KMB Equine

05/02/2026

Happy May!

We have been staying busy around here between making new friends, training rides, lessons, farm maintenance to get ready for warmer weather, and routine appointments with the vet for spring shots.

We have welcomed a few new riders this month and are currently working off a wait list. If you have inquired about lessons we do have you on the list. Spots may or may not open up as we continue into the spring season, so we certainly appreciate your patience as we try to accomodate everyone!

Please enjoy a photo dump Of April fun!

04/18/2026

Vanessa & Faye had a great first outdoor jump lesson today in the beautiful weather!! She has been working very hard this winter and this was such a fun lesson to start my day with! Jennifer Jesionowski Arbore

04/16/2026

Spring training rides Are always more satisfying when there’s a goal at the end of them! Today charm
practiced loading on the trailer with me doing everything by myself instead of having door help, then we had a great ride working through the basics of a dressage test before having his first bath of the year. Tomorrow we have our first off property adventure to go have a dressage lesson with Megan Boss of Mboss Dressage!

04/16/2026

It was a gorgeous day for a trail walk followed by a post workout massage for Malachi! Can’t wait for them to dry out a little more so we can get them cleaned up for the summer!

04/14/2026

This month we also welcome a new friend on a long term loan, Force of Dominance, aka Tank. Tank is an old pro kind of guy who knows the ropes of western, English, and trails, adores children and is just the sweetest guy! We are looking forward to getting him conditioned up so he can start giving some lessons soon.

04/13/2026

Looking for compost for your garden? We have plenty!!

Contact Katie to schedule a time to pick up some of our aged compost!

585 645 4633 TEXT preferred please!

04/09/2026

Last week we welcomed Disco Party, an 11 year old thoroughbred mare from Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Center. Disco is sweet as pie and is already restarted walk trot canter, as well as over fences, so our main focus is finding tack that she likes so she can start to take on some lesson students! She’s settling in nicely with the mare herd and we can’t wait to see where the future takes us with her!

04/05/2026

Tail end of winter photo dump.

The tail end of winter is always so hard to power through. We are all exhausted, sore and whiney. Absolutely Sick of being cold, but we start to see some warmer temps and that gets our hopes up a bit thankfully. The horses usually start shedding in February, and blanket roulette becomes a regular part of the routine with temps going up during the day and down at night. The ground thaws and freezes several times which always freezes a hydrant somewhere. But then The sun starts to actually feel warm and birds start chirping and the seasonal depression really starts to lift for everyone. The horses enjoy no blanket time when possible and we can start to evaluate how they’re coming out of winter so we can adjust their nutrition plans accordingly. I Always love seeing fat horses coming out of a tough winter!!!

Each photo has more info in the description 🦄

01/31/2026

In our lessons today I challenged everyone to see if they could back their horse down the long side from H to K in one try. They were allowed to pause as often as needed and as long as any wiggles didn’t pull their horse forward or totally out of their line and they kept backing, I counted it. Everyone did pretty well, and a couple ended up @ with some homework! A productive cold day!

01/02/2026

It’s no secret that Winter is hard on everyone, humans and horses alike. The freezing temps are more uncomfortable for us in general, and then add in any type of work, chores or exercise and our bodies become depleted quickly. The same happens for horses! You will notice we do a lot less in our winter lessons typically, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything! We will tend to stick to more walking and fine tuning of aids, this allows riders to build a better understanding for the biomechanics of movement, while learning new things in a slower way. The horses typically don’t seem to mind the slow down either!

❄️ Winter Riding: Understanding the Physiology Behind Cold-Weather Training ❄️

When discussing winter conditioning, it’s important to recognize how significantly cold temperatures alter a horse’s respiratory function, muscle physiology, and recovery from exercise. The demands on the respiratory tract increase in cold, dry air; muscle elasticity decreases. These shifts mean that the same level of exercise can place very different demands on the horse in January than it does in June.

Thoughtful winter training, therefore, isn’t simply about extending warm-ups. It involves a more strategic approach: moderating intensity, prioritizing gradual muscle engagement, and allowing sufficient time for complete cool-downs to protect both respiratory and musculoskeletal health. These adjustments help mitigate cold-weather stiffness, minimize performance-limiting airway irritation, and support overall welfare.

Nutritional and environmental management also play a crucial role. Horses often drink less in winter and expend more energy maintaining body temperature. Ensuring consistent access to warm water, adequate forage intake, and appropriate dietary support helps maintain hydration, digestive function, and immune resilience during periods of cold stress.

With these considerations in mind, winter can remain a productive and beneficial training season.

Learn more about evidence-based winter training strategies:
🇨🇦 https://madbarn.ca/training-horses-in-winter/
🇺🇸 https://madbarn.com/training-horses-in-winter/