The Nerdy Equestrian

Welcome to the nerdiest equestrian blog you will ever find. We're here to learn all we can about equines, training philosophies, and more!

[black-thoroughbred]

I think some people lunge their horse before riding and see it run around and buck and and carry on and think they’re getting all that silliness out before they ride when in reality the horse has just learnt to be an idiot on the lunge and would have been fine if they just got on and if anything they’re just working the horse up. 

[clickercake]

Yeah, lunging is not for tiring a horse out. If someone it just chasing their horse around, they’re probably just creating more tension. I’ve started using it as a step before riding for teaching cues, teaching healthy riding movement, building muscle, though I hardly expect a horse to go outside the circle in the first session. Right now I’m focusing a lot on lunging with Larken (before it was a lot of walking next to her in a circle and waiting for her to relax lol, it’s been patient work) and it’s been so productive toward building her up to riding condition again. Just starting up again with Rosie on lunging, hoping it will help with her confidence in my cues with skijoring.

[nerdyequestrian]

Lunging is truly a training opportunity. Not only that, it's and opportunity to warm up your horses back and assess their mental, emotional, and physical state before you mount. It's not something to be wasted by allowing your horse to 'be an indiot'.

If your horse is stalled and needs exercise and a chance to burn off steam let them just be loose in the arena for 30 mins before you lunge and mount, or take them for a walk, or something. Don't teach them being on the end of a lunge is the time to buck and kick. One it's not very safe for you and it's an open opportunity for your horse to injure themselves running around on a small circle with likely cold muscles.

[ottbs]

how does one clean an elastic breastplate

[nerdyequestrian]

With tears

[nerdyequestrian]

If you're going to hire someone to care for your broodmares while out of the country...YOU SHOULD BUY ENOUGH GRAIN SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO ASK THEIR MOM TO BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO POOR.

Just saying.

[ottbs]

pls send me / reblog w your fav leather cleaning products

[nerdyequestrian]

Just castille soap and/or water then condition if needed. I find a lot of saddle soaps leave residue so I stay away from them.

[barefoothooves]

yeah these really aren’t the sorts of rads you hope for when you take on a new case 😵

[nerdyequestrian]

Wtf this poor horse.

[ridingkeepsmegoing]

The New Pyramid of Training

The time-tested “training scale” has some wording changes. Here’s what’s new in the 2019 update. Learn more by visiting eTRAK, USD

They changed the name for two of the dressage “steps,” and I like it. I also really liked the last paragraph of the article. It points out what we’ve all been saying all along, that the steps are not just one after the other.

[nerdyequestrian]

I really like this change. It took me a minute to even notice that Contact had been added. It belongs there! Kinda can't believe it wasn't there before. It's something I've always begun establishing around that stage.

Every single time you ride you need to establish all the tiers leading up to the highest you wish to work on before working on that highest tier. Not only in the beginning of the ride but maintain it throughout. If at any point your horse regresses in a session they're probably getting tired and need a break or there's something else going on. Please don't just establish relaxation at one point and then not care about it because you want to work on suppling. It is all necessary to work your horse properly without short and long term injuries.

[sparkles-and-trash]

me: 24 y/o, equestrian for 15 years, horse owner for 8, sees my own horse every day

also me, seeing a random horse in a field tru the car window: OMG A REAL HORRRSEEE, CAN U BELIEVE, BEST DAY EVER!!

[nerdyequestrian]

Why is this me?

[nerdyequestrian]

I have some very long term goals that are starting to fall into place. There's a long road ahead but it'll be worth it.

[mounted-archer]

Does anyone know a way to cure rain rot that someone with $20 til Friday (I realize that’s tomorrow lol) can manage? Like maybe something I have in my cupboards?

I have a cart with a powder and paste in it but a) it’ll cost me $50 and 2) once I buy it’ll be a week’s wait and Sis has a couple patches on her butt that look like they need treated asap

[pearls-and-polowraps]

So, the active ingredient in MTG is the powdered sulfur. You can buy one pound bags of it in the garden centers in most home improvement and big box stores for about $5. You can make your own crud buster pretty easily from there.

