StarFireGypsy

06/17/2025

There’s something truly special about sharing your joy with others — and every year at the Western States Horse Expo, we get to do just that! 💫 We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share our love of the Gypsy Vanner and the magic these horses bring with everyone who stops by.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by, say hi, chat, ask questions, and simply enjoy these beautiful horses with us. Getting to know you and sharing what makes these horses so special is one of the best parts of the whole experience. 🐴💜

Mark your calendars for June 5–7, 2026 — the next Western States Horse Expo! We can’t wait to do it all again!

06/08/2025

There is nothing quite like a “Dice Baby” ❤️‍🔥🎲🤩

06/08/2025

🌟 Come see us on our last day at the Western States Horse Expo! 🌟

If you haven’t made it out yet, now’s the time — swing by and say hello! 🐴✨ You can find us in Barn 5 — come meet the horses up close and chat with us! And don’t miss our demo in Arena 5 at 2:45 PM — it’s your chance to see these amazing horses in action! 💃🐎

We’ve been having an incredible time sharing our Gypsy Vanner horses with everyone who’s stopped by. 💖

A huge THANK YOU to all who’ve come to show our horses love!!

📸 If you took a photo, make sure to tag us or share it with us — we’d love to see your memories! ❤️

Let’s make our final day the best one yet! 🎉

06/06/2025

🌟 Come Experience the Magic of the Gypsy Vanner Horse with Starfire! 🌟

If you’ve ever wanted to get up close with one of these incredible horses — this is your chance.

Starfire Training Center will be at the Western States Horse Expo this weekend at the Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center, and we’re thrilled to be bringing some truly breathtaking Gypsy Vanners to share with you!

📅 June 6–8 | 9AM–6PM daily

These horses are not only breathtaking — they have the sweetest souls and love connecting with people. Whether you’re a fellow horse owner, a lifelong equine enthusiast, or simply curious to learn more, we’d love for you to stop by, say hello, and connect with these amazing animals.

Come feel the magic for yourself — we can’t wait to meet you!

04/21/2025

It’s a Boy! 💙

We are thrilled to welcome the fourth foal of our 2025 season—a stunning buckskin c**t with all the presence, promise, and pedigree you could hope for!

This exceptional c**t is sired by the champion stallion Dreaming of Dakar owned by Taylor Hanes-Roberson and out of our National Champion 5-Star mare, Starfire’s Scandalous Bet. With parents like these, this young man is destined for greatness.

We can’t wait to watch him unfold!

Stay tuned for updates as he grows into his legacy.

04/21/2025

I just had the most pleasant surprise I've gotten in a LONG time!!!! If you've noticed, this page has been crickets since the end of February. Sadly, I lost control of the page Feb 21st when I opened a scam email that looked to be from the apple program, TestFlight. It's been an uphill battle trying to regain access to the page with close to 10 separate cases through Meta and Facebook. This evening I was concerned that I'd been hacked again when I went to open Facebook and it said that I'd been logged out due to suspicious activity... Turns out, that was just Meta getting my access back on line. Thank you to the numerous customer service individuals who have worked with me, listened to me, and sympathized with me over the past two months!!! It's been a LONG two Months but we are back now!!!!

And what a crazy busy two months it was!!!! We attended our first show of the season at the Historic WestWorld Scottsdale, Az, We've welcomed our first THREE foals of the season, we had an Amazing 10 day photoshoot here at the ranch with the wildly talented Samantha Dawn - Equine Photography, we've been officially sponsored by Botupharma USA, our go to company for all our Breeding supplies and some truly outstanding nutritional supplements and we are getting ready to launch the first part of our brand new Distance Learning Program!!!!

Tomorrow Morning we are hitting the road to the 2nd show of the season for us, hosted by the WSGH Club! Make sure to check out this awesome show series at NV GypsyFest and we will make sure to keep you updated throughout the week!

If you can't already tell, we are SO EXCITED to be back!!!!

Starfire Gypsy Vanner Horses

02/16/2025

👀 Here’s the answer to today’s Saturday morning trivia question 📚

How close was your guess?

⁉️ Let us know in the comments below ⁉️

Vitamin E is essential for Horses on Hay Diets. It’s naturally abundant in fresh pasture but diminishes in stored hay, supplementation ensures horses on limited pasture receive adequate levels.
Vitamin E acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from oxidative damage and supporting immune, muscle, and nerve function.

www.starfiregypsy.com

02/15/2025

📚⁉️ Saturday Morning Trivia 📓🙋‍♀️

🔆 Do you know the answer? 🔆

❗️Make sure to comment below with your answer ❗️

There are a number of supplements that we utilize in our nutritional program here at Starfire. Our supplements are chosen carefully to ensure that we maintain optimal levels of specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc…

There is one vitamin that is absolutely ESSENTIAL for all horses and I’ve listed just a few of it benefits below.

Can you name that specific vitamin?


👉 Powerful Antioxidant Protection – Helps neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and cellular damage.

👉 Supports Muscle Health – Prevents muscle stiffness, soreness, and conditions like tying-up in performance horses.

👉 Aids Nervous System Function – Essential for proper nerve signaling and coordination, reducing the risk of neurological disorders such as Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND).

👉 Boosts Immune System – Strengthens the body’s defense against infections and helps recovery from illness or stress.

