LPMurphy Equestrian, LLC

31/07/2024

As many of you know, we are expecting our first baby in a few short months. Because of this, I have decided to take a step back from teaching lessons in order to focus on my family and my full-time career as an ag teacher. This has not been a decision that I have taken lightly, but is what’s best for my family and myself. I will not be taking on any new clients at this time or for the foreseeable future. However, I will be continuing to teach my current students on a limited basis until the baby arrives. Afterwards, I will be taking a minimum of 12 weeks off to adjust to “mom-life” and will provide updates as needed. I thank you for you support and understanding!

30/07/2024

Do less better.

The majority of the time there’s no big magic fix, perfect one exercise, or big exciting change that you need to do in order to achieve whatever it is that you’re working on. Many times folks will come into lessons thinking they need to work on one thing and we end up going back to doing lesser things better. This of course can look different for everybody depending on where you were at, but we can almost always find this saying to be true with almost anyone. Including ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to do advance maneuvers and trying to put our focus into those without first mastering how to do the basics well. That’s so much more exciting.

Your Horsemanship and your ride starts the moment you get your horse from the pasture or the stall. The way in which you lead them, the way in which you halter them, the way in which you handle them, the way in which you saddle them. It all truly matters. Good horsemen and women are created in their mundane, simple, and consistent tasks in which they do every everyday. Don’t get me wrong, we all want to advance to the higher level stuff, but many times when we focus on doing less better, the higher level things get so much simpler. 

16/07/2024

The problem with softening the horse too much in the bridle before stabilizing the hind end is not only a biomechanics problem but a safety problem.

I just got done riding a new horse for the first time. Based on the weak hind end and bulging in the neck in the wrong spots, I had a good feeling he would break behind the vertical quite frequently.

When the horse breaks behind the vertical, it drops the back and negates correct use of the hind end. Over time, the horse becomes weak and wobbly while simultaneously developing painful arthritis and fusions.

So, that's the basics of the biomechanics problem.

The safety aspect is that a horse that is too light in the bridle and breaks behind upon first contact does not have the correct relationship with the contact. I believe the reins should connect to the feet and aid in correct flexion and bend.

When the horse evades the bit, you've got nothing. Sorry pal- this ain't a safe place to be.

This is why often horses that are taught this require a lot of holding together by riders that are used to riding in such a way.

And if you want to improve the horses relationship with contact, then be prepared for a long haul of conditioning and riding with little rein.

It can be done, but it should be done with knowledgeable riding with no time constraints. It's a whole thang.

Edit to add:
This photo is NOT mine. I'm grateful it was created and my favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because of how freely forward the horse is 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==

03/07/2024

27/06/2024

This is a photo taken by a vet while attending the horse who had fallen through the floor of someone's trailer. Thought it was worth sharing to serve as a good reminder to get your trailer floors checked regularly.

26/06/2024

It is HOT - SUPER HOT!

Please, for the love of your horse….

1. Ride early in the morning or at dusk
2. Make sure your horse has access to fresh, clean water
3. Wet your horse’s feed!! Any extra water intake is a bonus - don’t pass up the opportunity!
4. Salt. Salt. Salt. Free choice, add it to their feed - whatever works for you.
5. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, trailer in this heat unless you have to. It is way too hot for that nonsense right now. IF you HAVE to, please don’t be one of those people who parks your horse trailer in the middle of the parking lot while you grab lunch in town. Just don’t.
6. Remember that 15-20 minutes of quality work can be beneficial. You don’t have to ride your horse to death in this heat.

That is all. 🥵 Stay safe.

20/06/2024

Summer officially starts tomorrow, but the 🌡 are already pretty hot!

Many experts advise using the following formula for determining whether it is too hot to ride:

𝘈𝘥𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 80° 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 60 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 140.

𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝟏𝟑𝟎: 🟢 Green light – go ahead and ride.
𝟏𝟑𝟎-𝟏𝟕𝟎: 🟡 Yellow light – be careful. The heat and humidity will compromise your horse’s ability to cool itself.
𝟏𝟕𝟎 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆: 🔴 Red light – don’t ride. It only takes about 15 minutes of moderate exercise to raise your horse’s temperature to a dangerous level.

Find out more hot weather tips ➡️ https://www.jtidist.com/blog/too-hot-to-stay-cool.html

Where are you today? Red light? Green light?

