The Stables at Hacienda La Paz

11/27/2023

With a heavy heart we regret to say that we will be closing the Stables. We just could not make the overwhelming financial obligations with the small amount of board collected.

11/03/2023

Great wisdom
https://www.facebook.com/RemoteHorseCoach/videos/908106574105761/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

11/01/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100043468792096/posts/915383996587218/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

This might shock some riders. Four or five decades ago horsemanship included a primary concept of matching riders and horses by body type. Today few people have heard of it. Matching the conformation of the rider with the conformation of the horse was based in the physics of balance and movement, or compatible biomechanics of each to create an optimal whole mass between the two.

When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. To achieve optimal balance with a horse it is better if the rider "fits" the horse. Imagine if the second rider in from the left were to ride a 14.3 H Welsh, The Welsh would have difficulty balancing the rider in every gait. Or what if the rider on the far right rode a big draft cross or a big Warmblood. It would be difficult to achieve unity of movement because the light weight rider would be like a fly on the horseback with too little body mass to effectively engage the horse's powerful movement.

Likewise, a person with a short torso and long legs would do well to ride a horse with a large barrel to take up their leg, and a short legged rider would be better off riding a narrow chested horse for a better fit. We used to match riders with horses. Now everyone, regardless of their body type, seems to want a big Warmblood or other trendy breed because that is the current fashion. In this fashion based standard for selecting horses, the small rider gets tossed around on their trendy large horse. Then the rider needs a saddle with an extremely high cantle and all kinds of blocks on the flaps to compensate for the mismatch.

And that is my point. I see a lot of riders compensating for a mismatch with their horse instead of riding simply in unity with their horse.

I see this mostly in dressage but in other disciplines as well. Modern riders are slaves to fashion in horses, equipment and attire. Who set the horse culture goal to be uniformity and not effectiveness? Everything comes down to unity between horse and rider, and unity comes down to shared balance and movement. Mismatching horses and riders fights against the commonsense physics of balance and movement and that makes unity much more difficult to achieve. We need to stop using fashion as the basis of our decision making when it comes to horses and riding.

10/02/2023

The Stages of Equine Skeletal Development

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human. So, a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS Vikki Fowler

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian

10/02/2023

Here is discussion with one of our parents on the benefits for her daughter working with our horses. We do mostly ground work so no experience is necessary. If you want a unique program to give your kids confidence give me a call 612-250-4912