Fox Hollow Farm

11/01/2025

Time change tonight. Set your clock back one hour.

10/31/2025

10/30/2025

Well hello, Jake! Welcome to Fox Hollow. We're glad you and Barbara are here!

10/27/2025

Shoutout to Blackie and Charlie

10/14/2025

Getting to see someone who boarded with us way back when is so great! Even better when she overnights with her daughters horse. It was great to see you Michelle!❤️

09/06/2025

https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2020/12/07/4-things-to-remember-every-time-you-flat-your-horse/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMob0ZjbGNrAyhvN2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe1cAxrQApomeO5AUokUEXzH9v-yXVuDSFbMl5VIRB0doRPP2GySYlW8QXGiA_aem_Xh5o3nBcDNJ4QR4X3y1B8g

Whether you’re in an intense jumping lesson with your trainer or casually hacking on your own, we teach our horse every time we sit on it. What’s important is that we use this super power for good! It’s just as easy to train your horse bad habits as it is good ones, and these often […]

09/06/2025

What could be more wonderful for a youngster than being out for a Friday evening ride?

09/03/2025

Friends come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Age differences don't matter!

09/01/2025

https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2021/08/03/going-from-shod-to-bare-a-hoof-care-pros-tips-for-success/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAMhwgpjbGNrAyHBYWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEezO8y8sdNPQnOtu9NoAkMyMDWmkCTkdP3mIucvKiiW_yXCFwsX1d1189unN4_aem_FrvMHt_6XtvNezF1xsBz0Q

BY ALICIA HARLOV Many equestrians used to think of pulling shoes as just for a horse’s retirement or time off work, but that is no longer the case. More and more owners are interested to see if their horses would do well barefoot, but might not know where to start to ensure a smooth transition [.....

08/24/2025

Our new LED lights are the bees knees! A big thanks to Mike Mowrer for putting them up for us.

08/23/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FkKrhRa9d/

Dr Temple Grandin is one of the best known animal scientists in the world. She grew up in America, and she is autistic, which means her brain works a little differently to most people’s. She often says she “thinks in pictures.” This helps her notice tiny details about animals that others might miss.

Most of her career has been spent improving how cattle are handled on farms, making systems calmer and safer. (Which is why many farms have safe handing pens for cattle on farms today)But her ideas are just as useful when we think about horses.

Temple reminds us that animals don’t see the world the same way humans do. A shiny puddle, a flapping jacket, or a garden chair in the wrong place might look like danger to a horse. Horses are prey animals, always on the lookout for threats. What seems silly to us can feel very real to them.

As she explains: “Horses have to see the same object from all angles. They don’t automatically transfer learning from one side of their brain to the other.” In other words, a horse that walks calmly past a wheelbarrow on the left rein may still shy at it on the right.

For coaches and riders, this matters. If a horse spooks or refuses, it isn’t “naughty”, it is reacting in the only way it knows. Our job is to slow down, let the horse look, and give it time to learn.

Temple also talks about how animals respond to pressure. A gentle aid, released at the right moment, helps the horse to understand. But rough hands, loud voices, or constant pushing only build fear. As coaches, that means showing riders how to be clear but kind, guiding, not forcing.

And this links horse welfare with rider welfare. A calm horse gives the rider confidence. A frightened horse makes the rider nervous. By putting the horse’s feelings first, we create safer, happier lessons for both.

Temple Grandin may have made her name with cattle, but her lessons about patience, clear signals for animals are pure gold for anyone who works with horses. When we see the world through the horse’s eyes, we become better kinder horsemen.

08/22/2025

Friday Funny...