Topline Ranch & Horsemanship

These are pictures that are very often seen on your local bodyworkers page. Before and after photos showing you the quality of work, but do you know what you’re... looking at, what you’re looking for. This was a question brought up to me a month ago. How these photos are meant to be taken is you get the horse square (sometimes a horse can’t fully do this when out of alignment), and they should be looking straight ahead. Your horse should also be on a flat level surface. This is the view we look at when we are in the first stages of our assessment. If you were to put your hand on top of the hip bones on each side, are they even? Is the horse bent a bit more one way. (You’ll notice that on one side the shoulder and hip seem to be closer or one shoulder will be higher then the other)? This is the initial part of the assessment, most will confirm what they see by lifting limbs and moving them to assess the ROM (range of motion). In the photos below, you’ll notice that the horse is in a bend to the right, that the left hip is higher then the right. The second photo shows the hips and shoulders are even in height, no longer the right shoulder and hip are closer together. What you’ll also notice is that the muscles on the left shoulder are not as well developed. This will happen when the horse is in a bend, that one side will be less developed then the other. As mentioned above, these photos are to give you an idea of how we as bodyworkers can help your horse as well as tools for you to know by sight when to contact us if you’re not sure on feel while riding. This is something you can ask your bodyworker to show you how to see on your own horse. Happy Horsing!!

New training techniques by Ron McMillan..lol. Love this colt! Sired by Great Red Chex ..can't wait to ride him!

Laura MacSwain is an amazing addition to your equine care! She has done and continues to provide exceptional care to every horse that comes to our barn with continuous results. Cannot recommend her enough!

Parents, let your daughters grow up to be horse girls, because they will learn quickly and repeatedly that life isn’t fair, that hard work is often trumped by Lady Luck, and that every defeat, no matter how terrible, is temporary. Let them dream big and kick on. Let them learn confidence, grace and grit. Let them build big muscles and strong backs. Let your daughters grow up in the barn. Let them learn that buckets need filling and stalls need cleaning, even when it’s rainin...g, even when it’s frozen, even when they have a different idea for how the day should go. Let them set goals and reach them. Let them set goals and fail miserably. Let them learn that, if they work incredibly hard, practice like hell, ride the best quality horse they can and take impeccable care of him, they’re sometimes going to get beat by someone with 10 times the money and one tenth the drive. Teach them to drive trucks and trailers and ATVs. Teach them to change tires and wrap legs and give shots. And let them leave a spur mark, or a bit rub, or a bandage bow, and let them deal with the shame of causing pain to an animal they love. Let them grow up with horses and with good horse people, because it will teach them to be humble, and to be resilient, and to be brave. Article credit Lauren Sprieser @laurensprieserdressage http://www.chronofhorse.com//let-your-daughters-grow-up-to Wild Oats Photography

Why do I like horses? I reckon I must be mad. My mother wasn’t horsey And neither was my dad.... But the madness hit me early And it hit me like a curse. And I’ve never gotten better In fact I’ve gotten worse. My stables are immaculate. My house is like a hovel. Last year for my birthday I got a brand new shovel. I hardly read a paper But I know who’s sold their horse And I wouldn’t watch the news If Mr. Ed was on, of course. One eye’s always on the heavens But my washing waves in vain As I rush to get the horses in In case it’s gonna rain. And though they’re wearing 15 rugs, The best that you can get, I bring them in to keep them dry While I get soaking wet. I spend up every cent I’ve got On horsey stuff for sure. I buy fancy rugs and fancy rugs, And then I by some more. I should have had that hair cut Or bought that nice blue shirt At least it wouldn’t be now Ripped to shreds and in the dirt. I can’t make a bloody sponge cake I don’t even try But I can back a car and trailer In the twinkling of an eye. It’s pants and R.M. boots That I live in night and day And that smell of sweaty horses Just doesn’t wash away. Once in every. now and then I can dress up for a ball. Make up and a hairdo With high heel shoes and all. I ache from long forgotten falls. My knees have got no skin. My toes have gone a funny shape. From being squashed again. But late at night, when all is still And I’ve gone to give them hay, I touch their velvet softness And my worries float away. They give a gentle nicker And they nuzzle through my hair And I know it’s where my heart is More than anywhere. Author unknown.

Pressure and Release Training All methods of training from natural horsemanship to old school cowboying are all based on pressure and release. Pressure can be defined as a simple vocal cue, lunge line/whips, to leg/rein pressure. It's up to the rider to define the horses response to that pressure. Are they seeking the release (positive), or are they avoiding the pressure (negative)? Have you allowed the horse to learn and understand the "why"? When the horse understands the...Continue reading

Several 2020 foals available to good homes. Check them out on the Facebook link on my website at www.gabobappaloosas.com

This is how you do it, right??