Chase Equestrian at Chase Meadow Lane

06/20/2025

Platinum

Some have left — but they’re never truly gone.
Their hooves no longer touch the ground,
but every breath of wind, every ray of sunlight on the field
reminds us of them…
of those who were more than just horses.

They were our joy, our strength,
our silent friends who understood without words.
And though their bodies rest,
their spirits remain with us —
close, unseen, eternal.

We remember them in every moment of pure laughter,
in every glance at the stars,
in every warmth we feel for no reason.
Because they are part of us. And always will be.

🕊️ To every horse who changed our lives…
We still talk about you.
We still feel you.
We still love you. 🤍🐴

06/20/2025

Core strength is essential for correct and safe riding. It is from our core that we can most effectively apply the seat, hands and legs aids. The left image shows a rider with a firm effective core. The right image is of a collapsed core. Such a collapse can be momentary or chronic. We all have had moments when for one reason or another our core has collapsed. It's no big deal if you recover your core quickly.

As a riding instructor, the most challenging students are those who have minimal core strength. The difficulty is teaching the fundamental use of the aids when there is little or no core from which the aids must draw the strength required for effective precision. Horses experience floppy legs and hands or a gushy seat as "noise". A rider cannot achieve specific responses from aid cues if the horse interprets their aids as noise. Many horses get confused or irritated by constant noisy aids.

Many instructors care about a student rider's weight. I do not. I have had students show up for lessons that look fit, but they have only starved themselves into looking trim and fit, and they lack core strength. And I have had students show up that appear to be overweight and out of shape that have a well developed core strength. My advice, therefore, to all students is, "Get stronger" and forget about your weight. I have a horse for you regardless of your weight.

I will recommend a very good book on this. While it is often misunderstood, Riding Logic by Wilhelm Museler addresses core. It is a German translation with a few antiquated words. Unfortunately, Museler uses, or the translator choose the term "brace your back", when today the word "brace" has a new negative meaning. When the book was written in 1933, core as we understand it today was unknown. Regardless of the translation, Museler offers insights and techniques to use the aids effectively by integrating core strength. The book is only a 120 pages and it is very useful for all disciplines.

Riding Logic free PDF -www.archive.org/details/ridinglogic00muse

06/19/2025

Your ability to recognize and respect talent in others is a mental strength. Why? Because it keeps you focused on finding quality in process, instead of shifting to a mindset full of comparison, judgement and outcome. Be mindful as you watch others to quiet your critic and instead find small details to appreciate and applaud. 👏 Your peer’s successes only take away from yours if you let them make you scared and negative. Be brave, in every day there are more than enough process wins to go around!! 🌟🌟🌟

www.TonyaJohnston.com

06/16/2025

06/14/2025

"It's about being your best. It's not about being the best." - Beezie Madden, Olympic medalist

06/10/2025

It’s easy to overthink when you’re in the saddle; heels down, hands still, look up, half-halt, inside leg, outside rein… the list goes on. 🤯 But great riding isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about focusing on a few key fundamentals and doing them really well!

✅ A balanced seat
✅ A soft, following hand
✅ Clear, consistent aids
✅ Rhythm, straightness, and connection

Master these, and the rest will start to fall into place. Instead of trying to do more, try doing less with more intention. The best riders make it look effortless for a reason. ✨

06/10/2025

During one tense bullfight, matador Alvaro Munero did the unthinkable. As the crowd cheered, wanting the next dramatic move, he abruptly stepped away from the bull, walked to the edge of the arena, and sat down. The roaring crowd fell into stunned silence.
In a post-interview that came from his heart, Alvaro shared this life-altering moment that led to his decision:
"In one moment I forgot the existence of the horns. All I could see was his eyes, standing there, not with rage but with something much deeper-innocence. He was not attacking me; he was just looking at me, pleading wordlessly for his life. That is when it came into my mind that this isn't an animal I am fighting; this is a living thing that wanted to live as much as I did.".
His eyes had that purity that only animals possess, and in them, I saw that undeniable truth. I felt an overwhelming surge of guilt; it was as if I had become the most heartless creature alive. I couldn't continue. I dropped my sword, left the arena, and made a promise to myself: I would no longer fight bulls; I would fight against a world which makes a game out of the torture of others for amusement.
The story of Alvaro Munero is a rare, powerful look into the transformative force of compassion, even in the most unlikely of places. It is a reminder that one moment of connection can change a life, inspire a new purpose.__✍️

06/08/2025

👍🏻😍

06/07/2025

Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity. This week....