Cherry Ridge Dressage

08/25/2025

Contact Explained 🧑‍🏫

Struggling to understand true contact with your horse? You're not alone! But you are not without guidance.

The article in our Education Spotlight this week, "Contact Explained," breaks down this essential element of riding, drawing directly from the German horsemanship bible, The Principles of Riding.

No matter your level of riding, this piece brings clarity to a concept that is too often misunderstood.

Discover how correct contact feels, why it matters, and how to achieve it, with proven principles that stand the test of time in this throwback article from USDF Connection:https://www.usdf.org/EduDocs/Training/Contact_Explained.pdf

P.S. Members, did you know that you can access online copies of the USDF Connection magazine when you are logged in to our website?
https://www.usdf.org/publications/connection.asp

08/21/2025

Hello Friends,

The recent tariffs going into effect have affected us like so many other small and large businesses across the country.

Our suppliers are trying to figure out the new way forward in these uncertain times, and many have limited their availability to the US while they do.

Until things settle and we know what the new normal is going to be, Dark Jewel Designs will be taking a break. We need to see where the chips fall and how the new costs will affect our supplies and when our suppliers will even be shipping to the US again.

That being said, we are open for orders TODAY ONLY for certain Crystal browbands and Plaited browbands. I do have the discretion to cancel orders if color choices are not available as supplies are already sold out across my resources. The order for supplies has to be placed by end of day today and since I am also away from home this week, the design process will be limited.

The shop will close at 6PM Eastern time today. I thank all of you for your continued support and hopefully this is just a temporary blip on the radar and will be back to bringing you beautiful bling very soon ❤️❤️❤️

08/14/2025

Enjoy the process!

08/11/2025

Hops thoroughly enjoys his post ride baths on these hot days! 🥵💦 ☂️

08/09/2025

Hops and Keegs ❤️

08/09/2025

Apparently even 18 hands doesn't keep my son from stealing my ride! 🤣 He said his pony was tired and deserved a day off- love that empathy!

Hops is the best 5yo giant ever (except he can't possibly tolerate horse flies, hence the ridiculous outfit).

Proudly grown from conception to 18h on Triple Crown Feed - proof of great nutrition with cool calories!

08/08/2025

🦠 A recent case of the highly infectious equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) has been confirmed in Sussex County, NJ. Per the NJ Dept of Ag, a 20-year-old mare developed acute clinical signs on August 03, 2025, and was subsequently humanely euthanized. One week prior, another horse on the property presented with similar neurological signs and was humanely euthanized, without diagnostic testing. The property is quarantined.

📖 What is EHV-1?

Equine Herpes Virus type-1 (EHV-1) is a virus that causes respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death, and neurologic disease. EHV can cause Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of herpes.

🤧How is it spread?

EHV-1 is primarily spread by direct horse-to-horse contact by respiratory secretions. However, indirect contact with contaminated equipment and personnel can spread the virus. Following infection, horses may become latent carriers and the virus may be reactivated after stress such as travel and exercise, or high doses of corticosteroids. The incubation period ranges from two to 10 days.

🩺What are the symptoms of EHV-1?

Common symptoms include fever, coughing, lethargy, nasal discharge, and inappetance. Symptoms of the neurologic form include ataxia (incoordination), weakness, difficulty standing, recumbency, loss of tail tone, and difficulty urinating.

😷How can you protect your horse?

While vaccination can decrease clinical signs and shedding, it does not protect against the neurologic strain.

While at a show, avoid nose-to-nose contact with horses from other barns, and don’t share equipment such as buckets, wheelbarrows, and pitchforks. Wash your hands frequently, and take extra precautions if working with multiple groups of horses.

🌡️ Consider taking your horse's temperature twice a day when traveling. Temperatures greater than 101.5 or any signs of illness should be reported to your veterinarian immediately.

🧬How is EHV-1 diagnosed?

The virus is detected in nasal swabs and blood samples by PCR testing. At Rhinebeck Equine, we offer in-house rapid EHV-1 PCR testing on nasal swabs. Results are available in ~60 minutes.

07/29/2025