hump day haflinger series #28

Emma Kane started riding 9 years ago at a Saddle Seat barn. After two years at that barn, she moved to her current barn where she rode western for a few years and joined a kids drill team. Emma share-boarded a few QH's and QH crosses for two years until she bought her Friesian gelding Exaclibur. Sadly, after 11 months, he had to be put down due to an old injury. Exaclibur was put down in the morning and that night she met DaVinci. Emma fell in love with him at first sight. 

Until Emma was looking for a horse after my Friesian, she had never even heard of Haflingers. She needed a versatile horse for everything she likes to do, and she really wanted a draft cross/ Warmblood. But problem with the horses over 15.2hh is that Emma is pretty short and cannot reach the ground when vaulting. And vaulting is necessary to be on the trick riding team. She found the that the Haflinger breed was exactly was she wanted and needed.

Emma and DaVinci

Haflinger: Nice and Big LVH or DaVinci.

Sire and Dam: sire is Noble One DCF. He also has Afgan III NTF, All American Afgan NTF, Nabucco, and Nobleman TOF in his bloodlines

Age: 11 year old gelding

Height: 15.2 hh

Favorite Food: DaVinci doesn't really have only one favorite food, he loves all food, even his dewormer! But if he had to choose, Peeps would be his favorite. 

Personality: DaVinci has an extremely outgoing personality. He loves attention and poses for pictures. At parades and shows he thinks everyone is cheering for him! Even though he is mister cute and fluffy he does still have a big attitude. It took a long time to explain to him that just because he doesn't feel like it right now doesn't mean he can throw a temper tantrum. 

Likes: Jumping! He truly loves to jump, if DaVince is turned loose in an arena with jumps set up, he will first trot it both directions to warm up and then go and canter it both directions! By himself! 

Quirks: When he hobbled, DaVinci never touches the hobbles, he just hops! There have been numerous times when he has been hobbled on the grass and all of a sudden he's cantering across the barn.

Discipline: Eventing, Dressage, Jumping, Drill Team, Trick Riding, Vaulting, Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Trail, Speed, 4H and any other discipline or game that Emma wants to try. Eventing is DaVinci's favorite discipline, he loves cross country. DaVinci and Emma also enjoy 4H shows where they show in pleasure and speed classes. DaVinci loves speed patterns such as barrel racing and pole bending. 

The Midwest Renegade Dare Devils take drill team to a new level when they added trick riding into drill team. Trick riding is the only event deemed too dangerous for rodeo. They perform tricks such as vaulting in and out of the saddle, sitting backwards, hanging upside down, standing, etc. while staying in the synchronized drill maneuvers. 

The majority of the time when they ride they work on collection, stretching, bending, transitions, etc. When working on trick riding, they spend a lot of time working on staying straight and at a steady gait while they are in a trick. Since we do tricks while in drill, it is extremely important all the horses track the line or circle that they are set on. 

This year, Emma is working on the AHR Performance Award. They will be attending the AHR National show this year, which has been one of her goals, and hopefully they will do well there. She would love to bring home a few blues! In eventing, Emma is hoping to take DaVinci though training level. We wish Emma and DaVinci the very best in all that they do!

Emma and DaVinci also had a article written on them in Young Riders Magazine.

hump day haflinger series #27

How lucky to have the very first horse you have ever ridden at age five be a Haflinger? Amy had that experience and later, when her family moved out to the country, she found a farm with a herd of Haflingers that rescued horses and gave lessons. 

There was one three year old filly that tended to stay in the back, as far away from everyone as possible. After spending some time working off lessons and starting colts, Amy decided to give this filly a try. The filly was terrified of people and didn't even have a name. But by the fourth day of working with the filly, Amy had her picking up her feet and was able to touch her all over. Come Christmas, Amy's parents surprised her by getting her this filly that she has had ever since!

Amy and Mindy

Haflinger: Locket BLH or Mindy

Sire and Dam: Max Factor FSH X Laramie, her great grandsire is Midas Touch and she dates back to Afghan (those are some well known Haflinger stallions)

Age: 11 year old mare

Height: A stout 13.2

Favorite Food: Granny Smith apples, which are also Amy's favorite!

