Angel Rock Farm
2302 9th Line Rd K0A 2P0 Ottawa, ON, Canada

We have a few horses looking for a human partner! All available for a lease/part board arrangement. Including but not limited to: one lesson a week and one solo ride or two lessons a week. Western/English tack will be provided. Facility has both indoor and outdoor arenas. Best suited for intermediate riders and up. However, beginners are welcome to take lessons and have supervised practice rides. Pricing depends of number of rides/lessons each week. Message for Further details. [email protected]

We have just received news that two additional farms in Peel and Niagara have diagnosed cases of EHM. This reinforces the need for strict biosecurity and limit...ed travel of individuals between farms. Currently in this area we are lucky to have cases limited to one farm and everyone is doing their best to keep it this way. If movement of horses is required during this time quarantine of the new horse is strongly advised for 14 days. Vaccination for the respiratory form of EHV-1 is known to reduce viral shedding of the disease and could help limit its spread. Please contact us to discuss boosters for your horse if you haven’t already done so. Stay safe everyone!

As many know the story, that it was at Martin Black's insistence that we wrote the book Evidence-Based Horsemanship. He felt strongly that we needed to bring wh...at we had learned and applied together to the large audience of lay readers that were horse owners. He felt that these shouldn't be just facts but what was in the best interest of horseman and their horses. We debated about making it a scientific book chock full of citations or whether we should just concentrate on making a difficult subject understandable and as unintimidating as possible. He convinced me that a scholarly tome that gathered dust in a library would not help anyone. The library is full of these types of books that are excellent, well written and dense...but unfortunately unread. I had been told by University based veterinary scientists that our information was accurate but outside the understanding of the basic horse owner. So we took our info on the road to backyard horse owners, cowboys, ranchers, trainers, horseman and presented. The neuroscience was not only understood it resonated with people. I used to take along several pages of references and citations to hand out. What I found is that they ended up in the waste bin after several hours spent making copies. Recent discussion brought up the lack of scientific references/citations in the book. In the course of scientific investigation conceptual framework and empirical discovery constantly changes and creates an evolving base of knowledge which we are all adding to with our Evidence-based approach to our horses and horsemanship. But for those of you who actually wanted to see the scientific citations that informed our book and early presentations, I found some of them and attached them here. You are all scientists with valid observations. Demand critical thinking. And if you don't believe it, just ask your horse! Evidence-Based Horsemanship References/Citations Heleski. Applied Animal Behavior Science on 128, issues 14, December 2010, pages 19. Crib-biting behavior and horses: a review Carissa Wickens and Camie Furr M, Reed S. Equine Neurology. First edition; Wiley Blackwell; 2007 C.Nicol. Understanding equine stereotypies. Equine Veterinary Journal; volume 31, issue S28, April 1999, 2025 Aleman M, (et al); Sensory evoked potentials of the trigeminal nerve for the diagnosis of idiopathic headshaking in a horse. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2014 JanFeb, 28 (1) 250253 Bachmann I, (et al); Risk factors associated with behavioural disorders of crib biting, weaving and box walking in Swiss horses. Equine Veterinary Journal; volume 35, issue 2, March 2013, 158163 Clegg H, (et al); The ethological and physiological characteristics of cribbing and weaving horses. Applied Animal Behavior Science, volume 109, issue 1, January 2008, 6876 Bowker R; (et al); Sensory nerve fibers and receptors in equine distal forelimbs and their potential roles in locomotion. Equine veterinary Journal supplement 18:141146 Bowker, R.M., (et al) (1993b) Sensory receptors in the equine foot. Am. J. vet. Res 54, 18401844 Maier S.;Seligman M; Learned Helplessness: Theory and evidence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Volume 105, March 1976 346 Flagel S, (et al); A selective role for dopamine in reward learning. Nature. 