Highland Equine

Conformation photos
You’ll notice I said conFORMation, not conFIRMation. That’s because you are looking at how the horse is FORMED, not confirming that in fact, your horse is a horse.

There are plenty of ways to do them, and there are even more ways to NOT do them.

Today I’d like to show the NOT, and point out why. Below are a few of my least favorites from over the years.

What do you like or dislike about them?

I’ll post my criticisms and some of my favorites in the comments, let’s compare notes!

The two boys are settling in nicely, and gaining weight. I’m so excited to get them going under saddle soon 🧡

Meet Pirate and re-meet Rocky (called Tank by his former home)

Rocky has been here before. Pirate became his friend over the last two years, and they came back together.

Rocky is an amazing trail horse, track pony, and all around basic kinda guy. Except he doesn’t jump. We’ve tried. It’s a no from him.

Pirate 🏴‍☠️ is a former show horse, jumper I believe. He’s been used in lessons, and was since retired with Rocky and just relaxing. Yes, he’s missing an eye. No,
He’s not spooky.

I’m not sure how long it’s been since they’ve been ridden. Ashlyn better hang on 🤣🤣

They are both absolute teddy bears, live out 24/7, and are normally easy keepers. They haven’t had an easy few months, but they’ll get back to their glory! We don’t believe in skinny horses here

If you don’t remember Rocky, here’s his post from before, and I included a few photos

I can’t wait get photos of Pirate 🏴‍☠️ doing his thang 🧡🧡🧡

Next up will be hair cuts and a deep conditioning bath for both now that it has stopped the flooding for a little bit

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EsmpZF3ei/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Not everyone who can ride can explain. Find the ones who can articulate. Look past the ribbons,

Nothing beats getting a text as you’re crawling into bed for the night that says “hey, I’ll be there at 1230 with the two horses” and you have NO idea what that person is talking about…

Thank you to Catherine Burton for handling the situation with grace, and for getting these two here safely.

For the last few months, I’ve been in contact with a friend’s daughter about giving up her two horses. This is the friend who had Roany, and her daughter needed help getting the three horses out of a crap situation in NC after her mother suddenly passed. She didn’t tell anyone she was behind in board, and the farm owners took advantage of it. The daughter kept her mother’s retired show horse and her personal horse, and sent Roany pony home to find a little kid of his own.

Sadly, the daughter is reminded every day of how much she misses her mother, and decided to let them go.

I just wasn’t aware they were showing up last night 🤣

Rocky and Pirate are here, they are safe, and they will have time to settle before we start evaluations to see where they are at mentally.

For now, they can mow the arena and enjoy the grass.

In some ways it’s disappointing being a trainer who puts the horse first, goes at their pace, does an incredible amount of useful ground work, focuses on biomechanics and correct movement and wants the horse to feel happy and confident.

It’s hard to find clients who not only want the same thing, but realize that doing it correctly takes time.

Everyone is in a race to the show ring to try to beat the other guy.

Every horse I train gets worked with at their pace. 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there and it’s little bits at a time. They get the days off that they need. I never wear them out, drill or over do it. I want them to get it, think about and come back again fresh the next day. It’s slow and steady building blocks with me.

There’s no fluff and frill. There’s no 5 and 6 year olds practicing Grand Prix movements - that takes years and how many years depends on each individual horse.

There’s no race to the show ring. No competition to see who can climb the levels the fastest.

It’s about building a happy, healthy athlete who feels confident in their body and in their work. Those are the horses who last - physically, mentally and emotionally. Those are the horses that I train and put out into the world.

I wish more people were in it for the right reasons.

The horse first. The date of the show is unimportant.

🌻 © Cara Blanchard

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

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