LaVie Equine

06/04/2026

Just in case you forgot, I did too. So here is the reminder I needed today—and maybe you do, too—to pause, reset, and focus.

🔲 On the task at hand.
🔲 On Yourself.
🔲 On your goals.
..And mostly, just to stop acting like a total ping-pong ball bouncing from one thing to the next.
(Weee ADHD)

🕒🛑
Time to ground the feet, take a breath, and focus on what actually matters.

06/03/2026

Did you know ?

These pictures of equine nostrils provide accurate information on a horse's breathing and wind capacity in the moment. The left image reflects relaxed normal breathing. The center image is of dilated or flared nostrils that are opened more than usual in order to provide increased airflow to the lungs required by greater exertion.

The right image shows a horse fully dilated and showing pink inside the nostril. The pink reflects the intense blood flow to the respiratory system during very demanding work. It is not a good idea to keep a horse in such intense work for long periods when the nostrils are flared and pink as shown.

I have an interesting cultural observation regarding sharing nostril information with other riders about their horse. Years ago, when out riding in a group such as fox hunting it was considered a courtesy to tell a fellow rider if you saw their horse's nostrils fully dilated and pink. The usual response was, "Thank you". The last time I went hunting I shared that information with a rider who became offended and essentially told me to mind my own business. Times and people have changed.

I suggest that today if you feel your horse is breathing heavily, that you ask someone to look at your horse's nostrils and tell you what they see.

The way to avoid highly flared nostrils and flared nostrils showing pink is to build fitness in your horses. There is an old saying, "Trotting builds muscle and cantering builds wind". Canter more.

06/03/2026

The Long Game 🪵🏡

​Lately, I’ve been feeling a massive ache that I know a lot of horse people can relate to: the struggle of not having a horse of my own right now.

​If I'm being completely honest with myself, I know I’m not in a place to own one again today. But logic doesn’t always stop your heart from missing it. I miss building that deep, day-in and day-out relationship. Sometimes, it feels like I’m just missing out—wasting valuable time that I could be using to build something beautiful.

​But then I have to look at the bigger picture and remind myself to stay the course, even when that course looks entirely un-horse-related.
​Right now, my "barn time" looks a lot more like home renovations, drywall, and endless dust. It’s a completely different kind of grinding, but it has a purpose. I am playing the long game. I know, without a doubt, that this house is my ticket to my future farm. Every project, every upgrade, and every bit of sweat equity we pour into this place is building the foundation for where I need to be.

​It’s hard to choose patience when your heart wants to be in the dirt, but some dreams require a foundation before they can have a roof. So, for now, I’m trading the saddle for the tool belt, trusting the process, and investing in the future where the horses are waiting.

​To anyone else grinding through a season that feels miles away from your ultimate dream—hang in there. We are building the runway. 🛠️✨

06/02/2026

What I saw at the weekend gives me so much hope for the future of our sport.

The first British bridleless competition saw riders competing in both dressage and showjumping completely without a bridle. I urge you to seek out the footage of these tests and rounds, but more importantly, sit down and really watch what these horses and riders are doing.

This is what our sport should be about.

True connection that cannot be masked, forced or falsified with two reins, a bigger bit or the latest piece of “magic” equipment.

Horses afforded the freedom to move their head, neck, jaw, tongue…unrestricted, and still performing. Not just performing, but performing comfortably and happily.

Every single one of these riders deserves our respect. Whilst so much attention is given to those who can only achieve these things with metal, leather and restriction, these riders are achieving harmony through nothing but training, patience and understanding.

Does everyone need to ride bridleless to prove that? No, of course not. But the amount to be learned from watching these horses, and how they respond is significant.

There is so much negativity in the equestrian world, and it isn’t unfounded. There is a lot not to like, a lot to be angry about, and a lot that needs to change.

But this felt like a breath of fresh air.

A clear sign that there are riders out there who can and will do it differently, even if they don’t get the same spotlight as the more “conventional” combinations.

These are the riders we need to champion, these are the riders we need to celebrate, because sometimes it’s hard to believe that performance sport and prioritising welfare can coexist.

But here it is, living proof and my goodness, is it magical.

-

Photo of the wonderfully talented Georgie Wood Equestrian Performance, taken by Ella Dockery Photography.

06/02/2026

Can NOT WAIT to attend this in September!

Becks Nairn, horse welfare advicate, equine dissectionist, biomachinics

06/01/2026

🤓 Diving deep into the geeky side of horses lately, and I am absolutely fascinated.

I’ve been completely immersing myself in the world of equine biomechanics
—essentially, looking at how a horse’s muscles, bones, tendons, and joints all move and work together as a dynamic system.

