Rise Again Riding School

08/23/2025

Fun fact Friday/Feeding Horses

🥕🍏“Friday Feeding” 🌽🍎
⏰🐴 Feeding Time = Mood Time: Your Horse’s Gut Has a Clock! 🐴⏰
Did you know your horse’s digestive system runs on a circadian rhythm—just like yours? That means when you feed can be just as important as what you feed. 🧠🌿
Horses thrive on routine. Their gut microbes, hormone levels, and even behavior are influenced by consistent feeding times. Sudden changes or irregular schedules can lead to stress, digestive upset, and even increased risk of colic or ulcers. 😟
💡 Feeding Tips for a Happy Gut:
• Stick to a regular schedule—even on weekends.
• Space out meals to mimic natural grazing.
• Avoid large gaps between feedings, especially overnight.
Think of feeding time as more than a chore—it’s a way to support your horse’s internal balance and emotional well-being. 🐎💚

08/16/2025

For National Relaxation Day today I wanted to share some scientific evidence on how horses help people relax and improve emotional and physical health.

Scientific Evidence that Horses Help You Relax
The scientific evidence supporting the relaxation benefits of horses is substantial. Here are some key findings:

Stress Reduction: Horses can significantly reduce stress levels by mimicking human emotions and body language, leading to lower cortisol levels and increased oxytocin production.

Physical Health Benefits: Engaging with horses through activities like riding and grooming can improve physical health by increasing endurance, strengthening muscles, and promoting better circulation. (reference 1)

Emotional Healing: Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is recognized for its effectiveness in treating various psychological disorders, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. (reference 2)

Therapeutic Benefits: Horses' nonjudgmental and empathetic nature makes them ideal companions for those seeking emotional healing, especially for individuals with disabilities, trauma, and PTSD.

These findings underscore the importance of equine therapy in promoting relaxation and well-being. It is a form of therapy that can be accessed by anyone, providing a natural and effective way to manage stress and improve mental health.

We have openings for lessons at Rise Again Riding School for ages 3 through adults. Feel free to reach out to schedule a lesson!

NOTE: I will post links for references for the information posted above in the comments.

https://aloga-equestrian.com/blogs/horse-care/horses-and-happiness-the-science-behind-their-well-being-benefits

08/15/2025

Info on toxic weeds that may be found in hay.

✨ “Infographic Thursday” ✨
Toxic Weeds Found in Horse Hay
As you get closer to buying your hay for winter, or maybe you already have, keep in mind these few toxic plants could be hiding in there. If they are call your hay supplier immediately!
If you have made your own hay, you should consult with a Cooperative Extension Agent or Specialists for the best way to manage your fields to produce hay that is free of these weeds!

08/11/2025

Updated post with new date- clinic will go over accupressure points for horses and dogs and will go over essential oils for horses and other animals. Study showed that an acupuncture exam on accupressure points correctly revealed stifle injury in 87% of horses. If you would like to learn to recognize accupressure points on your own horse Rise Again Riding School is offering a clinic on September 7th with Rain date/alternate date of September 14th with Cherry Baldridge certified in equine massage and accupressure. You will learn to recognize accupressure points on your own horse and you will also learn about essential oils for horses. You will NOT be learning to apply acupuncture needles (that is only for a veterinarian) but you will learn to help apply pressure by hand to accupressure points to help various conditions in horses. Thos clinic will include hands on practice with accupressure on horses. The cost for the clinic is $70 ($20 deposit required to hold your spot) with remaining $50 paid at the clinic or before. Spots are limited. For more info send a message to the page or to Jam Lee TePoel

08/09/2025

In case parents or students wonder why we spend time grooming the horse each time before riding I thought i would share this post about grooming.

Ever wonder why we spend so much time on grooming before riding? It's not just about making horses pretty! 🧽✨

Grooming is actually a safety check, bonding time, AND a way to read your horse's mood all rolled into one. When kids brush their horse, they're learning to notice small cuts, swelling, or sensitivity.

They're building trust through gentle touch. And they're practicing reading body language - is the horse relaxed or tense today? By the time they get in the saddle, they know their horse and their horse knows them.

That 15 minutes of 'boring' grooming just made the next 45 minutes of riding so much safer and more connected. Parents, this is why we don't rush! 🐴

07/31/2025

Everly picked Skoolboy's feet by herself today while Tangerine the barn cat oversees. She also free lunged Skoolboy and got him to "join up" with her and she made a 100% on her English Saddle Parts match up. We teach a full horsemanship experience in addition to riding and dont simply teach riding.

07/30/2025

Research article on "The Horse as Therapist" shows that time with horses even without a formal human "therapist" present is very beneficial for children with ADHD.

https://madbarn.com/research/the-horse-as-a-therapist-effects-of-an-equine-program-without-therapy-on-the-attention-and-behavior-of-youth-disengaged-from-traditional-school/ #:~:text=The%20experiment%20is%20a%205,2021)

07/26/2025

Know what is normal for your horse to recognize signs of heat stress or heat stroke.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17U2UhL8jP/

🌡️🔥 Hot weather can significantly increase the risk of heat stress in horses. Knowing what's normal for your horse — like their typical temperature, heart rate, and behavior — can help you spot early warning signs and take action before things get serious.

Help your horse beat the heat by:
💧 Providing free access to fresh, cool (45 to 65 degrees F) water.
🌳 Making sure horses have access to shade throughout the day.
🧂 Providing free access to salt to promote drinking.
💦 Rapidly cooling hot horses by applying continuous cool water over them.
❌ Limiting trailering or exercising horses if possible.

ℹ https://z.umn.edu/heatandhorses