Affinity Performance Horses

03/10/2022

Baby Reno got saddled! Baby steps to being a big horse. He hardly had a reaction - which was kinda unfortunate cause I wanted some action shots but he’s still a gorgeous boy!

03/07/2022

Doesn’t everyone have a 6yo to help desensitize their 3yo mustang?!

05/03/2022

So happy with the way my baby mustang is looking!!

01/03/2022

12/02/2022

Well we got our first skijoring event under us. It was rough! She tried but it was a lot for her to process and had a first time-r melt down. Which is fine! She still made it through the finish line and my skiier had clean runs! Lots to work on in the next two weeks! Hopefully we will get a little more get up and go the next one!

10/02/2022

Getting ready for Saturday! Those who are interesting in watching us race. This Saturday at 10!! We get 2 runs. At topsham fairgrounds

29/01/2022

Work hard play hard was the name of the game! Things are slowly coming together for these two! Just gotta get the bucking to stop and we might have a chance!

27/01/2022

Not riding as much + to much time on my hands at times = vlogs/YouTube videos! Enjoy. https://youtu.be/6xuEAkbPM0Y

Working on trying to get back into making videos (again)! But winter farm problems likes to interfere! ...

14/01/2022

Successfully cantering with a skiier!! ❤️ it’s been a process and me almost flying over the saddle a few times. Haha 😂 we are getting there!!

12/01/2022

When you need to train for skijoring but have pasture cleaning to do! Multi - tasking it is!

03/01/2022

RELAXATION can be SCARY

If you think about what it takes to let go of a perceived fear or threat, It is not easy or comfortable.

Tension, defensiveness, hypervigalance, and anxiety are some of the many suits of armor worn to feel safe, protected, or in control in the face of fear.

Those that get frustrated, impatient, or abusive, with the time it takes for a prey animal to let go of tension, anxiety, defensivness, or worry dont understand the nature of fear or the psychology of the prey animal and how much courage and vulnerability is required to relax in the face of self preservation and fear.

Relaxation requires letting go and trusting the situation.

Can you imagine if you were afraid of heights and someone pushed, whipped, or dragged you to the edge of the cliff?

Or afraid of snakes, and someone chased you with it?

Would you be more afraid?
How would you feel about the person who did it? Would you trust them?

Relaxation can't be forced; it can only be found.

It is our job to create the right circumstances for that to happen.

Relaxation is not instant; it is a practice that takes time.

Remember, relaxation is a SKILL...

Not a button to be pressed or a switch to be flipped in the name of obedience.

The horse's emotional fitness is something that takes time to develop.

Your agenda is not more important to them than their feelings of self-preservation.

Have compassion for the courage, trust, and time it takes to relax in the presence of self-preservation and fear.

What we emotionally ask of our horses is usually more than we are able to do ourselves.

30/12/2021

Corona my 2019 graduate showing off how versatile ottbs can be!! Corona will be trying her hand at skijoring competition this winter!

15/08/2021

Playing with my mustang getting him use to fly spray! https://youtu.be/sRH5-j9bqxc

01/08/2021

Baby Reno got his teeth floated and a wolf tooth pulled by Clair Tusch! He was a rock star!

04/07/2021

Had a blast playing with little Reno today! For those worried - no he won’t be started under saddle anytime soon! He’s way to young. I don’t start my horses till they are 3. 🙂

19/06/2021

FOR SALE - 15H OTTB bay Gelding. 8 Years Old. Retired from racing in 2020. He was suppose to be my 2021 makeover horse but due to life changes I had to pull. He is still considered a project as I haven't finished him. He should have gotten another 3 months of training before I was going to list him. But Life. Charlie is still sticky on his left lead canter and still needs to learn balance. He has started to understand giving to the bit but is still fussy due to needing some more hours being asked to hold this. He has trailered off site for 3 trail rides, and was an absolute rock star. Not girthy. Not a single vice except that fact that he hates bugs and thinks he can karate chop them! Has done bridges, drags things, has all the buttons to be a great versatility horse, but can go in any direction. Pictures available. In this video the ring hes riding in is very rocky so you will see him take a few ouchy steps in the front - thats why. He is barefoot-recently trimmed too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ga-Px3HBvo

19/06/2021

THIS is the best part of my makeover horses. I’m sad this one won’t be going but watching this guy go from a high strung race horse to a pretty solid citizen under saddle! Working on his sale video tonight. He’s gonna make someone a niceee! Horse.

12/06/2021

Reno’s learning how to lunge on a line and respecting the rope! Some sassy moments but overall decent/and generally respectful.

10/06/2021

An Email that I had to send out today that was one of the hardest things Ive done in a bit:
Due to extremely unexpected complications with building our new farm, I don't feel like I'm able to successfully train/compete in the 2021 mega makeover. Literally crying as I write this --ugh-- as the makeover has become such an important part of my journey and I was really looking forward to advocating for another thoroughbred. I will also be selling my 2021 makeover horse-I'm gonna list him on the makeover page hoping someone will take him, finish him, and compete him. He deserves to compete and show his talents. I really hope to get the chance to compete again in another year. I am so grateful to have been accepted again but maybe someone on the waitlist will be able to take my spot. " --- So I have officially pulled from the makeover due to hitting another big bump trying to rebuild Underwood Farm in Auburn that financially/time wise is way bigger then expected. If someone from the makeover page isnt able to take him I will be listing him publicly for sale.

