Appalachian Equestrian Academy

Good afternoon!! It’s time for our weekly recap of our homeschool class!

⭐️ What are the differences being a halter and a rope halter?

⭐️ What is a breakaway halter? Why are breakaway halters important, and why are they vital during travel?

⭐️ How do we correctly put on the halter and rope halter?What are some no nos to look for while putting them on ?

⭐️LEADING. How do we correctly hold a lead rope, and how do we go, whoa and turn?

Mr. Bug was a little confused about Saint Patrick’s day, and decided to turn himself orange instead of green😟 With the help of some grooming hands, we were able to get him (mostly) clean, and put on his green sheet so we didn’t have to pinch him!!

We celebrated the BEST day at Appalachian Equestrian Academy. Miss Killian turned ✨26✨ on Saint Patrick’s day, so in honor of the Lucky Queen’s birthday, we just had to get her dolled up and give her some cake!!! 🍀

You can tell a lot from the eyes of the horse.

Horses are very expressive and have some of the most variety in facial expressions of any non-primate species.

This photo set is the same horse before and after he relaxed from stress.

When frightened, anxious and/or pain, the eye tends to hold more tension and creates a “peak” above the eye as the eye lid pulls up into a triangulated shape due to muscular tension around the eye.

This doesn’t necessarily need to be due to acute stressors, though with high levels of stress, you tend to see an increase in the extent of the tension.

Even for momentary stressors, the expression of the eye will shift while the horse assesses whether or not a threat is present.

Noticing these subtle shifts can be the difference between preparing for a potential flight response and being entirely blindsided when your horse reacts seemingly “out of nowhere.”

It can also be helpful in diagnosing potential soundness issues before they manifest in a more chronic and obvious manner.

The eyes, in my opinion, are the most expressive part of the body and tend to be the first area to show stress, whether it’s a low grade stressor or an acute one.

Practicing taking notice of shifts in your horse’s facial expressions can be instrumental in improved horsemanship.

(Repost with new photo as many asked me to post a version with the same horse.)

Another super fun Homeschool class today!
Here's what we learned:

⭐ The names and functions of grooming tools.

⭐ Why and how to properly and safely groom a horse.

⭐ Basic hoof anatomy and the importance of proper hoof care.

Of course we couldn't leave without giving the goats some snacks, snuggling with the lambs, and giving the side line horses some love! 💕

What a great start for our Homeschooling Class!! We of course had to start off with our Horse Safety!

⭐️ How do we safely approach a horse?

⭐️ Where are the red zones (no no areas) to touch your horse?

⭐️ How do you safely walk behind a horse, and why?

⭐️ What do the ears/tails on our horse tell us?

With it being introduction day as well, we got a meet and greet with all the animals on the farm! Biscuit and Cash’s favorite way to greet is with food😉 If you think this is something your kids may enjoy, please reach out while some spots are available!!! See you next week 🐎🤍

Our loyal guardians, Kyros and Rex! 💕

Here's a little freedom, connection, and pure unbridled joy for your Friday. 🫶

Happy Birthday!!! 🥹❤️

These 2 baby girls surprised us this morning! Both healthy and strong! Mama Sophie is doing great!

Any name suggestions??

One more week until our Homeschool Class kicks off!

This is an unmounted, (mostly 🤠) hands-on equine science and safety course that covers horse communication, interaction, and care, as well as other bonus farm animals to interact with and learn from! It offers our students real farm life knowledge, experiences, and the chance to connect with nature!

This class is suitable for ages 7-14.

We have classes available Monday's
1pm -2:30pm
March - May.

$25 per class.
Pay by class or by month!

Admission is first-come, first-served, with a maximum of 10 students per class.

All students will need boots or a sturdy tennis shoe!

Monday Homeschool Horsemanship Class Registration" at: https://form.jotform.com/242265489249165

Hope to see you there! 🐎

We love this class and we're so excited that It's starting up again soon! Come join the fun! We only have a limited amount of spots left for our spring session! 🐴🌸

Happy Valentine's Day! 💌💘