👉 Supports Foal Development & Reproductive Health – Promotes healthy fetal growth in pregnant mares and aids in fertility.

👉 Aids Recovery in Injured or Stressed Horses – Helps repair tissues and supports healing after strenuous exercise, illness, or injury.

📚 Make sure to check back later today for the answer!

www.starfiregypsy.com

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02/14/2025

💌 Happy Valentines Day 💌

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬—𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
Just like humans, horses have love languages too! Here’s how to show your horse you care in a way they truly understand.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Words Matter
🔹 Your tone, pitch, and cadence mean everything.
🔹 Speak to your horse with kindness and reassurance.
🔹 They may not understand words, but they feel your energy.

𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
Unscheduled Moments Matter
🔹 Slow down. Horses don’t live by the clock.
🔹 Enjoy a grooming session or quiet time together.
🔹 It’s not always about doing—sometimes just being is enough.

𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞
Service Shows Love
🔹 Provide a clean, comfortable environment.
🔹 Ensure they never worry about food or safety.
🔹 Enrich their life mentally, physically, and emotionally.

𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠
The Best Gift? Your Presence.
🔹 The greatest gift is your full attention.
🔹 Be mindful and present in every interaction.
🔹 Horses ask for so little—let’s give them our best.

𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡
Touch Builds Trust
🔹 Stroke, don’t slap or pat roughly.
🔹 Guide, don’t chase.
🔹 Apply aids with care and consideration.
🔹 Intentional touch deepens your bond.

What are some of the ways that you show YOUR horse love? ❤️
Drop a comment below and share your experience!

www.starfiregypsy.com

02/11/2025

📚 Tuesday’s Training Tip 📚

𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒔. 𝑺𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝑹𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔: 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆?

When it comes to rope halters, the presence or absence of knots on the noseband plays a significant role in how the halter communicates with your horse. Here’s what you need to know before choosing the best option for your needs!

𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑵𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓

✅ More Defined Pressure Points – The strategically placed knots sit on sensitive areas of the horse’s nose, applying more direct pressure when you engage the lead rope.

✅ Increased Responsiveness – Because of the extra pressure points, this halter encourages a sharper response, making it useful for certain horses during groundwork sessions.

✅ Not Ideal for Prolonged Wear – Due to its firmer contact, this type of halter isn’t designed for long-term use.

🟠 Best For: Horses that need clearer communication, horses that are pushy or have learned to lean on the halter during groundwork. These halters should be used thoughtfully and only when necessary. The goal should always be to move back to a smooth halter as soon as possible.

𝑺𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝑵𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓

✅ Gentler Contact – Without knots, pressure is more evenly distributed across the nose, reducing intensity.

✅ Comfortable for Daily Use – A better option for horses that are already light and responsive or for those wearing a halter for extended periods.

✅ Still Effective for Communication – While gentler, this halter still allows clear signals through pressure and release, just without the added sharpness of knots.

🟠 Best For: Sensitive horses, young horses, well-trained horses, everyday handling, and those who don’t require strong pressure cues.

𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆?

The right halter depends on your horse’s training level, sensitivity, and the purpose of use. If you need clearer cues and quicker responses, a knotted halter may be beneficial in the short term. If you prefer gentler guidance and comfort, a smooth halter is the way to go.
Understanding how different halters interact with your horse’s face can help improve communication and ensure their comfort.

Which type of halter do you prefer and why?

Drop your thoughts in the comments!

🙋‍♀️ 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕?

www.starfiregypsy.com

02/10/2025

🌄 Monday Morning Motivation 🌄

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔: 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌, 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑

Dreams don’t come fully formed. They aren’t handed to us on a silver platter. Instead, they are built—bit by bit, brick by brick, from the ground up.

Every great achievement starts as a simple idea, a vision in someone’s mind. But the difference between a dream and reality is action. It’s the willingness to start, even when the path is unclear. It’s the courage to take the first step, knowing that success is not an overnight event but a process of relentless dedication.

Building your dream means embracing the journey, including the struggles, setbacks, and moments of doubt. It means showing up on the days when motivation is low and trusting that each small step forward is a piece of the foundation.

It’s easy to look at those who have “made it” and assume they had some advantage. But behind every success story is a person who started small, stayed committed, and refused to give up. The truth is, no dream is too big if you’re willing to build it bit by bit.

So, whatever your dream is—whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, traveling the world, or making an impact—don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now. Lay the first brick. And keep building, one step at a time.

One day, you’ll look back and realize that the dream you once imagined is now the reality you built.

www.starfiregypsy.com

02/08/2025

👀 Here’s the answer to today’s Saturday morning trivia question 📚

How close was your guess?

⁉️ Let us know in the comments below ⁉️

Did you guess correctly? A horse’s most highly developed sense is touch!
Horses can feel even the lightest sensations—so much so that they can detect a fly landing on their skin. Considering that the average fly weighs about 0.00007 ounces (2 milligrams), that’s an incredible level of sensitivity!
This heightened sense of touch is why horses respond to the subtlest cues from their riders and handlers. A small shift in weight, a light squeeze of the legs, or a soft rein aid can communicate volumes to a horse. This is also why clear, consistent, and gentle cues are so important in training—our horses are feeling much more than we realize!

How do you apply this knowledge in your daily interactions with your horse?

Let’s discuss in the comments!

www.starfiregypsy.com