Archive for December, 2005
Posted December 18th, 2005 — Filed under
Windrock Farm
Tagged — No Comments
Take advantage of winter to spend quality time with your horse in the stable or paddock. Learn to listen to his voice as he communicates with you. Watch his ears and eyes for alertness, watch the tail for signs of relaxation or unhappiness, and watch his mouth for signs of tension. The more you pay attention to your horse and how he reacts in everyday situations such as grooming, leading around the stable, tacking up, or in the stall, you will quickly be able to determine if he is sick or uncomfortable. One sign of muscle soreness or Lyme disease is extreme tenderness on the immune points on the chest when grooming. Another is extreme flinching when groom the back and shoulders. Take time to note how your horse reacts every day and tune into his mood. You will develop more trust and a better partnership under saddle.
To ask Cari a question, click here
Posted December 18th, 2005 — Filed under
Windrock Farm
Tagged — No Comments
Riding in the winter can be challenging at times with inclement weather and inconsistent footing. Take advantage of fresh snow fall and ride your horse cross country galloping up the hills and across fields. Always take care on ice, and be sure your horse is shod properly with winter shoes of snow ball pads and studs. Wear a quarter sheet if your horse is clipped or heavily blanketed to keep him warm and comfortable. Make sure you cool your horse out before dressing him up in heavy blankets after a solid workout. Riding your horse in the snow is an excellent opportunity to practice all your movements, transitions and accuracy. This is an ideal time to check your geometry and count your strides. The fresh foot falls will allow you to visualize the patterns and movements. Remember, do not allow your horse to become bored and stale by riding all winter indoors, he needs to play and have fun outside on occasion.
To ask Cari a question, click here
Posted December 11th, 2005 — Filed under
Windrock Farm
Tagged — No Comments
There are several positions available every summer for working students, there is no limit on how much time they are here. It varies depending on how long the student wishes to stay. There are opportunities to compete at jumper and dressage shows as well as local events depending on the skills of each rider. Each year there are more and more applicants with limited postions available, so if you are interested in this unique opportunity, you should contact the farm immediately. Each applicant must send a video of themselves riding, as well as an essay explaining why they wish to work at the farm and what they hope to learn from the experience.
To ask Cari a question, click here
Posted December 7th, 2005 — Filed under
Windrock Farm
Tagged — No Comments
When asked what is the most important philisophical consideration for the rider? Egon replies “Modesty and wanting to serve, putting ego aside. The desire to listen to the horse which must come from one’s heart and then must be filled in practice through the feeling of the rider. The ability to co-relate and unify the feelings from the saddle with the philosphy in which we believe. We must be fully aware of the fact that a lifetime is not long enough to come to know all about horsemanship.
Accordingly, it is essential that we stand on the shoulders of the past Masters in order to fully utilize and profit from the experiences. And only because of the past can we now enjoy that harmony–a harmony that the horse understands because the training is founded on its nature. It is only the true gymanastic school that makes beauty possible. These are things that are beyond subjective opinion; they are deeply rooted in the laws of nature. And it is this that keeps the horses sound and healthy to a ripe old age. The knowledgeable horseman sees this in and through the horses, both in the way they go and in the build of the muscle structure. That is what distingushes the real high-school riding from the pretender to the throne.”
To ask Cari a question, click here