Fairhaven Equine

05/31/2026

✨ A New Chapter for Fairhaven Equine ✨

Many of you who know me personally already know that our family has recently made a pretty significant life change - I sold my home in town and purchased an acreage!

The past week has been a whirlwind of 16+ hour days spent moving, unpacking, pounding posts, organizing, and trying to bring a vision to life. It's been exhausting, chaotic, and incredibly rewarding all at the same time. We are so excited to now call Eureka River home.

Earlier this year, we made a small shift from Fairhaven Equestrian to Fairhaven Equine, along with a subtle logo update to better reflect the multi-disciplinary direction of the business. With this move, however, it feels like the right time for something even bigger. Since Fairhaven's name was originally inspired by Fairview - where I no longer live - a full rebrand is officially on the horizon.

This beautiful 20-acre property is full of potential, and we have some exciting long-term plans for it. The biggest project is a new barn planned for next year, which will allow Fairhaven Equine to become fully functional again for breeding, foaling, and all the things I've been dreaming about.

In non-horsey news, I'm also incredibly excited to expand my homesteading goals in a way that reflects my passion for regenerative agriculture. One of my biggest dreams for this property is to breathe life back into underutilized areas, creating productive, thriving spaces that not only provide food for my friends and family but may eventually contribute to local markets as well. Stewarding the land in a way that improves its health, biodiversity, and productivity is something that means a great deal to me, and I can't wait to see where that journey leads.

For now, we're embracing the process. We're enjoying the projects, the learning curve, and the kind of peace and quiet that only country living can provide. My heart is incredibly full. While some of my horse-related goals for this year may need to be put on hold because of this transition, I know every bit of it will be worth it in the end.

NOTE TO CLIENTS: I am taking June off to breath, reflect, relax and enjoy. I realize this is poor timing for breeders, but I'm happy to point you to others who can help!

Thank you to everyone who has supported Fairhaven Equine along the way. This move represents so much more than a change of address - it's the foundation for the next chapter, both personally and professionally.

Stay tuned. The best is yet to come. 🤎🐴🌾

05/08/2026

In the beginning, we all start riding because we love horses. It’s simple. Pure. No agenda.

But over time, as our skills develop and our balance improves, goals start to form. We start to dream bigger - Olympics, the NFR, winning at the top levels. But we start where everyone has to start: the building blocks. Local shows, jackpots, small wins, small losses.

And then reality shows up. We don’t win. Or we don’t place. Or we don’t progress as fast as we thought we would. And the barnyard gets loud in ways nobody warns you about... whispers, comparisons, opinions you didn’t ask for but somehow still carry home with you.

Slowly, without even noticing it, we start to lose grip on why we started riding in the first place. I know I did.

For a very long time, I rode for all the wrong reasons. Not because I didn’t love it - I did.... But underneath that, it became about proving something.

Proving I could beat the doubt.
Proving I could do it better.
Proving people wrong who probably weren’t even thinking about me anymore.

Every milestone started to feel like a checkpoint in a conversation I was having with other people in my head, and the strange part is, I was still enjoying the ride. I was still showing up, still learning, still improving. But it wasn’t for the pure and simple love anymore.

It was for validation.
For acceptance.
For being seen a certain way.

And I didn’t notice how heavy that became until I stepped back for a while. Life led me down a path where I took a break from riding, despite still being involved with horses. The final straw for me was when a little girl was mean to my daughter on a playground following a leadline class. There had to be more to this lifestyle than barnyard bullies and lofty goals that always feel just out of reach.

That moment catapulted me down a path that I never saw coming.

Horses have a way of reflecting that back at you if you’re willing to see it. They don’t care about timelines, opinions, or proving points. They respond to what’s actually happening in front of them, not the story you’re carrying in your head.

That was the shift for me.

I didn’t want to be good at horses for other people anymore, and I didn't want to model that behavior for my daughter. I wanted to come back to it for the right reasons... For the quiet satisfaction and the small wins that don’t need an audience.

