SureFire Horsemanship, LLC

15/01/2025

The Difficult One:

Today I had a conversation with a lovely dog who is guiding his person to stay true to herself, regardless of those around her. Growing up, she was the responsible one, caring for her siblings and always doing the right thing. This sense of responsibility taught her compassion and consideration for others, and a sense of independence that has served her well. It also guided her to put the needs and comfort of others before her own.

Then came along a not-so-little dog who has out energized several trainers, and stayed true to his hearts calling. He is vibrant, playful, joyous, and wild. He does not have a desire to conform to what others believe is a “good boy.”

For the most part, he and his person get along famously, just as they are. However; When other people are around, she can feel quite embarrassed by his exuberance, and people often tell her that her dog “owns” her, not the other way around.

His response?

“Why do you care? It’s not your life I’m influencing, it’s hers!”

Society has determined what a “good dog” is, just as it has determined what a “good kid” is.

I so appreciated the tenacity of this guy in staying true to himself and his lessons for his person. He told her to remind others to create their own boundaries rather than asking her to change him so that they can feel better… and to stay joyful and free!

The ‘difficult one’ reminds us to stay true to ourselves, regardless of what other’s think… after all, it’s not your life they’re living!

(Photo of another little being I know who shares this sentiment).

15/01/2025

The animals are encouraging me recently to share more around closing the separation we often create with the mind, body, and spirit, especially when our animals or we are not well.

They remind us to acknowledge the discomfort/pain/illness that they might be experiencing, but to remember that big work is done on a vibrational level through focusing on the desired outcome of wellness.

When we focus on the lower vibrating energies (illness/disease) we give it power, and we ask for more of what we are aligned with. We cannot practice the vibration of “poor him/her” and wellness simultaneously as they are two completely different vibrational energies. They are telling two different stories. One is a story of illness, one is a story of wellness. As we tell our stories, we start to believe them and accept them as truth, and this belief turns into a dominant vibrational energy that attracts all that’s aligned with it into our experience. Has anyone heard the term “When it rains it pours?” That’s vibrational momentum created through the quantum field.

We can acknowledge the disease/discomfort and take steps in the 3D world to promote wellness to the best of our knowledge and ability, but we cannot forget the unseen work. The work no one wants to do because it’s uncomfortable, time consuming, requires us to not go unconscious or back to the familiar thought patterns of “what is.” The big work is the work unseen. The big work is believing in the wellness before it has manifested. It’s holding the “light” for you and your animal to step into. It’s surrendering to the unknown, and releasing control of the familiar.

The same way thought alone can create a chemical change in your body when you see someone you really don’t want to see, or you meet someone who gives you butterflies… wellness can be created in the mind. Wellness IS created first through vibration as a result of your thoughts, emotions and environment.

What would happen if all of your focus was on wellness despite what was in front of you? This doesn’t mean ignoring the problem, it means trusting in the solution. What would that feel like? What kinds of things would you do with your animals? Imagine it. Give it a try..

Next time you are talking with your trainer, at the vet with your animals, or simply spending time with them, consider holding a belief that on the other side of this there will be wellness. Consider imagining that bodies are designed to heal and be well. Consider believing in an energy field greater than yourself from which all matter is created. Consider asking for what you want, and believing it’s possible. Consider this is what your animals have been waiting for all along.

The Great Awakening

15/01/2025

Even though help was willing I had them stay home and warm
Between 11am-8:20pm I got every stall but 2 done, everyone watered with hot water multiple times to keep them drinking, horses rotated through the arena so all got 3-4 hours of turnout-spreader, vet appointment.
Moving slow at the end of the day.

Didn’t worry about any hay nets but made sure they had half a bale tonight after getting 4 pounds of warm alfalfa mush throughout the day (and regular hay flakes every 2 hours)
No one got worked but everyone got the normal exceptional care and were happy for hot water and hot meals

Back at it tomorrow, likely no lessons again if it’s the same as today. My nostril hairs are thawing

14/01/2025

𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓: 𝑨 𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈

By understanding and practicing the concept of turning from the center, riders can significantly improve their horsemanship skills and build a stronger partnership with their horse.