2011, 469, 5357 Saunders B, Robinson T; The role of dopamine in the accumbens core and expression of Pavlovianconditioned responses. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2012 Aug,36 (4) 2521-32 Kiley-Worthington M; Stereotypic behavior in stabled horses. Equine Veterinary Science 6; 4954 McGreevy PD, (et al); Radiographic and endoscopic study of horses performing on oral based stereotypy. Equine Veterinary Journal 7; 9295. Stoessl AJ. Dopamine D1 receptor agonist induced grooming is blocked by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. European Journal of Pharmacology 259; 301303 Ramey P; Care and Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot. Hoof Rehabilitation Publishing; 2011 Talukdar AH; (et al); Microscopic anatomy of the skin of the horse. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 1972 December; 33 (12): 23652390 Leblanc M; The Mind of the Horse: An Introduction to Equine Cognition. Harvard University Press; 2013 Budiansky S; The Nature of Horses: Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence, and Behavior. Free Press; 2012 Houpt K; (et al); The effect of exercise deprivation on the behaviour and physiology of straight stall confined pregnant mares. Animal Welfare, volume 10, #3, 2001, 257267 Mayhew J; Large Animal Neurology ; Wiley Blackwell; second edition 2008 Lahunta A, Glass E, Kent M; Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology, Saunders, fourth edition, 2014 Bacon S; (et al); Amygdala input to medial prefrontal cortex in the rat: A light and electron microscope study; Brain Research 720, 1996, 211219 Bicego KC; (et al); Physiology of temperature regulation: Comparative aspects. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 2007 Jul; 147 (3) 616-639. Cybaluk NF, Christison GI; Effects of diet and climate on growing horses. Journal of Animal Science. 1989 January; 67 (1) 48-59. McBride GE (et al); Metabolic rate and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations of mature horses in response to changes in ambient temperature. Canadian Journal of animal science, 65, 375382. 187194. Ousey JC; (et al) Thermoregulation and total body insulation in the neonatal foal. Journal of Thermal Biology, 17 (1), 1992, 110. McGreevy P; Equine Behavior, Saunders, 2004 Crowell-Davis S; Social behavior of the horse and its consequences for domestic management., Equine veterinary education, volume 5, issue 3 June 1993, 148150 Mal ME; (et al) Physiological responses of mares to short-term confinement and social isolation. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 1991, volume 11, issue 2, 96102 Rivera E; Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training; the comparison between pasture versus stalled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2002, volume 78, issues 24, 235252. Vatistas NJ; (et al) Cross-sectional study of gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal supplement 1999, April (29); 34-39. Bell RJ; (et al) Equine gastric ulcer syndrome in adult horses: a review. New Zealand veterinary Journal, 2007 February: 55 (1): 1-12. O’Keefe J, Dostrovsky J; The hippocampus as a spatial map. Brain Research. 1971, Volume 34 (1), 171-175 Insel TR, The challenge of translation in social neuroscience: a review of oxytocin, vasopressin and affiliative behavior. 2010 Neuron 65, 768-779. Neimark MA; (et al) Vibrissa resonance as a transduction mechanism for tactile encoding. 2003, Journal of Neuroscience 23: 6499-6509. Hipp J; (et al) Texture signals in whisker vibrations. 2006, Journal of Neurophysiology: 1792-1799.

Thank you to Equestrian Canada for putting together the following biosecurity posters for around the barn. With EHV-1 cases present in Ontario, we hope these sm...all reminders will help stop the spread. If you would like the PDF version of these posters, please email the OE office: [email protected] #ONequestrian

