Red Dahlia Performance Horses

03/26/2026

2016 Gelding Aya Tiki Cruz 15.1hh chestnut (Tikis Diamond Gem x Dream Of Valor)
After being in training with Red Dahlia Performance Horses it has been decided to offer him to a new performance/sport home.

Cruz is as easy going as can be on the ground, but once he has a rider this KONTIKI bred fellow is a High Octane Machine! A massive athlete that is agile and clever, Cruz is not for the beginner rider and is still GREEN.

Cruz is looking for a home that will put his desire to move out to good use!!
Endurance, working western, jumpers...if you are an experienced rider looking for a LOT of horse, please check out Aya Tiki Cruz!!

Training will continue till purchase, price will increase with training. 10,🥕🥕🥕

Pedigree:
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/aya+tiki+cruz

Photo album (birth to current):
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.932792040162374&type=3

Located in 29 Palms California on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park

03/26/2026

Sneak preview.....Haaaaaave you met Ted?

03/02/2026

Just hanging out with Moonshine “Shiney” which is a 6yr old Robert’s Mountain Mustang mare that I’m in process of gentling. This mare is certain a bit of an enigma, but I’m enjoying the process nonetheless! So glad she is at such a great facility, I wouldn’t be nearly as far along if it weren’t for all the people there cheering her on!

02/27/2026

Forage is a horse's main source of nutrition. Generally horse's have access to one, maybe two different types of hay. But unless you are also adding some type of supplemental feed, such as a grain or vitamins and minerals, feeding just hay will not meet the nutritional requirements of a mature horse at maintenance. The nutritional needs of a horse will go up if they are in work or growing which is why balanced nutrition is important.

Just feeding any ol' grain isn't the answer either though. Many cheaper grains are lightly fortified and high in starch and sugars. This generally means that for a horse's nutritional requirements to be met, one must feed a higher quantity of grain. Unfortunately, many do not feed concentrates at the recommended feeding rates. If a feed is underfed, the horse will have lower performance and energy levels, reduced recovery times, a harder time maintaining condition and slower growth rates.

If your horse is getting the recommended amount of feed, and is gaining too much weight, a ration balancer is a great option. These are going to be lower calorie, but are fortified with what is needed for the horse to have a balanced diet. But on the other side of the spectrum, if a horse is not holding weight, the type of grain being fed may not have enough calories or nutrition.

Even easy keepers or ones that look like they are maintain condition without grain can benefit from at least a vitamin and mineral supplement. While some horse's may not seem to have many issues while at rest, as soon as demands are placed on them by either training, exercise, or breeding, issues tend to develop. Some signs of this are lower energy levels, dull coats, or even crumbly hooves.

I always recommend talking to someone that is experienced in nutrition, such as a feed consultant. Not all vets get extensive education in the subject, and feed companies generally will recommend their own products. They are great resources that I utilize, but I recommend specialists whenever there are other concerns such as allergies. Having someone knowledgable that can help you evaluate your feeding regime is invaluable. You pay so much on feed, why not make sure your horse is getting everything it needs?

02/26/2026

One of my favorite ways to help my horse is ground poles. Ground poles are simple in nature and the possibilities are only limited by the number of poles you have.

How you set your poles can help teach your horse how to lengthen or shorten their stride, making their body more elastic. Poles help encourage them to lift their feet higher, making them less likely to trip as it improves a horse's eye to foot coordination. They also can help teach a horse to move with more rhythm in their gaits.

When a horse is looking for poles on the ground, their head will naturally lower and a horse's belly will lift, which encourages roundness and a better working position for their body. This is a great way to help them start to develop their core and back strength.

But it's not just going over the poles that is beneficial. They can also be used as obstacles to help improve steering. A great example of this is backing through an L or weaving around a pole pattern.

I love working a horse over poles. It really shows where a horse is at in their training, and this feedback is invaluable as a trainer. It not only increases their education as I add a new skill, but improves their health and shows me what else they need to work on.

