now if you’ve let the last one go to dust (give small amounts at a time or mix with a stemmy hay until they’ve had their fill, then give the round bale).

- Don’t change schedules.

- Don’t vaccinate your horse right now, especially if you have a known reactor.

- Don’t be in a rush and fail to soak your feed for long enough (choke risk) - especially if you’re late to feed due to holiday errands/get togethers.

- If you have visitors, limit treats. Ensure gates are closed. Make sure feed doors and bins locked.

There is already a shortage of equine vets - and the few we do have may be out of town gettin’ their education on.

Remember: Proper Preparation Prevents Poorly Pferds! 😂🥴 (ok that one was a stretch)

11/29/2024

Big news! ‼️ United States Dressage Federation and US Equestrian are thrilled to announce that the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® are scheduled for October 30 – November 2, at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH. Based on consistent feedback from competitors over the years regarding the unpredictable nature of the November weather, WEC was selected as the site of the 2025 and 2026 US Dressage Finals, affording competitors and attendees alike an equivalency of experience in all aspects of this highly revered event. The selection of WEC was based, in large part, on the facility’s over 200,000 square feet of climate-controlled riding space, in which all championship classes will be held, more than 750 permanent climate-controlled stalls, delicious onsite dining, and numerous luxurious lodging options.

Learn more about this update to our marquee ‘Centerline of Champions’ competition here: https://www.usdf.org/press/news/view-news.asp?news=1074

11/28/2024

11/11/2024

Thank you to all who served. Proud to be an American 🇺🇸

11/08/2024

Always be prepared

🔥 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 🔥

I've just spent two very scary days evacuating horses from the Mountain Fire in Somis, CA. The fire started Wednesday morning, during the Santa Ana winds right behind my barn. I got to the barn just as the police were closing the roads and there was already heavy smoke. I pulled up the trailer and started loading horses. By the time I had loaded the first horses, flames were on both sides of the road and I literally dove my truck and trailer through a tunnel of flames and into smoke so thick that I could not see the lines on the road. It was one of the most terrifying days of my life.

I made several trips back and forth through the fire and luckily got most all the horses out and the ones that stayed behind are also safe. The fire continued to spread, so once my horses were safe, I continued on to help others in need. I wanted to share some of the lessons I learned from this experience with you. It is so important to be prepared in case of an emergency, and that you are able to load your horse into the trailer, even in the worst of conditions.

🐴 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. Practice loading at a time when you are not in a hurry. Rushing and forcing will only make your horse not want to go in.

🐴 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬. The first thing I did when I got to the barn, was I put on my tall boots (because they were the only ones I had) and my helmet. I got stepped on by several horses and hit in the head by a swinging trailer door.

🐴 𝐀 𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝. With the rope halter, you can be much more effective and the flag can be used to drive your horse into the trailer.

🐴 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩. Otherwise your horse may panic and pull back. I always have someone at the front holding the horse until I can get the divider locked.

🐴 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 so that if your horse gets caught or pulls back the leather halter will break.

🐴 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫. Remember to release the pressure and reward them by pausing for a moment any time they look at or sniff the trailer. Most people put MORE pressure on the horse when the horse nears or steps on the trailer. This makes the trailer a "bad" place in the horse's mind.

🐴 𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐩. If the trailer ramp is black and rubber, it may look like a big hole to your horse. I was helping load 2 year olds yesterday into a brand new trailer. I covered the ramp in dirt so the horse could see it was safe and this really helped give him confidence to load.

🐴 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. We have an incredible community of horse lovers here in Somis. Everyone reaches out and helps one another. It is so special and I am grateful for everyone who came and helped me get horses out or offered up a place to stay.

I hope these tips help you to stay safe with your horse. We love these animals so much and I can't imagine a life without them. Losing an animal in a fire is my worst nightmare. As horse owners, it is our responsibility that our horses will load into the trailer so that we can take them to safety if needed, or drive them to a vet clinic if they are sick. In an emergency situation, when you don't have time, the horses that won't load in the trailer get left behind. Ironically, my Groundwork Essentials course is open for enrollment through this Sunday. In the program, you will learn exactly, step-by-step, how to teach your horse to load in the trailer so that you are ready before there is an emergency (and a lot of other cool things too). 👇 Link to join in the comments.

The fire burned all around the barn - including the back fence. We still have a lot of horses evacuated to different locations, but for now everyone is ok.

11/02/2024

Copper Light Farm

10/16/2024

THESE BOOTS ....ARE MADE FOR RIDING !
It’s time to make your dreams come true! Whether you are new to riding, wish to return to the saddle or want to fine tune your skills- Put those boots on and make those dreams happen! Located in Vero Beach Fla and the Treasure Coast.
Message us or visit our website for more information
www.tristandressage.com

10/05/2024

10/05/2024