Cadence Dressage

16/12/2024

What a special weekend. Had a fabulous clinic with the exceptional Beth Anderson Ness Dressage yesterday. Love her vision, communication, and dedication to really honing in on those foundational holes that keep our riders safe and horses happy and eager to work. Everyone had a lovely ride and came away with a ton of takeaways.

12/12/2024

So excited to have Beth Beth Anderson Ness out this weekend for a clinic. Fabulous instruction and always a fun time. Unfortunately today we had a horse that needed to get pulled from the line up so we do have an available spot (horse is okay, just needs the weekend off). Anyone interested? Sat in Enumclaw at R&R Stables and Equestrian Event Center LLC

09/11/2024

Will be in Bend OR next Sat the 16th. Looking to line up a few horses to see while in the area. Client needs something solid, safe, can take a joke, and will pass PPE. No ponies, unless stocky and nothing giant please. Gelding preferred but will consider Mares with no drama. A show record would be great but not required. Client does want to eventually show so successful off site trips on the books would be ideal. Schooling 1st/2nd. Will consider horses in a large age range and maintenence appropriate for age is okay. Budget low 5s. Excited to see what you have, please pm video, price, location. Picture for FB tax

03/11/2024

Yay!! The horses are ready for spa day!!

03/11/2024

ISO partnership horse

Looking to add another partnership horse to the herd. Its been such a positive experince and so much fun, I am opening up another spot.

I am looking to partner on a talented horse with the ability for upper-level work. I am offering a spot in my training program for a special horse with all training fees, clinics, off-site trips, shows, custom bit/bridle fit, massage, and chiro completly free. Looking for a horse with a change started. The horse will need to be sound and safe, with no major project type issues since we are motivated to hit the FEI arena in the next year or two.

I have a fabulous team behind me supporting myself, horses, and the clients I have. Your horse, of course, would have access to that entire team to help them receive top notch care and training to develop them for success.

This might be a great fit for a possible consignment horse, for someone who needs to sell but is struggling in the current market, or for someone who wants to move their horse up but doesn't have time or money to do so right now. I want this to be successful all around, so I am happy to take my time to find the right fit! Located Enumclaw WA, if you are interested please reach out and lets discuss details!!

31/10/2024

Cadence Dressage has two stalls open for either lessons, training, or a commission horse. Come join a supportive and drama free barn family. Megan is a compassionate and kind teacher to both horse and rider. She has a holistic approach which has enabled many horses and riders to move forward in their training, filling in gaps that once held them back. Her methods have proven to bring back confidence in both horse and rider.

We host clinics almost every month and have a very full show schedule for the upcoming season. Including schooling, rated, and Championships.

Megan is incredibly proud of her barn family which is drama free and supportive. We are 100% committed to the horse and encourage quality horsemanship and training methods. Our focus is on continued education and encourage an enviroment of exploration and curiosity. We have an amazing team of professionals that provide our horses with some of the highest quality care in our region enabling both horse and rider to thrive.

Boarding has the following amenities:
12x12 deeply bedded stalls
Hacking available in fields when dry
Indoor 180×80 - GGT footing, fully enclosed
Outdoor 200 × 200
Round pen - 60 foot
Gravel dry lots
Large paddocks with recently upgraded footing
On site washer and dryer
Indoor bathroom
Premium Tim or Alf and onsite yearly tested local hay options.
Fabulous barn staff who live on site. Management and owners are incredibly supportive!

Located in Enumclaw WA. Please reach out if you are interested or have questions!

28/10/2024

Our friend Titus is available for on site half lease. He is an absolutely lovely TB gelding who really enjoys his job. He is safe but not beginner friendly as he needs some emotional support at times and tact. Very honest dude and 100% transparent. He is a fabulous teacher. Solid Training level, schooling 1st. Leasor would be able to attend shows and has the opportunity to clinic with him as well.

Titus is located in Enumclaw and would need to stay on-site. Leasor would need to take at least 1 lesson a week. Please pm for additional details and pricing.

26/10/2024

Wonderful day with Stable Body Physical Therapy! Super insight, creative tools, and kind approach for fishing out and fixing various areas of stiffness and compensation in our bodies. It's nice to really put the focus and support on us as rider. We put so much into the horses. Today was our turn lol and we spend the day playing with sponges, singing, and weird stretches. Excited to work on our homework and prep for next time!!