It turns out, it’s a much better place to be.

05/06/2026

10 Real Breeding Facts That Matter 🐴💡

💡Stallion s***m takes ~55–60 days to develop
What you do with nutrition, stress, and management today shows up in semen quality nearly 2 months later.

💡Mare cycles average ~21 days
Typical range is 19–22 days, with ovulation occurring in the last 24–48 hours of heat.

💡Mares are seasonal breeders
About 85–90% cycle primarily under longer daylight (>14 hours), which is why spring changes everything.

💡Pregnancy is typically detected at 14–16 days
Ultrasound allows early detection, and early intervention for twins or issues.

💡Early embryonic loss happens in 5–15% of pregnancies
Especially in older mares, even confirmed pregnancies can be lost before day 40.

💡A stallion ej*****te can contain 5–20 billion s***m
Fertility is not just “amount,” but motility, morphology, and timing.

💡Twin ovulations happen in 10–25% of cycles
But only ~1–3% result in maintained twin pregnancies without intervention.

💡Foal heat comes ~7–10 days post-foaling
Early breeding is possible, but timing and uterine health are critical.

💡Stress can reduce conception rates by up to 20–30%
Transport, handling, and environmental stress all directly impact fertility outcomes.

💡≥60% progressive motility is a key benchmark
Below this threshold, fertility success rates generally decline significantly.

05/04/2026

Let’s talk broodmares and something that gets overlooked way too often: their feet.

The routine hoof care on required for a pregnant mare is no different than your high-end performance horse. It’s structural support for a changing, increasing load over a long period of time.

By late gestation, a mare is carrying a significant amount of additional weight. On average, a foal at term weighs 90–120 lbs, but when you factor in placenta, fluids, and uterine tissues, the total added internal weight can reach 120–150+ lbs. That weight is carried continuously, 24/7, on the same four feet she started the season with... and it doesn’t just sit there evenly. As pregnancy progresses, the mare’s center of gravity shifts forward and downward, increasing strain through the front limbs, shoulders, and hooves. That means any imbalance in the foot; long toe, underrun heel, uneven medial-lateral balance, gets magnified under load. This is where regular trimming and maintenance matter.

A broodmare that is allowed to go long between trims isn’t just “a bit overdue”, she is actively compensating for imbalance while carrying extra weight. That compensation shows up as strain through joints, altered movement patterns, and increased risk of soreness or soundness issues.

It doesn’t stop at comfort. Poor hoof balance in late gestation can contribute to:

- Increased stress on tendons and ligaments
- Altered weight distribution through joints
- Reduced traction and stability, especially on soft or uneven ground
- Higher risk of post-foaling soreness when workload changes abruptly

Good broodmare management means treating hoof care as a scheduled priority, not a reactive task. Most mares benefit from consistent trims every 4–8 weeks, depending on growth rate, terrain, and individual foot quality.

It’s also worth noting: hormonal changes in pregnancy can subtly affect hoof quality and growth patterns, which means “she’s always been fine like this” doesn’t always hold true late-term. Additionally, those who increase mineral during pregnancy can see increased hoof growth.

05/01/2026

As we roll into May, most mares in our area are now cycling normally and are well past the transitional “spring weirdness” we see coming out of winter.

That early season phase, when cycles are inconsistent, silent heats are common, and mares feel unpredictable, is largely behind us now. Most mares are settling into more regular cycles, averaging about 21 days between ovulations.

And this is where timing starts to matter.

In our region as we move deeper into summer, it’s not uncommon to see mares tighten up even more, cycling as frequently as every 17 days in some cases, depending on management, daylight, nutrition, and individual variation. As we reach peak season (mid-late summer), a mare's system will cycle more frequently due to the sunlight - but there is also an evolutionary component, increasing the number of cycles in order to increase the liklihood of conception, giving way to an optimal foaling window - early summer.

In the modern horse breeding world, shorter cycles also means tighter ovulation timing, more critical monitoring via ultrasound is required, and it leaves less room for guessing. This is where good breeding management separates itself from convenience.

