Aldridge Estate Equestrian Services

10/16/2023

Wow 🤩
I’m so happy to see this page growing so quickly.
Thank you and welcome to all of you.
As some of you may have noticed, I’ve not been posting updates on client horses etc this year. This is because of a past accident which has taken its time catching up with me.
At this time I am no longer offering training. I will continue to be available for healing treatments (ballistic massage and equine yoga) and behaviour issues.
We have been focusing our time into completing our cabin in which will be available to rent; along with possible equine retreats (bring your own horses).
Be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated.

09/17/2023

Here’s an update of what’s been happening around here. It’s been a process for sure and excited to start really seeing it starting to come together.
It will be completed hopefully by this winter for any outdoor enthusiasts. We purchased the “G-Stove” for it. Perfect for the size with water boiler and bake oven. 🤩🤩🤩
Possibility for use of the one acre horse pasture as well. ❤️

From chopping the trees, milling and processing our own lumber. To being a future A frame open concept cabin. Secluded in the woods overlooking the Bognor M...

09/19/2022

Casey’s full training update from Saturday (09-17-22).
Can you believe that this is only her 13th session with me? ❤️🐎

09/18/2022

Just a snippet of Saturday (yesterday).
Our last video really didn’t do this girl justice.
We have been trotting very comfortably for the last week.
Yesterday was our very first canter under saddle. Here it is to enjoy. Full video of yesterday coming soon.

09/15/2022

3 week Training video update for 9 year old Cassy, Morgan Arab cross, Restart.
Was a short ride today as Cassy and her bff had been moved fields and we experienced hesitation going through a small gate into the barn. She handled it calmly and is now learning what will be the beginnings of self loading. Also trying a new saddle today for owner.
Today we experienced our first separation anxiety. Her energy levels shifting slightly from her normal unfazed self.

08/17/2022

Great way to think about contact.

“I’m teaching my horse to accept contact”

If I had a dollar for every time I heard this! Typically it is accompanied by a horse throwing their head up, diving behind the vertical, gaping at the mouth- essentially attempting to be anywhere BUT the contact.

Here is something I often say to people in my clinics.

Imagine you’re on a date. Your date grabs your hand and doesn’t let go. You squirm to get away, but he holds tighter. He says, some day you will have to hold my hand so you need to get used to it. I won’t release until you accept this contact. Maybe he’s brought up in the school of thought that your display of evasion should be countered with a strap of some kind to prevent you from moving away- a flash nose band of sorts for you.

It doesn’t matter how light or heavy he touches- it is contact that isn’t right for the moment. It’s greedy, and inappropriate.

Now imagine you’re on a date and the conversation has lead you to realize you really enjoy his company. Your relationship is developing, he brushes your hand, you reach out and hold it.

Those are two very different feelings, and they come from two very different places.

When the conditions are there, the contact is taken by the horse. Not the other way around.

Contact has meaning. It is not meaningless pressure on the horses mouth, it is a holding of hands while you dance- it is a connection between your body and the horse’s hind legs. It is the display of everything you believe and who you are- manifested through your hand and into the horse- and the horse’s response is a direct representation of their preparation and feelings about your body and hands.

04/27/2022

So true. Set them and you up for success ❤

04/23/2022

Try to keep it natural 😊

Plenty of paddock time can actually reduce soft-tissue injury risk, say NJ researchers studying six years of data.

04/03/2022

Great advice.
When teaching mounting lessons, not only does staying close help the horse, it also helps me as a trainer keep the needed pressure on until the horse stops it's feet and I can reward by removing pressure.
Video in comments of a first mounting lesson

03/31/2022

Great information. It's always amazing how well we are connected.

