Rhythms Riding

I will leave this right here...

Those of you who know this...know

To the end of an era...one of her greatest passions was her horses, I am sure they gave her great peace...R.I.P

We have all been there...Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Meet the herd Monday...I hope everyone had a good weekend. This week I would love to introduce you to a kind and gentle soul...Umfaan. I don't know much about his earlier years, but I do know that he was loved fiercely by his previous owner. His previous owner left the country for work and decided to hand him over to one of the teenagers that ride at Rhythms Riding, and he has continued to have the best life ever...nearing his 20th birthday in August, he has been semi-retired and is now enjoying a bit more chill time with an outride or two on the weekends and a bit of groundwork during the week

Hi name Umfaan translated from Zulu to English means "A Boy"

I think in some way we have all "been there and done that and got the t-shirt"

MEET THE HERD...as promised, every week I will introduce you to one of the herd here at Rhythms Riding. Now not all the horses are RR horses, some of them are owned by private people, so today, I am pleased to introduce you to Monarch.

Monarch has experience the "normal" life of a true South African Vries Skouperd. He is the more traditionally bred Friesan - more solid and heavy set, however, the first few years of training where apparently more focused on trying to keep him black by keeping him locked away in a stable for most of his days and trying to exaggerate his high headed, elevated action by way of gadgets and alternative methods which is not so conducive to a healthy mindset. All in an attempt to be more flashy and more "flamboyant' of nature in the show ring. Fortunately for Monarch, his stin was short lived before someone wonderful snatchim him up in 2014 and proceeded to give him the most wonder life a horse could ask for in these times.
By about 2016 he was adopted by Chenda at Rhythms Riding, where he continued having the life he deserved...to this day, he is "one" that catches your eye when you look out on the field. About 2 years ago, a family just could not take no for an answer as they just had to have him to call him their own. After may sessions of begging a pleading, Chenda finally decided to let him be adopted by this family who has continued to give him the love and care he so obviously deserves.

He truly lives up to his name as the composed and fair ruler with the biggest opinion of himself to match his size. If you come and visit us at RR you will see that he still resides out in the field with the rest of the herd, and he has become comfortable with being a one-person horse where he knows where his bread is buttered.

Till next week...I hope everyone has the most awesome week and remember to spoil your fur babies with loads of cuddles and the occasional treat.

Happy Friday everyone...we all feel the pain🤣

MEET THE HERD..since we have so many horses, all with different backgrounds and stories, I decided to introduce one pony/horse to you a week. I decided to start off with one of my favorites.

This is Connor...born in 2009 at Waterford Stud. In 2013 he moved to Riverdale in the hope of becoming a school pony, but on arrival, it was evident that he would be a one-person pony. In 2014 Chenda took him over as a semi-feral chap with major anxiety issues. She got to work with him intermittently for about a month before fetching him from Riversdale...uncatchable, untrusting, scared, and cowardly. On the day of fetching him, he had already attached other people who tried to work with him in her absence and so he made it clear he was only willing to have 1 direction in his life - to go home with her. On the day of fetching him she told him if he did not get straight into the box she would leave him there...and he walked right on into the box...no questions...AND that's how all of our lives were blessed with the kindest, most gentle, and loving pony on the face of this planet. In 2016 Chenda and he faced death together, he had an obstruction so deep-seated in his esophagus that after 4 days of not being able to drink water or even swallow his own saliva, being immensely anemic and weak, the vets said he would return in the morning to put him to rest... that night Chenda's mom stayed with her...tears were shed and prayers said.

The next morning when the vet called to say he was on his way...on the other end of the phone he heard screaming, "he has healed! he is completely healed!" No one knows how why or what, but that is how Rhythms Riding was blessed with the sunshine pony.

For the parents, students, or trainers who have had the remarkable privilege of getting to know Connor, I know all will agree, that he is a healer of hearts...I have had the immense pleasure of getting to know him over the years and have had many conversations with him out in the field...he is definitely one of a kind.

Happy Monday to everyone on school holiday and potentially going to spend more time with their favorite fur buddies.

