LPMurphy Equestrian, LLC

07/31/2024

As many of you know, we are expecting our first baby in a few short months. Because of this, I have decided to take a step back from teaching lessons in order to focus on my family and my full-time career as an ag teacher. This has not been a decision that I have taken lightly, but is what’s best for my family and myself. I will not be taking on any new clients at this time or for the foreseeable future. However, I will be continuing to teach my current students on a limited basis until the baby arrives. Afterwards, I will be taking a minimum of 12 weeks off to adjust to “mom-life” and will provide updates as needed. I thank you for you support and understanding!

07/30/2024

Do less better.

The majority of the time there’s no big magic fix, perfect one exercise, or big exciting change that you need to do in order to achieve whatever it is that you’re working on. Many times folks will come into lessons thinking they need to work on one thing and we end up going back to doing lesser things better. This of course can look different for everybody depending on where you were at, but we can almost always find this saying to be true with almost anyone. Including ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to do advance maneuvers and trying to put our focus into those without first mastering how to do the basics well. That’s so much more exciting.

Your Horsemanship and your ride starts the moment you get your horse from the pasture or the stall. The way in which you lead them, the way in which you halter them, the way in which you handle them, the way in which you saddle them. It all truly matters. Good horsemen and women are created in their mundane, simple, and consistent tasks in which they do every everyday. Don’t get me wrong, we all want to advance to the higher level stuff, but many times when we focus on doing less better, the higher level things get so much simpler. 

07/16/2024

The problem with softening the horse too much in the bridle before stabilizing the hind end is not only a biomechanics problem but a safety problem.

I just got done riding a new horse for the first time. Based on the weak hind end and bulging in the neck in the wrong spots, I had a good feeling he would break behind the vertical quite frequently.

When the horse breaks behind the vertical, it drops the back and negates correct use of the hind end. Over time, the horse becomes weak and wobbly while simultaneously developing painful arthritis and fusions.

So, that's the basics of the biomechanics problem.

The safety aspect is that a horse that is too light in the bridle and breaks behind upon first contact does not have the correct relationship with the contact. I believe the reins should connect to the feet and aid in correct flexion and bend.

When the horse evades the bit, you've got nothing. Sorry pal- this ain't a safe place to be.

This is why often horses that are taught this require a lot of holding together by riders that are used to riding in such a way.

And if you want to improve the horses relationship with contact, then be prepared for a long haul of conditioning and riding with little rein.

It can be done, but it should be done with knowledgeable riding with no time constraints. It's a whole thang.

Edit to add:
This photo is NOT mine. I'm grateful it was created and my favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because of how freely forward the horse is 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==

07/03/2024

06/27/2024

This is a photo taken by a vet while attending the horse who had fallen through the floor of someone's trailer. Thought it was worth sharing to serve as a good reminder to get your trailer floors checked regularly.

06/26/2024

It is HOT - SUPER HOT!

Please, for the love of your horse….

1. Ride early in the morning or at dusk
2. Make sure your horse has access to fresh, clean water
3. Wet your horse’s feed!! Any extra water intake is a bonus - don’t pass up the opportunity!
4. Salt. Salt. Salt. Free choice, add it to their feed - whatever works for you.
5. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, trailer in this heat unless you have to. It is way too hot for that nonsense right now. IF you HAVE to, please don’t be one of those people who parks your horse trailer in the middle of the parking lot while you grab lunch in town. Just don’t.
6. Remember that 15-20 minutes of quality work can be beneficial. You don’t have to ride your horse to death in this heat.

That is all. 🥵 Stay safe.

06/20/2024

Summer officially starts tomorrow, but the 🌡 are already pretty hot!

Many experts advise using the following formula for determining whether it is too hot to ride:

𝘈𝘥𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 80° 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 60 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 140.

𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝟏𝟑𝟎: 🟢 Green light – go ahead and ride.
𝟏𝟑𝟎-𝟏𝟕𝟎: 🟡 Yellow light – be careful. The heat and humidity will compromise your horse’s ability to cool itself.
𝟏𝟕𝟎 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆: 🔴 Red light – don’t ride. It only takes about 15 minutes of moderate exercise to raise your horse’s temperature to a dangerous level.

Find out more hot weather tips ➡️ https://www.jtidist.com/blog/too-hot-to-stay-cool.html

Where are you today? Red light? Green light?

06/15/2024

Another great morning of showing at Forging M Farm LLC!

06/15/2024

Why do we work on circles? They help you develop the horse evenly from back to front and they help build the bridge that carries the weight of the saddle and the rider. When riding accurately, they enable the horse to lift the sling which is the apparatus that suspends the trunk to the shoulders and is responsible for lifting the withers to bring the horse off of the forehand. This is crucial for topline development, balance and communication with the horse. (This can not be achieved using a leverage bit).

It can be boring to some but necessary for the long-term health of your horse.

If you would like help working on this, please contact me for a clinic near you or to set up a virtual lesson.

“What’s in it for the horse?”
Carl Bledsoe Horsemanship
770-403-4635
[email protected]

06/08/2024

EDIT: Please do feel free to share/replicate/display this sign - I’d rather it went out into the world to be used freely and help horses far and wide than if it was just kept on social media!

I seem to spend a lot of time thinking about the ethics of horse sport, and whether we, as an industry, will be able to keep our social licence to operate.

Although we won’t get it right 100% of the time, I think the intent and knowledge behind our actions is a key part of the puzzle.

I have put this sign up on the gate of my arena, in the hope that it reminds me, all my clients and other users of the facilities to stop and think about our intent before embarking upon working our horses each day.

What do you think?

Photo: HDE ‘Promise to the Horse’.

06/04/2024

Equine Medical Emergency Preparedness - Trailering Without A Trailer

The most suitable time to figure out who can trailer a beloved horse to the clinic for medical attention is not while you're in the throws of an equine medical emergency. Time is of the essence; make a plan of action before a critical situation. For horse owners without a trailer, this is vital.

If you don't have a trailer, have a plan, a backup plan, and a contingency plan. Often, we see clients relying on the use of a friend or neighbor's trailer; this is a fabulous start. The plan falters when that friend or neighbor is not home, sick, or the truck is broken down, or the trailer has a flat tire: your goal - plan for the unexpected with well-thought-out emergency plans in your pocket.

Get help to develop the backup plan. Ask others in the horse community (horse owners, vets, feed stores, etc.) about various resources that may be available to you. They may know of a volunteer organization that provides trailering services or an experienced trainer or horse owner nearby who is willing to haul a horse.

Don't be afraid to ask for an introduction. Learning about trailering resources is not enough. Reach out to these organizations and individuals. Let them know you're working on a backup plan and ask if they are willing to be a part of it.

Everyone involved should have an understanding of how participation is defined. Backup individuals may be happy to help only during certain hours or days. If they are horse professionals, they may require compensation. There is also the question of liability for professionals. Work out the detail before the crisis.

As a third backup, make yourself familiar with local haulers. Again, call them in advance. You will want to:

1. Understand their policies and procedures for hauling a horse with a medical emergency.

2. Find out if they are available 24/7.

3. Ask how long it would take them to get to your address during regular business hours and emergency hours.

4. Ask for after-hours or emergency line phone numbers.

Take away message: Our actions - or inactions- in an equine emergency directly impact the horse's well-being. Preparing for a sudden dramatic shift in wellness will improve the effectiveness of your actions in the midst of a situation filled with a high level of uncertainty.

05/30/2024

05/29/2024

05/26/2024

What would your answer be?

05/26/2024

😉

05/25/2024

05/25/2024

As one of my riders said this morning, “What a great way to spend the first day of summer break!” This little group of young riders tackled their first hunter show this morning! So very proud of each of them and the hard work they are putting in. They had consistent, quiet rides and took on new challenges with grace!

Thank you Forging M Farm LLC for a wonderfully organized show!