12/24/2021

This right here! 😍
My Liberty Grace aka Belle will be coming 10 next July.
She had been "started" at 3 mildly, put back to field. Did the walk trot open division at local dressage shows at 5. Put back to mentally mature (black dragon mare with opposite double swirls). Restarted (full restart) again at 7. We have yet to canter under saddle (cantering=play for her), just added poles and free jumping. We've consistently played at liberty and worked on strength/balance exercises from the ground. Belle had a bone chip removed from her shoulder as a weanling. She's worth the wait. My forever horse. I wish more people would stop rushing their horses. My Christmas wish and dreams for 2022.
Marry Christmas to all. 🎄❤👏

After seeing multiple videos posted by various breeders bragging about their 2 ½ year olds/recently turned 3 year olds and sharing videos of them cantering around in the arena, I have decided to once again circulate the below article.

First of all, breeders *should* have the knowledge to understand a horse’s fragile and slow maturing musculoskeletal system. Breeders should not condone their own horses let along anyone’s horses being cantered around under saddle at an incredibly young age. Period. This sets a terrible example and is quite honestly animal abuse. Just because a horse does not object does not mean it is right. And quite frankly, most of the videos posted show animals that are already in pain or developing pain…

As breeders, we should strive to produce healthy and sound animals. We should promote horsemanship that produces long term soundness. No, starting a horse later does not guarantee soundness. But it certainly helps.

I am a firm believer in scientifically backed approaches to horsemanship. You can’t argue with science that has been proven time and time again. Let’s dispel some stupid rumors:

1. There is no such thing as a (skeletally) slow maturing horse or one that is fast maturing. No horse is skeletally mature before the age of 6. And that is on the low estimate for age.

2. Growth plates are not just in the knee. Every bone behind the skull has a growth plate. Not every single one needs to be converted to bone before starting. There is a schedule of when bone fuses…this is the information needed to know when to start a horse. Not their outward appearance. It is a known fact that during growth, proprioceptive awareness can regress, greatly increasing the risk of injury.

3. Starting a horse is not the same thing as riding a horse. Starting a horse does not mean cantering it 3-4 days a week in an arena.

4. Injecting a horse that is in pain does not mean you fixed a problem. You masked it.

5. You can build correct muscle and teach a horse how to move their body from the ground. This creates a solid foundation to work from once your horse is ready to actually be backed. Teach a horse to use its body correctly before backing and you’ll save yourself a lot of vet bills down the line.

Hocks are “late” for maturity. The growth plates on the tibial and fibular tarsals do not fuse until a horse is 3-3 ½. Ever wonder why so many horses seem to have hocks issues?? Horses need to learn to carry themselves and their own weight well before adding a rider.

The growth plates that are LAST to close are at the base of the neck. This area is where we ask a horse to raise the base of their neck and come round. If under too much stress, the growth plates can fracture or be permanently damaged.

There are DOZENS of activities you can do with a young horse to build healthy muscular development. None of them involve a saddle or your weight on their back. Teaching a horse to carry themselves correctly BEFORE adding a rider is essential and cannot be done in a week. A 2 ½ year old horse is a baby. Mentally and physically. We see far too many injured performance horses at VERY young ages - broken down and/or sour from work. It’s wrong. Period. They need slow and steady work and need time to recover from even the slightest of injuries.

PLEASE, if you are considering when you should start your horse and what that work load should look like, please read the below. There are some wonderful things you can do with your young developing horse. Please don’t rush a year out of greed.

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

12/14/2021

To all my amazing past and current clients.
Can you please take a few minutes to leave a review?
Thank you and much love!

12/14/2021

Absolutely ❤️ this!!!

11/25/2021

Athena. Not bad for just being started.

09/23/2021

Such a good girl. ❤️
I travel all Grey Bruce.
The highlights of our 3rd week training update.
The longer length update can be found on our YouTube channel.
If an owner can’t be present to view at least one session a week then I like to send a video update along with the daily updates.

5yr old Gypsy Vanner, full start, 3rd time bridled, first full lesson in hand (last session we finished with teaching her to walk with me beside her but no r...

09/04/2021

Only a few spots open on Tuesday and Thursday. If your thinking of signing up for our equine sciences extra credit, don't wait to long.

08/22/2021

This is this mares 4th solo ride. She just completed her 1st leg yield under saddle! 😃
Mom's face says it all. So proud of how far this mare has come!! 💖