Ashblue Equestrian
7234 Tremaine Rd Milton, ON, Canada

Here's me commentary on horses scared of a bunny follow Domino and Pie at May Feather Farm

This handsome guy is filling out so nicely!

This handsome guy is filling out so nicely!

Horses as Mirrors Horses have more mirror neurons than most any other creature. It's what enables them to read human emotion and be able to hold space in the...rapy sessions. It's what keeps them alive in the wild. It's what makes them create the same holdings that their riders do. It's what causes them to behave differently based off of their handlers. In the same breath, it's also what we can do as riders to help them come back to center in a more natural and kind way. I had the opportunity to ride with the great Annie Kursinski a few times and I'll never forget in one particular clinic, I was riding a rather rambunctious young thoroughbred mare. She would randomly blow up and we would go to the circle or lateral movement or any other tool in my tool box that I had to bring her back to me and it was working rather well but then Annie gave me this profound tip - "Just focus on you. Your equitation and your breath. Do nothing but those two things and the mare WILL come back to you." It worked wonders and I've used this on every horse I've ever ridden not really understanding what it worked. I figured it was some kind of cool energy trick and it served me well as people often applauded me on how every horse I got on, I was able to get them to breathe and extend better than any other rider could. Then I became a body worker and I started seeing that the horse and humans kept having the same holdings and that was the oddest phenomenon. I chalked it up to how empathetic they are and with them being masters of grounding energy, they can't help but "pull" from their riders and create the same holdings. And there may be some truth to that, but what it really comes down to, is those mirror neurons. The first time I watched Katherine Calkins give a ground work lesson, she witnessed the person lunging was short striding with her left leg. The horse was responding with short striding in his left hip. She instructed the handler to put an emphases on extending that leg and sure enough, the horse reached under him more and was able to collect and do a true shoulder in when it was asked. She explained the mirror neurons and suddenly it felt like a vault in my brain unlocked and everything finally truly made sense on a visceral level to me. Yesterday, I gave a lesson where the horse was being hot and scaring the rider. I coached the rider to just "ride your circle and focus on counting your breath." Regardless on what the horse does or how she acts, YOU just keep doing your circle and counting your breath. Within just a few minutes, the horse was breathing and walking calmly and then we could begin checking in with her with some light lateral movements. Dropping the stirrups and getting the correct pelvic tilt and leg on so to not accidently counter-spiral the horses spine - And without any real weight on the reins, the horse was naturally mirroring the rider, collecting and giving subtle lateral movements that would normally take quite a bit of force and manipulation. It was beautiful to witness. Confidence grew in the rider and the horse was able to come back to center by playing off of her prey-response and allowing her to feel safe instead of forcing her into trying to contain her energy, which is where most of us get hung up and cause more damage than good. So as a bodyworker, a trainer and an educator, I really hope to get more and more people to truly understand this concept. Samantha Dawn Ebeling

Horses as Mirrors Horses have more mirror neurons than most any other creature. It's what enables them to read human emotion and be able to hold space in the...rapy sessions. It's what keeps them alive in the wild. It's what makes them create the same holdings that their riders do. It's what causes them to behave differently based off of their handlers. In the same breath, it's also what we can do as riders to help them come back to center in a more natural and kind way. I had the opportunity to ride with the great Annie Kursinski a few times and I'll never forget in one particular clinic, I was riding a rather rambunctious young thoroughbred mare. She would randomly blow up and we would go to the circle or lateral movement or any other tool in my tool box that I had to bring her back to me and it was working rather well but then Annie gave me this profound tip - "Just focus on you. Your equitation and your breath. Do nothing but those two things and the mare WILL come back to you." It worked wonders and I've used this on every horse I've ever ridden not really understanding what it worked. I figured it was some kind of cool energy trick and it served me well as people often applauded me on how every horse I got on, I was able to get them to breathe and extend better than any other rider could. Then I became a body worker and I started seeing that the horse and humans kept having the same holdings and that was the oddest phenomenon. I chalked it up to how empathetic they are and with them being masters of grounding energy, they can't help but "pull" from their riders and create the same holdings. And there may be some truth to that, but what it really comes down to, is those mirror neurons. The first time I watched Katherine Calkins give a ground work lesson, she witnessed the person lunging was short striding with her left leg. The horse was responding with short striding in his left hip. She instructed the handler to put an emphases on extending that leg and sure enough, the horse reached under him more and was able to collect and do a true shoulder in when it was asked. She explained the mirror neurons and suddenly it felt like a vault in my brain unlocked and everything finally truly made sense on a visceral level to me. Yesterday, I gave a lesson where the horse was being hot and scaring the rider. I coached the rider to just "ride your circle and focus on counting your breath." Regardless on what the horse does or how she acts, YOU just keep doing your circle and counting your breath. Within just a few minutes, the horse was breathing and walking calmly and then we could begin checking in with her with some light lateral movements. Dropping the stirrups and getting the correct pelvic tilt and leg on so to not accidently counter-spiral the horses spine - And without any real weight on the reins, the horse was naturally mirroring the rider, collecting and giving subtle lateral movements that would normally take quite a bit of force and manipulation. It was beautiful to witness. Confidence grew in the rider and the horse was able to come back to center by playing off of her prey-response and allowing her to feel safe instead of forcing her into trying to contain her energy, which is where most of us get hung up and cause more damage than good. So as a bodyworker, a trainer and an educator, I really hope to get more and more people to truly understand this concept. Samantha Dawn Ebeling

