IB Stables, 15129 E 206th Street, Noblesville, IN (2026)

05/21/2026

THE SECRET INSIDE A HORSE HOOF

Most animals have a heart-to-body size relationship that follows a general pattern: the larger the animal, the larger its heart. Horses are an interesting exception. Their hearts are actually smaller than expected for an animal of such size. Yet despite this, horses are capable of incredible speed, endurance, and strength over long distances.

The reason lies in an extraordinary design hidden within the horse’s hooves. On the underside of each hoof is a V-shaped structure called the “frog.” These frogs act like auxiliary pumps that help circulate blood throughout the horse’s legs. Every time the horse steps down, the frog compresses and pushes blood upward through the vessels in the leg. When the hoof lifts, blood flows back downward again. In effect, the horse has five coordinated pumps moving blood through its body: one heart and four hoof pumps.

This system is remarkably efficient. Instead of relying on one massive heart working constantly at maximum force, the horse’s body distributes the workload through these specialized structures in the hooves. As the horse runs, the frog pumps assist circulation precisely when increased blood flow is needed most. The entire system works together with stunning precision, allowing horses to sustain power and endurance that have amazed humans for centuries.

Design like this points to engineering, not blind accident. The horse’s circulatory system is not merely functional. It is optimized, coordinated, and purpose-driven down to the structure of the hoof itself. The more we study living creatures, the more nature continues to reveal layers of complexity and ingenuity that reflect an intelligent Designer.

05/09/2026

A recent study from the University of Tennessee provided strong support for something trainers, movement specialists, and bodyworkers have observed for years:

Ground poles significantly increase activation of important postural and core muscles in horses.

What the Study Found

Walking over ground poles increased activity in:

• Longissimus dorsi — a major topline and spinal support muscle
• Abdominal muscles — critical for core stability and support of the spine

Even at the walk, poles require the horse to:

• Lift the limbs higher
• Stabilize the trunk more actively
• Organize posture and balance with greater precision
• Continuously adjust limb placement and timing

At the trot, researchers also found increased activation of the abdominal muscles.

Trotting over poles requires greater dynamic stabilization, and the increased limb elevation demands more coordinated control of the trunk, pelvis, and spine.

What This Means

These findings support the long-standing use of cavaletti and ground poles as a low-impact way to:

• Strengthen the topline
• Improve abdominal engagement
• Support spinal stability
• Enhance proprioception and coordination
• Encourage improved posture and self-carriage
• Develop better movement organization through the whole body

One of the most important aspects of pole work is that it influences both sides of the postural system:

• The dorsal chain — including the longissimus muscles along the back
• The ventral chain — including the abdominal support system

This balance is essential for efficient movement, force transfer, and development of a healthy, functional topline.

But pole work is not only muscular.

It is neurological.

Each pole creates a movement problem the horse must solve in real time.

The horse has to:

• Judge distance
• Adjust stride length
• Control timing
• Stabilize the trunk
• Organize the limbs in space
• Adapt moment-to-moment to changing demands

That process requires attention, coordination, body awareness, and ongoing nervous system regulation.

In many horses, poles appear to improve focus not simply because the horse is “behaving,” but because the nervous system is becoming more engaged and organized around the task.

Pole work may also influence neurological tone — the background level of muscular and nervous system readiness that affects posture, movement quality, stiffness, and coordination.

For some horses, this can help reduce excessive bracing and improve adaptability through the body.
For others, it can help improve postural engagement and overall organization.

Why It Matters

Regular pole work can benefit many types of horses:

• Young horses developing coordination and posture
• Performance horses improving strength, agility, movement quality, and limb awareness
• Horses rebuilding core control and stability after periods of weakness or reduced work
• Older horses maintaining mobility, coordination, and movement confidence

Importantly, many of these benefits occur even at the walk, making poles accessible to horses across a wide range of ages, disciplines, and fitness levels.

Rather than simply “making horses pick up their feet,” poles appear to challenge the nervous system, postural system, sensory system, and muscular system together — encouraging the horse to organize movement with greater control, awareness, and adaptability.

https://koperequine.com/step-by-step-the-benefits-of-walk-poles-for-horses/

04/19/2026

So happy for this puppy, only 8 weeks old sitting and shaking hands and ears standing up! Out of my good female Valient IB Victorious Ketterdobe and sired by Lyndobes All Wheel Drive. Owned by Darrel Wilson.

