Edelweiss Ridge Equine

23/09/2022

17/08/2022

So true!

30/07/2022

Many students wonder why their instructors yell weird things during lessons... It's instructor language!

20/07/2022

For my few gaming students! This is a great visual for you all to think about.

09/07/2022

30/06/2022

Horse Training spots available, located just north of Rapid City, SD @ Prairie Stars Stables. Training available for ground work, light horse driving, pony driving, trail riding, western pleasure, hunt seat, & show prep!

13/04/2022

Here are the updated Show information

09/04/2022

The class schedule for the MAHA Memorial Day show is posted at montanarabianhorses.com.

23/03/2022

An Open Letter to my Daughter’s Teacher
- borrowed and edited from Angie Mitchell

Today my 7 yr old daughter came home from school a bit sad. When I asked why, she said you told her that if she kept missing days, she would get bad grades. I understand where you are coming from, I’m sure it’s frustrating for you when she’s gone, but she’s missed 3 Fridays since the beginning of the year to compete in something that at 7 years old she’s found to be her true passion, Horses. And so you know, there are not many 7 year olds that show ponies. It’s difficult. It’s mentally and physically demanding. And she works harder than any kid I know her age because she enjoys it, and loves her pony, at a level beyond words.

It was interesting you told her that today, because in her backpack she had her report card with 6 A’s and 1 B. She also had her standardized test scores, where she scored above her peers in every category. But most interesting was the sheet of paper you also sent home, listing out what I should expect of my second grader, what I should work with her on. And as I read it all I could think is how much my daughter is benefiting from all the hours she’s spending at the barn preparing for her competitions. How much she is learning from all the hours, day in and day out, she practices. And finally, how my expectations of her are so much higher than yours, because of her riding.

Under the “Life Skills” portion it states she should be zipping zippers. She can put on a pair of leather half chaps by herself. Zipper level: Expert. It states she should be able to snap snaps and button buttons. She can put on her show shirt and jacket, jodhpurs and her helmet. She can also tack up her pony by herself and apply polos, front jump boots and brushing boots, and she knows which ones to use when.

It says she should know how to wash and dry her hands. Not only can she do that, but she knows how to clean and condition her boots, bridle and saddle, bathe her pony, pick his feet and apply hoof polish, organize a tack trunk and shovel and sweep manure from the grooming stalls.

She’s supposed to know one parent’s phone number, and her parents names. She knows the names of the 30+ horses at the barn. She knows what size girth to use, and when to use a standing martingale. She knows what hole to put the jump cups for a 2’ course, or a 2’6 course. She also knows how to change her diagonal, do a lead change, count in a line and how to ride a transition.

There was a section for “Following Directions” where it says she needs to be a good listener. She listens to her trainer give her a jump course consisting of 10+ fences, which she has to immediately remember, and then jump. It says she has to remember multiple directions at a time “such as brushing your teeth, putting on your shoes and moving your backpack.” She can remember and ride 3 hunter trips, a medal course and a hack class in one day.

It says I should play “Mother May I” with her. Everything her pony does, is because she’s asked and she knows she has to ask correctly. She weighs 50 lbs. He weighs 700. She has spent hours learning how to not only ask, but listen, when she wants something from him.

It says she should have responsibilities, such as packing her lunch. She can not only feed herself, but knows how to feed and care for a pony along with all the other horses in the barn. She can groom him, put on his blanket, braid his mane and brush his tail. She can scoop his feed, throw his hay, fill his water buckets and lug all 5 gallons 100 feet from the hose to his stall (though I do have to help her hang them.) She knows he always comes first, even when she’s hot and tired or it’s cold and raining.

But most of all, she’s learning about hard work. She’s learning how to succeed, and how to fail. She’s learning patience and compassion and best of all Love. Love for her pony, Love for her sport, Love for learning.

Dear Teacher, while I know school is important, I also know there is more to life than what can be learned in a classroom. These experiences aren’t just teaching her the things that come from a book, but things that are making her a better human being. When she looks back on her life, she won’t remember missing those 3 days of school. She will remember her last show on her beloved pony Sully, her first ribbon at a US show, and how she and her Best Friend spent 7 days in Ohio together doing the things they love the most, competing and being together.

