Winter details at the farm

Winter is a time to look at what you have been doing and look for areas of improvement.  We are serious about dressage but want to have fun too.  To enjoy our sport, we need to think about everything and make sure we are doing everything we can to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Your horse needs to feel comfortable - saddle fit is an important part of that equation.  Meg Dischler of Trilogy saddlery has been coming to the farm on a regular basis to custom fit our saddles to our horses.  This sure does make a huge positive impact on their ability to perform.  Meg has an unusual ability to make those adjustments and therefore make happy horses.  As I critically look at several saddle companies - I do have to say that I am pretty fond of the Trilogy saddles because they have wide channels and give a lot of spinal clearance.  The other thing that the trilogy saddles have going for them is the panels are a bit larger.  This sure does allow for a bit more adjustment to customize their fit.

Another important piece of the puzzle is nutrition.  I surely have enjoyed the interactive conversations with Kaylyn Birchmeier about Purina feeds and what they have to offer.  I have been able to affordably meet the needs of the horses here and find it easier to understand which horses do better on which feeds.  This is something as riders we need to know and understand but do not always have the time to do the research ourselves. 

And of course we all like to make some riding improvements in the winter.  We are holding monthly clinics with Heather Salden Kurtz that focus on straightness, and engagement to help us with improving our collection.  We are all learning a lot and hope Heather is having as much fun as we are. 

Thank you everyone who adds quality - you are all valued!