I came across this quote last week and immediately felt the depths of its meaning when it comes to our relationships with horses: All friendships of any length... are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. -David Whyte Let’s be honest, many of you are perfectionists. I know this because I know many of you personally. And I attract perfectionists into my world becausebig shockerI’m one too. We find one another. We resonate with one another. We relate over our drive to learn and grow. We take comfort in what others consider insanity. But we also become obsessed with the idea of having to get everything right for our horses (and ourselves). We become terrified of making a mistake or the wrong decision. This fear is ever-present because we care so deeply for our horses. And we want what’s best for them at all times. But that need for perfection can also be debilitating. Our fear of making a mistake sometimes prevents us from doing anything at all. Or we convince ourselves we just need to read one more article about it, watch one more video, buy one more book and then we’ll have the answer. We fall prey to analysis paralysis. But all the knowledge in the world wouldn’t really be enough. Knowledge itself doesn’t make us feel better about our choices because there’s always more to learn. It’s when we decide that we’ve learned enough that we feel safe to act. And even that is only good enough until we see the flaw in our learning. And then we set out to gain more knowledge and condemn ourselves for having done it the old way. It’s a never-ending cycle. The perfectionist is never satisfied. Meanwhile, our horses are masters of forgiveness. We can try something, find out it doesn’t work, try something else, totally mess that up, go back to the drawing board, try again and our horses are just there with us in each moment trying their best too. It’s okay to make a mistake. This is how we learn what works and what doesn’t. Our horses will forgive us if something doesn’t work out. Think about itthey forgive us all the time. Sometimes for things we didn’t even realize we were doing. Believe me, I have made many, many mistakes with my horses. Some that have left me feeling a lot of guilt and required some serious work to heal. And yet, they all still greet me every day. They still want to spend time with me and try new things with me. They actually want to learn as well. Let’s remember, our horses aren’t perfect either. And we forgive them too. Neither of us are perfect. And our horses don’t even expect us to be. We can simply do better once we know better. That is enough. You are enough. Do your best today. Do your best tomorrow. Your best will change from day to day, and that’s okay too. Just bring kindness to everything you do with your horse. And be kind to yourself too. Kindness alone can create magic. More magic than perfection could ever imagine.

I came across this quote last week and immediately felt the depths of its meaning when it comes to our relationships with horses: All friendships of any length... are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. -David Whyte Let’s be honest, many of you are perfectionists. I know this because I know many of you personally. And I attract perfectionists into my world becausebig shockerI’m one too. We find one another. We resonate with one another. We relate over our drive to learn and grow. We take comfort in what others consider insanity. But we also become obsessed with the idea of having to get everything right for our horses (and ourselves). We become terrified of making a mistake or the wrong decision. This fear is ever-present because we care so deeply for our horses. And we want what’s best for them at all times. But that need for perfection can also be debilitating. Our fear of making a mistake sometimes prevents us from doing anything at all. Or we convince ourselves we just need to read one more article about it, watch one more video, buy one more book and then we’ll have the answer. We fall prey to analysis paralysis. But all the knowledge in the world wouldn’t really be enough. Knowledge itself doesn’t make us feel better about our choices because there’s always more to learn. It’s when we decide that we’ve learned enough that we feel safe to act. And even that is only good enough until we see the flaw in our learning. And then we set out to gain more knowledge and condemn ourselves for having done it the old way. It’s a never-ending cycle. The perfectionist is never satisfied. Meanwhile, our horses are masters of forgiveness. We can try something, find out it doesn’t work, try something else, totally mess that up, go back to the drawing board, try again and our horses are just there with us in each moment trying their best too. It’s okay to make a mistake. This is how we learn what works and what doesn’t. Our horses will forgive us if something doesn’t work out. Think about itthey forgive us all the time. Sometimes for things we didn’t even realize we were doing. Believe me, I have made many, many mistakes with my horses. Some that have left me feeling a lot of guilt and required some serious work to heal. And yet, they all still greet me every day. They still want to spend time with me and try new things with me. They actually want to learn as well. Let’s remember, our horses aren’t perfect either. And we forgive them too. Neither of us are perfect. And our horses don’t even expect us to be. We can simply do better once we know better. That is enough. You are enough. Do your best today. Do your best tomorrow. Your best will change from day to day, and that’s okay too. Just bring kindness to everything you do with your horse. And be kind to yourself too. Kindness alone can create magic. More magic than perfection could ever imagine.

