Light Reign Stables

09/17/2024

It's Safety Awareness Week. Nearly every shop and manufacturers have helmets on sale.

Put. One. On.
Every. Ride. Every. Time.
Why? BECAUSE YOU ARE LOVED!!

09/16/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/2k8oGKxZA8uLbxo1/?mibextid=4UDYQr

08/13/2024

How cool is this!?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/684xoZ7U5S3XFoEU/?mibextid=4UDYQr

07/12/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hvtDbTmBrLQZqVWh/?mibextid=qi2Omg

07/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/fMj9wHqXFMgUzJdo/?mibextid=xfxF2i

06/21/2024

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=868852041939822&id=100064451033652

“I don’t have much interest in competing, so why should I bother to struggle and practice to become a better rider?”

Good question, and maybe the answer is as simple as this---“It only matters if it matters to you.”

If you are content with the way you currently ride, and if it isn’t messing up your horse, go for it.

But if you feel that there are knowledge gaps or skill-set deficiencies that you’d like to improve upon, read more, study more, watch better riders more, think about what you are learning, take some lessons, broaden your horizons.

Competing is not the end-all reason why anyone might want to become a good rider. Some want to be good riders for the basic satisfaction of being good riders.

06/14/2024

Hey friends! We are going to offer spaces in our indoor arena, if enough interest, for the Lincoln Way Buy Way Sales, Aug 8, 9 and 10th. All under cover, sell tack or household stuff. If interested let me know!

05/22/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/9e5BsYKCB1nedVeQ/?mibextid=xfxF2i

04/25/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/v58YfZSs5cDNWhUc/?mibextid=oFDknk

DRESSAGE TRIVIA:

Do you know the answer to this "CORNER CONUNDRUM?" 🤔

How deep are you supposed to ride into your corners?

The answer is, it depends, and here's why:👇

Information is VAGUE out there! But according to the USEF Rule Book, “Corners should be ridden as one-quarter of a volte appropriate to the level of the test (10 meters at training-First Levels, 8 meters at Second-Fourth Levels and 6 meters above Fourth Level).”
[USEF Rule Book DR109]

But in reality, it depends on the development of both the horse and the rider. And in my humble opinion, this is the BEST answer. 🙌
It is far better to ride a good corner that will help support you and your horse for the next movement than to try to jam yourself into a black hole 😉

So definitely strive for the USEF guidelines, but only go as deep as you and your horse can without disturbing the rhythm, balance, and harmony.

04/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/JEsg1hdY3fTW5Eqe/?mibextid=oFDknk

Get more from Becks nairn on Patreon

03/30/2024

This is why ringbone is such a horrible diagnosis.

We know a hoof rehabilitation farrier who began her in depth studies and apprenticeships because she lost her mare to ringbone from a lifetime of improper trim set ups in the hooves.

Ringbone is an issue that is mainly occurring because of a lack of knowledgeable (or timely) hoof care.

As the owner, it is Your job to educate yourself on what a well functioning hoof and leg alignment looks like.

While conformation, genetics, and the horse's daily use are also factors, how the horse's foot lands is super important to the long term soundness of the animal.

“Severe ringbone and side bone”
- JB Hoof Care

03/30/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/aJisX1jWytubCyj3/?mibextid=qi2Omg

The guest column of this week is by Angelika Fromming, retired international dressage judge, and Hannes Müller, former head of the German Riding School in Warendorf and chair of the German Professional Riders Association. Both are highly esteemed clinicians.

02/26/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Z8grxb4spj7YnFAt/?mibextid=oFDknk

Sometimes my team and I are really rolling, with lots of horses and humans showing and getting somewhere and grinding it out. Other times, the youngsters are all youngstering, and I didn’t book a lot of clinics in January and February because the weather usually stinks, and we’re mostly just log...

02/21/2024

https://youtu.be/R0Gw655QA7k?si=wzxV8_H_2Ils6JfN

It's Warm-Up Wednesday here at Dressage Hub and today we have an extra bit of surprise and delight. We found footage of Dr Reiner Klimke schooling in Aachen ...