A tip to keep in mind...CHECK YOUR GIRTH FREQUENTLY.

This is such an important piece of equipment it should be checked frequently and repaired if possible if you find it is starting to age. Good quality leather girths can last decades with regular cleaning and repair.

Remember, if your girth is not in good shape, it will render your saddle redundant and unsafe...so keep checking...and happy riding.

Happy Friday everyone...a little humor to kick off the weekend...

Happy Monday everyone...some humor to start the week

Happy Monday
I'll leave it here...

Happy Monday my fellow equestrians

When you have had a long week...when you are feeling less than happy...when you are feeling happy...when you just need a break...

Good morning. Does anyone know of anyone that sells bales of lucerne and delivers large quantities to Sedgefield?

Enough said

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Happy Monday fellow equine friends and family...something for us all to remember when owning your horse or poney is to have their teeth checked regularly... at least once a year.

Horse teeth grow continuously and, in a natural environment, they are worn down when horses chew coarse food, such as stalky grasses and scrubby vegetation. Domesticated horses require regular dental care because their diet usually lacks these coarser elements. In addition, uneven wear, sometimes caused by eating hard feeds and hay, leads to the teeth developing sharp edges that can ulcerate the insides of the cheeks. Equine dentists use rasps to remove sharp edges and rebalance the grinding surfaces. Perhaps surprisingly most horses tolerate this work, which requires the mouth to be held open with a gag.

The Horse Encyclopedia (DK)

To all our fellow equine friends and family...we know the pain...

To all the riders, ponies/horses, judges, organizers, and supporters. Thank you for making our event a success. It was a day filled with loads of fun and laughter. For those who go to see your ponies remember to take them an extra carrot, they so deserve it.

On a different note, I have to say that the dress-up was phenomenal but a huge shout-out to my favorite dress-up of the day...what an entrance you made...you definitely gave me the giggles and made my day.

WHAT HUMANS SAY TO HORSES...
One of the ways humans communicate with horses is entirely unconscious communication through the smells we give off. Frightened people - and maybe aggressive ones, too - exude odors that reveal their state of mind to the horse. This causes them to become either apprehensive or aggressive, depending on whether he/she is a submissive animal or a more dominant one. There is an old saying "a bold man makes a bold horse", which reveals what horse people have long observed: that people with no fear and plenty of self-confidence often get along better with horses than those who are more empathetic to the horses' concerns. However, loud, insensitive people often go too far the other way - it is a delicate balance.

The Horse Encyclopedia (DK)

This gave me a giggle and made me think of most equestrians but also of one person in particular Diane Sparks🤣

Happy Sunday all you wonderful people...so the price of fuel keeps climbing, and I have seen so many memes that people post saying that they should get horses because it's cheaper...my reaction...

Raise your hand if you are guilty...

When you have duck tape holding your riding shoes together, and orange twine as a belt...

To my fellow equestrians...we have all come across people (the none horsey folk) who think owning or leasing a horse is a walk in the park...teachers who say to kids, take up a sport because horse riding isn't a sport, after all, you just sit on their back and the horse does the rest". Well, we know...so keep on keeping on.

For those who don't know yet, if you come off at Rhythms Riding...the price is a chocolate cake for everyone in the lesson...we look forward to our next chocolate cake🤣🤣🤣

10 Things to Expect When Dating a Horse Girl She’s sweet, funny, your mom loves her…and her best friend is a horse. Barn gossip, sweat, and a little more sawdust than you may have counted on are just a few things that you will be getting in this new relationship. So, saddle up buckeroo, you’re in for a bumpy ride. Ten things to expect .....

A show of hands who gets this...

For those of us who either own our own horses or lease horses...we go, we ride, we have fun we learn...but there is always that one person in the background who we unintentionally forget...this person has come to love all the horses and even has a few of his own favorites...so here is a shout out to our background guy who is not so "background", thank you, Clement, for your willingness to love and take care of our four-legged beasts when we are not around😍😍😍

Rhythms Riding updated their business hours.

Rhythms Riding updated their website address.

I will just leave this here...