Personality: She is a quirky mare who likes to pull stunts on Amy. If Amy goes in the paddock with a halter, Mindy will play Shyloh's favorite game, Catch Me If You Can, but without a halter, she will stand just fine. Mindy also likes to chase deer. She hates blankets and will lay in her poop right before shows. 

Yup, hates blankets!

Likes: Mindy loves the reining pen and Cross Country. She loves to gallop through the woods, fly over logs, and LOVES the water!

Discipline: Reining, but has also shown in shown in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Over Fences, Showmanship, Halter, Horsemanship, and Trail. They also play around with Dressage and Cross Country.  

Mindy

The three most well known moves in reining are spins, sliding stops and rollbacks. Spins are usually fast and have the horse turning in either direction with the inside hoof planted in the same spot. Sliding stops have the horse using their hind legs to stop, but drags the front legs to elongate the stop. Rollbacks are a sliding stop, then pivoting to the outside and loping off in the other direction. 

Awards: They show at open shows and have always placed high. They have placed second overall in HMS and 4th in Pleasure at their state fair. 

Pretty mare!

Mindy was broke by the Amish to drive and pulled wagons and machinery. When she first came to the farm, she was spooky, covered in muck, and skin and bones. She was severely neglected with rotted hair and super long hooves.  Now that Amy has her, she struggles to keep her at a 5 on the Body Condition Scale and loves people. 

Amy is working on becoming a professional reiner and reined cow horse trainer. She travels to work with professional trainers and horsemen to learn the ropes of the equestrian world and takes Mindy with her when she can. When Mindy can't travel with her, she is leased out as a lesson pony to teach kids. Mindy loves kids and has a "kid mode" where she takes it slow for anyone under 13. If an old person gets on and tries to boss her around, Mindy will give her a piece of her mind!

Leaping!

Amy's goals are to take Mindy in the cutting pen and go to some American Haflinger Registry shows of they are in Ohio at the time. I am so glad that Amy and Mindy found each other!

hump day haflinger series #26

Emily has lived behind Walnut Ridge Farms her whole life. When she was little, she would walk over to the Haflinger farm to pet the ponies and feed them grass through the fence. When she was 10, she began riding horses with her uncle. She rode saddle seat at his Morgan/Standardbred stable. But before long, she decided that she would rather walk the quarter mile behind her house to ride Haflingers all day.  

Emily and Ladd

Haflinger: All American Ladd WRF or Ladd

Sire and Dam: All American Afghan NTF and Linda Sue KCH

Age: 10 year old gelding

Height: 15.2 and a little hh (he is a tall one!)

Favorite Food: Cotton Candy and grain

Personality: Ladd has a silly personality. He is never in a bad mood and is always looking for something to do next. He loves people. 

Cutest thing ever?

Likes: They love to do everything, especially Drill Team and Hunter Paces. Emily and Ladd also have a blast going camping in the Allegheny Mountains.

CDE

Discipline: A little bit of everything. . .English Flat, Western, Reining, Cross Country, Hunters, Jumpers, Dressage, Showmanship, Combined Driving, Parades, Trail Riding (swimming!!), and Gymkhana.

Leaping!

Awards:

• Versatility Award at the Haflinger Challenge - had to earn certain amount of points in English, Western, Halter, and Driving
• Reserve High Point Award at the National Show, 2 years
• High Point Award at the National Show, last year
• Equine Affaire's Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, placing 8th overall
• Champion in the different divisions of the Haflinger Challenge many times

Weeeee!

Ladd was born at Walnut Ridge Farms and was given to Emily as a project horse when he was about 4 years old. She has done all his training and taught him everything he knows. Emily just wants to keep having fun with her amazing horse! Ladd seems like such a fun horse!

hump day haflinger series #25

Dani Cannon is the rider for Poppybarn Haflingers in the UK. She has had the opportunity to work with and train many Haflingers. While riding various Haflingers, Dani has competed in high levels of Dressage and had ridden at Royal Windor, Royal Norfolk, Equifest, and the Haflinger Breed Show. She has her own Haflinger which is her best friend.

That is love!

