Hidden Haven

Hidden Haven Hunter/Jumper facility offering boarding, training, and lessons.

12/12/2025

"The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. So I give you some of my favorite pearls of wisdom, in no particular order. Some of these are from trainers of mine, both past and present, some are widely recognized from BNT, some have nothing to do with horses by origin but still apply, and some are from my own head.

- If a horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.

-An average hunter course has 100 strides. Only 8 of them are jumps. Don’t sacrifice the 92 for the 8.

- On approaching a fence: good riders wait until it’s time to go. Great riders go until it’s time to wait.

- Don’t squat with your spurs on.

- It is NEVER the horse’s fault. Yes, sometimes a horse may take advantage of a situation, but there is ALWAYS something the rider could do differently to change the situation.

- Pass left hand to left hand.

- You can only lie to your horse so many times before they call your bluff.

- Horses do not know what they are worth. They do not know, or care, what they are capable of. They only care about the way you treat them.

- Injuries and colic happen almost exclusively at 10:00 pm on a Saturday.

- Shoes get lost almost exclusively when preparing to leave for a show.

- If you work hard, try your best, and never give up, your efforts will not go unnoticed.

- And you will be rewarded with opportunities when you least expect it.

- If you work hard, try your best, and never give up, you will still fail sometimes.

- Video doesn’t lie – after being told repeatedly that I was lifting my right hand before every fence, and swearing up and down that I was certainly NOT lifting my right hand before every fence… I was—in fact—lifting my right hand before every fence. Sometimes your brain lies to you. Video does not.

- On being nervous going into the show ring: you’re just not that big of a deal. No one at the show is watching you close enough to know every mistake you might make, except for the judge and your trainer, and you are paying them to watch.

- Be patient – there are no shortcuts. Any shortcut you may try, will actually be the long way.

- Check your personal issues and emotions at the door. Your horse will know. It usually does not go well.

- If your horse is in front of your leg, you have options.

- We never lose. We either win or we learn.

- Ride like a winner. You cannot act like flip flops and expect to be treated like Louboutins.

- If you have to pick only two things to think about during a course, pace and track are the two you should choose. The rest cannot happen without pace and track.

- Give yourself and your horse brain breaks. Go have fun, go hack out in the woods, go swimming ba****ck, read a book in the paddock, whatever. Just allow yourself time to have fun.

- At home there’s no reason to jump as big as you show every time. The basics are the basics regardless of the jump height. Save your horses legs.

- The horse world is very small. Remember this and don’t burn your bridges and be mindful of your words.

- Clean your tack. Groom your horse. Properly. Every day. If you can control nothing else, you can control your turn out. There is no excuse to not do the minimum effort.

- No matter what the problem is, the solution is almost always add more leg.

- Ride the horse you have today. Not the one you had yesterday. Not the one you want to have. The horse under you at this moment is the only one that matters.

- You go where you look. The human head weighs 10 pounds. Unless you would like to end up on the ground, do not look down.

- Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

📎 Save & share this article by PonyMomAmmy at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2020/09/15/equestrian-advice-to-ride-and-live-by/

12/09/2025

❄️ 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 ❄️

Unfortunately, I come from a long line of Minnesotans which means I am deeply rooted in the arctic tundra of the upper Midwest. And up here, our winter is about as long as our sunmer so we need to rely on some cold weather conditioning to optimize our competition season.

And while there really isn’t enough research to set strict, evidence-based rules about what counts as ‘safe’ winter riding weather, it is important to consider due to potential health implications of exercising our horses in the cold. So I pulled together some research from published studies on how cold weather can impact horse health and I turned that information into the general guidelines I personally follow to guide my winter riding decisions. Since a lot of people are navigating the same questions this time of year, I figured I’d share them here!

🫁 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
A study evaluating cold weather exercise in horses (Davis et al., 2005) used eight healthy adult horses in a cross-over design and had them exercise at either 77°F (warm; 25°C) or 23°F (cold; -5°C). The exercise performed in this test included 5 minutes walking, 5 minutes trotting, and 5 minutes cantering three times each week. This study found that breathing cold, dry air during moderate–high intensity exercise caused measurable airway irritation and can produce bronchoconstriction and inflammatory changes in otherwise healthy horses. Additionally, repeated exposure is believed to contribute toward chronic airway conditions such as equine asthma.

🛡️ 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The previous study (Davis et al., 2005) also demonstrated a likely mechanism for immune suppression following strenuous exercise in a cold environment. Further research (Davis et al., 2007) evaluating horses exercising at similar temperatures supported this research and found an altered immunological response for at least 48 hours following exercise in cold weather. Both of these studies found that exercising in the cold amplified the expression of cytokines that suppress cell-mediated immunity. The concept of immune suppression following strenuous exercise is not new and could predispose these athletes to viral infections of the respiratory tract.

