08/26/2026
Meet Pippin, a 10-year-old off-track Thoroughbred and valued member of the Bridge the Gap Equine community since last fall. ❤️
Pippin is my favorite kind of puzzle to figure out: a historically hard keeper, a little sensitive, and very much his own personality. When Kate brought him to BGE in the fall of 2025, she already had six years of knowing and loving this horse behind her. Getting to combine everything she knows about Pip with a fresh set of eyes and a program tailored to what he needs at this point in his life has been incredibly rewarding. Little by little, we’ve watched the pieces start to fall into place.
For me, it always starts with nutrition. High-quality, readily available forage is non-negotiable and the foundation of a happy, healthy horse. From there, I add two to three carefully selected meals each day to fill in the gaps. With Pip, we closely monitored his body condition as he settled into life at BGE and adjusted his feed along the way.
Then came the work under saddle. Patience is the name of the game, and Pippin is no exception. We’ve progressed slowly and thoughtfully, always keeping the focus on suppleness, understanding, and most importantly, FUN.
We’ve found that his sweet spot is me riding him twice a week and Kate having a lesson on him once a week. He’s made incredible progress in his training, but watching the harmony and confidence between the two of them continue to grow has honestly been one of my favorite parts of this whole process. At the end of the day, that partnership is really what it’s all about.
Regular Myofascial Release and PEMF have also become an important piece of the puzzle for Pip. Giving him opportunities for recovery and relaxation while addressing the tension and soreness he may carry matters just as much to me as what we do in the saddle.
But I think my favorite part of all has been watching Pippin come out of his shell and really show us who he is.
He now whinnies to anyone who walks into the barn, has a best friend in another BGE favorite, Quimby, and absolutely loves the kids. He’s even been known to gently rock a stroller for our tiniest BGE patrons. 😂❤️
Horses like Pippin are exactly why I love this work so much. But having owners like Kate makes it even more rewarding. After six years together, she knows this horse inside and out, and she is incredibly invested in continuing to learn, putting in the work, and doing the “homework” between lessons and sessions. She trusts me enough to let me bring a new perspective to the table while always being Pippin’s biggest advocate, and I think that partnership is a huge part of why he’s thriving.
I’m incredibly grateful to Kate for trusting me to become a part of the story she and Pippin have already been writing for six years.
And I’m grateful to Pip for being Pip… the sensitive, silly, stroller-rocking little puzzle who reminds me exactly why I do this every day. ❤️