Haflinger: Stagsden Anjou, Joe or Joseph when cheeky

Sire and Dam: by Alpine

Age: 10 year old gelding

Height: 15hh

Favorite Food: carrots and apples

Personality: High strung, sharp, and full of energy, but he has calmed down. He is a challenging ride. Joe has a great personality with a lot of character and easy to read facial expressions.

Likes: people and attention He loves his mum and will watch her and call to her when she is riding other horses.

Discipline: Dressage and Side Saddle

Awards: Reserve Supreme Champion at the Haflinger Breed Show

Side Saddle

The Haflinger that taught Dani everything she knows is Stagsden Adonis. She showed him up to medium level Dressage. He is currently 22 years old and fit as a fiddle. He has also won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding achievements in the society and promoting the Haflinger breed. Mosscarr Quartz was a mare that Dani trained through Prix St. George level Dressage. Mosscarr Quartz also did jumping, cross country, hunting, and side saddle. She won the Most Improved Haflinger Award Another gelding that Dani rode dressage with was the eye catching gelding, Millhall Nordspritz. Her newest project is Santiago, a mare who she is currently training in county showing and dressage.

Dani met Kim Ginns, the owner of Poppybarn Haflingers when she was 12. She began riding the horses there and met a nice little yearling, who ended up being Joe! Later she bought him as her own.

Anjou

Dani has been lucky to be able to ride so many amazing Haflingers which has helped her accomplish her dreams. She has worked really hard with Anjou and is looking forward to riding in a display in Austria side saddle as well as continuing to work on Dressage. 

hump day haflinger series #24

Figure, from Topaz Dreams always wanted a horse, but was taking a practical approach and waiting until she could afford a horse comfortably. Even though she did not have a horse growing up, she took lessons in a hunter barn when she was in middle and high school.  After she graduated college and got a job, Figure was lucky enough to be gifted a great horse. 

Confetti

Haflinger: Confetti DYH or Confetti or 'Fetti

Sire and Dam:  Aspect x Cayleen AFH

Age: 18 year old mare, but no one told her that, she thinks she is 10!

Height: 14 hh

Favorite Food: Grain mash.  Confetti gets quite upset when it's not provided as part of dinner.  It does not matter much which grain - she just wants to feel like she's getting something special!  She also likes one particular type of local fern.

Personality: Confetti loves people - she is quite social and she'll wander over to new folks at the barn to introduce herself.  She has generally excellent ground manners but has a huge opinion of fairness under saddle.  Compromise is important.  Smart horses get bored, get in habits easily, and get cranky when asked to do things they strongly disagree with.  She will absolutely take advantage of uncertain riders or unclear cues to interpret things the way she wants.  Did I mention that she's smart, stubborn, and opinionated?  

Likes: Eat, run, and jump - but the latter two, only for as long as she wants to, of course.

Quirks:  She does not longe on a line at the canter.  Walk/trot is fine; canter she turns her nose out and leaves.

Discipline: Endurance, 25-mile rides called Limited Distance or LDs.  Confetti has also been a jumper, Pony Club horse (dressage, jumping, games) and was originally Western-trained.

Water

Endurance is about completing a set amount of miles in a certain time - but finishing with a happy and healthy horse who is 'fit to continue' to (theoretically) go out for more miles.  Horses must pass brief 'vet checks' before, during, and after the ride to be allowed to continue/get their completion.  For a 25-mile Limited Distance ride, you get six hours (including a 30-60 minute hold, depending on the ride), so you're looking to keep a 5 mph average pace throughout the ride.  

To train for endurance, the rider and horse must build up the miles, build up the pace, and try not to do both at the same time.  Confetti and Figure tend to ride around 25 miles a week.  It's a balancing act between overtraining and wearing out the horse, or not training enough and running out of horse during a ride.  

Training

Awards:

They have completed all three LDs that they have done so far. You do not get places in endurance, but completions. 

Figure discovered Haflingers at the end of her second year in college. She was looking to lease a horse after the summer was over. She saw an ad for a pretty little Haflinger in May, but thought nothing of it. When she saw the ad again in August, Figure went to go look at her. She fell in love and was bouncing with happiness after the first two rides! After she leased Confetti for two years, her owner gave her to Figure!