It’s not just about turning a stallion out with a mare ever ~20 days - it’s about tracking cycles properly, understanding what “normal” looks like right on that particular cycle, and adjusting your expectations as the season progresses.

A mare that was inconsistent in March is not the same mare in May… and she won’t behave the same in July, either.

Breeding success isn’t random. It’s timing, observation, and consistency - built on understanding what the mare’s body is actually doing in real time.

05/01/2026

April 30th, and our local indoor closes its doors for the season after today.

Years ago, I worked in that arena. It’s where I met some of the most badass horsemen and women I’ve ever known. The real kind. The ones with ice in their veins, sitting quiet and deep while a rank c**t skips, hops, and launches across the arena in the blink of an eye.

And then a few weeks later?
They’re loping soft, balanced circles like that horse had been broke 10 years.

Nobody’s riding inside because they want to. They’re doing it because they have to. This is North Western Alberta; brutal, relentless, unforgiving. And this year? It didn’t let up - once the snow started, it didn't stop. As if it's not already hard enough, this past season pushed people right to, and beyond, the fringes of burnout.

And now, here we are at the end… and it almost feels early.

Snowbanks still line the driveways. Pens are soup. Fields aren’t fit for much yet. We’re all ready to get outside, but Mother Nature isn’t quite done with us.

I’ve only been back in that indoor the past few weeks. Each day I find myself counting down the days, hours, minutes until I can walk through the doors again; a stark contrast to those around me... the people who’ve been grinding it out all winter are, on the contrary, counting down the days until they can finally get out of that godforsaken building - and honestly, I don’t blame them.

Because this life... It’s not easy. It chews you up and spits you out, and the folks in the north just keep getting back up, bracing for another hit.

It’s bundling up when it’s miserable out.
Hooking up. Loading up.
Hauling down questionable roads with everything you’ve got tied behind you.
Riding, day after day - blizzard or blinding blue sky - and doing it all over again tomorrow.

So here’s to the ones who showed up through it all - the ones who have advocated to keep this beautiful facility open when it's future hung heavily in the air. Without the support of the Fairview Agriculture Society and the group of dedicated people managing it, aong with all those who utilize it - thank you! 🙏

04/30/2026

We talk a lot about mare's on this page, but let's dig into stallion reproductive health, because fertility is not just “can he get a mare in foal.” It’s physiology, management, and wear-and-tear over time.

🧬First - hormones...

Testosterone is the primary driver behind libido, behavior, and s***m production, but it doesn’t work alone. The entire hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis is involved:

The brain (hypothalamus) releases GnRH
This signals the pituitary to release LH and FSH
LH stimulates testosterone production in the testicles
FSH supports s***m development

Disruptions anywhere along that chain - stress, poor nutrition, illness, excessive body fat - can impact semen quality, libido, and overall reproductive efficiency.

And here’s where body condition matters more than people realize..

Over-conditioned stallions (BCS 7+) can experience hormonal imbalances, including altered testosterone dynamics and decreased breeding efficiency. Excess fat isn’t just cosmetic, it’s metabolically active and can negatively influence reproductive hormones.

Under-conditioned stallions (BCS ≤4) often lack the energy availability required to sustain both daily workload and s***m production. S***matogenesis is an energy-dependent process, and when the body is in a deficit, reproduction is not the priority.

The goal is a moderate, athletic BCS (~5). This is where the stallion has enough condition to support performance, without carrying excess weight that compromises function.

🍝 Now - nutrition...

Semen quality today reflects nutritional status from weeks ago. S***m development in stallions takes roughly 55–60 days, so what you feed NOW shows up later.

Critical components:

- Digestible energy to support breeding activity without promoting fat accumulation
- High-quality protein (amino acids like lysine) for tissue and s***m production
- Trace minerals (zinc, selenium, copper) essential for testicular function and s***m viability
- Vitamin E (and overall antioxidant support) to protect s***m from oxidative damage

Forage is your baseline, but most active stallions require a carefully balanced ration beyond hay alone, especially during breeding season when they are burning additional calories.

