GW Performance Horses

08/19/2026

🚨 Choke in Horses: It’s Not What You Think 🚨

When people hear the word “choke,” they often picture a horse unable to breathe. Thankfully, that’s usually not what’s happening.

🐴 In horses, choke occurs when food or another object becomes lodged in the esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach), not the windpipe. Most horses can still breathe, but it’s still considered a veterinary emergency.

⚠️ Common signs of choke include:
• Feed or saliva coming from the nostrils
• Excessive drooling
• Coughing or repeated attempts to swallow
• Stretching the neck out
• Anxiety or discomfort during eating
• Food remaining in the mouth or dropping feed

❌ What should you do?
• Remove all food and hay immediately.
• Keep your horse calm.
• Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
• Avoid trying to force water or food down the horse’s throat.

Many cases resolve with veterinary treatment, but waiting too long can increase the risk of complications such as dehydration, damage to the esophagus, or aspiration pneumonia if feed or saliva enters the lungs.

💙 Can choke be prevented?
While not every case is avoidable, you can help reduce the risk by:
✔️ Providing routine dental care.
✔️ Feeding at an appropriate height for your horse.
✔️ Slowing down horses that bolt their feed by using slow feeders or obstacles designed for feed tubs.
✔️ Soaking pelleted feeds or beet pulp when appropriate.
✔️ Making sure your horse always has access to clean, fresh water.

The good news is that most horses recover well with prompt veterinary care. The key is recognizing the signs early and calling your veterinarian rather than waiting to see if it passes on its own.

❓Have you ever seen a horse choke? What was the first sign you noticed?

08/14/2026

🎩 What Collection Actually Means 🎩

“Get your horse collected.”

It’s something we hear all the time—but what does it actually mean?

A common misconception is that collection simply means getting your horse’s head down. In reality, true collection starts from the hind end, not the front end.

🐴 A collected horse is carrying more weight on its hindquarters.

Instead of pulling itself along with its front legs, the horse begins to push from behind, engaging the hindquarters and allowing the forehand to become lighter.

✨ Signs of true collection include:
• Active, engaged hind legs stepping underneath the body
• A lifted back
• A lighter feel in your hands
• Better balance and self-carriage
• Shorter, more powerful strides—not just slower ones

❌ Collection is NOT:
• Pulling the horse’s head behind the vertical
• A tucked chin with a hollow back
• Riding only with your hands
• Going slower without engagement

Whether you ride dressage, barrel racing, reining, ranch riding, jumping, or simply enjoy trail riding, balance is important. A horse that carries itself correctly is often able to move more efficiently, respond more easily to rider aids, and place less strain on its body.

💙 Think of it this way:

Imagine carrying a heavy box with poor posture versus lifting it with your core engaged and your weight balanced. One feels awkward and tiring, while the other is stronger and more efficient. Horses aren’t all that different.

Collection isn’t about creating a pretty headset—it’s about developing strength, balance, and self-carriage from back to front.

❓What’s one of the biggest misconceptions about collection that you’ve heard?

08/07/2026

🚨 Colic: Myths vs. Facts 🚨

Colic is one of the most common emergencies horse owners face—but it’s also surrounded by myths that can delay treatment. Let’s separate fact from fiction!

❌ Myth: Colic is a disease.
✅ Fact: Colic simply means abdominal pain. There are many different causes, including gas, feed impactions, intestinal twists, sand accumulation, and more.

❌ Myth: Every horse with colic will roll violently.
✅ Fact: Some horses do roll, but others may only paw, look at their sides, repeatedly lie down, stretch out, lose interest in food, or seem quieter than normal. Every horse can show colic differently.

❌ Myth: Walking a colicky horse will “fix” the problem.
✅ Fact: Walking can help prevent a horse from injuring itself if it’s trying to roll excessively, but it does not cure colic. If your horse is exhausted, forcing it to walk for hours can do more harm than good. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.

❌ Myth: If the horse poops, it isn’t colicking.
✅ Fact: Horses can still pass manure while experiencing colic. Passing manure doesn’t automatically mean everything is okay.

❌ Myth: You should always wait and see if they get better.
✅ Fact: Some mild cases do resolve, but others become life-threatening very quickly. If your horse is showing persistent signs of abdominal pain, it’s always safer to contact your veterinarian sooner rather than later.

❌ Myth: Colic is always caused by grain.
✅ Fact: While sudden diet changes can increase the risk, colic has many possible causes, including dehydration, parasites, poor-quality forage, dental problems, stress, lack of turnout, sand ingestion, and intestinal displacement.

💙 The best treatment for colic is early recognition.

Knowing what’s normal for your horse makes it much easier to recognize when something isn’t right. Trust your instincts—if you think your horse may be colicking, don’t be afraid to call your veterinarian.

07/31/2026

👀 Horse Vision vs. Human Vision: Why Your Horse Sees the World Differently

Ever wonder why your horse suddenly spooks at something that “wasn’t there yesterday?” It might not be stubbornness—it might just be how they’re built!