EHV1 Neurological Strain - Quarantine and Closure at Venturing Hills Farm. As many of you know our beloved Eddie passed away last Wednesday from very suddenly ...onset neurological symptoms. We took blood tests and swabs, as well as all precautions from that moment forward assuming we were fighting some kind of Virus. Two days ago we officially received the results that Eddie had in fact tested positive for the EHV1 Neurological strain. The team at Russell Equine, and Venturing Hills Farm have been working round the clock 24/7 to protect the remaining herd of VHF, and keep our fur babies healthy. It has been the hardest and darkest days VHF has ever faced, and it is far from over. We are battling this virus with everything we can to protect the horses, and keep them healthy. We reached a critical point as of 9:00 AM this morning and have our one opportunity to try and quarantine the healthy horses, from the other sick horses.Our aisles have been shut off from one another, staff have been split to work with sick vs healthy, gowns are being worn when handling healthy horses, and every biosecurity protocol possible has been put in place. Please consider sharing this post and contributing to this fund to help our beloved horses get better: gofundme.com/f/help-the-beloved-horses-of-venturing-hills-f

Buffalo at the grocery store?? Me and Indy make a grocery run. I fully expected there to be an exploded jug of milk in the extra foods parking lot from getting ...bucked off a Bison. To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please email [email protected] #EasyFitSaddles #WesternStockman #BrownCreekWildRags #VantageTrailers #FoothillsVet #GuyOnABuffalon #BuffaloRider #Bison #Buffalo

These two are just the cutest!!! Thanks Debbie Stocker now I want a pet cow too Pearl is the sweetest cow I have ever met. She loves cuddles and scratches.

The HORSE is the judge. We are the STUDENTS. #carsonjames

Valentine's Day Cuddles

Coffee breaks with Oreo what a goof

It goes beyond the mechanical to a feel. You start by having the horse operate through a feel & you start to realize these things you’ve been told a hundred t...imes of doing less and seeing how little it takes to get the horse to do something. That operating from a feel is a whole different thing than mechanically thrashing around." Buck Brannaman Disc 2 Intro, What I Learned from Ray Hunt (7 Clinics with Buck Brannaman) See more

The Horse Trainer A customer asked me how much it cost to do this job.... I answered him: $800 He said: So expensive for this job? I asked: How much do you thin...k it would cost you? He answers me: $ 600 maximum... That's a pretty simple job right? !" - For $ 600 I invite you to do it yourself. - But.... I don't know how to. - For $600 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $200, you'll get the knowledge for the next time you want - It seemed right to him and he agreed. - But to get started: you need tools: A rope halter, lunge line gloves etc... - But I don't have all these equipment and I can't buy all of these for one job. - Well then for another $50 more I'll rent my stuff to you so you can do it. - Okay, he says. - Okay! Tuesday I'm waiting for you to start doing this work - But I can't on Tuesday I only have time today. - I'm sorry, but I'm only available Tuesday to teach you and lend you my stuff. Other days are busy with other customers. - Okay! That means I'm going to have to sacrifice my Tuesday, give up my tasks. - I forgot. To do your job yourself, you also have to pay for the nonproductive factors. - That is? What is this?" - Bureaucratic, tax, vat, security, insurance, fuel etc. - Oh no!... But to accomplish these tasks, I'm going to spend more money and waste a lot of time! - Do you have them? You can do it to me before?" - Okay! - I'll make you all the material you need. Truck loading is done Monday evening or Tuesday morning you'll have to come by 6 loading the truck. Don't forget to be on time to avoid traffic jams and be on time - At 6??? Nope! Too early for me! I used to getting up later. ... - You know, I've been thinking. Y ' all better get the job done. I'd rather pay you the $800 If I had to, it wouldn't be perfect and it would cost me a lot more. When you pay for a job, especially handcrafted, you pay not only for the material used, but also: - Knowledge - Experience - Study - Tools - Services - Time to go - punctuality - Accountability - Professionalism - Accuracy - Guaranteed - Patents - Sacrifices - Safety and security - Payment of tax obligations No one can denigrate other people's work by judging prices. Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a certain work can you estimate the actual cost. I did not write this dialogue, but am sharing it to support craftsmen and entrepreneurs.

A Beautiful sunset to end another day at the farm

2 years ago today bringing in obstacles for the winter