25/10/2024

One of my students is putting on a fundraising and collecting donations for SAFE. I'm super proud of her for taking the initiative with this. Please consider participating and making a donation!!

22/10/2024

FILLED! THANK YOU!!
ISO - looking to hire a groom for dressage program in Enumclaw WA. 4 days a week. Potential to bring your own horse. This is part time. No stalls. Must have previous horse experience, be a self-starter, have a good work ethic, be honest, follow directions and willing to learn. Hours are somewhat flexible. Please send DM if you are interested.

15/10/2024

I had a couple clients move in recently and I'm so impressed with their commitment to their horses. Both are on board with filling in gaps with vet work, chiro/massage, tack fitting, and lessons and clinics. Which is huge! It is so nice to have a barn full of clients who are committed to their horses, education, and the process of the program.

Both have come so far in just 3 weeks!! Both physically and with the riders confidence. Both were here tonight just having tons of fun with their horses. I'm so excited to unravel their education, fill holes, and move them all forward in their relationships with their horses and toward their goals. This is why I do what I do!

So thankful for R&R Stables and Equestrian Event Center LLC and their commitment to our horses and their care. I love being part of such a supportive and kind environment ❤️ Look at the improvement in this horse in just a short time. Left was move in day, right was 3 weeks later.

11/10/2024

We have a group text for my clients who board and our recent conversation was on how frustrating and nonlinear the line of training and riding can be. I ran across the below pictures and wanted to share both them and my thoughts.

Training and riding can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging. It is absolutely not linier. It is absolutely not like coding a computer or following a specific set or rules or steps. Sure we do have some rules and in some ways we "program" and have steps we follow. BUT the key difference is that riding is a relationship with dialog. There is a lot of back and forth, potentially messy conversations with your horse to develop a path forward. Aids change and develop over time. Support changes over time.

What is frustrating about riding and training horses is that it's based on a relationship with an animal that doesn't speak our language.

Relationships in general are messy
Learning in general is messy
Language and communication in general are messy

It is frustrating because we are all traveling through mess with a great degree of passion and care. Each horse and each rider is different so each journey is different. Each horse has their own issues as does each rider. Additionally each horse has their own wonderful traits as does each rider. It is easy to try and compare but there are so many factors that put us each on differnt paths that comparison is truly the most unfair thing we can do to ourselves.

Our riding paths take the twists and turns, they go up rocky paths and down beautiful water slides. We have moments where its light and beautiful like a perfect summer day and other moments that feel like the worst rain storm. But rain brings growth and so does sun. It truly must be about the journey and finding an equine friend you enjoy the journey with.

Having a trainer on board that can support you through your moments of "overreacting" can help too!! I have pulled many student back from the ledge of "I just can't ride and should give up" many times. I have given them speeches and encouragement and kindly but firmly told them to knock it off. I have then had the privilege of watching them click pieces together and shine! It's a truly beautiful process.

27/09/2024

Cadence Dressage is expanding opening up a few more spots for training horses and individuals looking to invest in furthering their education and their parnership with their horse.

Megan has a fabulous eye for helping to fill in holes and string together concepts to help really solidify foundational basics. Moving up the levels becomes easy when you have a solid foundation to springboard off of. Megan is a compassionate and kind teacher to both horse and rider. She has a holistic approach which has enabled many horses to move forward in their training, filling in gaps that once held them back. Her methods have proven to bring back confidence in both horse and rider. She is a huge believer in continued education and pursues regular lessons, clinics, and shows to continue to push herself and expand her knowledge base.

Megan is incredibly proud of her barn family which is drama free and incredibly supportive. We are 100% committed to the horse and encourage quality horsemanship and training methods. Our focus is on continued education and encourage an enviroment of exploration and curiosity. We have an amazing team of professionals that provide our horses with some of the highest quality care in our region enabling both horse and rider to thrive.

Boarding has the following amenities:
12x12 deeply bedded stalls
Hacking available in fields when dry
Indoor 180×80 - GGT footing, fully enclosed
Outdoor 200 × 200
Round pen - 60 foot
Gravel dry lots
Large paddocks with recently upgraded footing
On site washer and dryer
Indoor bathroom
Premium Tim or Alf ($850) and onsite yearly tested local hay options ($650)
Fabulous barn staff who live on site. Management and owners are incredibly supportive!