It’s one thing to see a horse move beautifully, but it’s a whole other game to break down why and how they do it. Understanding the physics behind how they carry weight, balance, and push off the ground changes everything about how we look at training, sound movement, and long-term joint health.

Every time I think I’ve got a handle on it, I find another layer to unpack. It’s making me look at every stride, every transition, and every hoof placement with a completely new set of eyes! 🐴✨

To my fellow horse nerds out there: What’s your favorite piece of the biomechanics puzzle? Are you obsessed with posture, core engagement, or hoof-and-ground interaction?

05/30/2026

A year ago, back when I was still living in Kelowna, I signed up for a French Classical Dressage clinic on a whim. I’d never been to the facility, I didn’t know the clinician, and if I’m being honest, I didn't fully appreciate just how fundamentally different the core philosophies of dressage can be across European traditions. I just showed up ready to ride.

Right off the bat, the clinician asked a simple question that completely shifted my perspective:

"Can we take the noseband off?"

I said yes, and for the first time, I actually stopped to question its function. I realized just how unnecessary it was for my bridle, and how little it was doing to actually help my horse or my connection.

That weekend wasn't about pulling or forcing; it was about pure feeling. I learned to find straightness in her body entirely through my hips, tuning into a whole new depth of biomechanics. I left with a brain full of strange-sounding classical terms whose names I couldn't quite pronounce, but whose meanings were burned into my muscle memory.
But that clinic didn't just change how I ride—it changed what I dream about.

It was the exact place I first laid eyes on Moshe.
For the last two years, I have absolutely swooned over this horse. He’s a breathtaking sooty buckskin Lusitano with long, flowing black waves for a mane and tail. He is one of the most solid, powerful creatures I’ve ever seen—elegant and wild all in the same breath.
Seeing him was the spark. It started my absolute deep dive into the Lusitano breed and a massive rabbit hole of studying different historical styles of dressage.

It’s funny how a random weekend clinic can completely realign your path, your philosophy, and your goals.

Have you ever have a single clinic completely change your equine world? 🐴✨

05/28/2026

Let's dive a little deeper into that pedigree obsession... because lately, my heart has gone in a very specific direction. 👑✨

If you've been following my late-night rabbit holes, you know I can get lost in horse breeding for hours. But recently, that obsession has turned into an absolute infatuation with a specific world: the Lusitano and the Andalusian
My core riding has always been rooted in classical dressage—it’s how I learned to ride, and it’s the foundation I use when starting every single horse, no matter their breed or future job. But studying the history of those classical elements eventually leads you back to the Iberian horse.

The more I sift through the records, the sires, the dams, and the centuries of history, the more captivated I become. It has literally opened up a whole new world of horses to educate myself on.
I’ve found myself captivated by the true Baroque horse. It’s not just about the fairy-tale looks, the massive crests, or the thick manes. It’s about the mind and the mechanics. The incredible power in their hindquarters, their natural ability to collect, their lightness, and that legendary "will to please" attitude. They are the living embodiment of everything classical training strives to achieve.

And if I'm being completely honest? I have a dream.
One day, I want to breed myself the perfect Baroque horse. To take all this research, all these years of training labor, and all these late-night pedigree deep-dives, and put it into creating a horse that honors that incredible lineage.
Until then, I’m soaking up every bit of history, bloodline data, and knowledge I can find while my physical body takes a little pause.
There is something so magical about letting yourself dream big in this industry. It keeps the passion burning bright. 🔥
Are there any other Baroque lovers on my feed?

What is your ultimate dream horse ?👇

05/26/2026

Tell me I’m not the only one who does this... 🖥️✨

​It starts innocently. You look up one horse's sire. Then you see the dam's side. Suddenly, it's 11:00 PM and you have 15 tabs open, tracking show records, offspring earnings, and historical bloodlines from three decades ago.
​I am completely obsessed with horse breeding—of any breed.

​I love the detective work of it. Looking at a phenomenal horse and saying, "Okay, where did that mind come from? Where did that incredible hock action originate?" and tracing it back to the source.

​Whether it's studying classical dressage lines, high-performance sport horses, or working cow horses, the magic is in the blueprints. For me, this obsession isn't just a hobby; it directly impacts how I approach training and coaching. When you understand what’s in a horse's DNA, you can tailor your approach to match their natural instinct and biomechanics.

​Alright, let's hear it—what is your ultimate favorite horse bloodline, and why are you obsessed with it?

​

11/23/2025

Sometimes cold winter days bring inside chores, like getting some tack cleaned up!