15/06/2024

Another great morning of showing at Forging M Farm LLC!

15/06/2024

Why do we work on circles? They help you develop the horse evenly from back to front and they help build the bridge that carries the weight of the saddle and the rider. When riding accurately, they enable the horse to lift the sling which is the apparatus that suspends the trunk to the shoulders and is responsible for lifting the withers to bring the horse off of the forehand. This is crucial for topline development, balance and communication with the horse. (This can not be achieved using a leverage bit).

It can be boring to some but necessary for the long-term health of your horse.

If you would like help working on this, please contact me for a clinic near you or to set up a virtual lesson.

“What’s in it for the horse?”
Carl Bledsoe Horsemanship
770-403-4635
[email protected]

08/06/2024

EDIT: Please do feel free to share/replicate/display this sign - I’d rather it went out into the world to be used freely and help horses far and wide than if it was just kept on social media!

I seem to spend a lot of time thinking about the ethics of horse sport, and whether we, as an industry, will be able to keep our social licence to operate.

Although we won’t get it right 100% of the time, I think the intent and knowledge behind our actions is a key part of the puzzle.

I have put this sign up on the gate of my arena, in the hope that it reminds me, all my clients and other users of the facilities to stop and think about our intent before embarking upon working our horses each day.

What do you think?

Photo: HDE ‘Promise to the Horse’.

04/06/2024

Equine Medical Emergency Preparedness - Trailering Without A Trailer

The most suitable time to figure out who can trailer a beloved horse to the clinic for medical attention is not while you're in the throws of an equine medical emergency. Time is of the essence; make a plan of action before a critical situation. For horse owners without a trailer, this is vital.

If you don't have a trailer, have a plan, a backup plan, and a contingency plan. Often, we see clients relying on the use of a friend or neighbor's trailer; this is a fabulous start. The plan falters when that friend or neighbor is not home, sick, or the truck is broken down, or the trailer has a flat tire: your goal - plan for the unexpected with well-thought-out emergency plans in your pocket.

Get help to develop the backup plan. Ask others in the horse community (horse owners, vets, feed stores, etc.) about various resources that may be available to you. They may know of a volunteer organization that provides trailering services or an experienced trainer or horse owner nearby who is willing to haul a horse.

Don't be afraid to ask for an introduction. Learning about trailering resources is not enough. Reach out to these organizations and individuals. Let them know you're working on a backup plan and ask if they are willing to be a part of it.

Everyone involved should have an understanding of how participation is defined. Backup individuals may be happy to help only during certain hours or days. If they are horse professionals, they may require compensation. There is also the question of liability for professionals. Work out the detail before the crisis.

As a third backup, make yourself familiar with local haulers. Again, call them in advance. You will want to:

1. Understand their policies and procedures for hauling a horse with a medical emergency.

2. Find out if they are available 24/7.

3. Ask how long it would take them to get to your address during regular business hours and emergency hours.

4. Ask for after-hours or emergency line phone numbers.

Take away message: Our actions - or inactions- in an equine emergency directly impact the horse's well-being. Preparing for a sudden dramatic shift in wellness will improve the effectiveness of your actions in the midst of a situation filled with a high level of uncertainty.

30/05/2024

29/05/2024

26/05/2024

What would your answer be?

26/05/2024

😉

25/05/2024

25/05/2024

As one of my riders said this morning, “What a great way to spend the first day of summer break!” This little group of young riders tackled their first hunter show this morning! So very proud of each of them and the hard work they are putting in. They had consistent, quiet rides and took on new challenges with grace!

Thank you Forging M Farm LLC for a wonderfully organized show!

25/05/2024

You know how your great aunt can’t be around you without commenting on your weight?
You know how your mother in law can’t stop asking when you’re gonna have a baby because she’s dying for grandchildren?

You know how your mom licks that napkin and squeezes your face while she whipes dirt off your cheek?
You know how, when you were a child, your parents brushed your hair too fast, pulled on your hair, and your feelings were dismissed? “Oh you’re being such a baby!”

You know the way that family dinner is so stressful, but your aunts make amazing food- so you have the draw of the food, and the stress of the discord and passive aggressive comments? You know the pressure to have seconds, to not offend, coupled with a comment on your weight?

You know all those tiny, nitpicky, well meaning things that drive you crazy? You know how horrible the hands that fuss over you feel? You know how terrible the dissonance between what’s said and what’s felt is?

