Golden Valley Equine Training

THIS is why I never run on an empty tummy!

STUDENTS! This is how a hoof grows! REMEMBER, it is a LIVING thing, you're horses feet are IMPORTANT! Do not neglect them! <3

Some horses spend their lives sitting in fields, and are never asked to perform any physical activities, so what I am going to suggest probably doesn't apply to... them. Broodmares, retired horses, whatever--- But many, probably most horses are asked to perform. The intensity of that performance might range from an occasional half, to 3/4 hour slow walk, to the outer limits of exertion, but whatever the intensity, one inescapable fact sits right there. And before I address it, I am going to try to phrase this in human terms--- Say, for example, that we live in a dictatorship, and on some given day, in any random town, someone just randomly chooses 50 people on the town street, out of offices, places of employment, wherever. These 50 are taken to the sports facility at a local high school, and are made to run laps, to lift weights, to perform the usual activities of the varsity players in various high school sports. What would we see? Well, take John and Mary. Randomly, those two are elite athletes.John happens to be an active military guy shopping, and Mary races mountain bikes, so they cruise through without much strain whatsoever. A few more, for one reason or another, are reasonably fit, and they too are basically OK. But many of those snatched up wouldn't be so lucky, would they? Some are elderly, some have underlying illness or injury, others are overweight, some are sedentary and weak----The physical activities forced on some of them would be a form of torture, even life threatening for a few. Why? Simple---They are being made to perform physical activity for which they are unprepared and unready. And yet, coming back to horses, humans do this to horses all the time. Some get hunted for hours, some made to sit and lift in dressage schooling, some to spin and slide, some to trot up long hills, some to gallop, and the same humans who would suffer greatly if it was dealt to them are OK with doing it to horses, and scarcely give it a thought. But all riders CAN, if they are tuned in to horse fitness, only require their horses to do those things that they have given them the ability to pull off without distress. Think about it---is this horse ready and able to do what I ask? Have I spent the time and effort to make sure he's up to this degree of work? Of all aspects of that word we call "horsemanship," this is "Horsemanship 101," the most basic of basics. THINK ABOUT THIS----

Some of my students at D14 yesterday!! I’m SO PROUD of everyone!

Horse owners and those interested in making a chamfron, I could use some help, and have a lovely pattern from Juliana Avon that I think would benefit many! Ple...ase see attached pics of a Demi-chamfron and longer chamfron. Could you please take 4 measurements below next time you see your horse, and reply here/message me with them and the breed (FOR SCIENCE!) and so that I can make mine reasonably interchangeable between horses? 1) Distance between the (edges of the) horse’s eyes (where the chamfron should end) 2) Distance from the eyes to the ears 3) Distance from the eyes to the tip of the horse’s nose (if there were a line drawn between the nostrils) 4) Distance between the horse’s ears 5) Your horse’s breed / and size notes (i.e. 14H QH, 17H OTTB, large for breed, small for breed, etc) Chamfrons may have been bespoke objects in period...or perhaps not. But I'm hoping to make mine using the racing mask with mesh cups (pictured) as a base, and wondering if that will be feasible across *most* horses. Please take a measuring tape next time you go out to ride, and let me know! See more

Whoa! Very interesting!

Get. Out. Of. MY. Pasture!

OMG, this tribute to lesson horses is AMAZING I am a lesson horse. I am a horse that isn’t as recognized as the top hunter jumpers, the best western pleasure horse, or the 1D barrel horse, I am a lesson horse. I am the backbone of the foundation to do all of those things. I am a lesson horse. ... I am not loved by one person. I am loved by several people. I don’t have my person, I have my people. I am a lesson horse. I will teach your child and yourself more than just to ride. I will bring your child out of their shell. I will teach your child about life. I will be yours and their shoulder to cry on. I am a lesson horse. I will bring my family the joy of teaching kids. I will bring my families business growth. I am so loved by my family, even if they don’t express it everyday. My family allows others to show me love and enjoy me. I am a lesson horse. At the end of your childs’ journey on a lesson horse, they will out grow me. They will find one that jumps higher, a horse that is show quality, a horse much faster than me. But, I will never outgrow being a lesson horse. I will be the one that loved your child and helped your child grow into the rider and person they are. I am a lesson horse. At the end of my time as a lesson horse; I will be covered in grey hair. Each grey hair came from each hour I spent as a lesson horse. I will be in a field of green grass, I will be taken care of as I was when I was a lesson horse. I will watch your child from across the pasture love her new horse. But, I will love your child more than any horse can. I will be the backbone of the business, the family, and your child. Don’t forget about me, I am a lesson horse. I am a lesson horse. *stolen from a friend *

...haaahahaa, I never thought about it...but now I’m a bit curious!

Students and parents, PLEASE read... It is important that during this time, you understand why some times I have to cancel lessons.

Okay parents and kiddos, we will see how the heat shakes out this week regarding lessons and times. Fingers crossed!Okay parents and kiddos, we will see how the heat shakes out this week regarding lessons and times. Fingers crossed!

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu//guidelines-horses-exposed-