Gale's Equine Facility

08/20/2026

Many good things happening at Cornell Cooperative Extension including educational programs for farmers and youth interested in agricultural topics. Grants available for certain projects too. Very interesting.

08/17/2026

08/13/2026

As I walked down the aisle of our show stalls at the 2026 Chemung County Fair Horse Show, I smiled when looking at the ribbons and awards proudly displayed on our horses’ stalls. Gosh there were a lot of ribbons, including blues & reds and several championship type ribbons too. It occurred to me that my students, showing the eight horses that participated this year at the Fair, had represented our stable in several, if not all, the equestrian divisions of the Fair’s horse show. WOW! How cool is that??!! We had entries in the hunter classes and in jumpers on Thursday and Friday and the speed events on Friday night. Then on Saturday and Sunday, they showed in western and classical dressage, in the Open English Show and Open Western Show in leadline, showmanship, equitation, horsemanship, pleasure, trail, hunter under saddle and bridle path hack, and we finished the weekend with participation in the Ranch division. Many times, a stable will specialize in one or two related disciplines at a horse show, but for a stable to have riders in all these many disciplines, as my group has done, is unique, and it speaks well of the people that are a part of “Gale’s” and the classical training of horse and rider that we do here. The motto always has been, “We teach you to ride the horse, not the saddle” meaning that we are open, and hopefully, helpful, to any style of riding. Plus, we truly believe that correct training, of horse and/or rider, of the BASICS, following the Pyramid of Training, is fundamental, no matter what type of riding is enjoyed, competition or recreational, western or English, flat work or over fences or around the barrels…. It doesn’t matter, the basics are important and when accomplished, makes for versatile horses and riders. Then, the sportsmanship and camaraderie of the people – riders and support family/friends – makes it all come together, such that we all had a great time and plans are already underway for next year. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to “Team Gale’s” -both at this show, and back home – as it truly takes a whole “stable” to participate as we do, at shows like the Chemung County Fair Horse Show. My final thoughts are to sincerely thank the organizers of the Fair’s Horse Show. It truly ran like a well-oiled machine and offered something for every kind of horse enthusiast. THANK YOU EVERYONE for making the 2026 Chemung County Fair Horse Show a successful and fun event!!!!!

07/28/2026

Chemung County Fair DRESSAGE SHOW!
WE ARE AT OUR RIDE LIMIT.
These are the riders whose entries have been accepted. We are at 65 rides and are capped.

Additional entries will be on a waiting list and you will be notified immediately if you are on the waiting list, and then if ride spots open up and you can be entered. Thank you to everyone for your help in this!

If your name is NOT here and you know you have a PAID entry in to Shelly and [email protected], you need to contact Shelly Rozell at the above email address AND Tina Sochia at [email protected] immediately.
IF your name IS here and you are Scratching your rides, email both of us as well immediately.
Sochia, Stephens, Serretti (Show Me), Lee, Everest, Hart
Bradley, Furst, Gailit, McCarty, Tinsley, Follert, Root
Gublo-Jantzen, Colbath, Joki (Angel), Joki (Whiz), Hepler, N. Smith
Albrecht, Johnson, Kurty, Holdrege, Serretti (Pippi), Linster
Kiernan, Heppner C, Heppner A, DiPetta Middaugh, Hancock,
C. Thomas, Kittle, Shea, Sanson (Poco Loco), Sanson (Gimme)
Let us know ASAP with questions! Mahalo!

06/25/2026

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06/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cy4JW4VoW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We heard recently from a longtime customer in NY. She is STILL riding her now 31 year old horse regularly in dressage in her Ansur, which she has ridden him in since he was 13. She attributes his rideability into his senior years in great part to her Ansur saddle.

Another client in Australia who rides in both an Ansur Elite jumping saddle and an Ansur Excel has said that her chiropractor has commented that her horse's back is like he has never been ridden...