06/06/2021

Hosway (Charlie) my 2021 horse had his first outing being asked to do some obstacles off site! He was a rock star. Saw bridges, teeter bridges, opening and closing gates. Struggled with some smaller bridges. For his first time facing this kind of stuff I was thrilled with him!

06/06/2021

Starting to do some ground work sessions with the little dude!! First session was testy- but today he was much more responsive and respectful! Possible video to be uploaded.

01/06/2021

Picked this handsome boy up! My first mustang! Reno is a 1.5 yo BLM mustang from Nevada! Very excited to watch this gorgeous boy grow and develop. So far he seems to be a thinker. Meg gave him a great start to being handled etc and I’m excited to continue that and get him broke in a few years. Till then it’s ground work , life exposure, and desensitization in his future!

28/05/2021

Charlie went on his second trail ride today and even lead some of it!

24/05/2021

Charlie went in his first off site trail ride! First few mins were a little rocky from excitement. But he went around 4 miles- up and down some good sized hills, got some road exposure, saw bikes atm etc! Super boy! Definitely ready for more hours off property!!

09/05/2021

This boy went on another Feild trip and did some lunging with side reins!! Next time will be riding!! Slow but sure progress away from home.

01/05/2021

Well, because I love having an over flowing plate as you all know! Because getting ready for the 2021 makeover, and relocating farms just wasn’t enough. I got the honor of taking on this lovely 2yo mustang gelding! He was born in holding and mum was rounded up from Nevada. He’s shown to have a great mind so far with an awesome mustang trainer friend of mine who’s put an incredible ground start on him. Covid made it so they couldn’t compete so loss is totally my gain. ❤️❤️ I’m super excited to take on this beautiful boy and start him under saddle late summer next year! I’ve been toying with the idea of trying a mustang makeover eventually so I thought this would be a good introduction to the breed! So thank you Meg for the opportunity and BLM for accepting the reassignment! I’m super excited to pick up/bring this boy home to the new farm soon! Meet #19375294 aka gamble- will be taking name suggestions as I’ve already had a gamble!

20/04/2021

Hosway (Charlie) my 2021 had a on a Tuesday haha! Went to a Local indoor to experience some new sights and get down trailer tying in! He wasn’t perfect but one of many trips to work towards perfect!

04/04/2021

This year has been interesting for me with retraining an OTTB in a discipline I’m not super familiar with (competitive trail) for my 2021 . Slowly but surely we are putting things together for our freestyle as well. He’s a different type of personality for sure! Doesn’t take much seriously haha! The class clown type. Makes me laugh every session some how. Lots of try with a really good engine haha!! One of the things I wanna be sure is that he is super confident in new situations especially for competitive trail as we really have no idea what we are gonna be facing! Also relocating farms has also brought on time restraints I didn’t have with my 2019 make over! So this year I’m really looking forward to just enjoying this journey with all its struggles and successes with him and not worry about the end results at the makeover itself so much. Charlie will be for sale after the make over.... so my goal is to make someone a good all around horse that will be able to be taken in any direction with a good mind set. 🙂 set them up for the future because the makeover is literally just the start!!

10/03/2021

Concordes beauty aka corona my 2019 managed to survive her second beach experience under saddle this time!!!

04/03/2021

This is productive training right?! Haha Hosway aka Charlie loves to smile for a carrot!

01/03/2021

Ignoring my very awkward body position lol!!! Charlie has started cantering under saddle.... mostly without trying to sky rocket into space at 100 mph! There’s a glimpse of hope!

18/02/2021

Enjoy this video of me doing a little groundwork with my 2021 horse Hosway aka Charlie! https://youtu.be/_T6e98sfTNc

# thoroughbredFollow us on fb/InstagramMichele whitmore Or affinity performance horses Or follow the farm on fb Underwood f...

05/02/2021

Rode the mini man today for the first my time in the indoor. We have been working on ground work the last month in voice commands/transitions/ and lots of pole work. He was perfect!

13/01/2021

Trot poles and side reins with Charlie!

09/01/2021

Thoroughbred makeover here we come!! . Ottbs for the win 😂👌😭

08/01/2021

A tinyyyy bit late! But here’s another video with miss Jay! https://youtu.be/WVW3gRcN6N0

was probably my 3rd time handling Jay. Just getting to know her tendencies and temperament! So far no complaints.

04/01/2021

This boy had his first session at the new farm! He was so perfect! A little jazzed but got some good canter transitions on the lunge line and worked over trot poles! Even worked on his recall and he did super well with it in a new distracting environment!

01/01/2021

Charlie got brought to a new farm today for the next 2 months so I can start working with him in an indoor! Let the training begin!

15/12/2020

Jays arrival video!! Remember I will be posting videos every other Tuesday! https://youtu.be/8JWUbl4zX70. Make sure to subscribe!

This is jays first time on the farm! She is an unexpected restart project that I took in due to her getting passed around 4 different times in the past 3 mon...