East Coast Quarter Horses

21/03/2023

Let’s talk about foundational holes. They are easy to create and difficult to correct.

We suffered a great tragedy and lost on of our horses. Maybe I’ll be up to telling the story someday but today isn’t that day. In light of the events we chose to move Echo to the facility we previously had her. It’s safe, routine and most importantly provides us with the amenities needed to actively show her.

Well, I can’t say I was surprised when I realized the holes I had created from our previous circumstances. Without a sufficient place to ride it is extremely difficult to ask for collection or any type of body control. In preparation for show season I have been spending a lot of time on transitions, picking up leads and moving out. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

19/09/2022

Studies also show having access to forage, especially hay, reduces the risk of gastric ulcers for those horses who are ridden and travel often. We use slow feeders here so that our horses have access 24/7. We also experience very minimal waste with slow feeders!

24/08/2022

Hold A Catn Haidaway (Hold That Cow LTE $237,000 x TR Haidaway Catalyst)

19/05/2022

15/05/2022

This makes my heart happy. A saddle that fits, a riding lesson that builds confidence and a horse who did her job! It was a beautiful Saturday.

Hope all is well - best wishes as we head into show season!

16/04/2022

The bigger picture will be much more difficult than you anticipate. There will be days of frustration, worry and most importantly doubt.

I am reflecting on the past 3 months of training and what I have learned. There were many days I put my saddle away and wished I were a better horseman. There were even more days I didn’t believe in myself or my skill set. I didn’t have grand expectations with either of my girls but I hoped I would be able to bring them home and actually haul to a few shows this summer. That was a huge goal of mine. When I chose to move them I knew I was going to be sacrificing sleep, comfortability and some of my sanity. I did it anyway. Training is one of the greatest gifts you can give your horses and I knew this. I also knew I couldn’t accomplish the level of training they needed without taking them somewhere else. It was very difficult to come to that conclusion but as I do with all of my decisions… I did it for my horses.

I bought them both to have a job and hopefully to help me grow, which I feel like I have definitely accomplished. It was really hard having two green horses at once. I work 8 hours a day then come back to the barn and ride two of them back to back - it’s a tolling responsibility! I didn’t miss a single day. I had a really great suppport system and I couldn’t have done this without any of them. This was one of the greatest weeks I have had… I’m so excited to put them in the show pen this summer. I love my girls!

16/03/2022

Turnout time equals a happy horse!

We have done so many things to create an abnormal life for them. We trailer them random places, put them in stalls, work them in squares filled with dirt, and the list goes on. I’m not saying they don’t enjoy their jobs but do you think they enjoy it enough that they would choose life as a riding horse vs. being out on pasture every single day for the rest of their life? Probably not. It’s strange when you think of all the things we do to serve ourselves first. The least you can do is give your horse a chance to exist as a horse from time to time.

When the horses are home they are out 24/7 and it’s up to them if they seek the shelter we provide. While they are here, since there is no shelter, I leave them out weather permitting!

15/03/2022

Just finished up 6 consecutive training days. Both of the girls got my stamp of approval for the week!

I’m planning on gradually introducing the snaffle to Kit when we resume on Thursday and permanently training Echo with it from here on out. I would say they have both graduated from the loping hackamore.

I have had a lot of people ask me why I use the loping hackamore and honestly it has just never felt like the right time to switch. Since their teeth have been floated I would say they’re 100% ready to go!

14/03/2022

The only way to communicate clearly with your horses is when you have a positive attitude. Leave the negativity at the door.

13/03/2022

Echo is an unmistakable granddaughter of Gunner. These horses are bred to be remarkable athletes thru and thru. His stats are absolutely insane!

Reining horse Colonels Smoking Gun, or Gunner, transformed the industry, and the bald-faced stallion’s impact is still being felt today.

13/03/2022

Kit was great tonight!

10/03/2022

Not every single ride will be perfect. The most important thing is to prioritize progress over perfection. Always come to the arena with an open mind and an understanding that it will not always go how you would have planned!

07/03/2022

Change your routine. It will keep your horse sane and motivated.

04/03/2022

Yesterday they both got trimmed and next Wednesday they will both be getting their teeth done. Spring is coming!

03/03/2022

Most of my rides, weather and daylight savings permitting, end with a solo ride outside. While we have been doing most of our training indoors I feel like it is super important to do something outside as regularly as possible!

I started doing this more often as the days have gotten longer. Echo was never confident enough to ride solo outside but after consistently lapping around the barn she craves it now. Today was the first day I rode the entire fence line away from the barn and she didn’t miss a beat.

Kit on the other hand is a trail blazing pro. She has a lot of confidence riding and being a lone soldier.

01/03/2022

HOLD A CATN HAIDAWAY x HOLD THAT COW

Really excited to see where this girl takes us.

