Working with Horses

Anke works 1 on 1 with horses, to assist with physical soundness (and other issues) for alignment, straightness, communication and clarity for a rider’s aids.

skeletal x-rays of hoses head and neck, showing the muscle attachment to the hyoid apparatus

Understanding the horses the hyoid apparatus

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Hyoid bone 🦴 seemingly insignificant bone

 

It is such a small bone, but yet the function of this tiny bone is essential to the wellbeing and movement of our horse. Let’s have a closer look at this tiny bone.

The hyoid is not only connected directly to the tongue, forelimb and poll but indirectly to the hindquarter.

So what are the connections?

Without trying to be too complicated here are the connections

The first connection ( sternohyoid muscle)

  • connect the horse’s tongue & mouth to the chest of the horse.
  • From here the fascia connections and muscular connections carry through from pectoral (chest) muscles along
  • the lower inside of the horse,
  • along with the abdominal muscles and into the pelvis.

The second connection (omohyoid muscle)

  • to the shoulder joint,
  • linking into the fascial chain
  • that runs from the head, along the lower inside of the neck,
  • middle of the shoulder and all the way to the toe on the hindlimb.
  • This puts a spin on understanding to the term ‘riding from your leg to your hand’, and the connection between your leg aid and the activity of the hindlimb.

The third connection (occipitohyoid muscle)

  • connects the hyoid to the poll,
  • creating a direct chain from the shoulder through the hyoid to the poll, and
  • from there through
  • the nuchal ligament (back)
  • the dorsal muscular chain (back)
  • back to the hindquarter,

I find it incredible how such a small detail inside if the horse is yet connected to everything.

As always if the smallest piece gives way, we find ourselves in a bit of trouble.

Incredible dynamic, connected chain all nicely linked together.

The hyoid is directly connected to the tongue 😜 it plays a role in breathing and swallowing while moving.

Why is it so important to understand this tiny bone?

It has such an impact on the entire movement of our horse.

Therefore a restriction, pain or any dysfunction in the hyoid may have a direct impact on the mobility of the forelimb, leading to a possibly shortened or stilted gait.

This can be transferred to the hindquarter as an inability to engage the hindlimbs.

So let’s look after this tiny but significant bone.

The delicate hyoid structure is well hidden and quite protected but accidents can happen.

 

Here are some scenarios you could use to positively influence looking after this bone:

  • Having a lovely soft feeling in your rein and just be careful of the pressure that we place on the bit.

  • Choosing a bit that allows movement of the tongue without restriction.

  • Using auxiliary gear attached to the headset of the horse, bit or poll could have an effect on the hyoid apparatus.

  • keeping it in a rigid posture

  • Approaching the training slow and steady with a cavesson and educating the horse true self-carriage

  • Practices, where the tongue is handled (including during a dental procedure), can lead to a potential unbalancing of the hyoid or, in worst-case scenarios, a fracture of the hyoid bone.

 

My passion is teaching riding, and understanding some of the underlying function helps me to place it in perspective. There is more to horse riding than just sitting on the horse and going for a ride.

 

To prepare this article I read work from the following website as well as the teachings of

 

skeletal x-rays of hoses head and neck, showing the muscle attachment to the hyoid apparatus
skeletal x-rays of hoses head and neck, showing the muscle attachment to the hyoid apparatus
front lifted engaged open chest from the book Jean-Marie Denoix Physiotherapy und Massage bei Pferden

Understanding the horses carrying system

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Horses as we know are herd animals, designed to be on the move and when all is well going forward is an effortless adventure.

 

Horses are designed to stay upright effortlessly with the least muscle power possible supported by ligaments and tendons in a pully system.

 

The horse basically hangs in a sling system at the front and the back, and this system is then supported by four legs. The legs are designed to be shock absorbers.

 

If everything is working as it should, it is a very well designed unit, and this is why we love riding them as they move majestically with comfortable paces over open ground.

 

Let’s have a closer look at the carrying system.

 

This is important to understand and look at because if we don’t we won’t notice that when our horse goes lame, as the leg is the weakest link, we will subsequently have a number of related issues to contend with.

 

Maintaining the correct function of the system and the development of muscle enables you to ride your horse without doing any damage. Horses work in a horizontal balance from poll to tail in spinal alignment, which is effectively two slings with a hanging basket in the middle supported by four pillars.

