Right Lead Equestrian Center

08/14/2025

Ride with the body you have.
- One of our students had shoulder surgery many years ago, and he is unable to rotate the shoulder out…. So in order to open his inside rein he HAS to lift his elbow.
- Lise is getting better through massage therapy, stretching, physical therapy, seat awareness, and riding ba****ck, but she’s never been able to put her leg into a correct Dressage position AND move her hips. Putting her leg directly under her would cause spasms no matter what saddle or which horse…. Even at the halt. It’s very slowly improving, but we still need to compensate with a saddle that allows her leg to come more forward, which puts her in a chair seat, but allows her to be quite effective
- We have a couple students with short arms (including Lise). As an instructor, you have to look at their elbow and make sure they have their elbows in front of their spine, but not so straight that they can’t offer their hands forward. And this probably means their hands will not be in front of the saddle! So, if that’s what you’re used to looking at, you have to adjust your eye as an instructor
- I have two students that are susceptible to sacroiliac joint pain. If we allow them to ride in the slightest anterior pelvic tilt, it helps protect the SI. It always makes me a little nervous, because I experienced years of lower back pain due to anterior pelvic tilt! But for them, posterior pelvic tilt would be the worst of two evils
- Karla, pictured below, suffered a complete quad tendon rupture. She’s gone through multiple surgeries and tons of rehab and none of it has rectified the problem. Her quadricep muscles are literally not connected to her lower leg so she is 100% incapable of extending her knee… in this moment, she is using her leg as correctly as it is possible. She has timed her leg with Badger’s left hind, as you can tell, because it is in the swing phase. But I can tell you that when she takes her leg off, it’s not going to drop down much at all. She CANT put her heel down. Doing so would require engaging the quadricep muscles to extend the knee which she is not capable of doing. (Yes, she can walk, but with a limp, because she cannot get her foot to go past her knee)

If you are teaching, you really need to learn a lot about human physical therapy.  Bodies are so vastly different! Teaching a long limbed 6‘,5“ man is very different than teaching a 5 foot nothing pear-shaped, short, armed woman, and of course, there are more variations then we could list.

I’ve sometimes had to get very creative in my teaching career to help my students ride with the body they have!

Side note:  In today’s body positive world, we often try to make sure that no rider is left behind… and as much as I hate to say it, some people just shouldn’t ride. And I know a couple women who are well aware that one fall could leave them paralyzed- and they have accepted that risk and they have a pact with good friends about what to do in that situation. But they are also good riders, and made sure to get horses that are as trust worthy as possible. Sometimes I see people who can’t afford to fall off, but are also highly likely to fall off because of their lack of strength, and or skill. And as professionals, we have the absolutely horrible job of telling those people that maybe the risk is too great.  If I feel someone understands that rest and is willing to take it, then I am willing to do everything I can to help. But many years ago I have had a situation where I felt like the person was too green to have good odds, AND too naïve to understand the risks. Telling someone, “maybe this isn’t for you,” is absolutely heartbreaking. But sometimes it does need said. 
(And No, Karla, that was not aimed at you! You are doing awesome!!!!)

08/14/2025

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

When I was little, all I wanted was a pony. Barbies? Nope! A Tamagotchi? Nah. Just a pony, please and thank you. My dad wasn’t thrilled. Mostly because he knew exactly what that meant: dirt, drama, and dollar signs.
But he caved. And let me tell you… when I turned 18 and moved out, he told everyone that pony was the best parental decision they ever made.
Why?
Because I was:
🐴 Too busy riding horses to chase boys
💸 Too broke from farrier bills to buy booze
🧽 Too exhausted from mucking stalls to rebel
Just the magic, the memories, and the sweet sound of “I can’t. I have to be at the barn.”
So dads, listen up:
Buy the pony. Lease the pony. Borrow the pony.
Whatever it takes…get the girl a horse. You won’t just raise a daughter. You’ll raise a broke, barn-smelling, sparkle-eyed legend who’d rather clean hooves than cause trouble.

You’re welcome.

08/10/2025

08/10/2025

08/10/2025

Beautiful pictures. Even if the caption is not correct.

08/09/2025

He stands in silence. Without a rider. Without glory. Only an empty saddle and a heavy, hunched body. Before you is a monument to the horse that went through war. His rider did not return. And now he stands as a symbol of all those who fought without a choice, who carried pain, weight, and death on their backs.

This monument is located in Lexington, Virginia. But its meaning is universal. It honors all horses lost in wars — especially during the American Civil War. It’s known as The Riderless Horse. And in its silence, there is more sorrow than a thousand words could express.

This is not just bronze. This is grief. This is honor. This is a memory of those who had no voice, yet served until their final breath. His lowered head is a prayer. His empty saddle is a loss. His posture is a testament to loyalty that asks no questions — it simply goes… until it falls.

We bow not only to the soldiers who fought. We bow to those who carried them — through mud, through fire, through fear… and still moved forward.

Because sometimes, the truest heroes are silent.