Figure is blessed to have a generally solid mare that will try whatever is asked of her . . .  if she sees a point to it.  Point her over jumps, take her on the trail, chase crows, walk along the edge of a cliff, climb up the side of a hill, gallop along or trot a while... she's not an easy mare, she has opinions and does express them, but if asked the right way, she'll generally oblige.  Figure and Confetti do a lot of negotiating (mares?).  As a trail horse,  she thinks for herself, but she usually checks in with Figure before deciding which action to take for herself.

On the trail

It easily took Figure a year to read and understand Confetti; but  now, she knows what the subtle signs are of a meltdown or panic or just a needing to get a good run in before she can settle for work.  She's not terribly obvious about most of them - it's a hint of tension and feeling of firecrackers when mounting, though she looks like she's walking totally calmly, and that tells Figure to let (or make) her run first.   It's the tense muscles and insecurity that tells Figure that Confetti's brain is just about completely fried and she needs a break.  Sometimes, you just know.  These are the subtleties that make her totally unsuitable for kids and beginners that just aren't quite sensitive enough to pick up on the little things.  

Cool!

Figure plans on doing  LDs as long as Confetti is happily going down the trail and holding up to the distance.  If things go really well, she would like to try and do a 50 mile endurance ride.  Whenever they are done with LDs, Figure guesses that they will mosey along on (mildly brisk) trail rides.  Confetti is a versatile little horse and she is sure they will find something to do.

hump day haflinger series #23

Wendy Soucy grew up on a small horse farm where her parents raised Morgans. Growing up, she was active in Pony Club and 4-H. Upon graduating Pony Club, Wendy received an "A" rating. Wendy's primary discipline was Eventing, but she also showed Hunter, Saddle Seat, Western, and Driving. In 1980, Wendy was a member of the Area 1 NAJRC Event Team. Their team finished second, winning them the silver medal. 

In 1992, Wendy became involved in carriage driving and her Haflinger was to become the horse she was going to use. Although Wendy enjoyed starting him under harness, she enjoyed riding him more, as he was so forward and willing. And it felt good for her to be back in the saddle. 

Gorgeous Max!

Haflinger: Maximum Exposure YES or Max

Sire and Dam: Magnum RVM x Tickles US FOF

Age: 7 year old gelding

Height: 14.2 hh

Personality: Max is smart and playful.

Favorite Food: Ha, what doesn’t he like to eat. But he does love watermelon.

Likes: Other than eating, he loves to play, tearing around the paddock, annoying his pasture mate, tossing the jolly ball, and stealing the dog’s Frisbee.

Quirks: Max squeaks when he is feeling fresh before he is about to try a buck or leap. Gives her fair warning to prepare ( shh, he doesn't know that).

Discipline: Competitive Trail Riding (CTR)

Competitive Trail Riding measures the fitness of a horse or pony as they travel over a marked trail of 15 to 100 miles. Horses are examined thoroughly before, on trail and after finishing, by qualified judges and veterinarians. The events are strictly timed and penalties are given for finishing too early or too late. Horses are judged by how quickly their heart rates drop and other physical and metabolic measurements. The horses who show the highest level of physical fitness win. The goal is to condition your horse to the highest level of fitness and take care of it so that the horse completes the ride with as little stress as possible. The best part is that the training involves putting miles on the trails and roads. Wendy tries to get in 25-35 miles each week.

Stamford Stampede 2013

Awards: The real award for Wendy in competition is to have a happy trail horse, pass all vet inspections and complete the ride with a horse in good form. 2013 was her first season of Competitive Trail Rides. They successfully completed all rides entered! At the final ride of the season the vet told her they were impressed with my horses muscle tone and body condition.

• Stamford Stampede CTR 25, Stamford, NY -6th Place
• Brookfield CTR 30, Brookfield, NY – 8th Place
• No Wine-ing CTR 30, Hector, NY -3rd Place

When Max was five, Wendy took him to a three day CTR clinic to see if they had what it took. That is when they both fell in love with the sport. Max successfully competed in 15 mile mock ride on the last day of the clinic, finishing in second place. This is when Wendy knew she had found their new career together. Wendy has competed in the show ring all her life and was happy to leave that behind her with the discovery of Competitive Trail Riding. 