 

There are four parts to this

  • the thoracic sling which is characterised by the shoulder, wither and neck in the front,
  • the pelvic girdle which is in the back where our horse’s engine sits,
  • the basket where the organs and ribcage are in between the suspension bridge and
  • the legs which are the four pillars.

A combination of these working together results in horizontal balance and vertical balance, so it is easy to see if these don’t work in tandem and we then ride our domesticated horses, they are going to be out of balance.

 

To move forward you need to create lift, but to get lift you need to slow it down.

 

I like to compare this to a small child learning how to walk, as before you know it they are running, then they topple over, then they get their balance and then they slow down.

This is what we see with our horses too.

 

If we want to access our horse’s engine from behind we need to be able to open the throttle in the front, meaning the wither is lifted and supported by the upper neck muscles as well as engaging the muscles inside the horse.

 

These show up as a solid neck, and no dip in front of the wither or hollow behind the wither.

The horse needs to be able to lift the back and engage its core with its head at the poll being the highest point.

 

I regularly see horses that are not moving forward freely and are leaning on the bit, they have compromised or weak thoracic sling muscles.

 

The rider holds the rein and feels slightly tipped forward with pressure on the toes into the stirrup, while the horse is leaning over the shoulders, down and forward into the shoulder blades with its front feet in a backwards position.

 

When I see this it shows me that both horse and rider basically in a locked-down position and are braced.

 

Both are having difficulty in breathing properly and both sense a real fear of losing control, none of which is what we are striving for.

In this scenario, there is no room for the hind legs to come forward as the roadblock is in the front, and it is damaging for the horse’s lower neck, shoulder and elbow to travel like this.

To compensate the horse often has its hind legs behind the body which in turn overstretches the stifle and hocks, and you can often see them twisting a hindleg when they turn.

Another consequence of this is that they also place the hind legs in a wider stand past the body to give them stability, but again this compromises the hips, stifle and hocks and makes the back drop with the ribcage hanging on the shoulders.

 

When you look at horses from the side who are moving like this, their chest has slightly dropped and is in front and they end up with very weak muscles in the chest (man boobs) and if you look at them from the front the chest looks narrow and the front legs look closer together on the top, wider at the base.

 

These horses often become sluggish and drop weight and their ribs start to show, yet they appear to have a wide grass belly, and are typically very well cared for, much loved.

 

We need to work out what is going on and resolve it.

Working with the horse and bringing it into a better balance.

 

front lifted engaged open chest from the book Jean-Marie Denoix Physiotherapy und Massage bei Pferden-Picture 1

front lifted engaged open chest

(thoracic sling )

hind end muscle group in the movement (Pelvic Girdle)

-Picture 2

hind end muscle group in the movement (Pelvic Girdle)

Both pictures are from the book Jean-Marie Denoix Physiotherapy und Massage bei Pferden

The muscles involved in the thoracic sling From the book horse movement: structure, function and rehabilitation by Gail Williams.

-Picture 3

The muscles involved in the thoracic sling

From the book

horse movement: structure, function and rehabilitation by Gail Williams.

georgie girl clear eye looking at you

Horse welfare – A Game of Margins

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A Game of Margins – Where the fine details complete a whole image.

 

Every little detail matters

I often get asked what I do.

However, I find it difficult to explain as “What” depends on the horse before me.

 

However, if I were to Generalise what I do:

  • I look at the horse in front of me and observe, listen and learn
  • I look at how he moves
  • I look at how he breathes
  • I look at how he observes his surroundings
  • Is he sad
  • Is he inquisitive
  • Is he cheeky
  • Is he guarded

I will not second guess myself while I think, I watch, I observe, and I study the same horse.

 

The horse will also observe and understand me.

He will always achieve an understanding of me and reach his conclusion before I have reached mine.

 

He watches, studies and observes;

  • How I arrive at the barn
  • How I interact with my horses
  • How I speak to my horses
  • How I handle them
  • How they work during the ride or In-Hand work

 

And most importantly;

  • How I make them feel.

 

This is so important for horses that come to me in my place, my comfort zone. They come with their stories, their past and their trauma.

It is often that they have been asked more than they can handle.

It is in their body that tells the story.

 

When I work him, he observes:

  • Do I pay attention and give him a break when he needs it.
  • Am I encouraging him to try a little bit more as he searches for his balance?
  • Will I stop before he shuts down and shuffles along mindlessly?

 

 

Remember; They let us ride them; they let us move them around for our enjoyment.

Although sometimes, unknowingly, we make decisions that are not healthy for them.

 

I would like to have endless time to work with them.

