Straton Sporthorses

Always 🖤🐴

Eeeeee, my new boots from The Distinguished Rider are here! I certainly love them 😉❤️🤗 Check out https://thedistinguishedrider.com/ to design your own custom pair!

“Surround yourself with people who push you to do and be better. No drama or negativity, just higher motivation, good times, and positive energy. No jealousy or hate. Just simply bringing out the absolute best each time.” –Anonymous

Let’s talk about barn atmosphere…

It’s not only important that your barn is a good fit for your horse - it should be a good fit for you as well.

A barn could have all of the bells and whistles,
the biggest accolades,
the prettiest tack rooms,
and the best footing…
But is it a positive environment?

It is so important for both you AND your horse that you surround yourself with a barn family that encourages you, supports you, and wants to see you succeed.

Life is too short to waste time on negative energy.
Most importantly… Our time with our horses is too precious to waste on a barn with bad vibes!

Make sure your barn is preparing you and your horse to be the best version of yourselves 🩷🐴

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚!
🩵 𝑱𝑱 𝑻𝒂𝒕𝒆

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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
– Aristotle

Art: Frédérique Lavergne

I’ve always loved this quote because I think it can directly relate to our relationship with horses:

“Never blame anyone in your life. Good people give you happiness. Bad people give you experience. The worst people give you a lesson. And the best people give you memories.” -Zig Ziglar

The way I see it…

Never put blame on a horse.
The horses that are a ‘good’ match for us bring us happiness.
The horses that challenge us give us experience.
The worst rides give us the lessons we need.
The best horses give us memories.

Any interaction with a horse is a learning experience. There will always be difficult lessons and hard days, but it is what we learn from those experiences that make the good memories that much sweeter.

How lucky are we to get to have horses in our lives?! This sport is a gift and I am grateful for it every day. 🩵🐴

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚!
🩵 𝑱𝑱 𝑻𝒂𝒕𝒆

🐴: Denali
📸: Richard Malmgren

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Occasionally someone will ask me, "What is dressage?" To this question I say, dressage is the correct gymnastizing, careful training and development of a horse using the Training Scale. Dressage empowers a horse to become more athletic and beautiful in his natural movements, and to learn to carry a rider in a more healthy and balanced way. Classical dressage training will result in a horse that is stronger, more flexible and better able to use his whole body in a supple and powerful way, but at the same time will feel light and adjustable to the rider. It is the fundamental training needed for all varieties of the horse sports, and is also an Olympic sport in and of itself. A well trained dressage horse is a joy and privilege to ride.

Dressage training should be free of force, with the goal that movements can be summoned in any place at any time because the horse is in proper self-carriage and in harmony with the rider. As the horse's training progresses, he will respond to the most subtle aids of the rider, which are invisible to the observer but clearly understood by the horse.

Dressage training should never be limited to the dressage arena. Dressage should be taught in conjunction with trail rides, small jumps, turn outs and free jumping. In the fall, fox hunting behind the hounds and ground work are wonderful additions to dressage training. Proper dressage training will create a sustainable and rewarding relationship between horse and rider. "Airs above the ground" such as Levade, courbette, Capriole, ec. are special movements of the High School.

Dressage is a journey - one to be enjoyed at every stage. A good dressage rider never skips a step in the horse's training in an effort to reach a specific goal, but instead relishes in the daily work, the daily discoveries and tiny bits of progress that the horse generously offers. The rider should ride to the horse's limit, but never over, so that the horse learns, but does not lose confidence and trust in his rider, and therefore the horse gives his whole heart to his rider.

That is why I am, and always will be in love with dressage. Walter

A horse is never just a horse 🖤🐴🖤

Have you had your saddle fit checked recently? We highly recommend Courtney if you’re located in MD or the surrounding states!

Show season is upon us and we are getting into some beautiful riding weather as we head into spring and summer. Make sure your equine partner's equipment is fitted and comfortable for whatever adventures you take on! 🐴 Appointment slots are filling up fast. Contact me today to set up your saddle fitting.

: When you memorize your tests, don’t just memorize the movements, and the letters at which they are performed. Memorize how you go through corners, how you prepare those movements. Memorize what you’ll be doing the five strides before a transition in order to make that transition the most beautiful and effortless it can be. Memorize breathing, staying present, and how you’ll use your body to help your horse do the best work he can do. It’s not just about the pattern! ♾️⁣
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This is what it’s all about 🙌

“Dressage is so much more than the sparkling white walls of Wellington. It’s the backyard barn in the middle of nowhere, USA where a group of riders support each other and their horses to become the best versions of themselves. The movements and the scores are secondary to the central theme of development of character and physical wholeness.”

New blog post on what is Dressage…

If you are looking for an alternative to Hygain feeds, Daily Dose Equine makes low NSC balancers such as Carbbuster (7%NSC) and Firefighter (9%). For feeds, we make a product called MassNoSass (14%) that is mainly forage but has a small amount of roasted barley added for calories. All Daily Dose Equine products maintain the integrity of the original ingredients and are verified through the Non-GMO project meaning they contain no ingredient that have been sprayed with glyphosate (RoundUp). We use 4 main ingredients sourced in the US and Canada – timothy hay, alfalfa hay, oats and barley. These ingredients are placed on isolated manufacturing line and combined with peas, sunflower, flax and a vitamin/mineral mix with optimum amounts of amino acids, pre and probiotics, vitamins and minerals. Horses on Daily Dose Equine feeds reach an unprecedented level of health and immunity, display shiny, soft coats and build muscle/topline with ease.
Available through Chewy and Tractor Supply Online.

