Enchanted Sporthorses

11/04/2024

Gone riding!!

07/02/2024

Defensive riding is rarely taught today as many riders and trainers have become complacent about the risks of riding. The top image is of Brooke Hodgson at Devon in 1968. She demonstrates a mild "C" position in an independent seat and following hands with the straight line from the bit to her elbow. The photographs document the turning point from the former American horsemanship standard of riding in the Balanced or Fort Riley Seat to the current Hunter Seat with its crest release, etc.

Independent seat means the rider has independent balance with their base of support in the stirrups. The independent nature of the rider's balance allows the rider to follow and be moved by the horse's motion. That is key, independent rider balance is in unity of movement with their horse.

Leaning on a horse's neck is not a shared movement with an independent seat but rather a merged balance in the rider dependent on their horse's balance. For example, should the horse's forehand collapse on landing, the rider is completely at the mercy of that collapse. The same is true if the horse were to stumble and fall in the strides following the landing. Dependent balances are dangerous.

By contrast, if the rider's horse at the top were to collapse or stumble, the rider, with their feet forward in the "C" position, could immediately rebalance herself.

The lower left is a US Cavalry rider in a "C" position ready to deal with whatever comes of the landing. I was taught the defensive "C" position as a child. From the beginning of my instruction, I learned defensive riding slides and over obstacles while riding terrain. I learned following hands using a neck or jumping strap that moved up and down my horse's neck. This allowed me to follow my horse's head movement with my hands holding the reins. Defensive riding techniques like the "C" position and following hands can be taught to children to make them safer riders.

*The bottom right rider is a well known retire international competitor. I used this picture recently and some younger commenters, who are unaware of the "C" position, thought I was trying to embarrass this rider. Defensive riding techniques are no longer commonly taught, and this is very dangerous.

08/17/2023

Jax, Morab c**t. Born 8/12/23 (Fury x Tuie) ❤️

https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/index.php?query_type=horse&h=ENCHANTED+MK+JAX&g=5&cellpadding=0&small_font=1&l=

12/17/2022

Buyers dictate the market!

I've been having Zoom meetings with clients to look at sale horses they are interested in, and I just shake my head.....

I have seen 3 year old, after 3 year old,
Jumping,
Pounding their legs down the pavement pulling carts,
Soaked with sweat on trail rides where they go down enbankments like the man from Snowy River,
In full sets of shoes,
Being stood on,
In cross ties hooked to their curb bits.....

These horse's are being physically and mentally damaged long before they are even physically mature and given a fair chance. They are set up to lose.
And.....they want well into 5 figures for these horses. We have passed on so many nice horses because even in the sale video I can see compensation already in 3 and 4 year olds. But, sellers continue to do this, because buyers are snatching them up like they're going out of style.....

The only way to stop this, is if buyers start to understand that 3 year olds shouldn't be doing these things. 3 year olds should look lean, and bit up from playing in the pasture with other horses. They should be barefoot, developing a nice digital cushion, and romping around letting their growth plates close in order to set them up for a LIFETIME of soundness.

My first horse Boomer had a late start in life. We bought him as a 7 year that had only been ridden 5 times in the previous 2 years. He worked until he was 30, and he spent those years working hard, but he had sound scaffolding to build on. I would much rather have 25 years of soundness on the back end of a horse's life, than to gain an extra 1 or 2 years when they are babies.

05/30/2022

Raiden (Celzeus x HK Rikoshay) - homebred yearling Arabian c**t. He’s such a cute, sweet, boy!

https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/enchanted+mk+raiden

05/30/2022

9 beautiful miles in the mountains yesterday! On Chargers Too Hot To Handl (Rex). It was a Morgan kinda day!

05/06/2022

Sasha foaled a beautiful filly, by Jack. 😍

04/05/2022

First Jack (Inch High Pay Offs Jigsaw) baby of the year! Congrats to Azores Ranch on their newest addition! 😍❤️ He’s precious!!

Cutest blue eyed little guy in town! Happy Birthday! Although he is not rideable as well as Mama is on maternity leave; please feel free to book the petting zoo/tractor ride options for visiting the ranch & bring some extra treats for these 2! 🧿♥️🐴🪬🎉