Rising A Equine

06/22/2026

06/20/2026

Can you spot vertical balance in a horse?

More importantly, can you help them find it in movement?

In this month's webinar, The Importance of Vertical Balance in Rehab Training and Injury Prevention, Dr Karin Leibbrandt; Equine Health and Training dives deeply into the role that vertical balance plays in posture, movement, performance, and long-term soundness.

Vertical balance is about far more than standing straight. It is about how the horse organises its body around gravity and how forces are distributed through the musculoskeletal system during movement. When a horse is vertically balanced, movement becomes more efficient, posture improves, and tissues are loaded more appropriately. When balance is lost, compensations begin to develop.

The image shows a horse moving on the lunge both in and out of vertical balance. Notice the alignment of the forelimbs, the position of the head and neck, and the curvature of the spine between the two images. These subtle differences can have a significant impact on how the horse moves and how forces are distributed throughout the body.

As rehabilitation professionals, understanding vertical balance gives us another lens through which to assess movement, identify compensations, and guide horses towards healthier, more biomechanically efficient patterns of movement.

To learn more about this webinar, comment EQU and we'll send you more information to register.

06/20/2026

I remember, years ago, we were riding some c**ts with some friends at 2 Ranch Horse and Livestock and I was particularly frustrated with one of my c**ts and how slow he waa coming along.

Clay Reynolds and I were talking about him and where to go from there and Clay looks at me and asked me something I’d never really thought about.

He said “do you think your horse gets one percent better everyday?”

I replied with an immediate “yes”.

He said : “So you can finish a horse in 100 days?”

This was one of those conversations that most would’ve not remembered but it really put in perspective for me how much time and effort really goes into these horses that people are producing.

06/10/2026

WE ARE EXPANDING!

We have been busy here at Rising A and we are looking to expand our business!

We are currently looking to add long term clients. Ideally, potential clients would have a breeding operation that could consistently send us 2/3 year olds, year after year for at least 90 days. However, we would be excited to add any horses to our program.

A bit about us: We are a family owned business out of Springer, New Mexico. We spent our first years working on various Western US ranches and starting c**ts on the side. Eventually our horse program evolved. We have spent some time with some amazing trainers over the years to learn all the things that make us who we are today. We now specialize in c**t starting but take many horses from start to finish. Horses that have graduated our program have gone on to do a variety of different disciplines; team roping, cutting, trail horses, ranch horses and even English. We really focus on a well rounded horse that knows how to break its body down fundamentally and stay correct. Horses in our program will spend extensive time being ridden in the arena and outside. These horses will see cattle, will be roped on, will spend a lot of time in a circle, and will work a flag and a cow if desired by the client.

We would be happy to give lots of references if desired!

We look forward to hearing from you!

06/08/2026

“How gentle does a horse have to be for you to get on it?!”
(This is a legitimate comment on our page)

When you see a trainer spending extra time on the ground or going through the basics remind yourself this:
Most Trainers are not training the horse to their own abilities, they are training them for the owner of the horse.
Our job is to ensure the horse is ready for its owner and the owner is ready for the horse.

For some reason many people find it envious to see someone get on one that really looks wild and cool but that is not what our job entails as trainers. Being sticky is a good skill to have but the likelihood of the clients possessing the same ability is slim and if they did the horse wouldn't be in training in most cases.
So the next time you see a trainer putting extra emphasis on the basics don't be so quick to judge thinking, “they must be scared of one that bucks” we are doing our best to keep the horse and the owner it is going home to as safe as possible.

06/02/2026

Whiz is back to work!

05/29/2026

Introducing a few new horses in our program right now!

Whiz
By out of a mare
Owned by

Gucci
By CR gotcha covered out of CR she’s got the look
Owned by the Crutch Ranch

Jolene
By he’s streaking again
Owned by

05/21/2026

A good arena horse should still know how to be a horse.

Yes, performance-based skills matter. We spend intentional time in the arena building softness, confidence, responsiveness, and the tools they’ll need for a job later on. But some of the most important education happens outside the fence line.

Water crossings. Uneven terrain. Wind. Cattle. New places. Real life.

Even our future arena horses are made to be outside. We’ve found the earlier we introduce c**ts to the world around them, the more mentally sound, emotionally regulated, and confident they become. They learn to think instead of panic. To stay level headed instead of reactive. To trust the process and trust their rider.

This c**t only has around 20 rides and already gets to experience things that build a well-rounded mind — not just a trained body. Because a broke horse isn’t just one that can perform in an arena. It’s one that can handle life with a steady brain and willing attitude.

The arena creates skills.
The outside world creates depth.

That combination is what makes them flourish.

If you’re looking for a c**t program that values the mind just as much as the performance, we’d love to work with you. Message us to get on our schedule.

05/21/2026

Immediate training opening at Rising A Equine - Contact us to book! 📖 🌟
Based in Springer, New Mexico
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What we provide:

To be blunt, our program is built to do it right the first time.

We specialize in creating horses that are confident, willing, and “hole-free,” while still developing the responsiveness, softness, and feel required for true performance. A horse should not have to choose between being quiet and being capable. We believe they should be both.
Our approach blends thoughtful foundation with real performance experience, ensuring your horse stays soft in the bridle, confident and capable in new situations, and correctly shaped in their bodies.

This balanced program is why a large portion of our business comes from returning clients and referrals. Owners trust us to start their horses correctly, continue their training, and produce dependable partners from the beginning.
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-C**t Starting
-General Training
-Rope/Ranch Horse Experience

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For more information find our website linked in our bio 🔗
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**tstarting