PAN baroque horses

10/27/2026

A Change from Dressage to Working Equitation. The last years I have been so disappointed with the direction Dressage competitions and the judging of them has taken. It has seemed to me that hyper mobile young horses throwing their legs around is favoured over horses which have been ridden correctly and are moving over the back, but is not at the educational level of higher leg lifts (for the medium and lower levels). The lack of judging in accordance with the rule book have pushed me away from the dressage competition arena. I have rather been emerging myself in the “old schools” of riding and the haute ecole and exercises leading towards the school jumps. But then a friend of mine has gotten deeply involved in working equitation, and so I thought I would try to compete in this discipline at least once. Finally I found judges who knew what to look for. Even though the exercises seem easy enough the judging of them advance greatly with the advancing levels of competition. Never have I experienced the circle being more important or more difficult with correct carriage, correct head-turn, precise movement, and on top of that all one-handed so all has to come from the seat. It brought me hope for the future of horse sports. And we have a lot to practice on, Nono and I.

08/08/2026

Autumn is coming and openings are available for a few new clients. Haul-ins (contact Belmontez Equestrian estate for haul-in fee) or local Waddell/Surprise/Goodyear area for private or group lessons. Weekend clinics and workshops available any area. Pm for bookings.

06/29/2026

Still working on logo design. This one might be a winner...

05/07/2026

Looking at having a logo. What do you think?

01/11/2026

One can learn a lot as an auditor aswell. A weekend well spent

10/14/2025

Doing a little “squat” work today trying to build up power and flexibility in the hind quarters to maybe get a capriole some day. Anyway some school halt and levade photos from the practice. Nono is starting to get some better angles in his hind leg joints.

07/30/2025

07/20/2025

Why are so many horses struggling with behavioral problems?

And why, instead of asking why these behaviors are happening, is so much of mainstream horse culture still focused on suppressing them — forcing compliance rather than seeking to understand the root cause?

Whether it’s pain, confusion, anxiety, or fear, these behaviors are symptoms, not the problem itself.

The evidence and research are readily available.

We know more now than ever about how horses think, feel, and learn.

We understand the impact of poor saddle fit, gastric ulcers, kissing spines, inconsistent handling, rushed training, and environments that don’t meet their basic needs.

So why is there still such resistance to evolving our practices and perceptions?

Why do outdated methods rooted in dominance and suppression persist, despite the wealth of knowledge pointing us toward more humane, evidence-based approaches?

We must question whether we can truly be proud of outcomes — whether ribbons, medals, or financial gain — if they come at the cost of a horse’s welfare.

Physical, mental, and emotional well-being must be non-negotiable.

Being a responsible, skilled owner, rider, trainer, or professional means holding ourselves accountable for the welfare of the horses entrusted to us.

At Equitopia, we are committed to changing the conversation.

Our membership program is paving the way with evidence-based protocols that support whole horse, whole rider welfare and performance.

We’re raising the standards for awareness, education, and advocacy for the horses who give us so much — yet so often suffer in silence due to ignorance or outdated thinking.

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