J & M Ranch LLC

The alert is from a finding in Texas. However, farm owners should stay in the know for their location & personal circumstances (for all infectious diseases pertaining to their livestock). Here's a fantastic resource (EDCC newsletter/alerts) across the US.

https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/ALERT-Screwworm-Confirmed-in-the-United-State

To stay informed please subscribe to the following:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/

ALERT: Screwworm Confirmed in the United States | Equine Disease Communication Center On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed New World Screwworm in the umbilical area of a calf in Zavala County, Texas. This expansion into the United States is alarming and US Equestrian (USEF) wants to make sure you know about the potential risks of this parasitic fly to horses.

Safety should remain the prioritization of every parent enrolling their child into any sport. The Certified Horsemanship Association is a fantastic resource when seeking instructors who are committed to safety and continuing education.

Become an Accredited Site through Certified Horsemanship Association⁠
⁠
About CHA Site Accreditation:⁠
• CHA has provided a reasonable and accepted ⁠Standards for Equestrian Programs Manual.⁠
• Site Accreditation is a process in which equine programs⁠ are evaluated on compliance with these CHA Standards.⁠
• Each Site is visited by two CHA approved Site Visitors who verify compliance with the CHA Standards.⁠
• Each Site is scored on their compliance with these CHA Standards. ⁠
⁠
Eligibility:⁠
Accreditation is available to all types of equine programs.⁠
Accredited sites must be current CHA Program Members.⁠
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Learn more by visiting our website at https://cha.horse/cha-site-accreditation/

The discussion of clarity begins when you start with the right question

Listen up !
Spurs aren’t about being rough and they sure as hell aren’t about hurting horses. They’re about clarity. Same as a bit. Same as a rein. Same as a leg cue. Used right, spurs don’t add pressure. They reduce it.

Horses don’t get mad at pressure. They get mad at pressure that’s sloppy, constant, and confusing. Spurs clean that up. Instead of squeezing, bumping, and nagging every step, a spur lets you make one clear ask and get off the horse the instant it tries. That release is the lesson. That’s how horses learn.

Riding without that precision is like trying to paint the Mona Lisa wearing oven mitts. You can smear paint on the canvas all day, but you won’t get detail, balance, or refinement. Spurs are the fine brush. They let a rider be exact instead of loud and sloppy

Spurs matter because they teach responsibility. Without them, riders end up babysitting, holding pressure, and doing the horse’s thinking for them. With spurs, the cue is brief and clear. The horse learns to stay where it’s put, hold its job, and carry its own weight mentally and physically. That builds confidence, not fear.

They separate cues. Inside means inside. Outside means outside. Forward doesn’t mean sideways. Collection doesn’t mean speed. Spurs allow that conversation to stay clean without a rider flailing, leaning, or getting out of position. A quieter rider makes a calmer horse.

They matter for safety. A horse that responds to a light, clear cue is safer than one that needs to be asked five times. When things go sideways, clarity beats strength every time. Spurs let you communicate fast without panic or chaos.

Spurs don’t replace timing, feel, or release. They expose whether you’ve got them. In good hands, they make riding softer and horses braver. In poor hands, they show holes in education. That’s not a tool problem. That’s a horsemanship problem.

Spurs aren’t there to make horses afraid. They’re there to make the message clear and the rider accountable. When a horse understands leg pressure, a spur refines that language and removes the need for constant contact.

Used right, spurs are fair.
They’re honest.
They’re necessary.
They don’t create resistance.
They create understanding.

Mic drop 🎤

Written by kissing horse ranch


Wrangler

Thankful for where it started

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