The Grassroots Eventer

06/17/2026

The other day I turned my semi retired horse out, just like I do every evening. 10 minutes later, another boarder discovered that he had a gash on his shoulder. Thankfully this boarder had sent pictures of the wound and I decided I had better clean it and make sure it didn't need a vet.

Initially, it seemed small an insignificant. After cleaning it, the damaged and fragile skin began to separate. Obviously this would require an emergency vet visit to de-bride and disinfect the wound and suture it.

This also leads to meds, stall rest as a precaution against flies and dirt while it scabs up, hand walking and the risk of other complications like colic.

The point being this: if the wound had not been found until the next morning, or I had not called the vet to treat it, this could have led to a catastrophic injury because of infection.

If there is any doubt at all, call the vet....

Seek Balance, Be Bold, and Finesse the Rest!

06/11/2026

I am not a fan of snakes. That said, they can be great at rodent control. The key to snakes in and around the farm is to know which ones are harmless and which are venomous... I have learn a lot from a snake ID page on FB. This one happens to be a harmless rat snake.

06/10/2026

Our deepest sympathies and prayers to Chloe's loved ones during this difficult time 🙏

https://www.facebook.com/share/17Zpa8zXif/

The eventing community is reeling this week from the loss of a horse and rider beloved to Area I and beyond. Chloe Smith was 25 years old when both she and her 13-year-old Irish Sport

06/03/2026

There is no better way to support the grassroots than hosting your own show... Here are some tips to get you started!

SmartPak will help you get organized before the show and on the big day with to-do lists of all different things that go into planning & hosting a horse show!

05/30/2026

Came across this great exercise!

Working on precision? Or balance? Or suppleness?

I think this will help!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CrVK4V3XX/

Weekend Training Idea 🤍

Looking for something fun to try with your horse this weekend?

We came across this lovely pole exercise shared by Cavallo and thought it was too good not to share.

This pattern is a great way to encourage balance, coordination, focus, and body awareness while keeping your training sessions interesting.

💡 Adjust it to suit your horse:
• New to pole work? Start at a walk and allow plenty of space between the poles.
• Building confidence? Take your time through the turns and focus on rhythm rather than accuracy.
• More experienced horse? Try the exercise in a controlled trot or gradually make the turns a little tighter to increase the challenge.

Remember, the goal isn't speed—it's relaxation, balance, and quality movement. Take your time and let your horse work things out.

Have a go this weekend and let us know how your horse finds it! 🤍

📷 Exercise shared by Cavallo.

— SonoVet Natural Therapy

05/29/2026

I have decided to take down the website for now. I am in a busy season in my life right now and do not have the capacity for a blog and all that entails to do it right.

For now, I will limit sharing thoughts, tips, and handy exercises like the one in this post to this page.

If you find something relatable or helpful, please feel free to share it with a friend!

For now... Seek Balance, Be Bold, and Finesse the Rest!

🐴💜

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14iY3eaRVLM/

6 Poles

🤔 Do you struggle to train a straight halt?
👉 This neat little 6 pole exercise can help improve straightness in your walk and trot — including transitions.

😼 Ride it
👉 Walk all the lines and then trot them. Try to keep the horse’s shoulders really straight, the horse moving forward off your leg but not rushing.
👉 Add transitions in the channels where the green arrows travel. Eventually training trot/halt/trot transitions. The positioning of the poles will help to discourage drifting or swinging quarters.
👉 The pink line of arrows is to train straightness, proprioception for the horse and low intensity strength training.
👉 The blue line is for creating suppleness and unlocking each side of the horse. Stiff horses are often crooked horses.

For everyone wanting these patterns in a bundle - the AML 50 Pole Pattern PDF is here - https://www.amlequestriancoaching.com.au/store

05/25/2026

Memorial day - society has made it about commercial sales, BBQ, and the opening of the pool.

Let's not forget that the reason for this day is somber... it is to remember that the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are not free. Over the last 250 years, men and woman have given up their lives to ensure that those freedoms can be appreciated in a future they cannot enjoy.

🙏💜🇺🇸

05/17/2026

Yeah, that about sums up our relationship with horses 😂

I hope everyone enjoys their ponies this weekend 💜🐴🐎

05/08/2026

💯

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JR6onJk8r/

05/07/2026

Great news for the grassroots!

A new way to get started in eventing is on the horizon 👀

The USEA Board has officially approved an Intro Level—designed to welcome more riders and horses into the sport and create a stronger foundation for the future. Get the full information in the article in the comments below 👇

What do you think about this new addition?