Sometimes the only thing I can ask is one step more than yesterday.

One step towards recovery, to let go of brace, tension or just the breath he is holding.

To earn the trust of the horse, so he knows I would never misuse him.

 

Like watching the grass grow in the middle of winter, they all, with time, slowly come back.

 

Often, during riding lessons, we are told the mechanics on how they ‘should’ move, or what a movement ‘should’ look like.

 

But what about how it feels?

I like to teach the feel of riding – when and how the back lifts.

The timing of the gait, when the feet come off and make contact with the ground. What is the feeling of this movement?

 

It is a subtle yet articulate conversation you learn to have through your seat, your legs and your rein.

Soft and smooth is comfortable to sit to, provided it is with lightness and lift, not forcing a false balance with jarring and jolting the contact of the horse.

 

Are you feeling softness through your fingers?

Contact comes through every point of your body connected to the horse.

 

I like to let the horse offer the movement and guide them along. Give him an idea, make it a guided puzzle to solve and not a forced opinion on how it must be done.

 

Now the learning comes – how to respond

Ask your horse to find a healthy, sustainable frame with balance, alignment and self-carriage. This is dependent on the ability of each individual horse. His potential strength and co-ordination will be determined by beneficial changes made which are sympathetic to his specific circumstances.

 

To determine this sweet spot and to encourage them to stay on the line between being too careful and overusing the body negatively.

  • now listen – be open to his side of the conversation; it is time for him to be heard. Both the good and the bad. This takes feeling and feeling must be learned, be kind to yourself, feeling is individual.

 

  • Give your horse courage. The courage to let go of brace, the courage to soften and move with ease and flow. This is important at the beginning, you yourself must be brave to take it steady and slow and start one step at a time.

 

  • They will sometimes have a real fear of losing balance as a brace may have held them steady for a long time. Being rigid with brace and tension has provided stability for the worries and fears of weakness in a prey animal. To lose stability is a death sentence in his mind. We must slowly release the brace to rehabilitate not just the body, but also the mind.
  • Timing is key. Co-ordination is the game. Learning is the hard part. Listen, and you will both reap the rewards.

Everywhere you look, the tiny marginal changes will come.

 

 

grey horse in for rehabilitation work stance of hind legs muscle development and tail carriage. spinal alignment.

grey horse in rehabilitation work front legs chest forming a healthy picture frame and stance

grey horse in rehabilitation work top picture first month in bottom picture three month of development.

grey horse in for rehabilitation work. right side of the body showing the development of back and neck muscle as well as spinal alignment, core engagement.

 

Feel free to contact me 

https://balanceddressage.com.au/contact-balanceddressage-com-au/

 

Grey Warm-blood releasing tension and crossing over the jaw

The three F’s in Horsemanship

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The three F’s in Horsemanship

grey warm-blood releasing tension in the jaw through yawning

The three F’s – do you know what they are?

  • Flight •Freeze  •Fooling around

These are three very different responses from horses when they cannot cope with the task at hand.

The first two are very common and widely acknowledged, and are instinctual responses.

But often the third one isn’t noticed, which is basically when the horse plays the class clown and does silly things, which I call fooling around. 

The most common action I see which falls into the fooling around category is when a horse starts pulling faces. Often we find this amusing and or endearing. But there are physical as well as mental reasons for this as the horse could well need to release one or all of the following;

  • his jaw
  • his hyoid, which is his tongue bone
  • his TMJ which is a joint just below and in front of the base of the ear

Often these horses need to relearn to swallow and roll their tongue and have the freedom of the movement. They also need to be able to cross their jaws and actually yawn.

 

To enable this, a loose noseband or no noseband would be ideal, although I appreciate this doesn’t seem to be in fashion. 

A very quiet bit that rolls on the tongue would be a good option, and a straight one is preferable. 

⁃ Let’s just say, for now, the most common bit at the moment is not always the best or kindest option, and looking for the right bit is a time consuming albeit rewarding task. It is a stage in rehabilitation work.

 

A horse doesn’t start yawning because he is bored. He starts yawning to release the tension and as a workaround in an overwhelming situation.

We all are creatures of habit, and changing a pattern of behaviour and movement takes time and repetition. It is so rewarding to work through this though and let your horse feel better be happier and be less prone to fooling around.

