X7 Performance Horses

04/18/2025

04/04/2025

03/20/2025

THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE ARENA

I hear it often. "The arena work makes my horse bored." "I dont want to pay someone to ride my horse around in a bunch of circles", etc. Comments like this are not educated ones and I say that respectfully. I've been reflecting on my program a lot this week and why I do what I do.

If you think about it, the arena is only a location. It has 4 walls and usually big enough that you have to still school your horse without the roundpen walls turning your horse for you. It's really the only difference between riding in the arena and riding out. Trail riding is exposure to objects, environment, and maybe a job too like gathering or roping cattle. But the majority of my clients ride out leisurely, not for a job.

So why down play the arena? My arena is 150x240 so if a horse really wanted to leave me, they could. The reason I ride in the arena is because horses need to learn to follow their nose. Need to be centered. Learn to be balanced. You need to have a handle on the feet to make a positive experience riding out. How am I suppose to do that in the open while dodging rocks and sagebrush? I can't do it.. Some of you are blessed to have meadows, and I envy you.

Think about what your saying. It's not "arena" work. It's called putting a handle on your horse! Doing it in an arena helps you achieve that. Trust me, lots of clients hire me because I take thier horses out AND see cattle.. Im here to produce nice horses, not cheat the system. And if you are counting on walls to hold you in, you're doing it all wrong in the first place.

-Lucia Lhotak

03/16/2025

...what is it about fresh braids...that just makes you feel good about life in general.
Spring was beginning to Spring last week....

02/27/2025

02/18/2025

Day 41..11,000 of -30° .... - 40° weather... 🥶😭😭🥶