Raising the Standards

14/08/2025

Sometimes all it takes is
☀️ a little sunshine
🐴 the view between two ears
…to fill the happy meter right up 🥰

06/08/2025

It probably looks like I’ve gone into winter hibernation, once again.

And, to be fair, that’s not entirely wrong .

I’ve been quiet over the last few weeks.
Horses have a way of keeping us humble 🫣

The truth is, the journey back into the saddle since having kids has been the ultimate emotional and physical rollercoaster.

When I first started easing back in, I didn’t have a steady horse of my own. What I did have was access to was a lot of beautiful horses. All unbroken to saddle, big-moving, off-the-track standardbreds.

Incredible animals, but a feat for even the most balanced and confident rider to bring along from scratch.

Recently, I had a moment of realisation that’s been building for a while: my involvement with horses is a paradox.

On one hand, I’m Raising the Standards: someone known in the broader standardbred community as a guide and educator.

There are students all over the world who turn to me for direction and reassurance. Accessing my online courses and trusting me to help them through this journey.

On the other hand, I’m a woman.
A mother who went through two very difficult pregnancies and two emergency caesareans. Left with a string of complications, compromised core strength and confidence at an all-time low.

Getting back into the saddle was never going to be easy.

I knew from the start of my ‘restart’ that this wasn’t a journey I wanted to go through on a green horse. Doing this would feel unfair on both the horse and me.

But, as fate would have it, through a series of setbacks and heartbreaking disappointments with other horses, I've found myself left doing it with Dan.

For context, Dan is a 16.2hh+, massive-moving retired pacer who raced until he was nearly 8. A kind-but-defensive type, Dan grows an extra 5hh and summons the bravdo of a t-rex on assault when he’s adrenalised. And EVERYTHING new seems to offend him and spark a reaction... 'NO, I CAN'T!!!...Oh...wait... I actually can...nevermind' 🤭

Swinging into the saddle onto this big, complicated boy whilst I have limited balance, strength, coordination and mental muscle memory that doesn’t always reach my body, has been confronting and ego-crushing to say the least.

At first, I approached Dan’s retraining with a plan to film and document everything. To use him as a model for Raising the Standards. It’s been a while since I’ve had a consistent horse to take through the process and it seemed to make sense.

But, I’ve come to realise that trying to turn this journey into educational content right now Is doing a disservice to myself. And, more importantly, Dan.

Setting up cameras.
Feeling watched.
Trying to present something clean and structured whilst quietly wrestling with fear and overwhelm.

Coupled with the loss of identity from the lingering memory of the rider I once was (a vision so far in the rearview mirror I can no longer even relate to that person).... Well, it all became too much.

So, about a week ago I made a decision: no more filming.
No more forcing it into a neat ‘teachable’ moment.

Just ride.
Just move forward.
Stop waiting to be ready.
Do the thing.

Because the truth is: Dan and I deserve progress.
And my own excuses have been holding us both back.

I’m really happy to say that, since my epiphany, I've worked with Dan every single day over the past week.

Yesterday, we tackled his enormous, bouncy trot - something I didn’t think I would even dare attempt for a very long time.

Was it ugly?
Absolutely!
Was I rolling around in the saddle like a spud?
You bet!
Any footage?
Not a single frame.
But, did we do it?
YES 🥹
Did I finish the ride with tears in my eyes and a face-splitting grin?
Also yes.

And that’s what it’s all about 🫶

So, I might stay quiet for a little while longer.
I might not be updating course content yet, nor jumping online with my usual energy.

But, progress is progress.

And with every ride and every workout, I’m getting closer to feeling strong again.

Closer to the version of me who once felt at home in the saddle.
Closer to the day I can bring you all into the process properly.

For now, it’s just me and Dan.

Flappin’ around.
Finding our rhythm.
Doing hard things.
Trying our best.

Putting one hoof in front of the other, as we stride, slowly but surely, towards our dreams ✨

11/06/2025

👀 Dan's first time trying Hygain Smoochies

Safe to say, another addict is born 🤭

09/06/2025

Isn’t it beautiful? 🌈
(We’re talking about the mud, not the rainbow….Well, maybe both!)

