Lobethal Equestrian Coaching

23/03/2026

Incredible in every way.

10/03/2026

09/01/2026

Searching for a client who very sadly lost her heart horse:
Clydie X (or similar) Gelding (or exceptional mare)
16 - 16.2 hh
4 - 10yo
Suit mature age, kind and compassionate lady.
Quiet with absolutely no nasties whatsoever.
Must be able to be ridden out alone.
Must be sound and able to pass a vet check.
Must be able to be left for weeks and then hop on with no attitude.
Suit trail riding, low level dressage and 50cm occasional jumping.
The new home will offer:
A forever home on acreage in the Adelaide Hills
Excellent care and attention.
Regular farrier, vacs, teeth etc.
Regular lessons and/or input from coach.
Prepared to travel into western and central Victoria if needed.
Budget to around $12,000 for the right horse.

02/01/2026

SIX ….. not 4 …… not 5 ……. 6.

Before backing your youngster, please read.

🐴 Horses mature very differently to humans.
A rough way to understand it is that horses age around three times faster than us, but their bones, joints, and spine take much longer to fully develop than many people realise.

This is where things often go wrong.

Older horses for context:
•A 30 year old horse is like a 90 year old human.
Stiff, worn, and well into retirement. These horses deserve comfort, gentle movement, and rest but still to be active for the mind and joints

•A 25 year old horse is like a 75 year old human.
Still capable, still willing, but strength and recovery are limited. Careful management is key.

•A 20 year old horse is similar to a 60 year old person.
Mentally sharp, experienced, and often keen but the body may be sore, stiff, or slower to recover.

•A 9 years old to 13 year old horse is like a 39 year old adult.
This is prime time. Physically mature, mentally settled, and strong enough for consistent work.

Now the important part youngsters
This is where patience matters most.

•A 3 year old horse is like a 9 year old child.
Growth plates are still open, balance is poor, and muscles are underdeveloped. At this age, learning should be about handling, confidence, and calm exposure not carrying weight.

A 4 year old horse compares to a 12 year old child.
They can cope with very light work in short sessions. Their bodies are still changing, often unevenly, which is why they feel awkward and inconsistent.

•A 5 year old horse is like a 15 year old teenager.
This is the risky stage. They may look strong and capable, but internally they are still developing. The spine, joints, and soft tissues are not finished growing, even if the horse “seems fine.” Shouldn’t be jumping 110cm classes!!!!!

•A 6 year old horse is like an 18 year old adult.
The skeleton is far more mature, muscles can be developed safely, and the horse is mentally better able to cope with pressure.
This is the correct age to begin proper, consistent work.

Pushing young horses too hard, too early doesn’t always show immediate damage.
The problems often appear later as:
•Lameness
•Joint disease
•Kissing spines
•Behaviour issues labelled as naughty or lazy
•Horses breaking down far too young

One extra year of patience can easily add ten more years of sound, useful working life. Good training isn’t about how early you start.
It’s about how long the horse stays comfortable, willing, and happy. And it’s bloody high time age classes at big highs at young ages were banned!!

My own Connie Storm, age 6❤️

10/12/2025

✨🧬 WHY LOSING A HORSE HURTS SO MUCH
And why this time of year brings it all back 🐴💔

People outside the horse world often do not understand why the grief hits so sharply. Yet the science is clear. The bond between humans and horses is not imaginary, sentimental, or exaggerated. It is neurological. Physiological. Relational. And something else that sits in the space we still call magic.

Here is what research tells us.

🌿 1. Horses meet the criteria for attachment figures
Attachment theory says we form deep bonds with those who feel safe, steady, and emotionally reliable.
Horses do all of this.

• We seek proximity.
• They act as a secure base.
• We turn to them for comfort.
• We feel distress when separated.

Studies on the human–animal bond confirm that animals can be both caregivers and receivers of care. Horses are especially good at co regulation and emotional presence.

🧠 2. Your nervous system literally bonds with theirs
Oxytocin, often called the bonding hormone, rises in humans when they stand near a horse.
It rises in horses too.
Two nervous systems responding to each other in real time.
That is why the connection feels grounding, calming, and honest.

When this becomes part of your daily rhythm, the bond embeds itself neurologically.

💔 3. Grief is not a neat, tidy process
Modern neuroscience describes grief as a total rewiring of your internal map.
Your brain organises whole routines around the beings you feel attached to.
When the horse is no longer there:

• The map collapses.
• The routines echo.
• The body keeps searching for the presence it expects.

This is why walking into the stable after a loss can feel physically painful. Your nervous system is trying to update information it does not want to accept.

🌀 4. The “reward centre” of the brain is involved
In complicated grief, the nucleus accumbens stays active.
This area usually lights up when we see someone we love.
After a death, it can activate when we see reminders of them instead, creating a loop of:

cue → longing → sadness → craving the connection

Attachment does not switch off. It tries to continue.

🫂 5. Society often dismisses grief for animals
This is called disenfranchised grief.
No rituals.
Minimal acknowledgement.
A subtle message that the loss is “less than”.

Yet research shows animal bonds can be as significant as human ones.
Your grief is legitimate, even if the world is awkward around it.

❄️ 6. Winter amplifies old grief
Short days.
Cold mornings.
Slower routines.
The nervous system becomes quieter, and what was once tucked away becomes louder.
This is normal.
This is human.
This is attachment.