They’re made to sound like they’re for you, but they’re not- they’re for the person doing them.
Don’t be that guy with your horse.

Pinching, picking, constant cleaning, fussing
Nitpicking every little step
Fussing with buckles, forgetting about the horse and wrenching leather over soft, sensitize surfaces
Yelling, smacking, emotional corrections and making up for it with food

Those are not for the horse- they’re for you.

Every touch should be for the horse.
Touch with intention
Focus on the task AND the horse
Guide, with care
Say no when you have to, without judgement or emotion
Say yes when you can, without going off the rails
Bring the horse to center
And be someone they find peace standing next to.

21/05/2024

👩‍🏫

I train out of my own private facility, with a huge indoor arena that very rarely has more than 3 horses in it at the same time. It means my clients and young horses can focus during lessons and training sessions rather than worrying about sharing a busy, cramped space. It’s great. And it’s terrible. Because then when we go to the warmup at a busy horse show, it’s a VERY different experience.

Practice being in a crowded space. Practice riding with, and at, others. Get used to looking up and around, anticipating the movements of your fellow riders, and planning your own movements enough in advance that people can anticipate you. And remember: pass left to left unless it would be dangerous or unhelpful to do so, in which case you should call “inside” or “outside” loudly enough and early enough for others to hear you and react accordingly.

01/05/2024

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!

27/04/2024

I absolutely couldn’t be more proud of Alex Davis on all her accomplishments while she has been at Averett University, both in the saddle and out. Alex is a former student of mine and getting to watch her develop as a rider and as a person has truly been a joy. I know there are still many great things ahead of her!

25/04/2024

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.

24/04/2024

How do you develop a relationship with a horse?

With the changing of the culture of horsemanship, more people now are interested in developing a connection, which is a great direction to go in

But I find that in this search, we often find a romanticized fairy tale approach that focuses on the butterflies and rainbows aspects of horse ownership, and leaves out the nitty gritty.

It doesn’t help that we’re bombarded with videos of videos showing the highlights, like bridleless flying changes, kissy face photos, laying together in a field…. But we don’t get much of a view or conversation about hours spent perfecting our technique and timing so we can feel inoffensive to a horse.

There aren’t many popular reels of learning to pick up a hoof with respect to a horse, or handle a lead rope quietly so you don’t feel like a wild caveman to your horse.

So what does it take to develop a relationship?

There’s no way you can buy it, you can’t bribe it or force it.

A relationship is formed by being a trustworthy, stable and calming influence in the horses life

And to do this requires you have the skill to guide
The awareness to keep your horse out of trouble
The understanding of his needs to support his health and wellbeing
The mental flexibility to adjust the goals as needed and not get rigid
The discipline to stick to it when it gets hard or you meet resistance
And the balance in yourself, emotionally and physically, to guide the horse to a better balance too

So you see, it is an act: it’s not just something you voice as a desire, it’s not something that just spending time together gets you:

It’s active and ongoing work, starting with you -

And the horse’s response continually gives us the truth about ourselves and what we offer -

A peaceful relationship with a horse comes from a person who can guide and support, actively, frequently, and quietly. This daily act does not make for exciting online content, but it’s the only way to really accomplish a connection.

—-note about horse in photo: this is a rescue being gentled, who is undergoing supportive care for weight gain and physical rehabilitation —

21/04/2024

I highly enjoyed getting to judge this show yesterday! Very welcoming environment, beautiful arena, and a well-run show! They have lots more planned for this year!

20/04/2024

Temps and conditions are perfect for a wonderful day of judging at Forging M Farm LLC!

17/04/2024

To lift the back, the horse must be able to reach forward and stretch downward with his head and neck …

Imagine that your horse’s shoulder blades form a slot through which his neck must fall in a downward direction. In order to reach and stretch, his neck must come straight out of his shoulders. If his neck isn’t aligned with the slot, the horse is unable to lower it.—Beth Baumert

🎨: Sandy Rabinowitz

16/04/2024

A little photo dump from some recent lessons. We’re loving these warm temperatures and beautiful rides! 🐴🌄

15/04/2024

Looking forward to judging the first show of the season at Forging M Farm LLC this coming Saturday!

We can’t wait to see everyone next weekend to start our first show season! 🏅 Fingers crossed for good weather 🤞🏼