Max playing with the frisbee!

Wendy saw her very first Haflinger at a carriage show. Then in 2005, she was asked to judge the Haflinger Classic that was held at Twin Birch Farm. Over the weekend, she fell head over heels in love with Haflingers and knew she needed to own one. She was very impressed with their temperament, versatility, and beauty. Wendy also found that the people involved with the breed where friendly and encouraging to one another. 

Wendy's goals with Max are to continue trail riding and conditioning with the hopes of competing in a 50 mile CTR. But most of all, Wendy wants to enjoy many more years of beautiful countryside through the golden ears of her Haflinger. 

hump day haflinger series #22

Sometimes, even if you already have one fantastic Haflinger, there is another that is just so special to you, you have to have him. The reason may be many, but they are strong. Emilie, from A Blonde, Brunette, and a Redhead has Abercrombie, who is an amazingly gorgeous Haflinger, inside and out. But she has a very special Haflinger that she is trying to raise funds to purchase that was previously owned by a very special friend of hers. And she has very special plans for this guy! I feel lucky that I was able to meet him at Equine Affaire and see him and Emilie ride. 

Avanti

Haflinger:  Avanti of Cedar Lane, but everyone calls him Avanti. Emilie also likes to call him “Sir".

Sire and Dam: Aristocrat TOF x Assita TOF – and as far as she knows, he only has two full siblings.

Age: 13 year old stallion

Height: 14.2 hh

Favorite Food: Bananas, peppermints, and cinnamon candy. And he likes Lipton Green Tea from a bottle…as well as red Powerade or Gatorade.

Personality: Totally mischievous – likes to push your buttons sometimes to see what happens. He also believes he is Mr. Big Bad Macho Stallion. If he were human, he’d be the handsome, vain jock who spends hours at the gym everyday and flirts shamelessly with all the girls at school. Funny enough, he can be shy around taller, non-Haflinger mares, though!

His biggest quirk is that he absolutely loves his gums rubbed. Sometimes he can get pushy about it, and might try to nip in order to get someone to rub his gums. Emilie will tell him to “Be nice”, and he will concentrate really hard on only sticking out his top lip and wiggling it in order to say, “Pleeeeeease”.

Likes: Avanti likes to gallop, show off, and pose for photos. He loves bareback rides. He really enjoys getting out and working, no matter what he may be doing. He is always happier afterwards, and will often fall asleep and let the cross-ties hold his head up.

He is so beautiful!

Goals/Plans for the Future:

Emilie moved to Wisconsin at the end of February , after several years of living in Kentucky , to work on a Haflinger farm again. Because she now lives on a farm and is able to walk out the back door to the barn, a few opportunities have opened up to her, which have led her to think seriously about what she would like to accomplish in her career as an equestrian.

After the prompting of a few of her students and friends, she has begun a fundraising project to gather sponsors to enable her to purchase and campaign Avanti.  Avanti was owned by her boss and friend, Rachel King, at Deer Haven Farm. Sadly, Rachel was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and passed away in 2013. Avanti was sold to a farm in Ohio, but where his new owners kept Emilie updated on him and even let her ride him at a few events. Losing her friend and a horse was an extremely difficult situation, for many reasons; not only had she come to know and love Avanti, but Rachel was like a second mom to her.

Avanti and Rachel

Because of Emilie's move to Wisconsin and a few positive changes in her life, Emilie would love to be reunited with her equine friend and to carry on the legacy that Rachel left behind. While she has many goals for the two of them, her immediate plan is to get him back in shape and move up the levels in dressage, as well as start showing again. In a few years, her biggest - and perhaps most important - goal is to use Avanti as the "poster pony" to help raise money for cancer research. Emilie still has a lot of learning and planning to do to reach this point, and she is looking into starting a non-profit. She envisions them traveling around to various events to perform musical freestyles, as well as organizing charity trail rides and other horse-related fundraisers.

