Aria Equestrian

My Dad and I bought this brush as part of my first grooming kit for Tony the Pony when I was seven from our local feed store. We had the pony, a saddle, a bridle, my helmet, boots, and now a curry comb, hoof pick, dandy, body brush, and mane and tail comb. We were set; we had everything we were going to need for the pony.

We continued to laugh about our naïveté for many years to come as horse equipment purchases continued. My Dad would be thrilled to know that Riding Warehouse now offers a 15% discount code to me and my students! I personally shop at Riding Warehouse because the product selection is carefully curated, and as a California-based company, shipping is extremely fast. Plus, they offer a 365-day return policy on new or used items. Thank you, Riding Warehouse, for making further additions to my brush box so enjoyable (but I still have that first brush in rotation) Riding Warehouse

For my personal horse, selecting a new horse involves visiting breeders, and talking about broodmare nutrition in the year before conception of a particular foal. I like to walk the pastures, taste the hay, be sure that vitamins and minerals are balanced to the forge sources, and only then do I feel confident talking blood lines.


https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/broodmare-nutrition-foetal-programming-epigenetics

Why you will not see me being spectacular on a young horse:

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.
Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."
Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.
Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."
Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."
Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."
Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."
Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

Having personally owned a horse for many years with major performance limiting health issues has in many ways been a huge gift. The amount that he has forced me to learn and the compassion that I have for horses efforts has grown out of love for him. This is a very interesting chart of similar but distinct issues that often result in exercise intolerance or a horse just not being quite right. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1279624956803041&id=100042666464819&mibextid=cr9u03

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/musculoskeletal-system/myopathies-in-horses/exertional-myopathies-in-horses?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=brado_mvm_exertionalmyopathies&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMAABHST6zfk73hijYFyrAz7OzU1OyB9qZTjZpG9TOo365gG6tD1EiCSh-34o6A_aem_g_CcJMtVlkldRYPqCTIXOQ&utm_id=6582882320800&utm_content=6582882320400&utm_term=6582882320600

Thank you Sonoma County CDS for hosting tomorrow’s clinic, looking forward to it.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT FAIRWIND FARM! A clinic on straightness with Marija L. Vulfs. Auditing is free!

Thank you Sonoma CDS for hosting me for a clinic, I am looking forward to it!

Sonoma CDS Clinic - March 24 at Fairwind Farm
Straightness with Marija L. Vulfs

I absolutely agree, turnout is essential for dressage horses!

Motivate Your Dressage Horse with Uta Gräf German Grand Prix rider Uta Gräf explains how to train using the rider's moral obligation to the dressage horse.