04/18/2026

There are reasons we do specific things in the horse world. These common standards were not created by an organization like the FEI, USEF or other equestrian governing body. The origins of these practices are military. For example, when we enter a show ring, as pictured in the top image, we ride counterclockwise to the left. This is a centuries old cavalry and mounted military services rule that we still follow today.

Another example is in why we mount a horse on the left or near side? It's because cavalrymen wore their sabers on their left hip. When cavalrymen mounted on the left or nearside, their sabers remained stationary when the riders would swing their right leg over the saddle. This military near side mounting rule is still followed today.

The Haute école dressage movements pictured in the lower center collage are not "art" as many dressage rider believe. They are offensive and defensive cavalry battlefield movements employed against enemy infantry foot soldiers.

The lower left center image is a Capriole used by cavalry riders who were swarmed by enemy infantry. This powerful movement cause infantry to run from the cavalry horse, which allowed the cavalryman to escape the enemy foot soldier swarm. The lower center right image is the Courbette. This was used to break and scatter defensive square formations of infantry on the battlefield. Both are intimidation movements that could be deadly to an enemy soldier.

Another military based riding tradition is mounted drill team. Group drill team movements were a way to identify which riders in a troop that was in training had effective control of their horses, or not. Poor riders stick out in a drill team. Therefore, drill team training accelerated the instructor's ability to identify which riders needed more instruction.

The historical origins of effective horsemanship are most often found in military riding. It has only been since the 1970s that some of these military methods and practices have been replaced by less demanding civilian standards. For example, in warm up arenas today I regularly see chaos as every rider "does their own thing" without regard for any structured standards aimed at improved safety.

If you are doing something in your riding that you do not understand where it came from, the source is most likely military.

04/17/2026

Now that I finally own my own barn after years of boarding, there’s SO much I didn’t realize as a boarder that I TOTALLY get now, Jamie Sindell writes.

Dear Barn Owners of My Past:

I would sincerely like to apologize for believing it was appropriate to grab hay whenever I wanted. I had to stuff Precious Pony’s face full. Heaven forbid she stands for an hour deprived of hay. What I didn’t realize is that Precious wasn’t wasting away. Hay is freaking expensive. Every. Single. Flake. Is money.

It was obnoxious to snag hay. If I believed you were truly starving Precious, I owed you a conversation. Sorry!

I also extend an apology for not thanking you regularly. I now comprehend what it takes to haul my butt out of my cozy bed on a frigid morning. I feel the pain of wrestling a frozen hose and slinging manure pucks into the wheelbarrow. I would absolutely prefer to skip chores and arrive in my heated vest to ride Precious Pony. You never had the choice to ditch the horses and sip a latte by the fire. Instead, you were out there caring for the herd.

In the summer, scorching fly-filled days when sweat soaked every fiber of your clothes, you ensured the horses stayed comfortable and healthy. I’m genuinely sorry I didn’t express my gratitude enough or bring you a Strawberry Acai on the regular. What I understand now is that one thank you or kind gesture makes a stressful barn day less painful.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say MY BAD for believing everything in the barn should look like an Instagram reel. Days the stalls weren’t done ASAP, water was lowish, or the ring wasn’t dragged with a pretty pattern…. Well, now I recognize crap happens! You have a life beyond Precious Pony, and gasp, maybe even a family to care for too!

Things come up. I’ve had sick kids upchucking into bowls, a spouse stuck at the airport, and busted-frozen pipes cramping my watering style. Crazy days make it extra hard to get everything looking just so. If the horses are regularly getting good care, blips aren’t a crisis. Precious Pony will survive to trot another day!

Turnout! Ugh. I was a brat. When I believed Precious Pony MUST go out to frolic, but the fields were a mucky mess, that wasn’t my call at your barn. In fact, Precious Pony would not only destroy your sopping fields, but she might pull shoes or come in limping.

