Spanish Sage Ranch

12/11/2024

A Marine Corps Vet Remembers A War Hero

“She was a heck of a work horse--she could carry 12 rounds of ammo,” said retired Marine Corps sergeant John T. Meyers. “She was a dependable, beautiful animal, and she was sociable.”

Mr. Meyers was referring to the famous Sgt. Reckless, a Mongolian mare who won two Purple Hearts and earned the rank of staff sergeant for carrying ammunition in battle.

“I would feed her, so every time she’d see me, she’d trot over,” said Mr. Meyers. “I gave her an apple a day. She knew exactly where I slept and she’d come in the tent and lick my face to wake me up, so she could eat.”

Mr. Meyers remembered Sgt. Reckless braving flying bullets during one particularly fierce battle and continuing to carry ammunition and wounded soldiers even after being hit by shrapnel. Word of her bravery travelled back to the United States.

Sgt. Reckless became well known in the 1950s as America’s greatest equine war hero. “In the 1950s, Reckless was as popular as Rin Tin Tin and Lassie,” said author Robin Hutton, who is writing a book on Sgt. Reckless.

Reckless is the only animal to ever hold an official rank in any military service, Ms. Hutton said. Her two Purple Heart medals and a multitude of others were pinned to the scarlet and gold blanket she wore at appearances. She was retired on November 10, 1960, with full military honors.

Hat tip to Corey Kilgannon of the New York Times

Published as a Service to Horse Owners and Horse Lovers by the Heart of a Horse Foundation. Visit our page Regularly and Share.

10/11/2024

Understanding Horse and Rider Complexities

Building a solid relationship, whether human to human or horse and human, is not a 'one size fits all' recipe.

Not all humans get along.

Not all horses get along.

Not all horses and humans get along.

Getting to the foundation of what elements build a solid and trustworthy relationship involves some critical thinking, planning and acknowledging of some critical aspects of both horses and humans.

What causes fear - for both horses and humans?

What mitigates fear - for both horses and humans?

What does it take to create mutual trust?

These are some of the lesser addressed components of good horsemanship that hold some very important keys to safety for both horse and rider.

If you ready to better understand your own fearful moments and those of your horse, then the four presenters on our Fear and Safety course is one that will answer some questions.

On sale for less than the price of a lesson, with lifetime access, now is the time to grab this opportunity!

https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/fear-and-safety-for-horse-and-rider/

12/10/2024

Learn from the best!

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 – Now Available in English 🇬🇧 !

New videos of LYNK-YOU PERFECT (LYP) are now available in English.
This program, consisting of 12 progressive modules, was designed by the squire 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝. With extensive experience in horse training, Bettina offers practical insights into the step-by-step development of young horses, leading to advanced movements in 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐞 É𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞 (such as 𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 and 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞).

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝟒 stands out for its detailed content and reflects Bettina's philosophy, "𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨".

In this module focused on work in hand, Bettina provides clear explanations on how to help horses relax and highlights important considerations when introducing lateral movements, such as leg yielding and shoulder-in. She also shares her own methods, which she adapts depending on the horse's temperament and stage of training. The focus is on finding the right balance in every exercise, with a continued emphasis on 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

Bettina's background, which includes learning from 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐧𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐚 and being recognized as 𝐚𝐧 É𝐜𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐝’𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐫 adds an extra dimension to her teachings for riders interested in deepening their understanding of dressage.

These videos offer an opportunity to enhance your equestrian practice and strengthen your connection with your horse, wherever you are. 🌏🐎
https://www.3vprod.com/lyp-menu-eng

07/07/2024

There is NO Justification for Beating Horses in the Name of "Training"

We, as humans, can get angry when things don't go as we expect.

When this happens with our horses, there is a HUGE culture out there that believes horses do things deliberately to "disobey" us!!

How horses learn is well researched and evidence provided but, sadly, the horse world in general is resistant to taking it on board.

Why?

Because it challenges the long held beliefs of the theory of domination training methods of "showing the horse who's boss" and not allowing the horse to have a voice in any conversation around training or management.

How sad is this?

These horses, who are completely at our mercy for how their lives turn out, are treated more like machines for human gratification, rather than being seen for the individual beings that they are.

It is our hope that by raising awareness, providing quality education and advocating for better global welfare protocols for horses, that we can encourage people to rise above and question the beliefs they hold about how we manage and train these horses in traditional methods.

What do you know about how your horse works physically, mentally and emotionally?

Who do you blame when your horse spooks, bucks, bites, kicks, doesn't go forward, steps on your foot, doesn't want to go in the trailer - or any other of the thousands of situations that we put horses in where these behaviors are offered?

Understanding our own emotional triggers is a big part of how we can react better for an outcome that is based on how horses actually learn, and how we can do better at preparing them for we ask of them.

Learn more about this, and other essential topics, with our membership program and online courses that are created to shape the future of better horsemanship - from the horse's perspective1

Featured course: https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/emotional-intelligence-skills-for-horse-people/

28/04/2024

28/04/2024

Beautiful perspective and sophisticated experiences from the uncomparable Bettina Drummond. We must never forget that horses are their own separate sentient beings and always question what is really driving our goals for them. We are blessed to have Bettina to teach us.