14/01/2025

With all the talk and argument surrounding the idea of a new contraption to measure the tightness of nosebands in dressage competition, I can't help but wonder... 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥?

There's 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 inherently negative about the use of a noseband (and if you want to preach your belief that nosebands are all just terrible tools of the devil, this isn't the page for you). Where the issues come in, as far as I can tell, is WHY are you using the noseband?

🐴 Are you using it to stabilize the bit?

- then you're probably pulling too much on the reins and causing the problem. (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥).

🐴 Are you using it to stop your horse from crossing their jaw?

- then you're probably pulling too much on the reins and causing the problem.

🐴 Are you using it because the horse is "lolling" their tongue?

- then you're probably pulling too much on the reins and causing the problem.

🐴 Are you using it because he opens his mouth when you take contact and try to adjust the position or frame?

- then you're probably pulling too much on the reins and causing the problem.

If you're using the noseband to stop a problem from happening, then the problem lies in the education of the horse and the rider.

* 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘈𝘙𝘌 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨... 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

🐎 If you're using the noseband because you are competing and rules of tradition compel it, that's a different story.

🐎 If you like the look of it, that's a different story.

🐎 If you like to "bling it up" and feel snazzy, that's a different story.

🐎 If you're using a noseband because you like to honor and respect the traditions of your discipline, even though you don't compete, that's a different story.

🐎 I probably missed some good personal reasons you might have, and they're a different story, too.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿.

So, let me know in the comments section, why are you using a noseband?

14/01/2025

Update on the situation, the 2 horses, what the vet thinks and how Neiko is faring

14/01/2025

Here I was worried about Neiko when he’s over here being the instigator

14/01/2025

EquiSeq announced today that a group of twenty countries in Europe have issued a patent on EquiSeq's DNA test for three genetic variants that predispose to muscle disease. The tests are part of EquiSeq's current DNA panel. Test results allow horse owners to better manage affected horses, and can be used to improve a breeding program to reduce the incidence of muscle disease.

Read more: https://www.equiseq.com/news/twenty-european-countries-issue-patent-on-equiseq-dna-tests/

14/01/2025

This will continue-but is why I do pricing the way I do
We inevitably miss some during January and February. We Will hold some makeup days I’ll post about this evening

**Dangerous Cold Early Next Week**

I am not sugar coating things here. The next arctic outbreak is going to be ugly, and it could bring the coldest air in 4 years. This is the type of cold that can lead to frostbite in 15 minutes, threaten outdoor pets, and could freeze pipes. Monday through Wednesday (Jan 20-22nd) will bring the worst cold with the biggest impacts expected Tuesday morning.

14/01/2025

Amazing
Have faith!

CONNERSVILLE, Indiana -- For as long as her parents can recall, 11-year-old Breana Carsey has harbored an extraordinary aspiration. She has consistently desired to own a broodmare—a female horse—that would produce a foal, which would eventually mature into a champion racehorse.
"Absolutely, this was a fairytale for her from day one. We put it off for five years almost because we don't have a farm. So we've gotta go rent stalls somewhere," said her father, Brian Carsey, who explained that his daughter "has me wrapped around her finger."
Breana's foal was born, and she chose the name MJB Got Faith, reflecting the immediate faith she felt in him.
"I really loved him. He's super soft too," she said.
However, this swift connection presented a significant challenge for the overly accommodating father. For some reason, Brian believed that once he conveyed to his daughter that her horse was incapable of racing—being a runt from substandard breeding—she would simply consent to sell it.
"She's like, there's no price daddy," he said. "So I'm talking to my wife and it's like, we really got ourselves in a mess here. And I don't know how we're going to get out of this. So we stake him to the races... The horse that I thought we should have gotten rid of already."
Brian was stuck, committed to boarding and training this long shot to end all long shots. And this is not a wealthy family. Brian runs a small logistics company. And Ohio racing -- which is harness-style racing -- is a $900 million a year industry.
MJB Got Faith was so slow it barely even qualified to compete -- but then somehow, some way -- won his first race, then his second, third and fourth -- qualifying him for the state championship held in Columbus, Ohio.
"And I said baby, 'If you finish third, you should be so thankful,'" Brian remembered. "She goes, 'Daddy, if he finishes last I'm going to be thankful. But he's going to win.'"
And so it was: that this little horse with no pedigree -- this pet with no reason for being here beyond the blind faith of a little girl -- won an Ohio Sire Stakes championship.
"She said, 'Dad, I told you. You gotta have faith,'" Brian said.
Breana took home a hundred thousand dollars that day. She half to charity and plans to put the other half toward buying a farm.
"I just want to have a farm and be able to walk out my backdoor and see him," she said.
Since we first told this story last year, things have only gotten better for Breana. She got a national horse racing award and book and movie deals are in the works.
Interestingly, her dad now has a racehorse which he gave a most unusual name: Steve Hartman.
Perhaps because of that poor choice, Brian has yet to win a single race. Hopefully his daughter will let him live on her farm.