For those of you who know Emilie personally and/or follow her blog, you may ask what this means for Abercrombie. Don’t worry – Abercrombie is still her forever horse. She would never sell him except in dire circumstances, and even then, she thinks she’d live in a cardboard box and eat Ramen noodles three times a day first (she kinda loves Ramen so don’t think she's kidding here). Her goals for him remain the same overall, and she would like him to be like Avanti’s protégé, and to take his place as “poster pony” someday when Avanti retires. These two are her heart horses: Avanti is her best friend, and Abercrombie is like her kid. She loves them both dearly, and can’t wait to see what the future will bring for them!

Did I mention he was handsome?

You can scroll through her blog to find out just how much Rachel meant to Emilie and how important her vision is for Avanti. If you want to talk to Emilie yourself to get any additional information on her project, please feel free to email her at goldenheartdressage (at) gmail (dot) com.

For a detailed look at what she hopes to accomplish, download her sponsorship proposal.

And if you would like to donate to her cause to purchase Avanti and use him to help raise money for cancer research, you can donate here The Avanti Project.

Spread the word! Emilie has a vision and an excellent cause. Let's help her meet her goals.

hump day haflinger series #21

Haflingers thrived on the Alps for many many years helping the mountain farmers plow and till soil. Because of their low dietary needs, strength despite their smaller size, and temperament, they made perfect ponies for the farmers and their families. The farmers probably didn't know it at the time, but they selectively bred the Haflingers to be able to work the fields and to be family transportation up and down the mountains. Haflingers that were not able to be handled by children and the elderly were not kept or bred by the farmers, which is why today the personality is still a big part of the breed characteristics. 

Neal Bever has a herd of Haflingers that he still farms with on his farm in Ohio. He finds farming with his Haflingers relaxing, yet challenging. He has a large farm and when he has the time he likes to use the I&J PTO cart (a forecart with powered take off)  with the hay tedder and rotary hay rake (used to fluff and roll hay to help dry it before it is baled). Neal also has a horse drawn manure spreader that he uses. 

Haflingers:  

• Mary, 14 year old mare, 14.1 hh
• Bell, 14 year old mare, 14 hh
• Doll, 17 year old mare, 14 hh
• Narvella of Green Acres or Vella, 7 year old mare, 15.1 hh
• Gem, 6 year old mare, 13 hh
• Chrissy, 6 year old mare, 13.2 hh
• Elsie, 3 year old mare, 14 hh
• New Diamond or The Princess, 3 year old mare, 15 hh
• Denny, 14 year old gelding, 15hh
• Stonewall Spencer or Bill, 19 year old stallion, 13.2hh

Discipline: Farming

Neal and his brothers raised, rode, and drove Shetlands when they were kids. His grandfather was a charter member of the Williams County Saddle Club  and the Grand Marshall of their town parade. He had a Palomino mare that he used.

Neal discovered Haflingers in an Amish community in Grabill, IN when he was buying harness supplies for his miniatures and Belgians. He realized that for the things he liked to do with the horses, Haflingers where easier to harness, take less feed, and cost less overall. These are all important things to consider when using horses as part of a farm. 

Neal uses the Haflingers to help farm corn, soy beans, and different kinds of hay. Neal also attends local county shows with some of his Haflingers, driving single and double. They are well behaved horses who know and like their jobs. 

I love seeing Haflingers being used for farm work. It is very cool and they seem to enjoy the work. In the fall, there are many Plow Days events at farms where all kinds of horses can plow up the field after it has been harvested. It is fun for everyone as there us food, log skidding, and other events at Plow Days. 

hump day haflinger series #20

Eva Roemaat is a horse trainer from the Netherlands. She started riding at the age of seven and always seemed to know about Haflingers. She has her own Haflinger that is quite the character.

Eva and Shilas

Haflinger: Wappard van der Wier or Shilas

Age: 13 year old gelding

Height: 1.58 meters (about 15.2 hh)

Favorite Food: Anything!

Personality: Shilas is very outgoing, present, and cheeky. He is also a smart boy!
Likes: He likes to learn new things with Flip (Shilas' very own minion), and Eva. 
Discipline: Classical Dressage and Trick Training

Shilas is also great at jumping and they go on a lot of outdoor rides. 

