The importance of letting your horse roll-Messy and Happy

To roll or not to roll that may be the question in your mind when you have a beautiful horse that you would like to keep clean. 

Rolling is very important to your horse emotionally as well as physically. Your horse needs it just like we do when we lye on the living room floor and stretch out our backs. 

One of the most important times is directly after riding before you hose your horse off. This often will make your horse not want to roll after the bath too. Sometimes the horse wants both! 

This is beneficial to the horse's body because he can align his spine and straighten out any kinks that may have been created in his back under the saddle.

I personally find that some horses are happy while being ridden if they have been allowed to roll and run around before grooming and saddling. 

Horses are often happier psychologically and physically even when they look messy to us! Messy and Happy!

Rescue a horse as your first horse! Over 100,000 horses a year go to kill pens in the US and are then transported to Mexican and Canadian slaughter houses...

Rescue a horse as your first horse! Over 100,000 horses a year go to kill pens in the US and are then transported to Mexican and Canadian slaughter houses...

for human consumption in MANY other countries. Horse meat has been found in ground beef in Taco Bell for instance.

Slaughtering horses or selling horses for slaughter has been illegal in Texas since 1949 but several of the nations Kill Pens are in Texas...this is their last stop until they go to Mexico.

There are many advocates working on the legal aspects of this issue.

If you are looking to get a horse this is a great way to SAVE A LIFE and get a horse for under $1000

Most of my students are adult beginners. Women that have always wanted to have a horse but somehow never got to. Most women have stories of someone talking them out of it. Saying it's unrealistic. You have to be rich in order to have a horse. This isn't true.

This misconception is what makes 1000's of horses go to these cruel places to be killed. They are not old ill horses going through these places. 92% are healthy and under the age of 5. These are where breeders send the horses that won't make them $'s .

In my experience there are many great riding horses that would be perfect first horses. There were at least 5 gaited (very smooth movement) horses there in the last month. These horses ranged from 8 years old to 15. The perfect age to enjoy trail riding. There are horses off the track that are 12+ years old that could make a teens life super happy as a jumper.

My horse Remington-who was being sent to slaughter as a baby after he was part of the Premarin Menopause Drug Project

Just to give you an idea about expenses on a horse. Every area is a bit different but in General it is only super expensive if your horse is in full training and you have a groom. You don't have to do it this way. So in Southern California Board ( basic feed, water, and location) is anywhere from $300-900 a month. Farrier (hoof specialist) is around $50-$300 a month (most horses are at the lower end of this spectrum] Some horses need hoof care every 4 weeks/some can be every 6 weeks/and a few can go longer.

Additional feed can be $30-$100 a month (alot of horses are easy keepers and don't need this).

Lessons can be $60-$150 (can take a couple a month or once a week) There are online educational options and many great books written about riding and horse care.

The unexpected veterinary care is what most people are concerned with. There are insurance options for colic surgery that I've heard are around $45/month

I tell people to think about $1000 a month for all your basic horse upkeep bills.


Most times people don't additionally need to go to therapy so you save on that;) The horse is the therapist...Equine Therapy. Why go and pay $300-$25,000 for Equine therapy when you can save a horse and get the therapy straight from the Rescue Horse's mouth:)

If you are interested in private or group lessons in Malibu you can fill out my form below and receive a call or email in return.

Lesson Request Form

Our horses are rescue horses and taking lessons and rides supports their lives.

Make your dream of owning or leasing (responsibility is shared and you can stop whenever you want:) a horse come true!

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It is important to stay flexible and in the moment when training a horse. There are different methods for different horses. No one way is correct.

Often I hear opinionated horse people saying. I always do such and such. For instances using a stud chain on a horse when going into a trailer. In my opinion this usually is going against the goal of releasing pressure on the front end of the horse and increasing pressure behind the horse. This may work on a less physically sensitive horse (some warm bloods, drafts, quarter horses, etc.) and then not work at all on a very physically sensitive horse (Thoroughbred, Arabian, etc.)

Also with scheduling- While yes keeping a regulated schedule for feeding and chores helps horses feel more comfortable; sometimes if there has been a change like a new horse has entered barn  or weather is different, light is different because of daylight savings, etc. then it is best to adapt to the situation and make the best decision for the horses collectively. Like feeding extra bran mash. Moving horses to where they feel most comfortable in proximity to each other.

Bottom line, Assess in the moment and Adapt.

JUST BE

Working with a baby horse-using food as a reward and an emotional pacifier-slaughter bound rescue

Today I worked with a baby, well he's apparently pushing 2... he is an unhandled baby from the Kaufman Kill Pen in Texas. He was not "halter broke"...dumb term...trained to walk with a halter on his cutie face. Must be bizarre to have someone walk you around by your face if you think about it.

This is my student who rescued him learning to work with him. He's allowing touching.