🐴 Nearly 360° Vision
Because a horse’s eyes are located on the sides of their head, they can see almost all the way around themselves. This helps them spot predators long before they’re close.

⚠️ But They Have Blind Spots
Horses can’t see directly in front of their nose or directly behind their tail. That’s why a horse may lift or turn its head to get a better look at something—and why approaching quietly from directly behind can startle even the calmest horse.

🌈 They Don’t See Colors Like We Do
Horses don’t see the same range of colors as humans. They see blues and yellows well but have difficulty distinguishing reds and greens. A bright red jump or obstacle may not stand out to your horse the way it does to you.

🌙 They’re Great in Low Light
Horses naturally have excellent night vision thanks to a reflective layer in the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. However, it takes them longer than us to adjust when moving between bright sunlight and dark areas. That dark trailer, barn aisle, or shaded arena entrance may look completely different to them than it does to you.

👀 Movement Gets Their Attention
As prey animals, horses are incredibly sensitive to movement. A fluttering plastic bag, waving grass, or a bird taking off may catch their eye long before you even notice it.

❤️ Understanding Their Vision Makes Us Better Horsemen
When we remember that horses experience the world differently than we do, it’s easier to be patient when they hesitate, spook, or stop to investigate something. More often than not, they’re reacting to what they genuinely perceive—not trying to misbehave.

❓What’s the strangest thing your horse has ever spooked at? We’ve all got at least one story! 😂

07/24/2026

🌿🐴 ALFALFA MYTHS: Let's Talk About It!!

Few horse feeds create more debate than alfalfa.

Some people swear by it.
Some people blame it for everything from hot behavior to world hunger.

Let's bust a few myths:

❌ MYTH: Alfalfa makes horses crazy.
✅ FACT: Alfalfa is higher in calories than many grass hays, but it doesn't contain some magical ingredient that makes horses wild. Extra energy comes from excess calories—not the alfalfa itself.

❌ MYTH: Alfalfa causes colic.
✅ FACT: Quality alfalfa does not cause colic. In fact, its digestibility can make it a great forage option for many horses.

❌ MYTH: Alfalfa causes ulcers.
✅ FACT: Alfalfa may actually help buffer stomach acid due to its calcium content and is often included in ulcer management programs.

❌ MYTH: Every horse should be on alfalfa.
✅ FACT: Not necessarily. Some horses do great on it, while easy keepers may simply not need the extra calories.

❌ MYTH: Alfalfa is only for performance horses.
✅ FACT: Many seniors, hard keepers, broodmares, and growing horses benefit from alfalfa as part of a balanced diet.

The truth?

Alfalfa is a tool.

Like any feed, it's not inherently good or bad—it simply has to be matched to the individual horse.

07/23/2026

07/21/2026

🐴 BODY CONDITION SCORING: Is Your Horse Too Thin, Too Fat, or Just Right?

One of the most important parts of horse ownership is learning how to evaluate your horse's body condition—not just their weight.

The Body Condition Score (BCS) system uses a scale from 1-9:

🔹 1-3 = Underweight
🔹 4-6 = Ideal for most horses
🔹 7-9 = Overweight to Obese

When scoring a horse, we look at:
✔️ Neck
✔️ Withers
✔️ Behind the shoulder
✔️ Ribs
✔️ Loin
✔️ Tailhead

A common misconception is that if you can't see ribs, your horse is at a healthy weight. In reality, many horses today are carrying excess fat, which can increase their risk of:
⚠️ Laminitis
⚠️ Insulin resistance
⚠️ Joint stress
⚠️ Heat intolerance

On the other hand, horses that are too thin may struggle with:
⚠️ Poor performance
⚠️ Reduced immunity
⚠️ Difficulty maintaining muscle
⚠️ Trouble staying warm in winter

Most horses should have ribs that can be easily felt but not easily seen.

Remember: A shiny coat doesn't always mean a horse is at a healthy weight, and a fuzzy winter coat can hide a lot!

07/19/2026

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥GW Burn Bright❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

•Who is looking for a drop dead GORGEOUS APHA filly?!
•Are you wanting to add some color to your herd?
•Are you looking for a filly who is big and stout with lots of color?
•Maybe you’re looking for a filly who will turn heads the moment she steps off the trailer…

Well, I have her, and she is AVAILABLE!

Meet GW Burn Bright, or as I call her, Tadpole!
This stunning filly is by Flaming Fire Water (LTE $14,315, PE $769,000) and out of Travlyn Novalero (Charcolero x Travlyn Skippanova (by The Coosanova).

Tadpole is a big and stout filly who is extremely curious, friendly, and inquisitive. She will gladly come up to you in the pasture to say hello and will be fully expecting a nose boop.

As of now Tadpole is not halter broke, however I will begin halter breaking upon weaning next month. Tadpole is the kind of filly who will excel in whatever direction you choose to take her, she is extremely smart and will likely learn fast.

Tadpole has been raised around farm equipment, dogs, chickens, and construction sounds!