I’ve been a farm hand here at Hoof and Paw for a little over a year now and I’ve learned some interesting lessons to be sure. For me, reflection is somewhat of... a habit as one year closes and the next begins. Though I’m a little bit late this year, I nevertheless wanted to share some of my thoughts about working here on the farm: Farm work doesn’t make you stronger. It doesn’t make you anything. It reveals you. There’s gym strong and then there’s farm strong. They’re mutually exclusive. The toughest women you’ll ever meet spend their days on a farm. There are more uses for twine than you can possibly imagine. You can tie up a hole in a slow feeder, fashion a tail strap for a horse’s blanket, mend a broken fence and use it as a belt. Well that certainly didn’t go as planned, is one thing you’ll say quite a bit. Control is a mere illusion. The thought that you have any, at any given time, is utterly false. Sometimes sleep is a luxury. So are lunch and dinner. And brushing your hair. If you’ve never felt your obliques contract, then you’ve never tried stopping an overly full wheelbarrow of horse manure from tipping over sideways. Trust me, you’ll find muscles that you never knew existed on the human skeleton to prevent this from happening. When one of the animals is ill, you’ll go to heroic lengths to minimize their discomfort. When you lose one of them, even though you know that day is inevitable, you still feel sadness, angst and emotional pain from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. And it’s a heaviness that lingers even though you must regroup and press on. You’ll cry a lot. But you’ll never live more fully. You’ll remain present no matter what because you must. There is no other option. You’ll ask for so many miracles and hold out hope until the very last. You will, at least once, face-plant in the manure pile. You’ll find yourself saying things like, we have maybe twenty minutes of daylight left to git ‘er done whilst gazing up at a nonspecific place in the sky. You’ll become weirdly obsessive about the weather. You’ll go out in public wearing filthy clothes and smelling of dirt, sweat and poop. People will look at you sideways and crinkle their noses but you won’t care. Your entire day can derail within ten seconds of the rising sun. You can wash your coveralls. They won’t look any cleaner, but they will smell much nicer. Farm work is difficult in its simplicity. You’ll always notice just how beautiful sunrises and sunsets really are. Should you ever have the opportunity to work on a farm, take the chance! You will never do anything more satisfying in your entire life. Author Christine Hardy Well, that about sums it up, folks! All of the hooves and paws here at Hoof and Paw wish everyone a brilliant 2021!

I’ve been a farm hand here at Hoof and Paw for a little over a year now and I’ve learned some interesting lessons to be sure. For me, reflection is somewhat of... a habit as one year closes and the next begins. Though I’m a little bit late this year, I nevertheless wanted to share some of my thoughts about working here on the farm: Farm work doesn’t make you stronger. It doesn’t make you anything. It reveals you. There’s gym strong and then there’s farm strong. They’re mutually exclusive. The toughest women you’ll ever meet spend their days on a farm. There are more uses for twine than you can possibly imagine. You can tie up a hole in a slow feeder, fashion a tail strap for a horse’s blanket, mend a broken fence and use it as a belt. Well that certainly didn’t go as planned, is one thing you’ll say quite a bit. Control is a mere illusion. The thought that you have any, at any given time, is utterly false. Sometimes sleep is a luxury. So are lunch and dinner. And brushing your hair. If you’ve never felt your obliques contract, then you’ve never tried stopping an overly full wheelbarrow of horse manure from tipping over sideways. Trust me, you’ll find muscles that you never knew existed on the human skeleton to prevent this from happening. When one of the animals is ill, you’ll go to heroic lengths to minimize their discomfort. When you lose one of them, even though you know that day is inevitable, you still feel sadness, angst and emotional pain from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. And it’s a heaviness that lingers even though you must regroup and press on. You’ll cry a lot. But you’ll never live more fully. You’ll remain present no matter what because you must. There is no other option. You’ll ask for so many miracles and hold out hope until the very last. You will, at least once, face-plant in the manure pile. You’ll find yourself saying things like, we have maybe twenty minutes of daylight left to git ‘er done whilst gazing up at a nonspecific place in the sky. You’ll become weirdly obsessive about the weather. You’ll go out in public wearing filthy clothes and smelling of dirt, sweat and poop. People will look at you sideways and crinkle their noses but you won’t care. Your entire day can derail within ten seconds of the rising sun. You can wash your coveralls. They won’t look any cleaner, but they will smell much nicer. Farm work is difficult in its simplicity. You’ll always notice just how beautiful sunrises and sunsets really are. Should you ever have the opportunity to work on a farm, take the chance! You will never do anything more satisfying in your entire life. Author Christine Hardy Well, that about sums it up, folks! All of the hooves and paws here at Hoof and Paw wish everyone a brilliant 2021!