Currently, my fields are moats. Every time the horses gallop through the mud, I cringe. Turnout all the time isn’t always feasible or a solution.

I am also sorry if I didn’t respect your barn rules. Your barn is your pride and joy (when you can muster up joy after caring for Precious Ponies all day). I know I now savor my crossties clipped, halters hung on a bias, and aisle neatly swept. At the end of a longggg day, these details matter. Forgive me for the days I left my brushes strewn about or my muddy blanket heaped in a mountain on the floor.

Finally, my biggest regret… I wish I lent you a hand more often. On days you were overwhelmed and rushed, I wish I hadn’t zipped out of the barn. An extra set of hands for turnout or holding Precious Pony for the farrier goes a long way. Presently, those extra free minutes mean I can grab my daughter from preschool on time instead of dashing in late, a hay-covered-mom-failure.

Let’s face it. Most people don’t board because it’s a cash cow. They do it because they love horses, even if down the line they become a little jaded. If I disagreed with some of YOUR decisions at YOUR barn, I hope I was respectful and kind. If I wasn’t, shame on me. No matter how strongly I felt about Precious Pony’s care, hushed whispers among disgruntled boarders wasn’t the way to go.

Now, when I take on a boarder at my farm, it is my choice. Though I will tolerate the owner and love Precious Pony like my own, at the end of the day, I own this joint. I want respect. You deserved the same.

Sincerely,

Jamie Sindell (Exhausted Owner of Wish List Farm est. 2022)

📎 Save and share this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2024/04/17/dear-barn-owners-of-my-past/

04/10/2026

THE HORSE THAT GOD MADE 🐎

If there were one animal clearly built to carry a human and perform countless tasks, it would be the horse.
A horse’s heart and lungs are engineered for speed, strength, and endurance. With lungs that can take in about twelve times more air than ours, a horse can reach nearly 50 miles per hour, pull heavy loads, or travel close to 100 miles in a single day.

The horse also has a remarkable built in suspension system. The rear leg joints are angled so impact is absorbed through the joints instead of being driven straight up the legs. The front of the body is supported by powerful flexible muscles that suspend the torso between the forelegs like a natural shock absorber. Add in its built in “gears” that shift smoothly between walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping, and you get one of the most comfortable riding animals on Earth.
Its feet are just as incredible. The bones, hoof, and heel work together to provide strength, traction, and natural cushioning. No shoe ever invented comes close to matching what God built into a horse’s hoof.

Taken together, the horse is a masterpiece of purposeful design, serving humanity in farming, travel, sport, law enforcement, and so much more.

There is no proof that horses evolved from some other creature. We see different kinds of horses in the fossil record, but always horses.

Fun fact: when a foal is born, it has soft, rubbery “slippers” on its hooves. God designed them so the baby does not injure the mother during birth. Within a few days, they fall off on their own, revealing the fully formed hooves beneath.

02/10/2026

🚨 Unpopular Opinion (but your dressage scores will thank you):
If you’re blaming the judge… it’s probably not the judge.

Here are 6 simple things most riders say they do but actually don’t and it’s costing you marks 👇

1️⃣ Transitions aren’t “good enough” just because they happened
Smooth, balanced, prompt transitions matter more than flashy movements. If your rhythm changes, so should your expectations.

2️⃣ Accuracy is free points… and people still leave them on the table
Wobbly centerlines, drifting circles, and “close enough” geometry? Judges see it all. Ride the test, not your feelings.

3️⃣ Forward ≠ fast
Impulsion comes from engaged hind legs and real connection, not rushing. If the contact isn’t honest, the movement won’t be either.

4️⃣ Your position matters more than you think
A crooked rider creates a crooked horse. Strong core, quiet seat, clear aids, not constant micromanaging.

5️⃣ Presentation influences first impressions (yes, it does)
A polished horse, tidy turnout, and confident riding sets the tone before you even halt. It’s not superficial, it’s part of the sport.

6️⃣ Reflection beats excuses every time
Talk to your trainer, coach, or barn friend. Not every test will go to plan but avoiding honest feedback guarantees nothing changes next time.

💬 Hot take: Most riders don’t need harder movements… they need better basics.

