Elliston Equine Solutions, LLC

11/08/2025

Howdy everyone — today’s storyboard is about highlines. I really like highlines for multiple reasons; in my opinion they’re a safe and effective tool.

First, the tie point sits above the withers, so if a horse pulls back it has far less leverage than it would on a traditional hitching post. Tying the lead at roughly arm’s length from the bottom of the halter to the tie ring also reduces the chance of the horse breaking the halter and escaping the tie station.

I like adding a swivel at the center of the highline so a horse can move a full 360° without the lead becoming entangled. The tie rings are spaced far enough apart to prevent horses from kicking each other, and the swivel, plus proper spacing, makes the setup much safer and easier to manage.

Secondly, a highline also works like a patience pole: if you leave a horse tied there after working, it quickly learns that pulling back, pawing, or hustling around doesn’t change anything. Over time, they learn to stand quietly, rest, and even sleep standing, as in “checking out” after being worked with them after a ride or groundwork.

At the tie station, I often put down a rubber mat or pea gravel so horses aren’t digging themselves into the ground (as the old joke goes, “digging to China”).

Thirdly, highlines are also a great place to let a bit hang in the horse’s mouth for desensitizing — I’ll insert a snaffle without reins for young colts or let an advanced horse get used to a spade bit by letting it hang quietly while the horse stands. This gives the animal time to accept the feel of the bit without the pressures of active riding.

A final big advantage is that horses accustomed to highlines at the ranch handle them well in the backcountry. When I’m out with a pack train or camping overnight, setting a rope highline between two trees and leaving the horse tied on it is no big deal for a horse that’s used to that routine at home. Here at the ranch, we just finished a four-horse highline tie station.

Shout out to Steve from Horse ‘n Around for digging the holes with Ed. Also, a shout-out to Jay Hizer and Robbie Masten for doing the heavy building and putting it all together. Luckily, I was able to grab all the gear (washers, turnbuckles, cable clamps, swivels, ½” cable, telephone poles, Quickcrete) and I was able to forge anchor points out of ½” round stock before breaking my hip. With me sidelined from a broken hip, I’m especially grateful to the great team that helped build it up. They did a fantastic job.

The highline will be a real asset to E/9 Ranch and Elliston Equine Solutions. Check out a highline in use out in the wilderness on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33M5-Ga7p9M&list=PL79wgqxjdPSEUSS6-2LdJcIJM7gquxBuu&index=12

Cheers- Travis

11/02/2025

Today was a wonderful break from ranch life... I met up with my friend John Joyner (JJ) of Joyner Arabians at WestWorld of Scottsdale to watch a dressage show. John brought a horse he trains and a talented young rider; I also had the pleasure of meeting Prime’s owner, who competed the same horse at another level. The young rider and Prime finished in a tie for second place, only 0.5 points behind first — a fantastic performance.

We shared BBQ, stopped by Greenway Saddlery, and spent the afternoon talking shop — everything from dressage trainers and training methods to horses (and people) we’ve worked with. It was the perfect way to unwind after visiting family in Phoenix. Big thanks to John for the invite and great company!

10/31/2025

Why get Equine First Aid certified?

Because when a horse is injured or ill, every minute counts. A certified course gives you practical, hands-on skills — not theory — so you can honestly help in the first critical moments.
You’ll learn how to:

• Take a full set of vitals and recognize early signs of trouble (colic, shock, respiratory distress).
• Perform wound care and bleeding control, and manage impaled objects safely.
• Stabilize a cast or cast-prone horse and handle chest wounds or degloving injuries.
• Administer oral medications and injections correctly (when appropriate).
• Make good triage decisions and communicate clearly with your veterinarian or emergency responders.

Those skills protect the horse, reduce the chance of complications, and keep the handler and bystanders safer. Certification also gives owners and barns greater confidence, improves emergency preparedness, and can even save a life.

If you care for horses — whether you’re a boarder, trainer, rescuer, volunteer, or weekend rider — this training is one of the best investments you can make in safety and peace of mind. Please message me to learn about upcoming classes and certifications in February.

/9Ranch

10/28/2025

A few weeks ago, I had a phone call from this lovely lady, who specializes in endurance riding and is a very competent, experienced rider. Over the phone, she reported that her new horse was very pushy, reared up, and bucked when pressed while transitioning up in gear work or during other tasks. I told her I could take a look and help where needed — despite being recently sidelined by a broken hip.

She brought her horse over yesterday, and I watched her work with her horse. My guidance was simple... do whatever you do at home when working with her horse. She brought a friend with her to take notes and also to help if needed. So, she did her thing, and I did mine. I observed what was going on with the handler and the horse. I quietly asked her to perform a few different groundwork maneuvers with her horse. Once I framed in my mind what was going on with both of them... I had a good plan on how to help.

Immediately, I asked the handler to do a few things and make some adjustments within herself. As for the horse, when Smokey decided to act up, I gave directions on the spot for corrections or to make something happen before it happens. Now it isn't essential to tell the reader everything I mentioned to fix the issues at hand. What I can shed light on is that the handler and the horse were in sync and doing fantastically by the end of the session. The horse was very calm, and the handler and her friend wore big smiles. It was wonderful to help, and it did wonders for me too.

Being cooped up inside the house doesn't do Travis any favors. It felt good inside to help improve the situation. Even with a broken hip, I will do my best to help. I am very dedicated to my profession. Because I care and want everyone to be successful. At one point, I even had the horse owner hold me up to mitigate any possible hiccups when I demonstrated a technique and described softness and not being in a hurry. Help the horse by connecting the dots, let the horse make a mistake and learn from it, build responsibility in the horse, and always seek guidance from you. The weather was beautiful, and I remembered how much I love working with horses and people who want to get better. It was an excellent time for all of us! Cheers- Travis

10/27/2025

Thank you — Clinic Complete!