Located in Enumclaw WA. Please reach out if you are interested or have questions!

16/09/2024

We still have a couple spots for the upcoming Alexandra Brooks Dressage clinic on the 28th. If anyone is interested please pm and I'll get you added :)

12/09/2024

I saw a post awhile ago discussing shows and the purpose behind them. The division between we love it and it's dumb was pretty large lol. So here is my 2 cents as to why I show.

Of course I love the ribbons. 100%, hands down, no denying it. I love the high points, I love setting goals for awards and winning them.

BUT the reason I show is the test. Taking out a horse you have put hours of blood, sweat, and tears into is a big deal. Taking them down centerline is like standing in front of a full length mirror. You get a clear picture of holes, gaps, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and all areas that need improvement.

Sometimes that feedback is frustrating.
Sometimes it is rewarding.
Sometimes it is painful.
Sometimes embarrassing.
Sometimes it is enlightening.

The feedback from your test is so very important!! I love when my understanding of the test aligns with the judging. I also love when it doesn't because it presents a problem to solve. A gap to fill.

The show itself is a test of your bond, ability to request submission and move through tension and anxiety smoothly. It is no easy thing for a horse to go show. Mentally, physically, and emotionally it is TAXING!!!

So, where are you? Can your horse settle easily, can they do their warmup effectively, can they move from warmup to show ring with confidence, can they demonstrate submission and peace under pressure? Can you?

A show is about horsemanship, not about the ribbon. The show is about developing a better understanding of your parnership and meeting the needs of your equine friend. And in some ways having them meet yours.

Nala and I just got back from a show. She got 3 days off. Today I got on her cold and did a loose and stretching walk, trot, and canter. She was relaxed, prompt, happy in her work. All things we schooled and worked on at the show. All things we made improvements on at the show.

Nalas says "We had a successful show. Thank you for your support and education. Life at the show was hard and I needed support and help. You met me where I was when I didn't wanna do it. You took me through it. I came home processed and I realized I learned while we were gone. I'm ready to work now and happy to do it in a new way."

Hands down the horses feedback post show is the biggest win when it is similar to what Nala gave me today. We won in her eyes and that is literally all that matters.

12/09/2024

More interesting information on bones. Quickly becoming a side interest of mine.

Below, two lumbars and sacrums with two very different stories.

The top specimen is from a standardbred/welsh 13.2hh pony who despite having ECVM made it to 25 with only a few minor symptoms. She was put down for laminitis and arthritis getting the better of her. Her lumbar and sacrum are the normal anatomy for this area.

The bottom specimen a 8 year old Thoroughbred returned from racing in Hong Kong shows a very common finding among my dissections. 60 percent based on my dissections across breeds but very common in mainly thoroughbreds. This guy has what’s known as a sacralised lumbar aswell as sacral spurs. The sacralised lumbar I believe is a heritable trait although there has been no study it is in humans inherited through genetics from parentage. In my opinion the sacral bone spurs are from early hard work when the growth plates between S1 and S2 are still open. The sacroiliac joint is made of two parts and if under load grows osseous bone to strengthen the area and can fuse to the pelvis.

In my opinion sacralised lumbar is a major limiting factor for performance as it appears to compromise the function and mobility in the hind end. These horses are very stiff and do not track up. They can’t take weight through the hind end joints well and have trouble engaging the pelvis. Secondary compensation is often an issue that goes along with this.

I’ve heard multiple stories now that insurance companies are not paying out on horses diagnosed with ECVM because it’s not an injury but an inherited trait that can limit performance. So it leads me to ponder….. how many heritable traits will strike off insurance claims in the future with further study into skeletal variations/malformations. Will this push breeders to think more seriously about skeletal conformation? Will insurance companies lead the charge on researching the limitations of these skeletal variations? Will genetic testing for heritable skeletal traits be the future of breeding horses for optimal soundness? Don’t forget that the gene for kissing spines has recently been found, will horses with kissing spines now be considered a heritable trait and not an injury.

Will this void insurance claims?

I have put together a video on my patreon page to explain further.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/skeletal-in-hind-111909060?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link