MC Equestrian - Miroir du Cheval Equestrian LLC

11/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day!

03/05/2025

Learn more about the latest Virginia Tech Helmet Lab ratings. ⬇️
https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/04/helmet-lab-releases-updated-equestrian-ratings-system.html

03/04/2025

Footfalls… a colorful visual.

24/03/2025

23/03/2025

Safety must be first, practiced and discussed!

Safety in Equine Professions – A Shared Responsibility

The recent tragic loss of a fellow equine professional serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the risks we face daily. Working with horses is inherently dangerous, but some risks are preventable—and that’s where responsibility must be clearly understood.

Whose Responsibility is Safety?

The simple answer: everyone’s—but especially the horse owner’s. Equine professionals—whether farriers, trimmers, vets, dentists, or therapists—are trained to do their jobs, not to train horses in basic handling. A horse should be safe to work with before the professional arrives. That means standing quietly, picking up and holding feet without snatching, and being respectful of personal space.

If a horse is untrained, anxious, or aggressive, the owner must take steps to improve handling before expecting a professional to work on them. It is unfair—and unsafe—to assume that the person beneath or beside the horse will "sort it out."

How Quickly Can Things Go Wrong?

Even the best-handled horses can have moments of fear, pain, or unpredictability. But when a horse is already known to be difficult, the risk multiplies. Consider these common but potentially catastrophic scenarios:

A horse pulls away sharply while a hoof is held, throwing the handler off balance and causing a serious back or head injury.

A horse leans excessively on a farrier or trimmer, crushing them under half a tonne of weight.

A horse kicks out, breaking bones in an instant.

A panicked horse rears or spins, knocking someone into a wall, fence, or hard ground.

These aren’t rare or extreme cases—they happen every day. Most of the time, professionals walk away with bruises and near misses. But sometimes, they don’t walk away at all.

Professionals Have the Right to Say NO

No hoof care professional (or vet, dentist, or therapist) is obligated to put themselves in a dangerous situation. If a horse is unsafe, they have the absolute right to refuse service and walk away.

This is not about being "soft" or "difficult"—it’s about survival. A horse that is unsafe today could be the one that ends someone’s career or life tomorrow. No job, no client, and no fee is worth that risk.

What Needs to Change?

Owners must take responsibility for training and handling before expecting professionals to work on their horse.

Professionals must feel supported in saying no to unsafe situations, without fear of backlash or financial loss.

Conversations about safety should be normalised, not dismissed as overreacting.

Safety isn’t optional. Training isn’t optional. And no professional should have to risk their life to do their job.

23/02/2025

Mark your calendars!

I (MC Equestrian) will be presenting at “The Mane Attraction” 2025 April 4th-6th!

There will be Musical Freestyles, a breed parade, lectures, mounted shooting, trick riding and so much more fun exciting presentations!

If you're in the OKC area or just want a fun trip out, please come and watch these beautiful horses and their amazing trainers.

(Photo credit to Sherri Irwin)

31/01/2025

Motivational Monday

Don't Forget:
-You can start over
-You can start late
-You can change your goals
-You can make mistakes
-You can be unsure
-You can be nervous
And Still SUCCEED.

Join a community of like-minded equestrians who will support you through the ups and downs on your way to success...join the Equine Masterclass. 🐴
www.EquineMasterclass.com

09/01/2025

It's a new year, so we reintroducing ourselves!
•
We are the Certified Horsemanship Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit membership association, founded in 1967.
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We certify equine professionals, accredit equine facilities and provide resources to programs and equine professionals in the form of published industry standards for equestrian programs, student horsemanship manuals and equine professional manuals.
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We also offer student awards, certificates, posters, and other educational resources.
•
Our mission is to promote excellence in horsemanship safety and education for the entire horse industry.
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➡️ Learn more about us and keep up to date with all the new and exciting things we have planned for 2025 at www.CHA.horse!

03/11/2024

CHA International Conference 2024

I was honored to be one of many great speakers at this conference. I was also able to ride in more than one class working with a young horse on the 4 natural aids and also getting to learn from top level instructor Joanne Young from NY on skills to build up to canter pirouette.

It’s challenging to get on horses you don’t know and “preform” in front of an audience but the mutual understanding that we are all there to learn and grow makes the learning experience/teaching more enjoyable.

The lesson I gave was fun fast paced Biomechanics lesson and many approached me after saying they thoroughly enjoyed it! I have all the wonderful instructors in my life to thank for that for their encouragement and I have learned so much from them.

17/05/2024

Upcoming CHA certification that still has openings!

English Western Instructor Certification – Camp Hebron in PA

From May 27, 2024 to June 1, 2024

English Western Instructor Certification Camp Hebron $850.00 includes Meals and Lodging 957 Camp Hebron Rd Halifax, PA 17032

Call CHA Corporate Office (859)-259-3399

https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/2027?id=154589.1107.1.964efa1513f6b7cbcb830950aeb083e3


26/03/2024

The basics are repeated in every level, but the skill to handle MORE information on the HOW and WHY behind a horse’s movement and aids is key for higher-level horses/riders.

“That lady has it so easy, her horse is push button!”

Ever hear this phrase? I’m not sure such a thing actually exists. And if it did, it would probably look more like this. A fully trained Grand Prix horse would feel like sitting down in the cockpit of a jet 😳 Just because a horse is trained to a high level does not make them “easy” to ride. Hopefully as you learn how to navigate and operate all these “buttons,” then a horse like this could allow to you feel some amazing things - upper level movements, yes. But mostly they should give you the feel for things like excellent balance, self carriage, suppleness, responsiveness. These are the “basics” you need to feel in order to do any of the fancy movements. If you sit on a “push button” horse and just hope to press the right button and feel an amazing passage or delightful tempi changes, you’re going to be sorely disappointed 😆

With great buttons comes great responsibility. 😂

Thanks to Susan DiFelice Design for this awesome illustration of her amazing “push button” wonder mare.

22/03/2024

“It's all about that bend…”

DRESSAGE TRIVIA:
Which two movements are basically the same, but are actually more different than night and day?

Do you know the difference between the trot loop and the canter loop? Besides the fact that one is performed at the trot and the other at the canter, there is a MAJOR difference between these two movements.

They are performed in the exact same pattern, or path, so how can it be possible that they are so completely different?

Well, you know...
🎶🎤🎵 "It's all about the bend, bout da bend, bout da bend..."🎶🎤🎵

The trot loop at training level requires a change in bend twice. And it must be smooth and fluid. The changes in bend come at you quick and you need to navigate and plan and think....😰

The canter loop at first level does not include any changes in bend, so you ride the path with no worries of that! BUT this is actually a harder movement because it's actually much harder to keep the same bend in the canter without breaking to trot or switching leads! Welcome to counter-canter territory...🫣

Regardless, both movements require planning and attention to detail. See the diagram below to help you visualize both movements😎