Laura Humphrey Equestrian

05/24/2026

So excited to welcome another wonderful pony and partnership to the Laura Humphrey Equestrian family!
✨🐴 Kay & Rue

05/24/2026

Welcome Charlotte to the Laura Humphrey Equestrian training program! ✨🐴

This beautiful 11-year-old, 14hh Welsh Cross palomino mare is already turning heads, and we are excited to begin developing her into a future event pony through correct foundation work, confidence building, and horsemanship.

Looking forward to watching this lovely mare grow and progress in her new journey!

05/23/2026

Is your horse getting enough salt?

Heading into summer and these temperature swings, one of the most overlooked things in horse care is making sure horses have access to free-choice salt 24/7.

But honestly, horses should have access to plain free-choice salt EVERY day of the year — not just during summer.

Horse feeds and grain alone often do NOT provide enough sodium to meet a horse’s daily needs, especially during warmer weather, sweating, exercise, hauling, stress, or ulcer issues.

Salt is critical for:
• Hydration
• Proper muscle and nerve function
• Appetite and drinking behavior
• Digestion
• Electrolyte balance

Some signs your horse may not be getting enough salt can include:
• Poor water intake
• Difficulty maintaining weight
• Lethargy or poor performance
• Muscle tightness or cramping
• Licking wood, dirt, or objects
• Increased dehydration risk in hot weather

Every horse should have access to plain free-choice salt at all times, even if they are on a complete commercial feed.

This is especially important heading into summer when dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can escalate quickly.

Here is a great educational article.

https://practicalhorseman.com/health/nutrition/assume-your-horse-is-getting-enough-salt-think-again/

Send a message to learn more

05/23/2026

If your horse has ulcers, it does not matter how expensive the feed is, how much grain you add, or how many supplements you throw at them — many horses will NOT properly gain weight or thrive until the ulcers and stress are addressed.

Common signs of ulcers:
• Difficulty gaining or maintaining weight
• Wood chewing or cribbing behaviors
• Grinding teeth
• Girthiness
• Tension under saddle
• Spookiness or sudden behavior changes
• Sour attitude while riding
• Poor topline
• Dull coat
• Sensitivity during grooming
• Changes in appetite
• Loose manure or inconsistent manure
• Reluctance to move forward
• General irritability

Ulcers are EXTREMELY common in horses, especially performance horses, stalled horses, horses under stress, and hard keepers.

Stop assuming every thin horse just “needs more feed.” Sometimes the horse’s digestive system is screaming for help.

Feed matters. Hay matters. Management matters. But so does addressing the horse’s gut health and stress levels.

Gastric, or stomach, ulcers are sores that form on the stomach lining. They are common in horses and treatment should include management modifications.

05/22/2026

John boy was so good today!

05/21/2026

Understanding the difference between rhythm and tempo and teaching it deliberately is one of the fastest ways to improve the quality of everything your students do in the saddle.

Rhythm is the regularity of the footfall pattern within a gait. The walk has four beats. The trot has two. The canter has three. A horse in correct rhythm has an even consistent footfall pattern with no stumbling, irregularity, or loss of sequence. Rhythm is about correctness of the gait itself.

Tempo is the speed of that rhythm, how fast or slow the beats occur. Two horses can both be in correct trot rhythm but one is covering ground at a working tempo and one is crawling at a collected tempo. Tempo is adjustable. Rhythm should stay consistent regardless of what the tempo is doing.

A rider who understands only rhythm will maintain the gait but lose control of the pace. A rider who understands both can adjust the tempo - lengthen or shorten the stride, collect or extend - while keeping the rhythm completely consistent underneath those changes. That is feel and adjustability which is what separates a rider who has a gait from a rider who can influence it.

Many developing riders are focused entirely on staying in the correct gait and have no bandwidth left to feel the quality of it. They are surviving the canter rather than riding it. Trotting rather than adjusting the trot. The moment you introduce rhythm and tempo as concepts to actively manage rather than things that just happen the rider's relationship to the gait changes completely. here is how to teach it...

1. Counting out loud
The simplest and most effective tool you have. Ask your student to count the beats of the trot out loud (one two one two) while they ride. Then ask them to slow the count down without breaking to walk. Then speed it up without running. The voice gives the rhythm a physical expression outside the body and helps the rider feel when the tempo is changing before the gait falls apart. It also forces them to breathe which softens everything else automatically.

2. Clapping or music
Set a rhythm from the ground by clapping or use music with a clear consistent beat and ask your student to match their posting rhythm to it. This is particularly effective for riders who struggle to feel when the tempo is rushing or dragging because it gives them an external reference point to match rather than an internal one to generate. Once they can match an external tempo consistently start taking it away and asking them to maintain it independently.