We stock Ansur Excel dressage, Ansur Encore all-purpose and Ansur Elite jumping saddles in common sizes ready to go! Ask us about a $500 discount off one demo 17" Excel - or $150 off any new, in-stock Excel or Encore in June.

06/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EQe9gwSuC/

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡: 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐰

In my previous posts, I discussed how horses can sometimes collapse suddenly and how important it is to avoid jumping to conclusions before a necropsy is completed.

According to reports, the necropsy on the Central Park carriage horse identified Japanese yew poisoning as the cause of death. If confirmed, this tragedy serves as an important reminder that some of the greatest dangers to horses are not always what people expect. Sudden death is not always the result of overwork, heat, age, or pre-existing disease. Sometimes it can be caused by exposure to an extremely toxic plant.

🌲 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐰?

Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is a common ornamental evergreen shrub used in landscaping throughout North America. Many people have seen it in residential yards, parks, businesses, and around public buildings without realizing it poses a serious risk to horses and other livestock.

The mature height depends on the specific cultivar and how it is maintained but heights in their natural habitat of Northeast Asia have been recorded as tall as 50 feet while those used in landscaping reach 10 to 30 feet on average.

☠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬?

The plant contains compounds called taxine alkaloids, which affect the heart's electrical system. The taxine alkaloids in Japenese yew are rapidly absorbed and interfere with the normal function of the heart, acting as a cardiac depressant. The interference can cause severe arrhythmia and circulatory collapse which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

All parts of the plant, both fresh or dried, are toxic, except the fleshy part of the aril surrounding the seed. Ingesting as little as 0.1% bodyweight, or about 0.5 to 1 lb, can be lethal to horses.

⚠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞?

One of the most frightening aspects of Japanese yew poisoning is that there may be little to no warning. The most common clinical sign is sudden death often occurring within 20 to 30 minutes of ingestion.

However, if clinical signs are observed, they may not occur for up to 12 hours after eating any plant material and can include:
• Gastrointestinal upset (colic)
• Difficulty breathing
• Tremors or muscle weakness
• Loss of coordination
• Slow heart rate
• Collapse

🩺 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝?

Due to the rate of progression of the disease, treatment is often not possible and survival is rare as the toxins interfere with cardiac cells and electrical condition rapidly.

As a result, prevention is the best route.

⭐️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝?

Most poisonings occur when:

• Landscaping clippings are tossed into or near a pasture
• Storm damage drops branches into turnout areas
• Horses gain access to ornamental plantings
• Well-meaning neighbors dispose of yard waste where livestock can reach it

However, many horses won’t eat this shrub due to the bitter taste unless there is limited forage available.

🔎 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧

This case highlights why investigations and necropsies matter.

At the same time, it is a good reminder to take a closer look at the plants growing around our farms, barns, and neighborhoods. Sometimes the greatest threats to our horses are hiding in plain sight.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this loss. No matter where someone stands on the carriage horse debate, the death of a horse is a tragedy, and hopefully this case can also serve as an opportunity for education and prevention.

Dr. DeBoer

06/10/2026

A photo of this morning’s group lesson at Gale’s Equine Facility. We offer lessons from beginner and up, English, dressage, and western…. private and group. Gale’s is an approved center of the United States Pony Club, having one of the only fully certified, by the American Riding Instructors Association, instructors within at least a 50 mile radius of Big Flats, NY. Limited openings available for new students at any level. Join us as we celebrate 37 years of boarding horses and teaching lessons at Gale’s Equine Facility.

06/10/2026

A snippet of video from this morning’s group lesson at Gale’s Equine Facility, which was a lovely mix of riders. I also rode during the lesson today. Our riders enjoy having me instruct from horseback so that they can see the best ways to communicate with their horse. Each of our, over a dozen lesson horses, of various riding level skills, offer our students the opportunity to learn what each horse has to teach us during our adventures to become successful, knowledgeable and safe horse people. We have a lovely mix of Western and English horses and the equipment for both styles of riding in our lesson program.

05/14/2026