LTK Horsemanship Center

09/16/2026

Happy birthday Kava (aka Rummler Bertie)! She is now a 3 year old, American Warmblood and probably the goofiest horse I've ever had (she bit into, then slurped the juice from her birthday apple 🤣).

08/25/2026

Absolutely!!! 🙌

If they can’t walk and steer, they can’t trot and steer.
If they can’t balance at the trot, they aren’t ready to canter.
If they can’t go catch their own horse, groom it, tack it up and take responsibility for it, how are they supposed to lead that horse from the saddle?

Going faster does not equal getting better. Strapping your kid to a horse and sending them into the arena isn’t making them better, it’s setting them up to get hurt.

You might think watching your kid walk circles isn’t exciting. You might think they should be cantering, jumping “doing more.”

But sometimes they’re simply not ready.

And respectfully — that’s why you hired an instructor. Because knowing how and when to progress a rider is our job.

We aren’t holding your kid back. We’re building the foundation that keeps them safe and makes them GOOD.

- Author Unknown

08/09/2026

The lawn mowers are worn out...

08/06/2026

Get to work lawn mowers! A week of vacation followed by over 3" of rain has not allowed us a chance to mow the backyard...but the girls aren't complaining about being put to the task 🤣😂

08/05/2026

I get a lot of moans and groans when it's time to practice our 2 pt, but it's SO important as stated below. ❤️🐎

Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week, we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. This week’s question posed is: How do you help a rider improve their release over fences?

“First, I would have a rider practice 2-point on the flat to start strengthening their lower leg and base. Then, I would set up a trot rail to a cross rail and have the rider get in 2-point coming to the trot rail and stay in 2-point through the entire exercise to feel where their hands should be, and help position their leg. By strengthening your lower leg, you will allow your hand to be more independent.” – Sam Meadows

“When I have a rider who needs to improve their release, I have them start over small fences to give the rider the idea of following the horse’s mouth in the air.”
– Gaston Escamez

“A proper release comes from a strong foundation. From a rider’s very first lesson, I teach my riders to warm up at the walk in a two-point. This gives them an understanding of their balance, helps stretch their heels down, and begins building the foundation needed for jumping.

I like to start with the basics by mastering a simple crest release. When trotting jumps, a rider can get into their two-point and hold a little mane a few strides before the jump. They maintain that position up to, over, and for one to two strides after the jump. This helps create stability and teaches the rider the feeling of allowing the horse to jump without interfering; this can be helpful for any level of rider.

Depending on the horse and rider, I may also add a landing rail to give the rider a physical marker to maintain their position too. This can be especially helpful for riders who tend to sit up or pull back too quickly after the jump.

Ultimately, a good release comes from a stable position, a strong leg, and an independent hand. If the rider has a solid foundation and can stay balanced with the horse’s motion, the release becomes much more natural.” – Victoria Free Knott

📎 Read more trainer tips at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/08/04/trainer-tuesday-how-do-you-help-a-rider-improve-their-release-over-fences/

07/17/2026

Good morning from the farm 🌄 🥰

07/16/2026

🐴 We have 1 (possibly 2) spots available for private English riding lessons beginning in August! PM for more information 🐴

07/03/2026

☀️Heat Stress Changes How the Equine Nervous System Functions🧠

Heat stress isn't simply a cardiovascular challenge - it's also a neurological one!

The horse's hypothalamus continuously monitors core body temperature and activates their nervous system to maintain homeostasis. As environmental heat increases, the body responds by increasing skin blood flow, sweating, respiration, and cardiac output to dissipate heat. These responses are essential for survival but substantially increase physiological demand.

About 75–80% of the energy produced during muscular exercise becomes heat, making efficient heat dissipation one of the limiting factors in equine athletic performance.

As core temperature rises, research across exercise physiology has shown the development of central fatigue—a protective reduction in neural drive from the brain to the muscles. Rather than simply "running out of energy," the central nervous system appears to limit motor output to reduce the risk of dangerous hyperthermia. This means a horse may slow down or appear unwilling to continue because of normal protective physiology, not a lack of effort.

Heat stress is also commonly accompanied by dehydration and electrolyte loss. Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium are essential for normal nerve conduction and muscle contraction. When these become depleted, neuromuscular efficiency and recovery can be compromised.

What might you observe:
👉 Reduced attention and learning capacity
👉 Earlier onset of fatigue
👉 Less precise coordination
👉Slower recovery after exercise
👉 Increased reactivity or decreased tolerance as physiological stress increases

These changes are not behavioral problems. They reflect an animal working hard to maintain homeostasis.

On hot days, good horsemanship means adapting to physiology:
❗️ Train during cooler hours of the day
❗️Do not force exercise/training when the temperature + humidity sum > 140.
❗️Prioritize hydration and electrolyte replacement
❗️Use evidence-based cooling strategies after exercise

Understanding the nervous system reminds us that performance is never just about muscles. A horse's ability to learn, coordinate movement, and regulate behavior depends on the brain's ability to keep the entire body within safe physiological limits.

If you're interested in your horses longterm health and mental soundess, giving them a few extra days off when it's too hot is not only smart, it's imperative.

06/10/2026

If only she maintained that gold when dry! 😍
Bath days during this brutal heat are the best 🌊