RedHorse Equestrian

12/21/2024

Happy Holidays!!

12/13/2024

It’s the rainy season in Northern California! I love how the grass starts to come up after all the brown. You just need a good coat.

12/05/2024

I have been wondering about this for a while - why is this type of hyperflexion rewarded?

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬: 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱-𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀

A recent study by K. Kienapfel et all (2024) investigated the relationship between head-neck positions (HNPs), conflict behaviour (CB), and judging scores in elite dressage horses. The study examined how these factors align with the animal welfare principles and competition rules established by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
• Conflict behaviour increases with lower nasal plane angles in elite dressage horses.
• Relationship found between head-neck positions and conflict behaviour.
• Surprising rule contradiction: tests with small poll angles received high scores.
• Urgent need to address animal welfare and enhance solutions in dressage sport.

𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆:
The study observed 49 horses participating in the Grand Prix Special (CDIO5*) at CHIO Aachen in 2018 and 2019. Researchers analysed video footage of warm-up and competition phases, measuring HNPs (angle at the vertical, poll angle, and shoulder angle) and recording instances of conflict behaviour. These were evaluated against judges' scores.

The results showed that:

▪️ The nasal plane was behind the vertical more frequently during warm-up than in competition (-11° vs. -5°).
▪️ Poll angles were larger in competition (28°) than in warm-up (24°).
▪️ No significant differences were found in shoulder angles between warm-up and competition phases.

Conflict behaviours, including unusual oral movements, occurred more often during warm-up than in competition. Tail swishing was not affected by the nasal plane’s angle.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀' 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
The study authors concluded that the findings raise concerns about the welfare of elite dressage horses and the application of FEI rules. According to the authors, horses showing restrictive HNPs—such as nasal planes behind the vertical—exhibited more conflict behaviours, yet these positions were not penalised during scoring and, in some cases, correlated with higher scores.

The authors emphasised the importance of addressing these discrepancies to ensure that dressage practices align more closely with established rules and prioritise horse welfare.

11/28/2024

🤗🙌👍

This advice will NOT be popular with those who want it RIGHT NOW, but nevertheless, here goes---

If the goal is to become two things, a good rider and a good horseman/horsewoman, be willing to think in decades rather than in years.

That first decade, from whatever age you began, will take you only so far, and may even take you to the Olympics, but riding skill alone won’t give you all you need to know and be able to do. The next couple of decades will let three components, your physical skills, your control over your emotions and your knowledge, all intertwined to complement one another.

That’s why many of the best riders and trainers are in their 40s, 50s and in some cases in their 60s, even 70s. They didn’t get those tens of thousands of hours overnight.

There are ever so many riders and trainers who gave up too soon. They just needed to have hung in there another ten years, maybe twenty. Which sounds insane, but actually isn’t.

11/22/2024

Another trail walk for Abraham! We went back to Thornewood with the technical creek crossing. This time we even had a little water as it has been raining a bit. He was a champ and crossed with no qualms whatsoever! Love how brave and smart this young horse is!!

11/19/2024

Abraham’s sire!

11/13/2024

Happy Fall 🍁🍂🍁

10/20/2024

I need to bring the ball back out for Abraham!

10/19/2024

Our weekly trail walk to new areas happened today! Amazing how this 3 year old takes everything in stride. First time on trails with steep drop offs and getting over a small stream and strange crossing with a step in and out and in a gulley. I certainly know a few horses that have refused to cross but Abraham just took some time to look and made it across both ways without any issue. We also encountered a man running from behind us with a large dog who didn’t announce himself - that was a little scary but pretty level headed. PSA: for those non horse folks it’s always good to announce yourself (say something) so horses don’t think you are a prey animal.

#

10/19/2024

https://lane-press.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=66920&i=831266&view=articleBrowser&article_id=4856277&ver=html5&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2P3PSEyd9Kbk2Wwo0dJ2KrpW98Ohee6q7yiSf9d5BMcDEyokRWQ01F4pY_aem_6gpKbYjz-kKP0EvSkkTo3g

Controversy surrounding the head-neck position (HNP) of elite dressage horses, both in training and during competition, has dominated the attention of the …

10/12/2024

Abraham update: It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. Last weeks heat wave was rough but we finally have normal temperatures here.

Today we went a new way and for the longest trail walk yet! Abraham lead the way for most of it including going by all this road construction. He was incredibly sane and smart about all he saw including two groups of horses dressed up for day of the horse, a donkey and loads of cars, bikes and trucks. This horse has the best brain!

09/13/2024

Longest trail walk with Abraham ever! Up hayfields and completed the first loop. Just under 4 miles. He was amazing and walked right over a bridge and over a scary culvert that didn’t even phase him. Even had a little 4 year old chase him down as she has horseitis. This horse is so brave and smart.

08/18/2024

Abraham had his first trailer ride with me in my BrenderUp yesterday. He loaded quite easily and was quiet the whole way around the block. When we arrived home he stood quietly after the butt bar was removed and waited for me to ask him to back. No big deal for this guy. what a great mind! Now we can go places!

08/18/2024

Kai is finally back into full work and last week I got to jump him for the first time since we tried him 1.5 years ago. And I haven’t jumped in years. What I realized was how much fun it is!

08/11/2024

Please sign 🙏

Keep Ranches and Horses in the Rancho Corral de Tierra on the California Coast!