I wish I had pictures or video of today. We will have to set up a camera. It was pretty awesome though. Took about 20 minutes to get him fairly desensitized to the halter and then I took him to the round pen. Where I then used my student with a feed bucket in the middle behind me as the bait and his job was to put his halter on and then he could get a bit of grain. We did it three times with run around loose equine sanity breaks in between. The third time he quickly shoved his nose through the halter with no fear. It was sweet he was like-OK, I got it-I'm doing it right-now give me the goods:)

There are so many rules where people say never do this or that. For instance using feed in training. There are times for it like this one-where a horse Loves food and has had alot of trauma. It is very helpful in moderation to create the desired result without misunderstanding and added trauma.

There are no cut and dry Rules. i.e. No shoes, only "natural hoof trimming", no alfalfa, no hand feeding, etc. There are times and places for all of these things. Every situation is different.

Horses are no different than ourselves in many ways...If you wonder what your horse feels...think of you in that situation..

So often, I hear new horse owners being bombarded with information immediately upon entering into the world of "Horse Ownership". They become overwhelmed pretty quickly. Barn owners, trainers, equine professionals of all sorts, and opinionated fellow horse loving people all have the Be All End All answers to everything you are experiencing with your horse...given generically in every situation. Answers repeated endlessly from text books written 10 years ago that lists and ailment and a treatment outdated and often ineffective. Very few people stop and assess the situation at hand and make an educated judgement based on their exploration and understanding of the situation at hand.

...And here is just a beautiful video of Jesse's Girl learning to jump. She is a Polo Pony Rescue.

My personal method is to always listen to all opinions and think them over... gauging the likelihood of  the suggested advice helping to improve my horse or my horse's situation. There is something so bizarre about the equine culture. In some ways it can be so stagnant and steeped in "Traditional"  practices it is barbaric in some cases, the pain of a bit against gum tissue in inexperienced hands, spurs that dig in and say nothing to a inadequately negotiated with horse. Does your horse want to be with you in what you are doing with him. I like to call this "High Class Horse Abuse". Jess (The above horse) is from this world. Polo is a fancy, high class, "Sport of Kings. Many of these horses, and many horses in all equine sport disciplines experience an abuse that is painful to them but somewhat ignorable to the humans involved. 

I recall going to the Equine Affair in Pomona California in 2007 or so...I needed to charge my phone so I snuck into the back of a lecture hall of 500 or so people... the speaker was a late in life cowboy of limited scope...he said "Horses do not have emotions"...I literally spit by accident into laughter. Anyone that loves their horse knows that they for sure have emotions...and dramatic ones at that.

"What is good for the horse, is rarely convenient for the human"- Inge Halliday

In conclusion, you will ultimately have to be the one to decide what is best for your equine friend. Basically all you have to do to figure out how your horse feels; is to think of yourself in the same situation. It's that simple. You want freedom. You want Love. You want understanding. You want food. You want water. You want somewhere nice to sleep. You want fun. You want friends. You want peace....and sometimes yer in a shitty mood...if there a difference between horses and humans?

Horse's spines....Why are the backs low? ...why are the whithers high...Think about it...how do braces on teeth work? You put pressure on bone=bones changes.

The horse industry is very reluctant to agknowledge this reality. Most stay stuck in beliefs such as....you must trim feet the way they grow or sugar does not cause cavities...what time period are these professionals living in? Um, horse teeth are made of of the same substances as human teeth and we have come a long way since barbers pulled teeth and hung bloody rags out on a hitching post to dry forming the symbolic red and white barbers pole.

The focus of this is: yes, we definitely affect the shape of a horse's back and spine. Ride from your own thigh muscles...ride like you are riding bareback,.. always!...and you will be riding correctly.

For Group or Private Lessons with Inge C. Halliday please fill out a Lesson Request Form 

Frustrated kids at fancy hunter jumper barns-what happened to just having fun with your horse? oh it doesn't make money...ah yes

I must write this now! This is such a common story, at least here in SoCal. Kid loves horses, kid starts riding, kid goes into full training, kid loses love of horses... What the Fuh? If you don't understand something-follow the money and the ego trail. I just had a concerned father call me and say that his son has been in full training at a hunter jumper barn and they are basically abusive to them telling them their horse is not good enough and that they must buy a $30,000-$50,000 horse.

Be a kid forever-me n my friend bein kids:)

Riding should be fun for you and for the horse. Not just push push push. Win ribbons. Not just for something to brag about to the other parents. Like my kid is a bla bla bla! First and foremost is your kid actually happy with their horse experience. All the kids I've seen here in Malibu with overachieving parents who NEED there kids to be Jumping by month two of their riding whether it's safe for them or not, end up either having injured children or kids that never want to ride again after they were pushed so hard through their formative years. This is something meant to be enjoyed. A relationship between horse and human. Curb the social climbing egotistical chatter and let your kid grow and enjoy horses at his or her own pace.

