Tracy Equus Maximus

08/21/2025

So happy I had the foresight to get this! One less thing to worry about when preparing to leave for the Young Riders Endurance World Championships, 2025!

08/21/2025

It's crunch time for departing for the Young Riders Endurance World Championships in Bucharest Romania, September 20, 2025. I will be with P**i from the time she arrives at the airport in Germany, all along the journey to Romania, before, during and, after the Ride, and back to the airport to return home to the USA.
It will be an exciting and exhausting 4 weeks, but oh so very WORTH IT!!

08/19/2025

08/15/2025

A well-fitting saddle means more comfort, freedom of movement, and better performance for your horse.

In the Fundamentals of Saddle Fit training program with Jochen Schleese of Saddlefit 4 Life ®, you’ll learn how to assess saddle fit with confidence — and avoid common mistakes that can lead to discomfort.

Start with these 3 quick checks from the program:
🐴 Even sweat marks after riding
🐴 Good wither clearance when mounted
🐴 Saddle stays stable without slipping

Watch the full program in Ridely for more tips and insights. Put your skills to the test with the quiz and participate in the Horse Welfare Score challenge. 🏆
👉 https://ridely.sng.link/Dvlq9/uq99/td4x

08/14/2025

08/11/2025

You’ve probably read or heard about the encroaching New World screwworm (NWS), but here’s your chance to obtain the latest information and insights into the parasitic pest, known for its larvae that eats the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.

NWS has been moving toward the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend live cattle, horse and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border. Veterinarians are also required to report any suspected NWS cases to their state animal health official and a USDA veterinary officer.

On August 13, join Drs. Sally DeNotta, Cody Egnor and Andrew Short—panelists comprising proficiency in regulatory veterinary medicine, infectious disease and entomology—for a discussion of the current risk of NWS, actions horse owners and veterinarians should take, and a question-and-answer segment.

PLEASE NOTE that this Virtual Wednesday Roundtable session is open to both AAEP members AND horse owners.

Registration is FREE but required, register here: https://aaep.org/event/virtual-wednesday-round-table-eye-on-the-fly-new-world-screwworm-update/

08/06/2025

Finally! I've been waiting for this!

Equitation science isn’t abstract theory, it’s practical evidence that helps us train with clarity and not guesswork.

When a horse freezes or tenses under saddle, it’s rarely a behavioural quirk. More often it’s confusion, for instance; leg aid applied then withheld without release i.e. negative reinforcement misapplied. It isn’t cruelty. It’s simply unclear communication.

Equitation Science International - ESI says:

- Timing and clarity of pressure‑release are critical to welfare and learning speed.

- When applied correctly i.e. prompt release once the correct response occurs, horses learn faster and with less stress. Delayed release can cause confusion or panic, even unintended punishment. Applied science such as International Society for Equitation Science's10 Principles of Horse Training) helps pinpoint where misunderstanding begins and how safely training can develop.

Objective tools like gait analysis or ear-movement tracking, offer feedback beyond feel, helping identify when our cues might unintentionally cause stress.

Say you're schooling a downward transition. The horse hesitates, so you repeat the cue, but firmer this time. Frustration creeps in. But it’s not disobedience. The original signal just wasn’t clear, or the release came too late. Learning theory makes it makes sense. A horse becomes more confident and more predictable when the communication is consistent. Ambiguity creates resistance.

The horse knows what’s being asked, how to succeed, and what to expect. That’s when training becomes a convo, not a demand.

Download and check out the Horse Welfare Score on the Ridely App. We wanted to get this kind of knowledge into the hands of everyday riders and owners like us, where this skillset doesn't necessarily come naturally, or in areas where this isn't being taught in riding schools.. and in small, practical lessons you can take in wherever you are.

https://ridely.com/download/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=hws

Hartstone Equestrian Ltd

07/29/2025

This is a great opportunity to refresh and improve our knowledge and make our horses a little bit safer. 😊🦄❤️

07/17/2025

An ounce of planning saves you from a ton of stress. 😁

https://www.facebook.com/100045384742980/posts/1293336662189146/

07/15/2025

To build a champion, consistency is a vital part of any fitness training. Do you have a fitness plan? I can help with that.

https://www.facebook.com/tracy.foley.834378/videos/1287936308979322/?app=fbl

07/15/2025

Research shows that horses start exhibiting signs of a problem approximately 6 months prior to a catastrophic event. So, those strange little things that pop up, then dissappear, might be forming a pattern. Pay attention to, and start tracking them. You just might be able to prevent, or lessen that catastrophic event. 😊❤️

07/11/2025

Preparing for the FEI Junior Riders Endurance World Championships in Romania, September 2025. How do the horses travel to Europe.

The horses are already on their way to the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 in Tryon. We have accompanied the worlds biggest horse airlift to the USA. Find ou...