The AZ Equine First Aid clinic at E/9 Ranch concluded today with 13 participants successfully completing the course and earning their training certificates. Many thanks to our instructor, Teri Ann (AZ Equine First Aid), for outstanding classroom instruction, expert hands-on coaching, and for allowing me to be an assistant teacher. The day combined focused classroom lessons with practical, scenario-based exercises so attendees could immediately apply what they learned.

A special thank you to our practice horses, Bella and Cinders, for their calm cooperation during the drills. We also appreciate the broad mix of attendees — both independent participants and representatives/volunteers from local organizations, including Horse n Around Rescue, Buffalo Corral, B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry (Memorial), Sierra Vista Riding Club, and Scouting USA — as well as a horse transporter, barn owners, a veterinary student, and other local professionals and tradespeople. Your participation and teamwork made the clinic a great success.

We’ll be sharing photos and highlights from the day on our social media channels — thank you again to the instructor, the students, the volunteers, and (of course) the horses for helping make this a valuable and memorable learning experience.

I am also wishing the students the best with their homework! Cheers- Travis

10/21/2025

📣 Last chance — limited seats remaining!
Have a plan when a horse emergency happens. Join AZ Equine First Aid Instructor Teri Ann for a comprehensive, hands-on 6-hour course at E/9 Ranch (9595 S Kings Ranch Road, Hereford). Learn vitals, wound care, colic, casts, muzzle-to-tail assessment, injections, and real-life scenarios.

Remaining seats:
• Oct 25 (9:00 AM–3:30 PM) — 3 spots left
• Oct 26 (9:00 AM–3:30 PM) — 4 spots left

Tuition: $119 (includes laser certificate, student handbook, a 60cc syringe, and more). Class limited to 12 students.

Reserve now: call 602-753-6734 or scan the QR on the flyer to register. Don’t miss out — practical skills every horse owner should have. 🐎📘🩹

10/20/2025

Martina and Cutter represented the E/9 Ranch & Elliston Equine Solutions at this month’s Sierra Vista Riding Club Gymkhana with outstanding results.

They placed second in two events, won two events, and earned the overall championship for their competition bracket.

Congratulations to Martina and Cutter... we’re proud of their performance and, most importantly, that they had fun together! 19 OCT Cheers-

10/04/2025

Patience Pays: Rejecting Instant Rewards in Horsemanship

Working with horses teaches patience in a way that building fences or mowing pastures never can. With physical tasks, you see immediate results. A shed goes up, brush is cleared, and a haircut is obvious as soon as you step out of the chair. Horsemanship is different: it rewards the smallest, subtler gains.
Progress with a horse is built moment by moment. You reward the slightest try, shape thought into action through the horse’s body, then layer the cue until the horse understands. Take disengaging the hindquarters (untracking) as an example: begin by encouraging the horse to look left, then apply a left-seat and leg aid from position three (just behind the girth). Hold the aid until the horse shifts its weight, release, and repeat when the horse takes a step, reward, and build on it. As you refine the aid, you may find you need less leg and more seat — a sign you are developing true communication and unity.
Because results are gradual, it’s easy to become discouraged by the lack of immediate, material feedback. Don’t let that slow you down. Repetition practiced with feel, timing, and calm consistency builds confidence in both horse and rider. Regroup when you need to, reset, and return to the work. Over time, those small increments add up to balance, responsiveness, and partnership — the real rewards of horsemanship. Cheers- Travis

09/29/2025

Elliston Equine Solutions and E/9 Ranch have been busy this season — offering riding lessons, horsemanship clinics, and professional training. Even with heavy monsoon rains, our team and students keep making steady progress. Lots of small improvements and projects are underway to make the ranch safer and more welcoming every day. We are also want to give a shout out to everyone who has signed up for the equine basic and advance first aid coming up next month. Looks like a full class. Fantastic! Also, we are proud of the difference we’re making for horses and riders!

09/19/2025

09/12/2025

It is truly refreshing to have someone like Bob as part of our ranch family. A deeply respected senior citizen from the Sierra Vista area, Bob is a medically retired United States Marine Corps senior officer who served in the Gulf War, also known as Desert Storm. He later became a sheep farmer in New York before eventually retiring to Arizona decades ago.

When Bob first reached out to me for riding and horsemanship lessons, I gladly welcomed him and had him complete a volunteer form. From that day forward, I’ve never regretted the decision. I greatly enjoy his old-school work ethic, the stories we share, and the conversations we have while working side by side.

After each ride, Bob’s first words are always, “What’s next? Can I help you on the ranch?” Without hesitation, we dive into projects that keep the ranch moving forward. Whether it’s tackling repairs, clearing areas, or brainstorming improvements, Bob approaches every task with determination, grit, and a gleam in his eyes. You can tell he misses his sheep farm days, and it shows in the joy and purpose he finds here.

If I don’t have a specific project for him, Bob creates one himself... like the other day when he took it upon himself to clean a water trough without being asked. That initiative and heart are exactly what make him such a valuable part of the team. And he’s got a great sense of humor too—when I once mentioned I was going to take a picture of him, he laughed and said, “Don’t do that, I might have a wanted photo out there.” Well, he’s right about one thing: Bob is definitely wanted at the E/9 Ranch.

This story is just one example. There are many others, including volunteers and friends, who have stepped in to help bring the ranch back into shape. To Bob, and to all of you who lend your time and effort: thank you. Your hard work is appreciated not only by me, but also by the horses here now and the many more who will one day call this ranch home.
12 September.

Cheers,
Travis