 

 

Grey Warm-blood releasing tension and crossing over the jaw

 

feel free to contact me for more information 

https://balanceddressage.com.au/contact-balanceddressage-com-au/

grey Australian Stock -horse in better balance rounder and softer all muscles working together

Balance the point of Dressage

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Balance – for me that is the point of dressage – everything we strive for comes back to this.

balance in the movement position of the rider matters

As far as I’m concerned, and contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a specific horse for dressage.

Any horse regardless of shape or form will benefit from good consistent work. Worked properly a horse can find a better balance within their body, whereas a stiff and uncoordinated horse falls in on turns and circles and doesn’t move its body to the best of its ability and balance.

You can see it and feel it.

 

The same goes for us. As a rider, if we don’t have good balance, we interfere and upset our horse’s balance and subsequently the way it moves.

We all know what it feels like to change hands.

* Brush your teeth with your other hand

* Write your name with your other hand

* Change your favourite leg to stand on

Most of these simple everyday tasks became challenging when we swap our dominant and more efficient side over to our not so strong side.

Yet, we expect our horse to be able to do this every day. Every time we change rein, we expect them to be coordinated and athletic enough to maintain their balance, and continue to be in alignment, and do what we ask.

As riders we want to encourage the horse to use his body the other way around: carry with the naturally pushing leg and push with the carrying one in a way he is not used to working in.

Another beneficial effect of this is that the muscles start to develop evenly, become smooth and work like a well-oiled machine – they soften up and work together as a team as fitness and education improve.

Lateral movements are the most efficient exercises to master balance, and as you both become more balanced and in tune with each other, you can see and feel that the angle and degree of flexibility will change as the horse becomes more balanced from side to side. It is worth persevering with this whatever level you and your horse are at; you can just adjust the exercises for both of you so that you are both balanced, have a positive experience and can comfortably progress.

grey Australian stock-horse in paddock condition, his stance is out of balance and his muscles development is poor

 

grey Australian Stock -horse in better balance rounder and softer all muscles working together

 

Feel free to contact me if you like more information

https://balanceddressage.com.au/contact-balanceddressage-com-au/

saddle pads color shape ans size

A thought on saddle pads;

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saddle pads color shape ans size

Why did you choose the particular saddle pad that you are riding in?

 

  • colour?

  •  fit to the horse’s shape?

  • material?

  • saddle fitting issue?

  • discipline you are riding in?

For me, there is always a reason why I choose a particular item on my horse. 

 

Yes colour is essential I’m not a pink girl

 

But for me, the saddle pad must fit on the horses back.

 

  • clearance underneath the saddle

  • not too small

  • so the edge of the saddle panel is not on the saddle pads edge

  • or too big

  • or whipping across the horses back when the horse is moving

  • gives the horse enough wither clearance

  • provides the horse with clearance on the spine

 

Now we go into the material

  •  I think the material should be sweat-absorbing, breathable, soft, and comfortable.

Just to name a few differences to look out for

  • Some materials are slippery, and saddle moves.
  • Some materials cause static electricity.
  • Sometimes there are bindings, seams or logos that cause the pad to be uncomfortable due to the position there are placed in.

 

Saddle fitting issues

  • There are some terrific saddle pads on the market for saddle fitting issues.
  • Correctional pads with inserts to adjust as needed
  • With sheepskin panels in various places  
  • With foam panels, these come in different density thickness shapes and sizes.

 

And of course what discipline you are riding in

  • dressage
  • jumping
  • western
  • classical schooling saddle

 

 

Now with all this in mind, there are still plenty of options to be fashionable as well.

💕🦄

 

Feel free to contact me if you like more information

https://balanceddressage.com.au/contact-balanceddressage-com-au/

Anke Hawke riding her own horse

Horse Rehabilitation Journey

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Rehabilitation journey 

2016

black mare ridden closed gullet and looking uncomfortable

I thought I share some picture form the last four years of rehabilitation work form my horse Georgie Girl. 

Look at her neck; it’s hollow on the sides and thin – she couldn’t hold her own balance. Her topline was underdeveloped and weak.

She was bracing and holding tension throughout her body.

2017

Black mare ridden in a more open frame slow and steady

Back to basics with lots of walking and working towards collection with collective exercises starting with just a slight shoulder-for, travers & renvers and shallow half passes.

We are getting elasticity back, as well as balance horizontally and vertical.

Georgie starts to trust me again as I didn’t over-ask, only what she is capable of at this point in training.

Back muscles start to develop correctly when the horse is ridden in a good posture in the right rhythm at all times.  Sometimes it helps to get their confidence back by slowing it down, letting them reconnect the brain to the body. Horses don’t learn in flight mode. Only when they are calm, they are ready to learn.