💪 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬
Cold weather can also impact the muscles and joints of the horse. While the work has yet to be done in horses, research in other animals and humans has shown that when muscles and nerves get cold, they don’t fire as quickly or efficiently (Racinais et al., 2017). Horses may also tighten around their joints or ‘brace’ with opposing muscle groups as a natural way to protect cold tissues. This is why a slow, progressive warm-up is so important in winter. Getting the horse’s body temperature up helps their muscles move more freely, improves coordination, and reduces the risk of strains or awkward, compensatory movement - especially during more technical maneuvers or intense work.

This is supported by a study (Dixon et al. ,2010) which found that humans who immersed their legs in cold water (54°F/12°C) for 45 minutes had decreased power on a vertical jump. However, this decline in performance could be negated by a 15-minute dynamic warm-up. These findings stress the importance of an intentional and lengthy warm-up prior to cold winter exercise.

✅ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡
These are just a few examples of how cold weather can impact our horses, but they are important to consider when determining how to safely but effectively condition them this winter.

🔥 Warm-up is key. Walk at least 15–20 minutes before trotting or cantering.

🌡️ Monitor the temperature. Reduce intensity as temperatures drop to minimize immune and respiratory stress or risk of injury.

🐴 Observe your horse. Watch for coughing, stiffness, or changes in performance.

I hope this information helps to guide your equine exercise practices this winter! Stay warm out there!

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

Davis MS, Malayer JR, Vandeventer L, Royer CM, McKenzie EC, Williamson KK. Cold weather exercise and airway cytokine expression. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2005 Jun;98(6):2132-6.

Davis MS, Williams CC, Meinkoth JH, Malayer JR, Royer CM, Williamson KK, McKenzie EC. Influx of neutrophils and persistence of cytokine expression in airways of horses after performing exercise while breathing cold air. American journal of veterinary research. 2007 Feb 1;68(2):185-9.

Racinais S, Cocking S, Périard JD. Sports and environmental temperature: from warming-up to heating-up. Temperature. 2017 Jul 3;4(3):227-57.

Dixon PG, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Howard RL, Gomez AL, Comstock BA, Dunn-Lewis C, Fragala MS, Hooper DR, Häkkinen K, Maresh CM. The impact of cold-water immersion on power production in the vertical jump and the benefits of a dynamic exercise warm-up. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2010 Dec 1;24(12):3313-7.

12/04/2025

💛 Calling all INHJA families, barns, businesses & friends!
We’re putting together our silent auction for the Annual Awards Banquet and we’d love your help.

Donations can be anything you think someone would enjoy — from cozy blankets to candles, artwork, gift cards, games, home items, treats, or horse goodies. Big or small, it all makes a difference!

Want to donate? DM us or email [email protected]

Thank you for helping make this year’s banquet unforgettable!

12/03/2025

Riders are now required to trot a circle at the end of their round to show soundness in Equitation, Adult Amateur, Children’s Hunter, Low Children’s Hunter, Low Children’s Hunter Pony, and USHJA Hunter sections.

🔗 Visit ushja.org/knowbeforeyoushow for our guide to key rule changes for 2026.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a warm and wonderful holiday!

11/16/2025

For equestrians in the northern states who do not migrate south for the winter season, the days after Daylight Savings in late fall signals the beginning of the long, dark, COLD time.

People leave their offices at 5 p.m. only to see darkness. The initial refreshing cool-off of fall and excitement over sweaters, vests, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes has waned. The new, harsh reality? Wind gusts that sting your skin, gusts, frozen water buckets, and weather-related disruptions to turnout and off-farm adventures, making for stir-crazy horse owners and tighter, fresher horses.

Folks from cold climates are hardy though, and many want to continue to work horses during these harsh months. Some take advantage of winter show circuits for accumulating points and qualifying for finals early in the year, while others may want to continue their training programs without a long interruption. For those continuing to work their horses during the cold months there are some important health related factors to consider.

The cold weather months are hardest on the respiratory health of our horses. Barns are often closed up tighter than in other months, so ventilation may not be as good. Horse barns that are poorly ventilated will stress the horse’s airway with small particles of dust, mold and higher ammonia levels from waste material in the stalls. Studies have confirmed that horses exercising while breathing very cold air have increased lower airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction (asthma-like response) than horses exercising while breathing more moderate temperature air.

Just like people, horses can shiver and tense their muscles when they are cold. Horses will overall have more muscle tension in the cold weather than on a warm and sunny summer day. It is not unusual for horses to be stiffer and less fluid in the cold. Additionally, horses tend to do less moving around on their own in turnout, and snow accumulation or icy conditions can limit the size and duration of turnout available.

