BurntCreek Equestrian

09/15/2026

09/13/2026

Turning is not pulling on the inside rein.

When a rider wants to turn, the instinct is often to take the inside rein and pull the horse’s head toward the direction they want to go. It feels logical… turn the head, turn the horse.

But the horse’s body doesn’t work that way.

Look at the horse on the left. The neck is bent, but the shoulders and ribcage aren’t following that bend. The horse can essentially disconnect the neck from the rest of the body. This is how we end up with horses falling through a shoulder, drifting sideways, losing balance, or becoming increasingly dependent on the rider’s hands for direction.

Now look at the horse on the right.

The alignment of the spine continues through the body. The shoulders are actually following the turn. That is what we want.

A correct turn is a whole-body conversation.

The rider turns through their own body and allows the pelvis, torso, shoulders and focus to organize the direction of travel. The reins help guide and communicate, but they shouldn’t be used to physically pull the horse around the turn.

Think less about turning the horse’s head and more about guiding the horse’s shoulders onto the new line.

This distinction matters because our goal isn’t simply to get the horse from Point A to Point B. We’re developing a horse who can organize their own body, stay balanced over their feet, and follow the rider’s intention without being held together by the reins.

One of my favorite things to teach riders is that when their own body becomes clearer, their hands can become quieter.

And very often, the answer is not more rein.

It’s better biomechanics. 🖤🐴

Turn your body. Guide the shoulders. Let the horse follow.

09/13/2026

Rent free. Every single day.

09/13/2026

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LET TEACH YOU.

Being good at something and being good at teaching something are two completely different things.

Just because someone can win doesn’t mean they can teach you how to win.
Just because someone is popular doesn’t mean they’re right.
🚫And just because “that’s the way we’ve always done it” doesn’t mean it’s the best way.

Find someone who can explain WHY.✅
Someone who can tell you what they’re asking for, what they’re looking for, and what they’ll change when it isn’t working.
Someone who cares about the horse underneath the rider, not just the result on the scoreboard.
Someone who doesn’t get defensive when you ask questions.
Someone who doesn’t make you feel stupid for wanting to understand.

🙌And honestly?
Find someone who is comfortable saying:
“I don’t know.”

A good teacher doesn’t need to pretend they have every answer.
They’ll tell you they don’t know, and then they’ll go find the answer.

Because a real coach isn’t trying to build dependence.

They’re trying to build understanding.
I want the people I teach to eventually know enough that they don't need me for every question.

I want them to understand their horse.

I want them to understand why something works.

I want them to be able to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

I want them to develop an eye.

I want them to become confident enough to make decisions without waiting for someone else to tell them what to do.

And eventually? 💯
I want them to be better than me.
Because if I’m doing my job correctly, I’m not creating students who need me forever.
I’m creating horsemen and women who could eventually stand where I stand, help the next person, and pass that knowledge forward.

That’s the goal.
Not to keep you dependent.
Not to keep information locked behind a gate.
Not to make you feel like you’ll never know enough without me.
Teach people so well that they eventually outgrow you.

And when they do?
Be proud.
Because your legacy isn’t how many people needed you.
It’s how many people became better because you taught them.

So quit gatekeeping.

Share the knowledge.

Explain the why.

Ask questions.

Stay curious.

And be very, very careful about who you allow to shape the way you think about your horse.
The best teachers don’t build followers.
They build more teachers.

💭 What’s the biggest lesson a trainer ever taught you that had nothing to do with winning?

Ariel Hahn

09/11/2026

🐴💊 **BUTE vs. BANAMINE: WHICH ONE WHEN?**

They’re probably two of the best known medications in the horse world. Both relieve pain and inflammation, but they aren’t necessarily the first choice for the same problems.

Here’s an easy barn trick for remembering the difference:
🦴 BUTE = BONES, JOINTS & FEET
🤢 BANAMINE = BELLY & FEVER

🦴 BUTE | Phenylbutazone: Think musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Bute is commonly used for things like arthritis, hoof pain, laminitis, strains, soreness, and other causes of lameness. If your horse hurts when he MOVES, your veterinarian may reach for BUTE.

🤢 BANAMINE | Flunixin Meglumine: Think visceral pain, meaning pain coming from the internal organs. Banamine is especially useful for **colic and abdominal pain** and is also commonly used for fever and inflammation associated with systemic illness. If your horse hurts in his GUT, your veterinarian may reach for BANAMINE.

🐴 BUT WAIT...
Bute doesn't have a GPS programmed for the legs, and Banamine doesn't magically drive straight to the intestines. 😂

Both are systemic NSAIDs, and both can reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body. There’s plenty of overlap. The difference is that each has situations where veterinary evidence and experience make it a more logical first choice.

⚠️ DON’T STACK THEM. Giving Bute and Banamine together can increase the risk of ulcers, intestinal injury, and kidney damage.

⚠️ Banamine may make a horse with a serious intestinal problem appear much more comfortable temporarily. If the pain returns, breaks through the medication, or your horse continues showing colic signs, call your veterinarian.

🦴 My horse hurts when he MOVES. Think BUTE.
🤢 My horse hurts in his GUT. Think BANAMINE.
🤷 I don't know WHY my horse hurts. Think VET. ☎️

And remember, pain relief isn't the same thing as fixing the problem.