02/19/2024

01/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100063538093302/posts/877897454338183/?mibextid=9R9pXO

Happy Tuesday to everyone.

I had a client that wanted to try and understand why her horse was speeding up at a point in her workout with him. I thought I would share a few facts about horse biomechanics to help you understand a few things about horses and their movements.

Big shout out to Tina Legno of Alivio Equestrian Academy for providing this beautiful photo for this quick tips.

Stay safe, be well and be kind. God Bless!!!

12/18/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063538093302/posts/862819012512694/?mibextid=9R9pXO

Just because your horse has access to water does not guarantee he’s drinking enough to stay hydrated. Learn more about how to keep horses hydrated.

12/06/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=937541491038135&id=100043468792096&mibextid=9R9pXO

In keeping with busting the myths and clarifying the misconceptions of modern dressage, today I say that they do not know what they have. Before all of us were born, authentic dressage became obsolete because it was primarily used to train cavalry recruits. “Dressage” translated then roughly to "training" horses and soldiers for war. WW2 changed the nature of war from pre-industrial horse cavalry and infantry foot soldiers to mechanized troops. Ultimately, dressage was redefined as a civilian horseback ballet. Untethered from its roots, dressage became a shadow fantasy of its former practicality.

European dressage transformed horses and their riders into the ultimate battlefield weapon for both offensive and defensive missions in its time. The collage of images you see below are called haute ecole or high school “Airs above the ground”. These movements were battlefield techniques, not ballet. This history has been forgotten.

The pictured “Airs” were used to intimidate, injure or kill enemy soldiers on a battlefield. The Courbette at lower right, was an offensive technique designed to break formations of foot soldiers. From their rearing position, a line of horses would hop forward on hind legs, threatening foot soldiers with the horses' front feet striking down toward the heads of infantry. The foot soldiers broke and ran from such techniques when a line of cavalry horses in the Courbette approached.

The Capriole at lower left was used to defend an individual cavalry rider who became separated from his unit on the battlefield. Foot soldiers would swarm such isolated cavalry horses and attack them with bayonets, clubs and pikes. To counter such a swarm, a well trained cavalryman would use the Capriole. The rider would cause his horse to rise up and kick out front and hind, which literally kicked the heads off the shoulders of a swarming foot soldier. Cavalry horses would do repeated Caprioles, landing and turning a few degrees and executing another Capriole until these actions created a wide berth from which the horse and rider could escape.

In the top is collection of the haute ecole "Airs Above the Ground", each pictured movement is of a weaponized horse. The movement's names are French because the French Cavalry, such as Napoleon's Imperial Guard, were the best trained in these battlefield movements.

I wonder how many modern dressage riders know this historical basis for their discipline and its most revered “artful” movements. I sincerely doubt that many have an inkling that the Haute Ecole movements were lethal battle techniques. A lack of historical understanding has allowed modern riders in many disciplines to adopt fantasy ideas of horsemanship that are based on nothing more than human imaginings.

12/04/2023

To blanket or not to blanket.... here's the answers you've been looking for!

11/12/2023

https://dressagetoday.com/theory/importance-riding-stretching-position-uta-graf/?fbclid=IwAR1s8OHPwAbOpYgniyrWk9AP8-SgXHLo8h7ZsZCPjntyFebEbOrBKcKQy8I

Uta Gräf of Germany that this exercise is an important part of training not just for young horses or dressage horses, but for all horses.

11/02/2023

Brrrr....it's getting cold, winter is in the air and Light Reign Stables has a couple of stalls open! We are small, private and treat each other like family. If that sounds like we are a good fit for you send us a message or text!

08/14/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063660723632/posts/791741002957917/?mibextid=9R9pXO

08/12/2023

Beautiful double rainbow this evening over the arena!

07/16/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=832556641600486&id=100045384742980&mibextid=Nif5oz

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!