 

2018

black mare filling out and looking stronger less angular

We are entering “the lost and found section” she is gaining her strength, her chest has widened, her withers and neck have developed and she looks rounder and softer. The strength is not always there yet, and sometimes she collapses and falls through the thoracic sling, losses balance, and we start again. It takes the time it takes, to develop core strength and carrying power.

Riding the whole horse from the back to the front with core engagement, connecting the entire body – removing all the braces and tension.

It is a different effort to use elasticity and self-carriage in horse and rider as I need to work on my balance as well to sit in self-carriage not collapsing or rolling to one side or the other.

 

2019

black mare in a balanced canter

It is lovely to see how her canter is coming through, she used to run like a puppy dog, on four tracks the hind legs trailing on the inside to avoid running into her front.

 The slow, steady work helped her to sort out the coordination, and now she is jumping up, there is room for the hind legs to follow.

Flying changes are clean – just the rider needs to catch up on the counting and to keep in tune and balance, and then we even get the sequences right.

2020

black mare balanced in movement , ready for anything

Looking back through these pictures, it amazes me how much we both have changed. I love that I have a happy, willing horse who enjoys her work. Georgie still has an opinion, that she voices loud and clear. But I have learnt to listen and understand what she is saying; she lets me know when she is uncomfortable, and then she becomes stroppy and rude. Often there is a reason… finding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ to solve the puzzle is the challenge.

 

Good things take time, and sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. 

I learned so much during these years, my training and understanding of horses has vastly improved, and I see and understand the connection that I never thought was possible. 

Wouldn’t miss a day of this journey and it is far from finished. 

I would like to hear from you if you like to start your own journey

Everyone is different, we will all learn in our own time. If you are not quite where you want to be and looking for growth. 


Please contact me  on 0408 882 730

email.   anke@balanceddressage.com.au

two horses looking content with their new home

Recap of last years event, building training facilities for horses

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The big move is coming closer and the cat is out of the bag, I thought I’d share some of the experiences from last year in a blog – come and us join us on our journey.

So the story began as an idea for my husband’s love for space and my love for animals. Our Sydney home was getting a bit crowded as the streets turned into car parks. And most of our neighbours moved away, which makes space for a younger generation to enjoy the close proximity to the nearby Primary School, and our kids become more independent.

OK we don’t feel old but just ready for a change!

We started looking for a bit of space outside Sydney … and we found a bit of space –150 acres in Minimbah NSW! IN my German way it sounded like more like ‘Mini Bar’, and it makes the name so much easier to remember.

We were lucky we acquired the most beautiful herd of cows, so these previous residents stayed with us. The friendly cows showed us quickly that they knew their way around and they’re happy in the fattening paddock not so much in the smaller weight watchers paddock.

We also have one jailbreaker cow that decided she likes to move herds from time to time to natter with her friends. That was the first learning curve that we needed to improve the fencing as they were all with calf!

So the fun begins with lots of ideas for planning, deciding on fences for cows, and of course, the new residents who will move in (horses)! Nevermind the house, there is one but it also requires some TLC.

picking up , part of the post and rail fencing
Picking up part of the post and rail fencing

So the horses getting the fancy post and rail fencing, plus equine mesh to avoid accidents. All the local horses were already looking over the fence …ohooo wandering who the new neighbours are.

The bank account got a hammering as spending on the infrastructure got underway. 🚑

We guesstimated the fence line length, mmm Nah not quite right. We went back to Google maps for another estimate.
Lucky I had help, and my son and husband had a go at fencing, while I spent the day weeding… lovely yellow flowers any time you would like to come up I left a few 🌼.

after a long day part of the fence line is finished with the top rail.
part of the fence line is finished after a long day
sitting on a bean bag of fire -weed.
I’m sitting on a huge bag full of fire-weed

Now it was time for mother nature to show some interest in our project – so the last time we had rain was in May 2019 we are still luckier than most and had a few sprinkles of rain now and then.
We did get rain in February, but that’s another chapter.
Everything was dry and crisp, and the fire season started well and indeed and didn’t hold back.
Holly shit this was a scary time as the fire came way to close and closer.
I wondered how that new timber fence would burn😢 . Lucky it didn’t go up in flames as I could see the fence line light up like the match sticks.

a terrible sight of the fires coming towards us

We started looking into evacuation plans for the cows; everyone had the same trouble, dry, no feed and no water. The location for contingency plan caught fire as well, so we stayed put and were extremely lucky as the fires missed us, only because the wind changed direction by 600 meters of the boundary fence.