🌟 The Equimotional View
The human–horse relationship sits at the crossroads of science and something beautifully unmeasurable.
Horses shape our nervous systems, our identity, our steadiness.
When they go, the grief reflects the depth of that connection, not the weakness of the person feeling it.

If the winter months feel heavy, nothing is wrong with you.
You are remembering.
Your body is telling the story of a bond that mattered.

And bonds like that do not disappear.
They change shape.
They stay with us.
Quietly. Powerfully. Always.

18/11/2025

Perfect explanation of the top level show jumping horse.

In showjumping, many horses can jump a course, but only a few become truly special. These standout horses combine natural athleticism with rare mental qualities and trainable behavior. Here are the key traits that elevate a horse from average to exceptional:

⭐ 1. Scope
A special jumper has effortless power—the ability to clear big fences with room to spare. Scope comes from:

Strong hind-end push

Good technique over the back

Natural ability to “jump up” rather than “flatten out”

⭐ 2. Carefulness
Exceptional horses hate touching poles. They are naturally aware of their legs and body in the air.
Signs of a careful horse:

Tight knees

Quick front-end

Snappy hind-end

Adjusts mid-air to avoid rubs

⭐ 3. Exceptional Intelligence
This is often overlooked but crucial. Top horses can:

Read distances

Learn from mistakes

Understand rider aids quickly

Solve problems under pressure

They know where they are in space and think for themselves without panicking.

⭐ 4. Rideability
A special horse is easy to balance and adjust. They respond to light aids and maintain rhythm naturally. Good rideability includes:

Adjustable stride

Willingness to sit and collect

Straightness

Good mouth/contact

Responsiveness without tension

Even a horse with talent won't reach high levels if it's hard to manage.

⭐ 5. Brave but Not Reckless
Bravery means confidence in front of fillers, crowds, noise, and bright fences.
But great horses also maintain carefulness. The magical combination is:

Bold enough to jump anything

Respectful enough not to charge through the rails

⭐ 6. Athleticism and Body Control
This includes:

Superior balance

Cat-like reflexes

Elastic gaits

Strong core and loin

Ability to “get out of trouble” when a distance isn’t perfect

Special horses can turn and jump with zero loss of power.

⭐ 7. Heart and Work Ethic
Some horses simply want to do the job.
Qualities include:

Desire to jump

Willingness to try, even from a bad distance

Consistency

Mental toughness under pressure

Good recovery and stamina

Heart turns a talented horse into a champion.

⭐ 8. Health and Soundness
To reach the top, a horse must stay physically strong over years of training and competition. Good bone, strong feet, clean moving, and resilient tendons are essential.

⭐ 9. Mindset for the Environment
Top showjumpers remain:

Focused in busy arenas

Relaxed with spectactors, loudspeakers, decorations

Responsive to the rider even when hyped

A special horse has the brain to handle 5* energy.

⭐ Putting It All Together
Average horse = Can jump the height with training.
Special horse = Has scope + carefulness + brain + heart + rideability all in one package.

This combination is rare—which is why elite showjumpers are so extraordinary.

Wanting a special partner sourced?🐎🌍
Phone 📱+61 422 171 421

03/07/2025

10/06/2025

Author is believed to be a William Steinkraus
Read , let it sink in, then read again :

“No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Credit believed to be William Steinkraus

04/06/2025

This horse has been subjected to this abuse for 17 years! 😡

24/04/2025

Impressive.

25/03/2025

Bot Flies - We have found the shade of shelters and trees to be the best deterrent.

Apologies for not getting this post out sooner but let's get into some myth busting and ways to help control the bot fly situation.
Bots are a seasonal parasite of southern Australia. The adult flies are present in summer and autumn. It is the female fly that you observe "chasing" after you horse. The female fly recognises your horse by sight, the shape of a horse and they will lay eggs on horses' legs, necks and lower body.
Myth: Bot flies bite my horse. Actually, adult bot flies don’t have a sting or the mouth pieces to bite. The irritation is actually due to the buzzing sound, the persistent attention of the fly and the "tickling" sensation it causes as it lands and walks around your horse laying eggs.
Myth: Insect repellent will deter bot flies. Insect repellent will NOT deter a female bot fly from laying eggs, they detect the horse by sight.
So how do we control this parasite and help your horse in the paddock?? Provide walk-in shelters or stables in the paddock, trees they can stand under - this helps to hide the horse or change their shape. If your horse can wear fly boots and/or those summer rugs that have long panels this again changes their shape, and the fly doesn’t recognise them as a horse.
Remove visible eggs AND dispose of them properly before the horse ingests them. You can use a cheap disposable razor from the supermarket and shave the eggs off carefully. You don’t need to buy specialty razors and bot knives. Just be careful you don’t remove too much hair. Do not wipe removed eggs on places your horse can reach the best bet is to place them on some tissue or wipes and dispose in the bin.
Worming when bot eggs appear on legs WONT do anything to control the population. We need to target bots when they are in their larval stage in the gut.
We worm when the adults have disappeared which is in late autumn/early winter, select a wormer that treats for bots - Ivermectin, Abamectin or Moxidectin and this will help break the bot fly life cycle.

Disclaimer: This post is designed to educate horse owners on the research and current best practices for worming your horse, but owners should follow veterinarian and manufacturer recommendations for their specific horse(s). Unless otherwise indicated all advice is for healthy adult horses.