DIY Rain Rot Salve

1 container Vaseline (off brand is fine!)

2 tsp powdered sulfur

5-10 drops tea tree oil (optional)

1. Add Vaseline to a microwave-safe bowl, microwave until soft.  2. Stir in approximately 2 teaspoons of powdered sulfur, or however much you need to turn the mixture a pale yellow. 3. If you want, add in a few drops of tea tree oil; in addition to its powerful antiseptic properties, the tea tree oil can cut down on that burnt bacon smell. 4. Pour mixture back into Vaseline container.

DIY “MTG”

1 bottle of baby oil

2-3 tbsp powdered sulfur

5-10 drops tea tree oil (optional)

1 spray bottle (optional)

You can mix this right in the bottle of baby oil for that authentic MTG experience, or save yourself a little mess and grab a spray bottle. Whatever you want is fine. The key here is to add enough sulfur to leave about a half inch in the bottom of your bottle when it settles. Since your bottle size may vary, just eyeball it. Shake that sucker and spray to your heart’s content.

If you can, gently remove the scabs by bathing with a mild shampoo (even Ivory dish soap will work) or by softening them with the salve. That will speed the recovery process considerably, and the sulfur products will be that much more effective.

[idreaminbayandgrey]

Idk if you already have the stuff but a mix of diaper rash cream and furazone usually does the trick for me

[clickercake]

Good info, just be careful about tea tree oil because some pons can have reactions to it.

[mounted-archer]

I wonder if Vitamin E oil would be another option, at least as far as scarring/soothing. The burnt smell might keep another horse *cough* Pony Boy *cough* from trying to lick it off after being applied

[clickercake]

Oh shoot, I never even thought of another pon licking it off lol. I have no idea about Vitamin E oil, it sounds beneficial, if not, at least harmless? Also, maybe some kind of light covering, like a stable fleece, would serve well?

[nerdyequestrian]

I've had success with a mix of lavander, tea tree, and eucalyptus eo diluted in water.

Also iodine or peroxide diluted in water could help kick it.

[transperceneige]

Bordeaux 2019 - Indoor eventing | © Fr3

Karim Florent Laghouag (2nd place) may not have had his horse for the prize giving ceremony, but he didn’t let that stop him from enjoying a lap of honour in his rightful place (namely, between Michael Jung and Maxime Livio)

[ridingkeepsmegoing]

A true sportsman 😂😂😂

[nerdyequestrian]

Why do I feel like I'd totally do this 😂

[baylone]

It doesn’t matter if horse is downhill or is too short or has stumpy legs or is a crossbreed or if you bought it from a sketchy place… your horse is YOUR HORSE and I love them and I support you and I want to see you and your horse have a good time! You can do whatever tf you want with your horse within the boundaries of the animal’s welfare. NOT within the boundaries of what some hoity toity warmblood die hards say you need to stay within!!! I’d say most all of us here on horseblr are really excited to see updates on your pony even if it’s like a pic of them scratching thier butt on a fence. People “IRL” and in a lot of online spaces might be haters but here on horseblr we LIVE FOR underdog horses! Carry that with you when you do meet haters.

[baylone]

Update: if you get rude comments on your posts just @ me and I will make it my personal vendetta to harass them until they delete!!! Problem solved ☺️

[stirrupsandscones]

Question!

So I’ve read and heard from numerous places the importance of limiting the amount a horse schools over fences in a week. For example, limiting it to one jump school per week.

This made me think of all the lesson horses I ride now and have ridden in previous programs. They definitely jumped more than once a week. Fairly infrequently, even more than once a day.

However, my definition of jump schooling may be very different from how actual professionals think of it. For a reference: currently I jump a bit in every lesson but it oftentimes it is as few 6-8 jumps under 2'6. Max it could maybe be two dozen fences if I was schooling an actual small course.

Obviously I have no control over how horses are used in my lesson program but it made me curious as to how others consider this. How often do you jump school or how often do you think is appropriate? Would what I do even be considered in this context?

[nerdyequestrian]

Honestly I agree with infrequent jump schooling. I personally would not jump a horse more than 2 times per week.

When it comes to what constitutes a jump school. I'd call anything that the horse has to actually make an effort to jump a jump school. So anything that they can't just step over.