14/01/2025

Late night 🥶 rides
Thanks to husband for staying to supervise and help closer up shop. Fifi and I are both in better shape than a few months ago

I don’t just train backyard quarter horses 😆 but they’re awesome! I get to work with Friesians, warmbloods, thoroughbreds and everything in between for all sorts of issues.

14/01/2025

Have had amazing help lately, even despite the weather- horse lovers experienced and new have been rallying during this terrible extreme cold 🥶

Thanks to Megan B and Chris tonight we caught up on all the stalls, Avery did Bernie’s ❤️
I was able to get our fence hooked back up and get the horses out for 6 hours after 2 days in
They were all excited to go out and just as excited to get back in for dinner

Hot alfalfa cubes for everyone, boiling water on top to help keep buckets from freezing, loose 3-4 flakes with their usual hay nets

Raven is now up front next to Lazarus and Sorsha has went to her birthing stall
Hope this extreme cold passes quickly. I can dress warm enough to handle it, but it makes everything takes so much longer.

Neiko has another vet appointment tomorrow, he’s doing good but we’re gonna keep treating and supportive care up and hopefully stay on top of it.

Fifi says hello

13/01/2025

We’ll have a spring break kids camp and at least 2 advertised for summer soon :) due to all the vet bills there will be some great deals. Keep your eyes peeled this week

13/01/2025

TN Master Horse Program

13/01/2025

Silly angry destructive excited furry blobs finally got to go out after a few hours of physical 😥 labor

They’re funny. And lucky I love them

13/01/2025

13/01/2025

A weekend of great lessons
❄️ it’s pretty
I’m tired of it though. Icy weather means after 7-8 hours of teaching I really don’t want to do much else physical because my hands and fingers are froze, but I stayed an extra 2 hours to top off waters and rehang nets, to take care of a few stalls.
Every single rider did a great job though, and horses were pretty well behaved
Big changes, hard shifts, and yet life continues at the farm. We’re blessed to have the healthy animals that we do have

13/01/2025

Another ECVM finding

This lovely purebred welsh pony (despite all of the best care) struggled terribly with lack of coordination, he would stumble slip and fall in the paddock, training would just not stick, his body did not develop according to his age and he could be seen weaving endlessly at gateways despite having friends and forage.

Horses we have seen with Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation often (but not always) show many of the same symptoms. Other commonalities we find in ECVM horses are kissing spine, sacroiliac damage and significant crookedness issues through the whole skeletal system.

We can only assume that malformed bones deep at the base of the neck cause havoc on nerve and muscle attachment symmetry and therefore set off a chain of compensatory problems as the horse develops and grows (this is a genetic issue, something they are born with).

More on this dear little fellow (only 10 years old) once his bones are clean.

Pic: TOP shown are normal vs ecvm bones (not belonging to this pony but similar presentation). BOTTOM RIGHT The pony’s actual c6 c7. BOTTOM LEFT shows a mirror image of what it should look like.

The live feed snippets of video for this dissection can be found now on our patreon. A full story and images will be added down the track once his bones are clean.