3. Poles for rhythm
A grid of evenly spaced trot poles is one of the most honest rhythm tests you have. A horse and rider in consistent rhythm will flow through the grid. A horse or rider who is rushing, dragging, or irregular will tell you immediately by how they ride over the poles. Use a simple four to six pole grid at working trot and watch what it reveals. Then ask your student what they felt and where it broke down.

4. Transitions within the gait for tempo
Ask for four strides of lengthening followed by four strides of shortening, back and forth across the diagonal or down the long side. This is where tempo control becomes a real skill rather than a concept. The rider has to actively push the tempo forward and then actively compress it back while keeping the rhythm consistent underneath. When the rhythm breaks during a tempo change the foundation is not yet solid enough and you know exactly what to work on next.

5. Use a metronome
For instructors who want to get precise about it a simple metronome app on your phone set to the appropriate beats per minute for each gait gives you an objective standard to teach from. Working trot sits around 68 to 76 beats per minute depending on the horse. Walk around 48 to 55. Canter around 96 to 100. You do not need to be exact but having a reference point helps both you and your student understand what consistent tempo actually sounds like.

6. Scale it to your riders
Beginners start with counting out loud at the walk and trot, just establishing awareness of the beat and what changes it. Intermediate riders work on maintaining a consistent posting rhythm through corners, transitions, and direction changes without the tempo rushing or dragging. Advanced riders work tempo adjustments within the gait by lengthening and shortening on a specific stride count while keeping the rhythm absolutely consistent.

Rhythm and tempo are not advanced concepts reserved for dressage riders and competition horses. They are foundational to every discipline at every level. A western pleasure horse needs consistent tempo. A trail horse needs reliable rhythm. A lesson horse that rushes at one end of the arena and drags at the other is telling you the tempo has not been established and that the rider may not yet have the tools to set it..

How do you teach rhythm and tempo in your lessons?

05/19/2026

Fly season is here, so let’s talk about fly masks and using them safely. 🪰🐴

Fly masks can be a great tool for helping protect horses from flies, UV exposure, dust, and irritation around the eyes and ears — especially for horses with sensitive eyes, allergies, or light-colored skin.

A few important safety reminders though:

✔ Make sure the mask fits properly
A fly mask should sit away from the eyes and not rub or press on them. Too tight can cause sores and irritation, while too loose can shift and become unsafe.

✔ Check your horse DAILY
Do not just throw a mask on and leave it for days. Remove it daily to check for:
• Rubs or sores
• Swelling or eye irritation
• Dirt buildup
• Broken straps or damage

✔ Clean masks regularly
Dirty fly masks can trap sweat, dust, bacteria, and debris against the horse’s face and around the eyes.

✔ Be cautious in turnout groups
Some horses play rough and can snag or remove masks. Always use breakaway-safe equipment and monitor horses carefully.

✔ Not every horse should wear one 24/7
Some horses benefit from masks during turnout only, while others may not need one at all. Management should fit the individual horse and environment.

✔ Watch for vision issues
A damaged, dirty, or poorly fitting mask can interfere with vision and make horses spooky or uncomfortable. Fly masks should also be monitored carefully in wet or muddy conditions because if a horse rolls and the mask becomes packed with mud, it can significantly affect their ability to see.

✔ Fly masks should not be worn after dark
In my opinion, horses should be able to fully see their environment at night. I personally prefer fly masks removed in the evening whenever possible. Nighttime visibility, moisture, dirt buildup, rubbing, and masks shifting unnoticed are all things owners should consider.

✔️ A fly mask should not be worn in the rain.

Fly masks are a helpful management tool when used correctly — but like any equipment, they need proper fit, maintenance, and supervision.

For anyone interested in reading more about fly mask safety and management, I attached a couple good articles below.

https://horseandrider.com/how-to/fly-masks-dos-donts/

Protect your horse from pests with fly masks. Learn how to choose and use fly masks for ultimate comfort and safety.

05/18/2026

UPDATE — I know I had previously canceled the Mark Hausman horsemanship clinic due to not having enough participants, but after speaking with Mark further, the clinic will still be moving forward June 6–7 at Seven Oaks Stables.

Mark has been incredibly understanding and is still willing to make the trip and work with riders in our area, which I truly appreciate.

I’ve personally worked with Mark several times over the years and am excited to still be able to offer this opportunity locally.

I’ll be creating a new event page tomorrow with updated registration information and details for anyone interested in riding or auditing.

We do still have riding spots available, so if you’re interested, feel free to message me directly in the meantime.

05/17/2026

Had a great session with John today.

05/16/2026

Horse show season always reminds me how much I love the simple parts of horse life — grooming, sunshine, ponies, and good company.

This pair did a great job today and gained a lot of confidence together. So nice to see happy, relaxed rides and partnerships growing stronger. ☀️🐴

05/16/2026

At this time, my lesson schedule is full. I am currently focusing on private barns with riders on their own horses, along with online lessons.

If you are interested in riding with me and have a private facility, please feel free to reach out and I can add you to my waiting list and contact you if a spot becomes available.