28/02/2022

I wake up at 4 or 5 AM every week day before work. I drive to the barn, throw hay, feed grain, pick stalls, then lead both horses at once to their pasture for turnout. Some days I ride or lunge before chores but it depends how I’m feeling. I thought, when I decided to move them, it would be hard work. That I would be drained. But I’m the opposite! I am inspired. I also don’t think I would be so invested in getting them broke broke broke if I wasn’t investing in board, fuel and time. It has been great motivation to work hard every single day!

When you give yourself a huge goal and give a little each day to that goal it is rewarding. Training two horses has been an adjustment and a challenge. I am super grateful for the experience though.

22/02/2022

Good morning everyone!

Some things have been running through my mind for a few days that I thought I would share.

Good horses aren’t made overnight. When you choose to work your horse slowly you shouldn’t have to explain yourself. When you choose to keep your animals best interest at heart you shouldn’t need to justify it. I have found myself in several situations that I have to explain WHY I am not pushing my horse harder.

The answer is: I know my horse from top to bottom. I know her eating, drinking and sleeping patterns. I know her personality. I know when she has had enough. I know when to end on a good note. I know I don’t have anything to prove to anyone besides my horse.

Some horses are extremely sensitive to new environments and experiences. It is even worse if they are sensitive AND smart because they will remember. There are too many people in this industry who don’t know when to lay off their horse. There’s constant pressure and no release. Do you know what that does to them?

Please, advocate for your horses. Take lessons from a professional and understand the mechanisms/techniques you are using on your horses.

22/10/2021

My Friday night was much needed. Ba****ck and some leisurely ground work. Sometimes you just need to love your horse and appreciate them.

21/10/2021

There are infinite reasons why Echo is my heart horse.

I’m so happy to be back in the pen with her at her best again. Regardless of the job she chooses to love most I know she will be phenomenal whatever that is. I’m so excited for her growth!

She is my rollback queen.

19/10/2021

The holy grail!

I just finished one of my many bottles so it’s time to open another. I keep several around because MTG has been such a key part of my routine. We have had a muddy year thus far, so when I rinse hooves and pick them I add a little MTG to the heels. It has been an aid for prevention of skin irritation from the reoccurring wet conditions. That is just one of the many ways I utilize it, but it’s a great product to have in the barn at all times.

It smells like bacon and I do not recommend getting it on your hands 🤣😉🥓!

17/10/2021

Some things you have to learn for yourself. TOXIC PLANTS AND TREES OH MY! When in doubt cut the trees down before the fence is up. Be prepared for surprises. But also, be prepared to learn from your hardships.

☘️ Mayapple plants in the spring are toxic to horses. They typically grow in heavily wooded areas. We had to address mayapples not long after we moved the horses home. Without forage our horses would scan the paddock for other fiber sources, so I did a quick ID on them and learned they were a concern. We treated the paddock with animal safe herbicide and didn’t have an issue afterwards.

🍁 Maple and oak trees are toxic. Though they are toxic in all seasons, they are most potent in Autumn once they begin wilting. Maple leaves, more particularly red maple, when ingested can cause severe illness and even death. Oak leaves are toxic as well but acorns are more of a concern. When leaves started falling a few weeks ago, curiosity got the best of me once more… so I googled. I was pretty upset to learn that we had yet another toxicity in our paddock. We addressed this by splitting the paddock and renting a lift to remove the trees from the top down to avoid damaging the fence. Luckily, no maples or oaks are shedding their leaves on the barn side of the paddock where we have had them separated.

All is well. Our girls have been enjoying extra turnout time in the square pen. I will keep everyone updated with the result once we finish up tomorrow!

13/10/2021

Sharing all the favorite throwbacks this week!

12/10/2021

So appreciative of the time we spent together, Cash. You made one of my many dreams come true.

12/10/2021

You may have noticed a change in our page name. We are now Manifest Destiny Horsemanship. We are passionate about showcasing the versatility, beauty and unique trainability of the western cow/reining horse.

I will always have this innate feeling to share this journey with the world.

26/09/2021

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS
1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD.
2. DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY.
3. DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.
4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST.

Kindness, honesty and transparency are free. Build your foundation on those things and people with gravitate towards you.

22/09/2021

Hello everyone, welcome to my equine page.

This is not a training, sales, or lesson page. This is a blogging/vlogging page to share my passion for cow horses on my own terms separate from my personal account. I will be changing the name in the future when I feel I have found something more fitting.

I advocate for these horses because they are pretty incredible. Their breeding is becoming much more popular among a wide variety of western sports for good reason. They are naturally athletic and generally good-minded.

I am lucky enough to have not one but two mares sitting on the hill right now who I will pay many tributes to on this page.

I enjoy everything from the ground up when I work with my horses and I hope to share all of that with you.

Follow along if you’re interested!