She is eligible for:
•Breeders Challenge
•Future Fortunes
•Select Stallion Stakes
•VGBRA
•TQHA

Tadpole is located in Stephenville, TX. I can help arrange shipping if needed.

Asking 9️⃣,❎❎❎

❤️‍🔥I will consider a discount to a performance home❤️‍🔥

Are you interested in Tadpole? Please feel free to shoot this page a message, or contact Mykal at 253-355-0698

Dam’s pedigree:
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/travlyn+novalero

Sire’s pedigree:
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/flaming+fire+water

07/19/2026

🐴💅 MARE MYTHS THAT NEED TO DIE

As a broodmare owner, I feel uniquely qualified to say this:

Some of y'all have been slandering mares for YEARS.

Let's clear a few things up.

❌ "Mares are mean."

✅ Some mares are mean.
Some geldings are mean.
Some stallions are mean.

Attitude is not exclusively stored in the ovaries.

❌ "Mares are too emotional."

✅ Have you met a gelding who's convinced a plastic bag is a murder attempt?

Moving on.

❌ "A mare in heat can't work."

✅ Most mares can continue their normal jobs just fine.

❌ "Mares aren't as reliable as geldings."

✅ Plenty of mares compete successfully at the highest levels of nearly every discipline.

❌ "She needs to have a foal to calm down."

✅ No. Just no.

A foal is not therapy.

❌ "Mares are difficult."

✅ Mares tend to be very honest. They often tell you exactly how they feel about a situation.

Sometimes people don't like the answer.

At the end of the day, mares can be incredible partners, athletes, mothers, and teachers.

They deserve better PR.

Signed,
A person who willingly owns multiple mares.

07/13/2026

✨ AVAILABLE HORSES ✨
✨ Due to life changes, vet bills, and truck repairs I’m willing to make some deals ✨

Alright y’all—I’ve got several nice prospects available, and I’m motivated to get a couple moved soon. Here’s what we have 👇

⸻

🍀 GW Irish Goodbye (“Astrid”)
2025 Solid APHA Filly
By Jesses Topaz (PE $291k) × Out of Travlyn Novalero (Charcolero × Travlyn Skippanova by The Coosanova)

Astrid is a kind, quiet filly with a solid start.
✔️ Halter broke
✔️ Stands tied
✔️ Working on picking up feet
✔️ Loads with a little encouragement

She’s paid into Ruby & Pink Buckle (2025) and can be paid into 2026 at no cost to buyer.

Eligible for:
• Royal Crown Roping
• Royal Crown Barrel Racing

💰 4️⃣,5️⃣xx

⸻

🔥 GW Danger Days (“Mikey”) (Papers Pending)
2026 Tovero C**t (possibly splash)
By Quahadi (LTE $174k+ | PE $130k+) × Out of CherokeesRiskeyRain

This c**t has looks, chrome, and personality. Athletic and eye-catching with a big future ahead.

✔️ Curious and people-oriented
✔️ Great-minded, developing well
✔️ Will be halter broke by weaning (August)

Eligible for:
• 6666 Incentive
• Gold Buckle Futurities
• NCHA Stallion Foal
• NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive
• Riata Buckle
• Royal Crown Roping
• Ruby Buckle

💰8️⃣,###

⸻

✨ GW Burn Bright (“Tadpole”) (Papers Pending)
2026 Bay W20 Filly
By Flaming Fire Water (LTE $14,315 | PE $750k+) × Out of Travlyn Novalero

The biggest and (arguably) prettiest of this year’s foals 👀

✔️ Extremely athletic build
✔️ Big hip, long legs
✔️ Curious but thoughtful personality
✔️ Will be halter broke by weaning (August)

A standout prospect for barrels or roping—this one will get noticed anywhere.

Eligible for:
• Breeders Challenge
• Future Fortunes
• Select Stallion Stakes
• VGBRA
• TQHA

💰 9️⃣,###

⸻

💎 GW ItzaRiskyDiamond (“Bia”)
2025 APHA Tovero Filly
By SHR QTs DiamondCutter × Out of CherokeesRiskeyRain (Cherokee Business)

Bia is a smart, athletic filly with a kind personality and a bright future.

✔️ Stands tied
✔️ Picks up all four feet
✔️ Loads in the trailer
✔️ Curious and willing attitude

An excellent performance prospect with the pedigree and mind to excel, or a future broodmare prospect.

💰 9️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

⸻

‼️‼️SOLD‼️‼️
⚡ GW Sweet Revenge (“Quinn”) (Papers Pending)
2026 Buckskin Tobiano C**t
By The Sweet Spot (LTE $53,335 | PE $300k+) × Out of WR Doc and Shine

The friendliest foal of the year—tons of personality and loves people.

✔️ Curious and interactive
✔️ Playful, confident type
✔️ Naturally personable
✔️ Will be halter broke by weaning (September)

This c**t has the mind and presence to go in any direction.

💰 9️⃣,###

⸻

📍 Located in Stephenville, TX
✔️ Shipping can be arranged nationwide

📩 Message this page or contact Mykal (253-355-0