Just think of the amount of concussive force on the horses body when they land from a jump. Regardless if they are being ridden correctly or not. I could care less if they are in a riding school program and people are trying to profit from them. The horses long term health is far more important.

[natshorses]

Danielle Goldstein’s huge red feathery ponytail is ugly in the show ring. Honestly girl at least braid that shit.

[natshorses]

I’ve got nothing against fun hair and individuality etc. I myself have had pink, yellow, blue, purple and half blue half purple hair. But at horse shows, to show respect for the sport, the judge and for the facility hosting the show, I do not let my hair flap around all over the place. Say what you will, but the sport prides itself with being tidy and professional and if you can’t braid your hair for one class or round I mean really?

For safety reasons and helmet fit I don’t think people should shove their hair under their helmet, however it doesn’t have to be a mess.

[theruby-redmare]

The cultural appropriation is by far the worst part about it. I think that is way more important to emphasize than different philosophies on whether equestrian fashion at shows should remain conservative or be allowed to evolve with modern trends. Like one is literal racism and the other is a harmless opinion.

[jointhevortex]

Person: he is NOT stressed. He is just being difficult

Me:

[sanddancingwithanxiety]

horse breed asks

i saw someone do this with dogs and had to do it for ponies! feel free to add more down below when you reblog 😄

1. Akhal Teke: What is the most ridiculous thing your horse has spooked at?

2. Australian Riding Pony: have you ever sworn at your horse? What did you say?

3. Arabian Horse: If you had to choose, western pleasure or show horse?

4. Clydesdale: Have you ever learned to drive? Would you ever teach your horse to?

5. Connemara Pony: Describe your horse’s feed?

6. Falabella: Describe the smallest horse you’ve ever ridden?

7. Fjord Horse: Have you ever clipped/brushed any patterns into your horse’s mane or body (Quartermarks count)?

8. Hackney Pony: Describe the fanciest horse you have ever ridden

9. Haflinger: What is your grooming/washing routine before a show?

10. Icelandic horse: Have you ever ridden a gaited breed? Have you ridden a non standard gait?

11. Kladruper: What is the most unique feature/habit that your horse has?

12. Marwari: What is the most interesting, decorative, etc piece of tack you own?

13. Morgan: Do you consider yourself/your horse versatile? How many disciplines have you tried?

14. Mustang: Have you ever worked with an ex-feral horse? Ridden one?

15. Shire: Describe the tallest horse you’ve ever ridden?

16. Thoroughbred: If you met the height/size requirements, would you ever become a Jockey? Why/why not?

17. Paint Horse: What is your favourite coat colour/s?

18. Quarter Horse: big booty or something else? (what do you prioritise when buying?)

19. Welsh Pony: How often do you do hill work?

20. Zweibrücker: If you had to choose, dressage or jumping?

[nerdyequestrian]

#5, they live on low nsc hay and air, I don't know how they do it 😌.

[jumpsandbumps]

ideas I’m tired of

you need to show/be competitive to be a Real Rider

your significant other must be an equestrian/horse lover/go with you to the barn every day

the adoration and elevation of male riders 

you must train This Way and if you don’t you’re Wrong

hurting horses for “results” 

not taking injuries seriously (especially with rehab)

if you’re not at the barn every day you’re not a Real Rider

you can have a career in horses as long as you work hard enough

all horse people are CRAZY (and the derivative, all X discipline or breeds or whatever are crazy… maybe I don’t like generalizations)

horses must be worked or have a Job to be happy and well taken care of

2- and 3- year olds in heavy work

you must be Perfect at all times and know Everything about horses

just a short list. discuss, add, whatever.

[clickercake]

A little clip from our counter conditioning work today. It’s going good, but slow, that’s just the way counter conditioning be. She’s kind of a ball of baby pony energy some days, so that’s interesting to work with (not a bad thing as long as I don’t reward her crazies). And especially on ~those days~, I still accidentally overstep the process and cause some headshaking explosions, but I’m getting better lol.

[nerdyequestrian]

This is awesome. Also I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who drops ridiculous amounts of pellets 😂.