You don't need a super expensive horse to go far-you have to take the time to really learn to ride. That just takes time and actually just being on the horse.

For instance look at this horse

http://www.horsestarshalloffame.org/inductees/82/snowman.aspx

He was $80

Learn to ride by riding-riding alot -riding bareback-riding different horses-training in the arena-enjoying exploring the trails-try different trainers(I hate the oh no I don't want to cheat on my trainer thing-don't let anyone limit you)-watch videos-use your own judgement-learn from your decisions

When you think your horse is maybe unhappy or lame and your trainer says no keep going you might ask if the trainer gets something out of ignoring that horse's pain. If your kid is unhappy you might ask yoursef what is more important; creating happy memories and experiences or collecting $3 ribbons that will collect dust later.

What we humans do to horses mindlessly is atrocious -stud chains-This picture is what I call - #highclasshorseabuse

I call this High Class horse abuse because socially no one dare say to these people "What you are doing to this horse is hurting him or her." This is a pic I took a screen shot of off of a racehorse breeder or trainers instagram. I often make comments to try to educate them. I of course get snarky comments back from people who just worship the wealth and prestige that comes with the racing world and either don't notice the pain these horses endure or choose to turn a blind eye. 

I strongly believe that even if it is socially uncomfortable for us as humans to say something to help educate people about what horses feel and to help ease some of the physical and emotional pain horses experience due to us as humans stuck in outdated abusive ways of attempting to control.

This horse here is rearing because of the pressure of the stud chain being pulled tight across his upper gums and teeth. When I made this comment on the instagram photo- one of the fans of page said that no the horse was probably spooking at something and I shouldn't make comments like this on a "Nice" person's picture. My response was I'm sure they are very "Nice" people just steeped in tradition and doing things the way they always have been done. This doesn't change the fact that-while the horse may have spooked-I guarantee you the response of the handler here was to "shank" him hard with the lead rope which tightens the chain on the gums-the chain doesn't release well in this position, so likely it stayed tight. The only choice a horse has to try to get away from the painful pressure is to go up and back away from it.

No matter how uncomfortable or un-PC you are being never stop being their voice-they can't do it themselves!

#BETHEIRVOICE

I think it is important to be conscious of what the pressure of metal does to the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. 

What does the pressure of a bit do to the mouth? Well- Think about it! How do you think BRACES work? 

1. pressure on hard tissue changes its shape over time.

2.soft tissue rips and bleeds and changes shape with pressure overtime too.

~ Inge Halliday- Registered Dental/surgical Assistant /Horse Trainer/Instructor

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If you must use a bit, be conscious of its action and the resulting physicality, including demeanor changes. One should move towards using a NO BIT option more often. We should be riding from our seats! Right?

Give your horse's mouth and and mind a break from the metal bar. Your horse will thank YOU! <3

 This picture is amazing to me, I will have to figure out one that works for my horse Remington..........

                 

                                          INge & REmington

           

                                          Remington

  

Vaulting is so Beautiful. Top Three females.

Stunning Vaulting

I love vaulting. It is such a beautiful sport. One of the hardest sports I think a human can do. I also think it is one of the kindest equestrian disciplines for the horse. FINALLY one in which the human is working harder than the horse. Its about time. 

Kauai, Hawaii is heaven on Earth for Horses

Kauai, Hawaii

                  If there ever was a way a horse should live. The perfect life! Then, this is it! I traveled through the beautiful and lush Hanalei area of the extraordinary Garden Isle of Kauai today; chasing the sun, searching for the end of the road. Horses live the best life of freedom in this spectacular field nestled between two mountains made of deeply healing black lava rock. I've found heaven and I wanna stay.

So after being here for 2.5 months healing from a life altering car accident in the beginning of the year. I see life through new eyes. I love Kauai and its amazing and prolific abundance, but I desire to go back to the mainland, to Los Angeles, to Malibu, to share horses with people that crave horses, crave nature, want to be of service, of service to an animal that relies on our whim. I hope to meet lots of people in Los Angeles that want to get back to nature; that want to make a difference in a horse's life. I am going back to LA next week to re establish myself and my business. www.MalibuHorsesInc.com

                #LuckyLiveKauai #happyhorse 

    #healing #lush #aninibeach #kauai #hawaii #inge

       Inge C. Halliday 

    Super Horse Expert

      Malibu, California

  On sabbatical in Kauai

Healing summer sores naturally

It is possible to heal a summer sore without cutting part of the lip out! I think that it is a bit aggressive in most cases to excise the infected portion of the lip repeatedly.Natural modalities can be used to heal these surprisingly quickly.

These pics are my experience of using a remedy I made at home for approx a week and a half--

1st two days

Organic garlic crushed up
Mixed with vitamin E
Aztec clay

Daily treatment once first layer of infection gone
Aztec clay mixed with vinegar

Daily Follow up after above treatment

Vitamin e with clay dusted on top to soak all moisture up

Look for after pic**