FOR SALESefirah is 8 y.o., Canadien Warmblood, 16'2, dark bay mare. She’s by Sir Wanabi and out of a mare with Radja Z’s bloodline. At the age of 3, she mad...e the Governor’s Cup at the Royal Winter Fair and placed 4th. In 2018, She did the Quebec circuit in Futurity. She finished first overall. In 2019, she did Baby Greens. She was champion the 2 weeks in a row of CSO Becancour Show Jumping event, without warm-up. (Ship in). Easy ride. Perfect for a amateur rider who wants to perform. Ready for 3' course and eligible for Pre Green. Hack winner. Quebec, Canada. Mid 5 figures Video on demand See more

FOR SALESefirah is 8 y.o., Canadien Warmblood, 16'2, dark bay mare. She’s by Sir Wanabi and out of a mare with Radja Z’s bloodline. At the age of 3, she mad...e the Governor’s Cup at the Royal Winter Fair and placed 4th. In 2018, She did the Quebec circuit in Futurity. She finished first overall. In 2019, she did Baby Greens. She was champion the 2 weeks in a row of CSO Becancour Show Jumping event, without warm-up. (Ship in). Easy ride. Perfect for a amateur rider who wants to perform. Ready for 3' course and eligible for Pre Green. Hack winner. Quebec, Canada. Mid 5 figures Video on demand See more

In a time with an uncertain future, remember to be thankful to the country we live in. Thankful to those who keep us safe. Friends who keep us laughing. Family that keep us happy. #happycanadaday #lovecanada #canadiansporthorse #csha

Today is Red Friday. Today we remember everyone deployed, the Red Serge, and the lives lost in Nova Scotia. #RedFriday #WearRedFriday #NovaScotiaStrong #RCMPNeverForget

In a time with an uncertain future, remember to be thankful to the country we live in. Thankful to those who keep us safe. Friends who keep us laughing. Family that keep us happy. #happycanadaday #lovecanada #canadiansporthorse #csha

Today is Red Friday. Today we remember everyone deployed, the Red Serge, and the lives lost in Nova Scotia. #RedFriday #WearRedFriday #NovaScotiaStrong #RCMPNeverForget

FOR SALESefirah is 8 y.o., Canadien Warmblood, 16'2, dark bay mare. She’s by Sir Wanabi and out of a mare with Radja Z’s bloodline. At the age of 3, she mad...e the Governor’s Cup at the Royal Winter Fair and placed 4th. In 2018, She did the Quebec circuit in Futurity. She finished first overall. In 2019, she did Baby Greens. She was champion the 2 weeks in a row of CSO Becancour Show Jumping event, without warm-up. (Ship in). Easy ride. Perfect for a amateur rider who wants to perform. Ready for 3' course and eligible for Pre Green. Hack winner. Quebec, Canada. Mid 5 figures Video on demand See more

"If a horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong. An average hunter course has 100 strides. Only 8 of them are jumps. Don’t sacrifice the 92 for the 8. On approaching a fence: good riders wait until it’s time to go. Great riders go until it’s time to wait....Continue reading

Pony 5 Plants 1 The cutest pet pony obstacle course ever! Kudos to the young handler who was a trooper and laughing by the end of the class. Interested in att...ending one of our shows? Check out our online calendar at www.wpcsa.org/compete/calendar-2 Videographer credit: Sharyhill Shooters Music credit: Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini

In a time with an uncertain future, remember to be thankful to the country we live in. Thankful to those who keep us safe. Friends who keep us laughing. Family that keep us happy. #happycanadaday #lovecanada #canadiansporthorse #csha

https://jornataylor.wordpress.com//please-dont-suck-when-/

Today is Red Friday. Today we remember everyone deployed, the Red Serge, and the lives lost in Nova Scotia. #RedFriday #WearRedFriday #NovaScotiaStrong #RCMPNeverForget

The most beautiful way to start and end the day is with a grateful heart #mygirlsaregreat #helpingtheschoolies #fortheherd #brooklyn

Anybody looking to support the 4-legged employees that have lost their income check out helpingtheschoolies.com or the Helping the Schoolies silent auction on Facebook. Help with the future of lesson barns https://horsesport.com//saving-schoolies-equestrian-commu/

Take precautions daily, even if you are the only one on the property. It’s so simple to set up spray bottles and hand wash/sanitize stations and CONTINUOUSLY use them. #staysafe #stayhome