This!!

“You fell in love with riding horses because it fills your soul. Don’t feel like you need a more expensive horse, a better barn, a nicer saddle, a brand new show coat, 2 months of showing at WEF, or a diet to become a better rider. Seek out the trainers who accept you for you, because happiness comes from self love and self acceptance! -Sincerely, NF”

Thank you KVA for having me out! Such a fun day with your dedicated group 😃

Yup!

Lovely Ria schooling in my favorite Trilogy Verago saddle from Trilogy Performance Saddlery 😍

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Check out their apparel, accessories, helmets, and more online and use my special discount code for 5% off your website purchases through March 31st!

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The Distinguished Rider Welcome to The Distinguished Rider! Your connection to Kingsley Riding footwear, QHP Boots, Chester Boots, and more! On the website you'll find boots for sale, boot education articles, and more. Connecting equestrians to their dream boots, one boot at a time.

Congratulations to student Melanie Gerner on earning 2023 FADS JYR Intro Level Champion with over 71%! Well done 👏⭐️🥇

It takes a lot of time!

It’s that time of year! Totally loving my fleece-lined Kingsley boots from The Distinguished Rider and warm winter coat from my awesome Trilogy Performance Saddlery fitter, Courtney Peiffer ❤️❄️⛄️ They’re keeping me toasty well below freezing, and I hate the cold! (For real, I started wearing them as soon as it dropped below 50 degrees 😂).

“What is interesting for me, is that every rule in the classical riding instruction, has an anatomical basis. It is not that some-one made up a little rulebook, and said, ‘from now on we will ride this way’.”

This is great stuff, and so aligned with everything my teachers have taught me. I always wanted to set up a joint clinic with Gerd and Charles de Kunffy!

Gerd Heuschmann – Dressage to improve not wreck your horse! | The Horse Magazine Gerd Heuschmann – Dressage to improve not wreck your horse! Posted on January 15, 2021 by horsemagazine Story – Chris Hector Photos – Roz Neave Back in 2005, Australians were introduced to the philosophy and research of Gerd Heuschmann at the FEI VIII Regional Forum. It was an exciting firs....

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!
⛄️❄️🎄❄️⛄️🎄

Straton Sporthorses has a few openings for training horses and students in the new year!🎉

We love helping horses and riders of all levels and backgrounds develop in harmony through classical dressage principles. Our programs range from weekly lessons to customized training packages, 3-4 days per week.

Katie Straton is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist who has ridden to Grand Prix. Her empathetic and patient approach prioritizes the well-being of the horse, and focuses on correct basics, rider equitation, and understanding of riding theory.

Come join our fun and welcoming community in 2024! Conveniently located between Frederick and Westminster, Md. PM or email [email protected] for more details.

Happy National Day of the Horse!
PC Karrie Dash Photography

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We had an awesome time at the Clinic with JJ Tate December 2023 last weekend! Pearl had a great experience at her first outing and we learned lots. Thank you to Daisy Lane Farm for having us and to Pearl’s owner for the opportunity to have JJ’s masterful eyes on her ❤️

Great advice, and crucial to achieving mindfulness and becoming present in the moment with your horse. I prioritize being slow, calm, and deliberate around my horses and allow everything to take the time that it takes. It always pays off in the long run!

SLOOOOOW DOWN!

SLOW your walking down to 1 step per second with and without your horse next to you.
SLOW your hand movements down as you touch or do things.
SLOW your talking down.
SLOW your breathing down.
SLOW your pulls and pushes down on the leadrope.

SLOW to FLOW!

Humans are WAAAAY to fast for horses and this is one of the leading causes of reactivity and opposition reflex in horses.

Speed = stress.

Let me teach you what speed does...

When the brain perceives a threat, it causes the body to release the stress response hormone cortisol. Cortisol levels and speed go hand in hand.
Cortisol provides the body with the fuel it needs to flee a scary situation or fight against it.

The thing with the mind-body relationship is that the brain feels an emotion such as fear, which create a physical response in the body, but the body can also move at a certain speed or in a particular way and create an emotion in the brain. It can be reverse engineered.

This is how special the intimate relationship is between the brain and body.

The other thing to remember is that, collectively as a social animal, when speed is noticed by another mammal (no matter the species), it alerts the unconscious brain to threat.

Speed is an alarm system in a social system (consciously and unconsciously).

If you walked down a road and everyone started running, you'd find it hard not to run even if you didn't know what the cause was. You are noticing that others are running and in a direction, so you mirror them to increase your chances of survival. You don't need the reasoning part of your brain for this. You just activated your primal (survival) part of the brain.

One other thing to remember: HORSES CAN SMELL CORTISOL. So not only does your speed act as a visual alarm system to your horse, it also acts as an olfactory one!

Would you want to interact with someone who caused you to feel constantly on alert?

These little things are the beginnings of what ripples into chronic stress in both humans and horses.
You spend enough time around someone who is fast in their movement, your nervous system will condition itself to being on high alert.
HELLO 👋 CHRONIC STRESS!!!

Slow your movement down = slow your thoughts down.
Slow your movement down = lower your cortisol.
Slow your movement down = feel connected with yourself, the world and others in it.
Slow your movement down = slow your alarm systems down and eventually they'll turn off.

Slow down so much that it is uncomfortable. It won't be uncomfortable for long, I promise 😉

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🦃🍂 We are so grateful for all of our clients, owners, sponsors, supporters and friends ❤️

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