As we started planning the arena site and preparation for the arena, we were on a steep learning curve.
It seemed absurd planning the drainage for 1’100 mm of rainfall per year (which is the norm for this area) while we’re in a raging drought. We still haven’t seen any rain yet.

We are looking for level ground, able to raise the arena higher, so it didn’t drown in a good rain. The water needs to channel around and away from the arena.
Huge undertaking – so many details I haven’t even thought of yet.
But there was the dream why we’re doing it all.

My dream is to hold clinics on-site and make the venue available for education – still mulling over all the ideas, but I can see bringing in equine experts to help with highlighting the importance of:

– Saddle Fitting:
to show the importance of proper fitting saddle
– Farrier:
to ensure a balanced hoof, sound horse – no hoof no horse.
– Qualified Bodyworkers:
to explain the correct biomechanics why it is essential to work your horse evenly and prevention from early deterioration
– Veterinarian:
for horse health and education

And if course a great coach to bring it all together’ me.’

indoor arena under construction, roof panels half attached
indoor arena under construction roof panels halfway attached

The fun and journey with your horse enjoying a sustainable riding career no matter the riding discipline – just fit for the job.
The importance of training your whole horse, so it is sustainable and has the chance to live a long healthy life …this is my philosophy what Balanced Dressage is all about.

There seems to be a lot of horse owners looking forward to accessing educative information and common sense applicable to all horse breeds.
So a magnificent all-weather arena is a must, plus a classroom and dry area for theoretical teaching big enough to fit a horse and students.

Icelandic stallion, in a relaxed walk
Icelandic stallion, in a relaxed walk

Next chapter was the drought, So we avoided the fire (only because the wind changed), but we still hadn’t had any rain, 5 out of 9 dams became critically low and undrinkable for the cows.

So we started the grim task of bringing in fodder for the cows which was becoming more and more challenging especially as the rest of the country was also dry and had no rain so this was not easy. Now we had to cart water as well. Apparently, that is what happens – farm life.

Drought, the only bit of green left is where the dam was once full of water.
Drought, the only bit of green left is where the dam was once full of water

The first step to carting water was buying a new tank as water carriers not allowed to fill up dams. Getting the water was the second challenge as we ended up on the waiting list for the water delivery – 3 weeks!
Lucky the tank arrived just in time, oh and then we needed a trough and poly pipe connections that the cows don’t just knock around and turn into a foot spa.
Oh man, maybe we dreamed too big! Anyway, cows seemed happy enough with the attention as we kept fodder and water up to them.

A big shout out to our neighbours and the family that is renting the farm cottage as they were great at helping us out.
We are so thankful we moved into a beautiful community, and we had so much help. Our neighbours and renters made it easier for us and recommended great workers/suppliers and always had time for a cup of tea or beer!
We couldn’t have done it without them!

And if the drought and fires weren’t already enough excitement, mother nature pulled another trick out of the back pocket and voila we had a cyclone come through!

the machinery shed after the cyclone , was moved onto the driveway
machinery shed ended up on the driveway after a cyclone came through

The cyclone takes out the existing machinery shed.
Literally, took the shed out by lifting it up (with concrete piers) and flung it down the driveway. There was the storage gone, and it looked worse than our teenagers’ rooms.

Lucky we have some amazing neighbours, and by pure chance, the shed builders were on-site the next day (building the new arena roof!).

Thankfully, they helped to clean up the mess; it did help to have the right tools for the job to lift the concrete piers of the ground and to use them as a paperweight on the old roofing.
Lucky the now almost finished arena made a piece of excellent temporary machinery shed, as well as storage for the fodder.
We were relieved that all the work and calculations for wind resistance were made for the new shed paid off. The New structure pulled through, and it is still standing proud and tall looking great!

Don’t worry; this project is far from finished as we still need a base, the actual dancefloor. So many options and so little budget left, more homework to sift through. The devil is always in the detail I would like to have a natural surface. Of course, the money tree didn’t grow as planned (because of the drought no doubt 😊).
But we still have a bit of time, and at the moment the tractor enjoys the dry cover and hasn’t blown away.

the tractor is enjoying the dry cover under in good company with the hay stash.. Some green grass has returned.
the tractor is enjoying the dry cover under in good company with the hay stash. Some green grass has returned.

