W Bar T Ranch

I'm just saying....get the yayas out before getting on doesn't hurt 😂

Things I’ve Learned from Coaching Savannah I’ve realized I’m probably more hyper-aware of coaching styles—and the positives and negatives of coaching properly—than most. I was an athlete my whole life, and I learned early on that I thrived under “out of the box” coaches more than those with strict, one-size-fits-all regimes. I also watched friends and competitors both thrive and completely crumble under the pressure of overbearing parents and coaches. Now, as a parent, I try really hard to stay in my lane—to support and reinforce what the professionals are teaching Savannah, not to become another coach in her ear. But let’s be honest, kids don’t always hear their parents. 😂 I could say the same thing 100 times and she won’t hear me. Matt or any other pro could whisper it a football field away and she would never forget it. That’s just reality 🤪 What I’ve found works best is not to be critical in the moment, but to review later—after a run or a mistake—and let her walk me through what she thinks could have gone better. That puts the ball in her court, keeps her accountable, and opens the door for me to simply encourage her to seek coaching or work on those areas at home. It’s easy to forget that kids—especially the driven ones—are still kids exploring lanes they love. I have heard some really discouraging conversations in my life between kids and parents in relation to performance. Our job isn’t to guilt them over the time, money, or effort we invest. That’s our choice as parents, not theirs. Their job is to take responsibility, learn, and keep working toward their goals. There’s no fast track. There will be mistakes, challenges, and moments of frustration. But as long as they keep moving forward—and we keep loving them through it—that’s what truly matters. ❤️🐴 #bluethunderaunicornstory #horsesofinstagram #reining #nrha #aqha ##foryou #faith #parenting #coaching #momlife #fyp #faith #monday

The importance of foot/leg position on balance.

Today is the day! Come see us at Saturday Night Out in Blue Ridge from 5pm to 10pm in downtown Blue Ridge! You won't want to miss it or the chance to meet a couple of our lesson horses!! 💚

We have 2 horses and 2 riders representing W Bar T Ranch today at Elite Youth Rodeo Association Rodeo #1 in Winnsboro Texas. Wishing Cydni Snyder and Cookie Monster, and Makenna Planey and Hunni all the luck competing today 💚

W Bar T Ranch will be at Saturday Night in Blue Ridge on September 6th! Make sure to come join all the fun and meet a few of our lesson horses while there!

We are so excited to have Miss Skittle join the herd at the farm. Thank you Makenna Planey, Misty Fowler Planey, & Doug Planey for trusting us with your ponies 💚

👢Cinch length matters just as if you were wearing to big of shoe . 👠 Each horse is built different so analyze your saddle and horse so you can place the head of the cinch in the safe zone . 🥾Remember … Life is short .. love each day and find the best in each other !!! 👢https://www.winnhorses.org/coaching look into a new way of learning .. book a virtual fit or coaching session . #iftheshoefitswearit #saddles #saddlefitting #saddlefitting #coaching #education #fyp #barreleracing #biomechanics #winnspirationnation

Our goal at W Bar T Ranch is to teach horsemanship, not just teach how to ride. You miss out on all the parts that make being around horses great if you skip the grooming, learning body language, caring for, and relationship building.

Not all riding lessons are created equal. There are two types of instructors in the horse world: the ones who teach kids to “get on and go,” and the ones who take the time to build true horsemen.

The “get on and go” instructors focus on the ride- heels down, hold the reins, go, turn, then go faster! Kids might learn to post the trot and steer through cones, but they miss the deeper connection. These lessons might look impressive on the surface, but what happens when something goes wrong? When a horse bucks, spooks, or simply says “no”?

Then there are the instructors who break it down. The ones who do more than just ride. They teach children how to groom with intention, to recognize a horse’s body language and moods. They emphasize equitation, patience, and respect. The ride isn’t rushed. It’s earned. These kids learn to care for the horse before asking anything from it.

One method turns out riders.
The other creates horsemen.

We are so ecstatic to have Sassy join us on our farm! Congratulations Makenna Planey on your new horse. We are so excited to watch your future progress. Thank you Double W Performance Horses for all you do!

Your Horse’s “Knees” (Stifles) Deserve Way More Attention 🎯

We talk about our knees all the time, right? (Heck, 55+ million people have knee pain!) But how often do we think about our horses’ knees, aka their stifles?

🚀 Here’s the thing: the stifle is basically your horse’s power joint. It’s their knee that drives every stride, stop, rollback, and turn. And honestly? It’s one of the most ignored joints in the horse world simply because it’s hard to diagnose.

🔑Why it matters (and why I care so much):
• Sliding stops, quick turns, even one wrong slip can put major strain on that joint.
• When stifles hurt, horses compensate like crazy—tight muscles, short strides, crooked movement, and uneven hoof wear (hello, outside or inside heels wearing faster).
• I’ve seen it time and time again: horses with stifle pain often also have poor hind angles, negative plantar angles (NPA). The hoof tells the story.

🌀But it’s not just bones and joints, it’s fascia chains too. The stifle ties into the Superficial Back Line (think glutes, hamstrings, down to the hock and into the hoof) and the Spiral Line (which wraps around the body like a spring or X see one of my previous posts). Pain or restriction here doesn’t stay local—it spirals through the body, creating tight backs, sore hocks, and even forelimb compensations.

🕵🏽‍♀️Signs your horse’s stifles need a closer look:
• They hesitate to move forward or refuse to load an inside leg in a turn.
• They take shorter steps behind or “bunny hop” around the barrel.
• Some will even commit to a turn and then bail out halfway—because it hurts.

💤And here’s a wild one: horses need to lie down to hit deep REM sleep (the good healing kind). After stifle surgery, I’ve seen horses take 30–60 days before they’re comfy enough to lay down. Can you imagine going two months without real sleep? No Netflix, no pillow, just pain. That slows healing big time.

Fun fact you can brag about later: Horses have three patellar ligaments to help them lock the stifle so they can nap standing up (don’t try that yourself, humans pass out doing it).

🩹🚫 Bottom line?
The stifle is your horse’s powerhouse. If something’s off, the whole body pays for it—hocks, back, hooves, everything. Keep your horse balanced, watch for the subtle signs, and don’t blow off that “knee joint” just because it’s tricky to diagnose. Have a good veterinarian, good corrective farrier, & a good bodyworker that will listen to your concerns, that will help you get to the root cause and fix it! Not just bandaid it!

Because at the end of the day, pain is pain. Whether it’s your knee or your horse’s stifle, it deserves attention.

How to Tie a Bridle Knot (aka Bug Knot)

A "bridle knot" is neat, flat, and easy to tie — perfect for bridles, reins, and more.

Steps:
(Think: Top down, then round and round.)

1️⃣ Thread your tie leather through the holes. Leave the bottom strand slightly longer.

2️⃣ Fold the top strand down.

3️⃣ Wrap the bottom strand under the top strand.

4️⃣ Repeat step #3 until you're out of room.

That’s it! Simple, secure, and you're ready to ride. 🐎