06/12/2026
Good morning farm family,
Today I wanted to talk about the importance of exercise for our residents. Not every horse should, or can be, ridden and riding is neither a requirement nor a focus of the sanctuary. It is a bonus when a resident can help in our lesson program, but there are so many things to learn without sitting on their backs.
We have 15 horses/ponies/minis and of that 15, only 4 are currently rideable AND working in our lesson program. 1 more is rehabbing fractured spinous processes, 1 more is a small pony so limited to tiny riders and 1 more is not old enough to be ridden yet. That means about 1/2 can be ridden while the other half cannot. That might be due to age (Pudge is 33 and fully retired), health (Bugaggi has neurological deficits) or even trauma (Zoe has experienced a wide range of trauma and abuse).
Our residents need to eat pretty continously throughout the day as they are trickle feeders with a small stomach and a constant supply of stomach acid. But like humans, if they eat and don't move, they gain weight and that comes with health risks like obesity, metabolic disease, stiffness and even increased discomfort from things like arthritis. You can only withhold so much food before causing serious digestive issues like ulcers. The solution? More exercise!
We liken our exercise program to physical therapy 💪. We start with grooming and light stretching. We hand walk around outer sand arena to get the circulation going and loosen the muscles. Then we go on to our obstacles. Those are ever changing, but the goal is to design sets that encourage the horses to lift their legs, bend, navigate uneven terrain, improve propioception and vary the length of their stride. Navigating the obstacles also engages their minds as they work to solve problems! Those that can, go into the round pen for some increased cardio at the trot and even canter.
I design the exercises to help the horses burn calories, increase flexibility and maintain motion. Even 33 year old Pudge completes the obstacle challenges! Working side by side with a human also fosters their connections with us and we get the added benefit of a daily walk ourselves! 🚶♀️ 🐎 Working in hand promotes good behavior and makes our residents more responsive and handleable, which is critical for care, especially veterinary care. It's a winning solution to a myriad of problems! Plus, we can teach our volunteers how to work with the residents and increase their own skills and confidence.
Taking care of the sanctuary equines is a task that doesn't end with just feeding and cleaning. So much more goes into their daily routine! Im always seeking to be transparent about what happens at the sanctuary, good or bad, exciting or mundane. Thanks for joining in our adventures in animal care!
Yours in love ❤️ and light ✨️,
Tara
Photo: Taylor leading Summer over our weave pole challenge. Notice how Summer is lifting and stretching her right front leg to cross o er the poles as she bends left. She is engaging her core, using her brain, lifting ans stretching her right side and working on her propioception.