Agree? Disagree?
Tell me which one you’re working on, or which one you think judges overvalue 👇

Source of image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulsion

02/09/2026

Everybody knows about diagonals, right? However, not long ago I was talking with a riding instructor who had shown a fair amount including as a member of a college equestrian team. The subject of diagonals came up, and I could tell she didn't understand why we rise when posting the trot in a bend on the forward reach of the outside diagonal.

I explained why and her response was that no one had ever taught her. Now she is teaching diagonals to the next generation without giving a reason why we rise on the outside diagonal except that it's what judges want.

The reason why we rise on the outside diagonal is based in the fact that in a bend the inside diagonal is shorter than the outside diagonal. In the image below the right diagonal is shown as being shorter than the left diagonal. We want to rise on the outside diagonal to free up the horse's outside reach that is longer than the inside reach that is somewhat "compressed" in the bend.

Additionally, by rising on the outside diagonal, when we straighten our knees, our body moves somewhat forward as well as upward. This lightens and evens the stride as a result of our body mass being slightly forward. When we sit the trot with a trained horse the push is more from their hind than any pull forward with their shoulders. Therefore, when we post the push from the hind becomes less intense and freer.

Lastly, there is another reason for posting on one diagonal instead of the other, and it is when the horse is going straight at the trot and when the diagonals are of equal length. Can you guess why?

The lengths of US Cavalry mounted marches were limited by regulations. A standard distance was 25 miles per day and for a forced march the limit was 75 miles. If the Cavalry Troopers posted always on one diagonal, their horses would develop their muscles unevenly. To prevent this the Troop was required to periodically change diagonals all together on command. The Troop leader would count off a number of strides, I have read 50, and then tell the troop to change. I know very little about endurance riding, but I suspect that they follow this same principle as the Army did.

If you like this kind of nerdy explanation posts, I wrote another last week you might have missed. Don't forget to follow the page and like the posts.www.facebook.com/BobWoodHorsesForLife/posts/pfbid049L8fNorrToUtnH3RUXCCi1YxnF7EvaB1nVuy3gzRCcF7KLMdork4sNooTxbYe2hl

01/11/2026

THE HORSE THAT GOD MADE

If there were one animal clearly built to carry a human and perform countless tasks, it would be the horse.
A horse’s heart and lungs are engineered for speed, strength, and endurance. With lungs that can take in about twelve times more air than ours, a horse can reach nearly 50 miles per hour, pull heavy loads, or travel close to 100 miles in a single day.

The horse also has a remarkable built in suspension system. The rear leg joints are angled so impact is absorbed through the joints instead of being driven straight up the legs. The front of the body is supported by powerful flexible muscles that suspend the torso between the forelegs like a natural shock absorber. Add in its built in “gears” that shift smoothly between walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping, and you get one of the most comfortable riding animals on Earth.
Its feet are just as incredible. The bones, hoof, and heel work together to provide strength, traction, and natural cushioning. No shoe ever invented comes close to matching what God built into a horse’s hoof.

Taken together, the horse is a masterpiece of purposeful design, serving humanity in farming, travel, sport, law enforcement, and so much more.

There is no proof that horses evolved from some other creature. We see different kinds of horses in the fossil record, but always horses.

Fun fact: when a foal is born, it has soft, rubbery “slippers” on its hooves. God designed them so the baby does not injure the mother during birth. Within a few days, they fall off on their own, revealing the fully formed hooves beneath.

12/31/2025

A common fault when performing shoulder-in is that riders try to drag their horse’s shoulders onto an inside track using only their inside rein.

Instead, ride a 10-meter circle or use a corner to help you establish the required bend and get your aids in position.

Then, half-halt down your outside rein, look down the outside track, and use your inside leg to push your horse off the circle and down the long side, maintaining the shoulder-in positioning.

Think of your inside leg and seat as rhythmically encouraging your horse upwards and into your outside rein.

Ironically, out of all your aids, the inside rein is the one you should be using the least.

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We have a more detailed step-by-step guide on how to position your horse for shoulder-in and how to ride it (including a list of all the individual aids) in our latest book. Link in the comments.)

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Illustration created and copyrighted by HowToDressage

IB Stables

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