Elizabeth Cabral Equine

Do you want to build more joy and connection with your horse? If you are anything like me, that answer will be a resounding yes! There is nothing like being greeted at the barn by a horse who cannot wait to be with you! Last week at the end of a busy day, I decided to head out and catch a few remaining moments of light with my horse. I stepped inside the pasture gate and saw him at the other end of the pasture grazing with his friends. I walked just into his sight and call...ed AMIR! almost immediately that white nose popped up and he ran to me at a full gallop. PURE HEAVEN. But building that connection is not always easy. Sometimes finding the keys to unlock your horse’s heart requires time, effort, and a willingness to experiment. And it can be tough to find answers when you need them. That’s why I have created my new FREE guide 5 Secrets to Building a Better Relationship with Your Horse. My goal is to give you answers to improving your connection with your horse whether you are just starting out OR wanting to make that relationship even better. If you want answers on how to create more joy and connection with your horse, decrease friction, and have a happy, healthy horse (yep, they’re both connected!) download the free guide HERE: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5faaf89377a09736f500f769

Amir Update: Somebody’s excited for breakfast and to go OUTSIDE this morning!! (listen with sound on!) We are now approaching 6 six weeks after Amir surgery - he is healing amazingly well and as you can see his zest for life is completely unchanged (in fact it’s maybe a little amplified since his accident). ... With your help we have now raised over $4500 for Amir’s recovery. Thanks to you he has been able to move out of a cast and into a temporary hard plastic prosthetic much sooner which has aided his healing and comfort so much. If anyone else might be willing to donate (even the smallest amounts help), we would be so grateful. His hospital care is approx. $150-$200 a day and his permanent prosthetic will be around $3500-$4500. Amir's GoFundMe fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/saving-amir Amir's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Saving-Amir-545429056374019

A couple of weeks ago my beloved Amir was kicked by another horse in the pasture and shattered his front leg. Now, anyone who knows Amir also knows that he is incredibly determined, opinionated, and has an amazing will to live (I had no idea just how strong before the past two weeks). As I sat there in the pasture holding his leg together as we waited for our vet to arrive I got a clear message from Amir that he wanted to live. Unfortunately none of the equine hospitals in S...Continue reading

Don't let the weather stop you from having fun with your horse this winter! Up to now here in the mountains of Southern California where I live we have had really perfect horse weather except for today which has arrived cold, windy, and feeling like winter. And it's on days like today when it would be soo easy just to stay inside by the fire with a nice cup of tea, and put off horse time until tomorrow when it's warmer. But then tomorrow comes and it's still not warmer, an...d we end up putting time with our horse on the backburner until spring. But with a little strategic planning you can continue making progress with your horse throughout the cold months! Here are 5 exercises you and your horse can work on even when it's miserable outside: 1. Build his confidence with a tarp, get him comfortable touching it with his nose, walking over it, and even wearing it hint this will make your blanketing process A LOT easier! 2. Add polework to keep your training sessions interesting and help your horse stay fit and flexible. Get creative with pole configurations - there are so many different exercises you can use on the ground and riding, and even in small spaces (like in the barn where you can stay dry). 3. Teach your horse to push a ball. 4. Take your horse for a brisk walk when it's too slippery to ride. Extra bonus - you will keep fit too! 5. Plant your horse's favorite treats on obstacles around the barn, and build his curiosity and puzzle solving skills by taking him on a horse treat hunt. Also, think about keeping your horse sessions short and sweet - if you think you have to ride for 2 hours every week in the pouring rain, chances are you won't follow through. But if you commit to just 15-20 minutes of horse time each day, you will be much more likely to make it happen. Another great winter horsemanship strategy is to find an accountability partner - call up your horse friends and schedule a time throughout the week to meet at the barn, whatever the weather. You will be much more motivated to show up when you know a friend will be there too! Still need help staying progressive with your horse this winter? I would love to help you! Send me a DM to find out more about my lesson program and if it would be a good fit for you and your horse. Not local? No problem! I also offer long distance horsemanship coaching.

Can your horse load his soccer ball into the trailer?! Amir LOVES playing with his ball and had a blast rolling it into the trailer on this snowy day last year. Going through winter themed videos for this week's blog post, it's going to be a fun one!

Happy New Year! Amir and I are ready to jump into 2021! It's hard to believe we are finally in 2021 - as we step away from a very tough year for so many people around the globe, let's take a moment to remember that even in the most challenging of times there is always reason to hope and a reason to smile. As equestrians I feel we are very blessed because one major reason to smile is waiting for us every day at the pasture gate. ... Last year reminded me unequivocally that there is such great joy in sharing life with my horses. They can be such a sanctuary - even as the world seems to tumble around our feet, our horses are the solid rock we can go to and find peace and happiness. And so I send you wishes of not only a better year in 2021, but also a year that is filled with laughter, new adventures, and very importantly lots of sun-filled afternoons at the barn.

Merry Christmas to you and your animals!