Pic of a simple pole set up with a few different ways to use them

02/25/2026

Consistent farrier work is an important part of maintaining your horse's health. A common phrase is "no hoof, no horse." When a horse is having issues with their feet, it impacts their entire body.

Maintaining their feet mean's that there is a lower likelihood of lameness issues both in the short and the long run.

Farrier work should be done by a professional that is able to balance the hoof. Each foot should be in balance with itself but also with the other feet as well. A poorly balanced trim will generally cause issues for the various tendons and ligaments that are connected to the hoof. Thus, an unbalanced hoof will add strain to these soft tissues, and after time, it has the ability to damage them and lead to longer term lameness.

A typical farrier schedule ranges from 6-8 weeks, but some horses may need tighter schedules, around 4 weeks. Others may be able to go longer, such as every 12 weeks. Some variables that may influence this is the diet, activity level, rate of foot growth, genetics and terrain.

02/24/2026

What bit do I start with on my unstarted horse?

I see this question and its many variants frequently within the various equine groups. And the simplest answer is a snaffle. A bit is defined by its cheek piece, not the mouth piece and can be either snaffles or leverage/ shank bits.

A snaffle will have no leverage placed on the mouthpiece when pressure from the reins is exerted on the bit. In simple terms, one ounce of pressure on the rein is one ounce of pressure on the horse's mouth.

A leverage or shanked bit will act as a lever on the horse's mouth. This means that when pressure is applied, it is multiplied on the mouthpiece. This multiplying effect is quite variable as well. A longer or shorter shank and purchase, and the sweep and shape of the shanks will contribute to how much as well. Another defining aspect of a leverage bit is that it will also place some pressure on the poll of the horse.

This is just a very basic look at bitting fundamentals. But to best answer the question above- a smooth, anatomical snaffle is always best for teaching them how to carry a bit and start to learn basic cues.

Picture of Indy wearing one of my Cavalon Bits

02/23/2026

Keeping horses separate versus in a herd is a debate seen in performance horse circles all the time.

On one hand, keeping a horse in a stall or personal turnout means that they are less likely to get injured, and makes it easier to catch them for training. For horses worth a significant sum, this is especially important as an injury can set you behind in training, or end a horses show career.

On the other hand, horses are herd creatures and most thrive on the ability to interact in a more natural environment such as with group turnout. They’re less stressed and tend to reapind to training better.

I personally love mine to go out with other horses, as the majority of mine do get along. I also don’t have any that require shoes, meaning if they do end up kicking someone, it’s less likely to cause severe injury to the other horse.

That’s not to say I don’t keep some of mine separate though. My stallions don’t get pastured with my mares to prevent breeding, and when I have had horses with metabolic problems they are also kept separate so that I can keep a closer eye on them.

So many factors are taken into consideration for these decisions that there is truly no one right answer. The main priority should always be that the horse is happy, healthy, and well cared for. After all, what more can the horse hope for?

Picture of some of my horses in a mixed herd on winter pasture

02/23/2026

While it may not be much to some, it is a wonderful milestone for me, over 200 followers! Thank you to everyone for supporting me in my business and helping push myself to succeed! I'm so excited to continue to grow my community and hopefully invite some new faces into the equine industry along the way.

Send a message to learn more

02/22/2026

Everyone is always looking for something to make their life just a little bit easier.

One of my favorite tips for horses with long manes and tails is to use electrical tape instead of standard rubber bands when braiding.

It doesn't leave a sticky residue, is cheap, comes in black and white (I personally prefer fun colors though), and is much less likely to damage hair when compared to bands that can snag and pull.

After braiding, I also like to use a diluted spray of conditioner on the braids. Helps keep the hair moisturized so it's less prone to breakage!

Picture of Sun Kiss'd Surprise "Tiki", wearing a Ridge Creek Tack halter

02/21/2026

02/21/2026

Come out and see us at S & J Performance Horses! A nice tack sale going till 2pm today. Lots of new and used tack, equipment, and some clothes. Great prices and great people!