After months of kicking inches of dust well into June, this paddock glistening with water is the most stunning sight we’ve seen in a while 🤩

It’s a polarising picture across Australia right now, from devastating floods up north to extreme drought in southern regions. After 25 years on this property, I’ve never seen it this dry... and hay supplies are tighter than ever 🥹

So these past three days of slow, soaking rain have been nothing short of a miracle 🙏 We’re crossing fingers the water table keeps rising and spring brings the growth we so desperately need 🌱

Thinking of everyone doing it tough right now, whether you’re battling too much water or not nearly enough 💜

26/05/2025

🧊When your horse trough doubles as an ice rink... you know winter is just around the corner ❄️

But whilst frosty mornings might look pretty, they’re no joke when it comes to horse health. Frozen water means less drinking, which can increase the risk of impaction colic.

A few simple winter hacks we use at Raising the Standards:
💧 Add warm water to troughs in the morning to melt the ice and make the temperature more inviting
🧂 Add salt to your horse’s diet to help encourage drinking
💩 And don’t forget the fibre – it keeps the gut moving.

With hay hard to come by right now, thanks to both drought and floods across the country, we’ve been leaning on feeds like Hygain Fibressential and Micrbeet to keep digestion running smoothly (plus, if you add warm water to Micrbeet you’ve got your horse a winter-warming belly hug in a bucket 🥰)

28/04/2025

When this horse first arrived, I’ll be honest — he didn’t exactly endear himself to me 😐

He was the kind of horse who met anything new with suspicion and dominance.

Tense, strong and defensive, he made it clear he had no interest in me. He would even turn his butt, swish his tail menacingly and walk away the moment I entered the paddock.

Around other horses he was even more confrontational, chasing down his paddock mates and throwing his weight around to make sure everyone knew who was in charge.

He came to me as a retraining prospect for RDA, but I failed him almost immediately, seeing him as a problem rather than a possibility.

If I hadn’t been distracted by other priorities at the time, I probably would have written him off and sent him back.

But time — 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Slowly, his walls came down.

As he started to familiarise himself with his surroundings and trust me, I began to see glimpses of the horse underneath the bravado.

He became soft, affectionate and deeply connected 🫶
The horse who was described by his racing family and that 'typical' calm, smoochy, easygoing standy that we all know and love.

It's taken two years, but he’s become my best friend and equine soulmate.

The first to come trotting over the moment he sees my six-year-old, lowering his head for a gentle pat 🥰

The horse who gives 110% in everything asked of him and who takes care of me in ways that words don’t capture

Despite being a great whopping 16.2hh+ of incredibly green, bouncy ex-pacer, he’s the one I trust to help me back in the saddle after nearly a decade out of rhythm.

The thing is…
If I hadn't been experienced enough to recognise the process, I would have missed out on him completely.

I would have rushed to judge him based on how he first appeared. And that would have been my greatest mistake.

In a world where we expect everything instantly, it's important to remember that 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

Just as we wouldn't want to be judged on a first impression, a bad day or when we're feeling very overwhelmed by change and uncertainty, we owe our horses the same patience, understanding and opportunity to show who they really are.

Our standardbreds often carry long histories we’ll never fully know. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘴.

The best horses aren’t always the easiest at the start.

But it’s those who challenge us to see beyond what’s on the surface that become the ones we can’t imagine life without ✨

22/04/2025

🔁 Re-sharing this Standardbred Podcast episode because it’s especially relevant right now 🎙🐴

With such a dry start to the year, many horse owners are struggling to source good quality hay and figuring out how to manage your standardbred’s health in drought conditions can be a real challenge 🥹

This episode, featuring our friend Holly from Mitavite, dives into fibre and roughage requirements, along with a helpful discussion on mycotoxins and how to keep feed quality in check 🐴🌱

If you missed it the first time, now’s the perfect time to tune in:
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/2mLD8TJ1sWBY9B87UOgejb

14/04/2025

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙✨ (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘦 🐴 )

First ride on repaired arena after 2 years ✅
On my heart horse 🥰 🐎
On my birthday 🎈
With a belly full of pancakes 🥞

Dan might be a big, green dinosaur, but the bond we share and the way he takes care of me… 🥹…Words can’t describe it.

Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect moment ✨

Gosh it feels good to be back 🫶🏻🥰🐴

11/04/2025

📣 𝗔 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 🐎

Did you know standardbreds are more prone to ulcers due to the high rates of occurrence during their racing careers—and that these ulcers can recur even years into retirement? 🥹

At Raising the Standards, we value the importance of taking a whole-health approach to retraining, understanding that digestive health and nutrition are critical factors in supporting a horse’s transition from racehorse to riding partner.