Younger horses may be more “fresh,” horses with a tendency towards back pain may display more behavior issues (bucking, bolting, refusing to go forward, rearing), older horses may be stiffer and more sore. For the youngsters or those who develop behavioral responses in the cold this can lead to increased lunging, which may predispose to injury.

Additionally, indoor arena footing can become harder as the base underneath freezes and becomes less forgiving, leading to more concussive stress on the joints.

One of the biggest risk factors for developing gastric ulcerations is reduced water consumption.

Horses are at increased risk of developing ulcers in the cold weather if they are not consuming as much water as usual. Additionally, working the horse excessively in the winter on very cold days and causing even a light sweat can dehydrate them rapidly and predispose to an impaction type colic if they do not drink enough to replenish following the workout.

So, what’s the ultimate take-home message about riding in the cold? There is no specific temperature at which it becomes “too cold” to ride. However, consider that once the temperature dips below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), it is probably starting to become unpleasant for all involved.

Below 25 degrees, and it is likely that there will be lower airway effects—and these effects will be worse the colder the temperature gets. Horses tend to have the most gastrointestinal issues when there is a sudden change in temperature. So, a temperature of 20 degrees the day after a 40-degree day would potentially be more problematic than a week of 20 degrees straight.

The coldest months of the year may be an ideal time to let horses rest and recharge their minds, allowing them to have turnout as conditions allow, light work on a walker or treadmill if available, or 20-30 mins of tack walking during long periods of very cold conditions.

The horses will appreciate the downtime and you may be able to prevent some repetitive stress injury by not continuing to train during the coldest weeks of the year.

📎 Save & Share Dr. Heather Beach, DVM 's article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/03/15/ask-the-vet-when-is-it-too-cold-to-ride/

11/08/2025

Rule Change Reminder for December 1, 2025: Soundness: Trotting a circle at the end of a round to demonstrate soundness is now required for Equitation, Adult Amateur, Low Adult Amateur, Children’s Hunter, Low Children's Hunter, Low Children’s Hunter Pony, and USHJA Hunter Sections.

Judges may ask you to return to the ring to trot a circle if you forget or if they don't see enough of your trot!

10/28/2025

Our team is hard at work finalizing year-end points and preparing to celebrate YOU. Stay tuned for banquet details!

10/22/2025

We want to know.... Complete the survey about end of year prizes and be entered to win a $25 gift card to Starbucks or Regg and Wally's Tack! Survey closes October 30.

https://form.typeform.com/to/HLrZt7pu

10/18/2025

When a round goes poorly, it’s tempting for riders to shrug and say, “I’m just not talented enough.” The idea that natural ability separates the great riders from everyone else has been around forever. But Geoff Teall argues that this belief is not only false—it’s dangerous.

Most riders have fallen back on the excuse of lacking talent at one point or another. It’s an easy way to relieve pressure when things aren’t going well. As Teall puts it, “Lack of talent is a great stress reliever. It allows you to say things like, ‘I didn’t do that right. It’s not because I’m not trying hard, it’s because I’m not talented.’”

The problem with this mindset is that it creates a false barrier to improvement. If talent is all that matters, then there’s no point in trying harder or practicing longer. You either have it, or you don’t. Teall dismisses this as a “ridiculous excuse.”

In Teall’s philosophy, “talent is so unimportant when compared to interest, when compared to desire, and when compared to hard work.” A disciplined rider with modest natural ability will almost always surpass a gifted rider who lacks focus and consistency.

This is because riding, at its core, is about repetition, discipline, and refinement. Correct position, independent hands, balance, and feel aren’t bestowed at birth. They are developed through hours of practice. Riders who commit themselves to mastering the basics methodically are the ones who end up achieving the most.

Discipline, in Teall’s view, is the great equalizer. It’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t make for dramatic breakthroughs overnight. But it’s what keeps riders drilling the fundamentals, fixing bad habits, and returning to the saddle day after day, even when progress feels slow.

Discipline also shows up in the rider’s mindset. A disciplined rider doesn’t let frustration boil over in the schooling ring. They don’t look for shortcuts or gimmicks. They know that equitation isn’t about doing flashy things, but about doing the simple things, like keeping a steady pace or following softly with the hands, better than anyone else.

Teall emphasizes that “drive and determination are enormously leveling factors.” This is particularly encouraging for the average rider who may not fit the ideal body type, have limitless financial backing, or possess the innate “feel” that others seem to show.

A rider who truly wants to improve—is willing to put in the work—will often outpace a peer who relies only on raw ability. The sport rewards persistence. Every hour spent practicing correct position, every lesson spent refining basics, builds toward the rider’s long-term success.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/10/15/talent-vs-hard-work-what-really-creates-great-riders/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

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Collins, IA
50055

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