Not even catching up to the unusual events followed by more unusual events in 2020!

So hold the phone … mother nature was at it again! Now it was time to turn on the tap and after 9 months of no rain, and boy did it rain, 300 ml over one long weekend and we enjoyed watching a lovely new river system for on our place. River was so wide we should have named it.

And the good news is, the dams are full and the grass is green again, so there is new fresh feed for the cows, and soon for the horses.

Luckily the rain slowed down and while it kept raining it wasn’t so torrential. Just in time for calving of course which starting a week after the rains started. Obviously, the cows were just holding off for the big green pasture which was by now jumping out of the ground.

Everything seemed a bit more in order and hopefully a bit calmer farm life ahead – phew!
(🙄 not likely )

We sold our house in Sydney in the big move is just ahead.

Terrifying exciting and all the above emotions go to my head!
I finally will have all my horses home in one place.

I have acquired a small herd during all this I forgot to mention that we bought the resident horse River to join us. Now the colour scheme is complete,

– Black mare, Georgie Girl appaloosa warmblood cross
– Grey gelding, River a station breed stock horse
– Buckskin mare, Lucy Iberian probably going to be flea-bitten grey, going to go bay for a while.

Georgie black mare, and River grey gelding arrived at the farm .
Georgie and River arrived in their new home!
Lucy Iberian filly looking at an umbrella.
Lucy Iberian filly looking at an umbrella. Lucy will stay a bit longer with a herd before joining us on the farm.

But I’m sure the obstacle course is going to continue and we will have lots of challenges along the way.
Next step is actually moving and that is going to be an exercise in itself.
Oh and just in time, there is a challenge released on the world COV19.


And we haven’t even started on the house yet…

Gaited horses

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Riding Gaited Horses

Icelandic stallion, in a relaxed walk
Icelandic stallion, in a relaxed walk, long telescope neck. bend on a circle

 

I am lucky enough I have good friends who introduce me to all sorts of riding styles, and sometimes I have the pleasure of working with gaited horses, so having an open mind and playful approach to try different styles of riding is very helpful. And the possibilities to have fun with your horse are endless.
Sitting on a gaited horse for the first time put a huge grin on my face, and
I completely understand the passion for these horses they are very bright, especially the Paso Finos and the proud extremely level headed Icelandic horse.

Once you experience the smooth ride in the toelt, you sit and relax just awsome.

But these amazing horses are not without their challenges, timing and feel have to be spot on.

Paso Fino stallion Rev
Fine-tuning leg aid. Taking some pressure off and feeling the horse lightly.

Now when you start riding gaited horses, you have to fine-tune these skills even more, as some horses’ gaits are not clear, and they need to be established. Sometimes the basic paces are not as steady or reliable; therefore they can cause anxiety as the horse doesn’t feel in complete control over its legs and makes up for it with speed – running away from the situation. So timing and feel are an essential part of the equation, continually checking in with them and giving rhythm and clarity to the gait, riding with a soft, supple engaged seat. To place the horse in even balance supporting his legs helping him to find them where he needs them.
Luckily for you, they have up to 5 gaits. Riding all of them clean is extremely rewarding! Walk, trot, canter, tolt and pace.

The riders feeling and timing come into play as you need to ride all of these gaits clean without tension or anxiety.

My passion is dressage, not necessarily for the show ring, but to have a healthy horse for a long time that stays sound and is a willing partner and enjoys the work.
Looking at a horse, you would like to see a soft outline; this not just a pretty picture.

You are connecting the horse to the bit, not locking the reins or throwing them away but having a smooth, steady contact with continuous communication, without any kinks or dents.
Riding the horse with a supple back and an engaged hind leg, as well as an engaged core and if the body works correctly the head and neck will follow, and you have a happy, content horse underneath you.

Your horse has to be relaxed and a willing, allowing your horse to move forward with a soft swinging back. So the first step is relaxation! Most gaited horses have a pleasant walk, and it is possible to refine your aids and cues through the walk and then work on your transitions into the tolt. Play with the frame, stay relaxed, lengthen the frame, shorten the stride, sit up tall and soft through the hips, bring the hindleg more under the horse while the neck stays round and smooth like a telescope and finally bring the horse from the back to the front, lift the withers and drop the croup.

A lot of time goes into the preparation setting your horse up for success and practising transitions in and out. Shortening and lengthen the frame working on extending the topline. Opening the gullet and keeping the poll soft.

Icelandic stallion Lotto
fine-tuning , poll is high with a light-soft rain contact.