Eva started trick training in 2007, after she saw Cavalia. This inspired her to try some things with her horse. Shilas learned a few tricks really quickly and Eva kept teaching him more and more. His favorite trick to do is standing on a pedestal, while Eva likes to have him do a well executed bow. 

The bow

The pedestal

The key to trick training, as with all other training methods is to provide the reward for the behavior within two seconds. This way, the horse can correlate that the behavior he did earned him the reward, whether it be a treat, a rest, a release of pressure, or whatever else works. 

Eva and Shilas, plus the minion Flip, are always fun to watch on YouTube videos. They have a ton of videos that show training and even bloopers. 

Eva's goal is to enjoy the world of horses with her partner, Jesse Drent. She also wants to show everyone the things that are possible with horses, if you are patient enough and willing to work together.  

*All photos were taken from her Facebook page with her permission

hump day haflinger series #19

When I first bought Shyloh, she had a lot of issues that I was unprepared to handle. In my constant Interweb searches of all the Haflinger things, I found a therapeutic riding center that used only Haflingers in their program. Pretty Pony Pastures is always looking for volunteers to help, as they are dependent on them to run the program. I was up for the challenge!

I met Linda Watson, owner of the farm and all of her glorious Haflingers, 13 at that time, I believe. I was in heaven! I got to groom and work a horse, as well as talk to Linda and a couple of her lesson kids. It was a really good experience. Unfortunately, I grossly misjudged the distance and time it took to get there and could not commit to going once a week after work as I planned. I truly wish I lived closer.

Haflingers in the snow

Pretty Pony Pastures wanted a shorter horse for their therapeutic riding program and discovered the Haflinger breed. They bought two Haflingers at first, found out that they were gentle and had the disposition that they were looking, and from that point on, decided to only use Haflingers in their program. Since they began using Haflingers here, they have also learned that Haflingers are the breed of choice for therapeutic riding programs in Europe. 

Happy rider!

Children and adults with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities can benefit from therapeutic riding. The rhythmic movement that the rider feels when on horseback can increase the rider's flexibility, balance, and strength. Pretty Pony Pastures has riders that are on the Autism Spectrum, have Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and other disabilities. Their barn is completely ADA accessible and they have a ramp that the riders can use to get on the horse so they do not have to climb steps. Usually, the rider will have three volunteers with them: two people walking on the sides and one leading the horse. As the rider's ability increases, the number of volunteers decreases, as the ultimate goal is for the rider to ride independently. 

Riding class

Pretty Pony Pastures uses five Haflingers in their therapeutic riding program (they also offer English lessons):

Stella

Lu-Rain

Poppy

Leslie

Buttercup (I got to work with her)

Stella

Riders also learn how to groom, lead (if able), and general horse care. Linda works with the child and parents on an instructional riding plan that starts with learning to mount and hold the reins and can go through advanced riding or have the child ride to the best of his/her ability. Goals and progress are charted for the rider. 

Lu-Rain

Several of their riders have improved their core muscles from the therapeutic riding program. A couple riders have even moved from therapeutic riding to the traditional English riding classes. Linda hopes to get a sensory pad to put under the saddle to show the riders how they are sitting on the horse. 

Poppy

In addition to therapeutic and English riding, Pretty Pony Pastures also hosts many events to introduce people to horses. They have Ride with a Friend Day, Ladies Night Out, Test Ride a Pony, Golden Pony Club, and Hero and Volunteer Appreciation Day. There is also a Gift Shop online that helps support the program. 

Leslie

It is a very neat and well put together facility. I love how Linda has each horse color coordinated with a halter and lead combo. On their rack on the wall, she has identifying marks of the horses, plus a photo of them where their halter and lead hang. It is great for the kids, as if offers them more independence in getting the equipment for the horse they will be riding. I also remember Linda telling me once why she uses English saddles over Western saddles. She used to use Western saddles for their sense of security, but once didn't have on that would fit a child. She used an English saddle and noticed a vast improvement in that child from one ride. After that day, she got rid of the Western saddles and only uses English saddles.

Buttercup

Pretty Pony Pastures is a great place for kids and families to learn about horses and how to ride. Keep up the great work!

Tacking up