Sincerely,

The proud mom of a horse loving little girl

02/03/2022

11/11/2021

"Stretch your arm out to the side, holding something like a pencil vertically in your hand. Look straight ahead. You won’t see the pencil in this position. You can’t even see your arm. Now move your arm slowly in a wide outstretched semi-circle toward the front, keeping your eyes focused on a distant point in front of you. The pencil remains invisible until it reaches almost a 45-degree angle. Human vision is limited to roughly 45 degrees on either side of our noses, for a total of about 90 degrees. By contrast, if we held a pencil straight out from the side of a horse’s head, it would be almost in the center of his vision. With eyes on the sides of his head, he catches a 340-degree view, almost four times greater than the range we see. Imagine what would happen if we humans had four times more vision to process every second of the day. We’d be edgy, too!" Janet Jones in Horse Brain, Human Brain, published by TSB. ❤️ 🐴 📕

Janet Jones, PhD, will be speaking at in West Springfield, MA! Don't miss her talks on Saturday and Sunday on the Seminar Stage in the Better Living Center--we promise it will change the way you think about horses and their behavior! See you in West Springfield. 😄

02/11/2021

TUESDAY TIP - RIDE LOOPS TO IMPROVE YOUR HORSE'S COORDINATION AND BALANCE

Loops are a also a great bending exercise that will help to –

🐴 Strengthen your horse’s core
🐴 Supple the ribs and back
🐴 Enhance flexibility
🐴 Develop balance
🐴 Reduce tension

Loops and shallow turns require uniformity and a gradual change of direction. As you ride a loop most of the bend should come from the poll with only a small amount through the neck and body. You can ride this exercise in walk, trot and canter (it’s good preparation for counter canter).

Vary the size of the loop depending on the level of your horse’s training (as shown in the diagram below).
Try incorporating loops into your horse’s next training session and let us know how you get on.

There's a lot more exercises and tips to improve your horse's way of going in Gillian's book - Posture and Performance.

https://www.horsesinsideout.com/product-page/posture-and-performance-1

23/09/2021

Please be kind 😍
credits: Pinterest

09/09/2021

26/08/2021

The evolution of an Equestrian 🙂

18/04/2021

Hehehe I'm definitely going to make these 😆

29/01/2021

New kid on the block is Captain Marvel! He is such an adorable Arab with an amazing attitude and willingness to learn and please. His owner Erin is so excited to get back into the show ring!

12/01/2021

Golden Skyhawk is getting back in the game! This jaw dropping Saddlebred stallion is so happy to work and please. I've been putting him back through his old paces (all of them & there are several he knows 😉) Driving is one that I'm happy to be able to share with others. Colleen took her grandkids for a turn going around with the big guy & at 17hh he is a BIG GUY!

12/01/2021

Time to meet Captain Marvel! His owner is very excited to get back into the show ring and this cute guy is going to take her places! Captain had his first ride tonight too and he is so happy and light and athletic he is an absolute joy to work with and now ride. He is from the same Arabian barn as the beautiful Black stallion that I've posted on here 🤩

12/01/2021

Nothing cuter then Colleen's adorable granddaughter helping me train her pony! Haha she saw me waking around with the cart letting little Jetta pony get used to the noise & it touching her and she came running over wanting a ride. So I gave her a couple treats for Jetta 🥰

02/11/2020

Thinking about horseback riding plans for next spring? Now is the time to get your horse in for a tune-up. Are you a trail rider looking to have a safe horse that's ready for anything? Do you have your eye on showing next year? Now accepting horses for training multiple disciplines at Prairie Stars Stables just north of Rapid City.

26/10/2020

Now accepting horses for training! Does your horse need ground work to be a good citizen? How about being started under saddle? Or do you have a horse that is needing more miles or finishing to hear up for the next show season?
Located in Rapid City at Prairie Stars Stables with indoor and outdoor arenas to train year round. All breeds and multiple disciplines welcome from English Hunter to Western Pleasure and more.

05/10/2020

Here's today's video of Black!

05/10/2020

Today was the big day for CHA AffairtoRemember had his 1st ride 😁 I am in awe of this big guy. He stepped right off and trusted that I would be ok & direct him. The future is so bright for us!

04/10/2020

The Black Stallion is coming along so nicely!

04/10/2020

CHA AffairtoRemember. This beautiful black Arabian stallion came to me for training a couple weeks ago. This big boy is a dream to work with, he is so eager to please and loves attention.