Working on a circle is a great way to gain control over your horse’s body. If you reduce your speed, you can tighten the circle and similarly you can open the circle up by increasing your tempo. Working on a magic circle is a great way to play with shoulder placements opening the shoulder up widening the chest, giving the hind legs more room — what an excellent way to introduce lateral work, shoulders-in, quarters-in, renvers. Change the rein so you can work on both sides. Eventually, take it to the long side for a better control line.

You really would like to have a forward-thinking light horse that you can control from your seat using leg aids, and then you need to work on your self-carriage, staying light and supple in the saddle. Use your mind to keep the horses engaged.

Pay particular attention to the tolt as this is an engaged gait stay relaxed ride your horse forward, round and soft, not too much tension or a tight rein.

A to tight rein and restricting hands brings out the under-neck of the horse and locks the back. So ride your horse into the correct position, don’t pull your horse into it, and activate your horse’s hindleg with as little effort as possible.
As always it takes time and attention to the detail as well as patience to train your horse to be in balance and healthily use their body so they can effortlessly carry a rider employing all gaits with ease and confidence.
Riding a canter; transition without stiffening or tightening the back and if this done well, it is a real credit to the well-balanced rider who can demonstrate good feel and timing.

As always a well-established proud supple seat goes a long way.

Foto credit goes to Yvonne Lehey!

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If you want to know more about how I can help you, send me a PM or call me on 0408882730, and let’s find out what you’re goals are.”

 

 

Keeping it real, it takes the time that it takes! Working with your horse

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It is easy to get sidetracked on the opinion of others and their expectations and their goals or agendas. Especially today, with social media where everyone shows you what they would like you to see. The perfect picture. Often this is not the whole story, just the highlights or final result. Not the long road it took with all the detours to get there or the back steps and regrouping.

We all travel our own journey, and every horse and rider is unique. Some horses or riders pick up the process very quickly with excellent body awareness – others well – let’s say I have meet horses that are not so sure where their legs are. These horses are often spooky and worried once. So it is difficult to place a time frame on an outcome.

But I found all of these horses improve with considered and consistent work.

Here the fun begins it is like when you are pregnant, and everyone touches your belly, all the stories and advice. Quick remedies and short cuts comparisons you name it.

Horse with a clear look in the eye and a healthy wide chest

 

Some people like to make you feel small and themselves big, they like placing their insecurities on you.

I am giving these horses the time to feel where there feet and balance is small nuances, lots of transitions up and down in the right rhythm and tempo, so they have time to bend all the joints and place their feet. Not to rush through and lean through corners and circles. Keeping the horse’s mind is engaged. Nothing is worse for a horse than to go mindlessly around the outside oft he arena in the same gait, imagining watching the same movie all over again whenever you see a particular friend.

They start feeling better in their body and looking forward to the session if you are creative. Lateral works are your best friend.

I thought the more lessons I had the better I would get. It doesn’t work like that. It takes the time it takes. Even haven a professional ride your horse, tremendous, but at the end of the day it is your horse, and the sweat tears and constant work comes from you.

Figuring it out one step at the time as frustrating at it is, it is also very rewarding.

You are focusing on mainly on using your body positioning. It is pretty ugly at the start, but so worthwhile. By the end, your horse could trot figure of eights, forward, rhythmic, zero loss of balance. Correct bend, simply from you changing the bend in your body and staying centred in alignment, occasionally adding appropriate leg aids and small corrections with the rein aids.

You are practising until you feel it. A steady rhythm, the speed appropriate for the horses, balance quicker hind legs and a softback doesn’t mean faster.

Let go of any expectation or judgment and just kept practising until you feel it. It is magic. It will become so easy, so effortless, and then you wonder why you couldn’t I do this month ago. Yet one piece of the puzzle was missing, whatever that peace was it needed readjusting fine finetuning. And maybe tomorrow you won’t be able to “get the same feel or coordinating, and that will be ok too. It is like misplacing your car keys keep looking they are there.

At the end of the day. It is how you and your horse feel about, as a result of training or work you have done together.

A huge part of riding is feeling the little shifts and nuances.

Sometimes when we try too hard, it works against us. We want it to happen now. We miss the highlights and strength of better coordination.

Often it is also the trust in a horse; finally, someone speaks their language and nurtures that we created that is carefully growing one bit at the time.

 

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If you want to know more about how I can help you, send me a PM or call me on 0408882730, and let’s find out what you’re goals are.”

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