And then there’s the part people don’t talk about enough:

💪 Breeding is physically demanding...

Whether live cover or phantom collection, stallions are repeatedly asked to load, push, balance, and dismount with force. Over a season, that adds up. When we ride a horse, we warm them up for 15-20 minutes before asking them to do any sort of work, but stallions rarely get this luxury.

They are particularly prone to:

- Lower back strain from repeated mounting and thrusting
- Stifle injuries due to torque and stabilization during breeding
- Hock stress and degeneration from engagement and propulsion

Even well-managed stallions can develop soreness or injury simply from the nature of the job. Frequency of use, footing, mare behavior, handler skill, and overall conditioning all play a role.

So when a stallion’s performance drops; whether it’s libido, semen quality, or willingness, don’t jump straight to “behavior.” Often, there’s a physiological or physical reason underneath it.

For stallion owners, this means thinking beyond just booking mares.

Condition them like athletes. Feed them with intention. Monitor their body condition closely, and pay attention to subtle changes in behavior or performance; they’re often early warning signs.

And for mare owners - this is why stallion management matters. The health of the stallion directly impacts the outcome you’re hoping for.

Fertility is not luck. It’s the result of everything happening behind the scenes.

📷 Pictured: Cool Down, imported German Riding Pony standing at Curlique Equine - Curly Sporthorses

04/28/2026

04/27/2026

You might be thinking about breeding your mare because you love her so much, you want a mini version of her, and that’s GREAT.... but I'm going to be really honest with you.

When you have that kind of bond with your mare it’s easy to overlook things. I said it. Conformational flaws don’t seem like a big deal. A tough or tricky temperament becomes something you’ve just learned to manage. You know her, you get her, you love her... but that makes it really hard to look at her objectively.

That's one piece of the puzzle, but then comes the stallion Maybe he lives at your barn. Maybe he’s the only stallion you’ve really been around and you're blinded by his slick coat or muscled body. Maybe his owner owes you a favour... or maybe he’s just local, affordable, or convenient.

None of this matters because you’re keeping the foal, right? Wrong.

I hate to burst your bubble, but it still matters.

Even if you have absolutely no intention of ever selling that horse, you’re making a 25–30 year commitment and you don’t know what life is going to look like down the road. Maybe you go to school and need the money. Maybe your path changes and you step away from riding. Maybe the cost of living keeps climbing and horses become something you simply can’t justify anymore (shout out to our Government).

And another piece people don’t like to talk about? Your mare could die. To put it plainly. Breeding is not risk-free. You have to ask yourself if that risk is truly worth it.

Whatever the reason, what you produce still needs to be something of quality. A hill I will die on is this: the purpose behind breeding should be to better the breed. Your foal should be an improvement on its parents. If it’s not, we are doing a disservice to an industry that is already flooded with average - or less than - horses and ponies.

So yes, breed the mare you love, but be honest about her, invest in a well-suited stallion, and make decisions that actually set that foal - and yourself - up for success.

Have a great week! ☕

04/26/2026

We had a full house today for our second group of Equine Reproduction Level 1 🙌

This progressive program is all about building real understanding, and every participant is well on their way to better knowing their mares, their reproductive anatomy, and how it all functions together.

Despite some less-than-ideal weather on BOTH course dates (because of course 😅), we pushed through - shoutout to horse people and their unmatched resilience!

One of the most valuable takeaways of today was even though every mare we examined was in heat, each one looked completely different internally. That hands-on comparison and real-time visuals is where things really start to click!

Every attendee successfully identified the key reproductive structures and gained practical skills on their own mares that they can take straight back to their own programs — all while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.

Thank you to everyone who trusted me to guide you through this experience, and is choosing to take a more informed, hands-on approach to your breeding programs!

Looking forward to Level 2 on May 9th and another round in the future! 💫