Drury Healthy Horse Feeders Corp.

This was on a friends page, passing it forward cause it sums up things pretty good! I'm sure many of you can relate, I know I can.

Our deepest condolences go out to Zara's family and friends. Such a tragedy for the world and the Equestrian community.

It matters. It matters where your horse goes for training. When I was a young intern with some of the best trainers in the world (I won’t share names/barns...), this type of raking was more common than not. In fact I really don’t recall a horse in the barn without some sort of swelling, bruising or bloody sides or mouths. It matters. I also remember going to the shows with said horses worrying about what people would say what a ring steward would say But no one, NO ONE, ever said one thing about it. How did they not see these marks on the horses? Why was no one saying anything? Money? Prestige? I still don’t understand. It matters. I left that world as soon as my required internships were up and I never worked for another trainer like that again. The longer I train, the more and more I realize there is a better way. And the better way can get just as impressive sliding stops, spins or piaffes. But it may cost you a 3 year old futurity. More often than not, if you are a fan of the better ways, you are also full of love and empathy for the animal, not just the sport. So you’re going to look for ways to keep a horse sound. Bring them up right. And slow. It matters. I want to be a Horseman, not a trainer. A horseman respects the horse. Mind, body, soul. We all have to make a living. But as a horseman I am always upfront with people about how I view quick fixes or demanded results. I don’t play that game. It matters. We can all keep learning better ways. We can all work to change the industry. We can choose the trainers we send our horses to. And we can alert others to bad practices. Always be a steward to the horse first, sport second. We can all do better. It matters. These horses matter. A relationship built on trust is always stronger than a relationship built on truce. *I do not own this photo; I was given permission to use*

proud to call this lady a friend. Kris and her crew are acing horses one step at a time. She inspires us all to do more and better on this life.