With this in mind, we recommend and use Digest and Protect daily as a preventative and supportive measure for gut health 🐴✨

We also love adding warm Micrbeet to our horses’ feeds, especially in winter, for that extra comfort and nutritional boost 🥰

If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure what to feed your standardbred, you can now schedule a FREE nutritional consult with an equine nutritionist expert 📱🐴 👇
https://raisingthestandards.com.au/mitavite/

We’re incredibly grateful to the Hygain/Mitavite team for offering this service, along with some fantastic advice via their social channels, to our standardbred community 🙏💜

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗽 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗹𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀?

Did you know that beet pulp is rich in pectin, a soluble fibre naturally found in fruits and vegetables?

Pectin plays a crucial role in supporting gastric health in horses. Research suggests that pectin can aid in the healing of squamous ulcers by forming a protective gel when it interacts with stomach acid. This gel-like barrier helps shield the stomach lining from harsh gastric acids, reducing irritation and promoting recovery.

📚 References:
Menzies-Gow et al., 2024
Ferrucci et al., 2003
Venner et al., 1999

Discover the benefits of beet pulp as found in HYGAIN® MICRBEET®:
👉 https://hygain.com.au/products/hygain-micrbeet

08/04/2025

Some Jimmy spam, because he has the cutest little patootie face ever 🥰

This past week, Jimmy and Dan have had a once-over from our long-time friend and ‘man with the magic hands’, Dr Ian Bidstrup, Spinal Vet 👐🩺

Here at Raising the Standards, our horses undergo a comprehensive in-hand groundwork program, along with a saddle fit and bodywork with highly qualified and experienced professionals across a range of modalities, in preparation for retraining and ridden work.

Horses can experience long-term issues stemming from birth trauma and niggles from intensive training as a racehorse, that can quietly build up over time and lead to significant discomfort, tension, or compensation patterns throughout the body.

Being such a stoic breed, standies will often endure underlying pain without acting out. It’s our responsibility to address their health needs and take things slowly, giving them time to grow strong and supple enough for the fun, new experiences that await them beyond the track 🐎✨

With our arena FINALLY repaired, I can’t tell you how excited I am to be returning to life back out in the paddocks, doing the thing I love the most (honestly, I could just BURST with happiness!) 🥹🐴💜

I look forward to making some updates to our online course content 🎥 and taking you all along for the ride, with fresh new faces and adventures ahead!

With gratitude for our beautiful standy community, who have stuck by, supported and celebrated the 'little wins' with me, across many, many years 😘
- Nic ###

04/04/2025

Former Troop Horse Bob showing young Jimmy that anything is possible for a champ with a stamp 🐴💙🐴

From the harness racetrack to the front lines of public service, Bob's journey is nothing short of inspiring ✨

Bob found a new calling when he came to
Raising the Standards for retraining at eight years of age.

Just five months after his last race as a pacer, Bob was accepted into the prestigious Victoria Police Mounted Branch 👮‍♂️ 🐎

For almost 9 years (2014-2022), Bob served his community with honour, assisting in search and rescue missions, crowd control, public safety operations and standing tall during major rallies and demonstrations ⭐️

His calm demeanour and unwavering dedication made him a trusted partner and outstanding Troop Horse 🏅

2 years ago, after a distinguished career in service, Bob returned to Raising the Standards, where he’s living out his well-earned retirement surrounded by a loving herd of fellow standardbreds.

We thank Victoria Police for providing Bob with this special momento, which we will cherish on behalf of an incredible horse who gave so much to his community 🫶🏻💙

11/03/2025

It’s been a minute 🫣

As they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup and so I’ve been quietly refilling ❤️

Still no safe area to work horses.
Stinking hot conditions.
All the excuses… but, really, it’s been nice to slow down, disconnect and focus on what’s important.

Despite stepping back from social media , our online courses are still gaining new students every week and it’s lovely to continue to support our wondeful standy community from behind the scenes.

I also continue to be inspired by incredible riders doing amazing things and sharing their stories with me as part of my freelance journalism work for HRV Hero 💚

On a personal note, it seems the next generation of ‘crazy horse person’ has hit the Tassone family and we’ve welcomed a beautiful new little standardbred into our herd, with hopes he’ll transition nicely to saddle and make a great start-up partner for my 6yo son 🤞 (It seems the universe was listening when I wished for a horse just like Dan, only a couple of hands smaller - miraculously, we’ve found a little clone, with Jimmy taking to loving kids with as much enthusiasm as his big brother 🙌)

Standies are just such gentle souls and we are so blessed to be able to raise our kids and nurture their passions around kind, calm, patient friends 🥰🐴

As the weather starts to settle, and with the promise of facilities on the near horizon, I look forward to having more updates and getting back to my other ‘home’ - in the saddle, admiring the view between two ears ✨

Nic xx