Back in Stride & Southern Sask Weight Pull

09/16/2025

Tonic! A true testament that even with a disability, like being blind, one can still do weight pull and have fun❤️

09/16/2025

This past weekend was the final APA competition of the season for SSWP.

The sportsmanship award was handed to Manda Poluck. She plays a big roll behind the scenes for this group. But she also cheers on everyone when she comes down, gives tips and pointers to help people out with their dogs.

Another award was made up last minute by myself for most improved dog of season and that went to Chunkford who is owned by Roann Murray. He gives everything to Roann when he steps on that track and he truly does love the sport.

For the MWP 70 and under over the whole season went to Neeva owned by Jess Nelson pulling a total of 17,996 lbs.
2nd Chunkford 11,224
3rd Aloy 8,562
4th Hide 7,190
5th Eleanor 5,248
6th Shay 3,846
7th Teddi 3,238
8th Tonic 1,956
9th Koda 1,484

For the MWP 71 and up over the whole season went to Thor owned by myself pulling a total of 18,906 lbs.
2nd Haven 18,686
3rd Odin 13,660
4th Xena 8,172
5th Draken 7,332

Thank you to everyone who came out to the competitions this year! See you all in 2026

09/01/2025

Where did summer go? Not going to lie this time of year the flies drive my animals and my self nuts that I do look forward to the “F” word meaning Frost.

Sept 13-14 is the last APA weight pull competition being hosted here for the 2025 year. See you all there!

08/31/2025

08/31/2025

Come to me for this amazing product! It really does work ❤️

08/04/2025

Here is a list of 7 ways to strengthen your dog’s hindquarters. Please note that these exercises are for healthy, adult dogs or dogs cleared for exercise by a veterinarian. All of this must be customized to meet the unique needs of each individual dog.

1. Weight Shifting: This exercise builds core and hind-end strength by engaging stabilizer muscles. Have your dog stand squarely and gently shift their weight side to side and using light pressure on their shoulders or hips.

2. Controlled Walks (with slight incline if safe): Simply going for more walks can be great for senior dogs. It helps encourage range of motion and hind-end engagement. Choose varied but safe terrain to naturally activate more muscles.

3. Sit-to-Stand Transitions: These “squat” exercises strengthen the hind end and promote proper movement mechanics. Encourage your dog to move from a sit to a stand slowly and with good form. Keep it simple on the ground or add elevation and/or unstable surfaces for more advanced moves.

4. Cavaletti Poles / Step-Over Exercises: These are great for hind-end awareness and coordination. Have your dog walk over low poles spaced according to their stride length. Keep the pace slow and controlled. Mix up the spacing and distances when ready for more of a challenge.

5. Rear-Leg Targeting: This is great for body awareness and if you want to isolate and strengthen different legs. Use a paw target to have your dog step one rear foot onto a low platform, alternating legs for reps. (For a more advanced move, you can change this to a 3-legged stand.)

6. Hill Work or Uphill Walking: This builds glute and hamstring strength. Use only if your dog can handle inclines without pain or significant fatigue. Keep in mind that running up hills is much harder on the body than walking, so save the running for more advanced dogs who are already fit.

7. Standing with Feet on Unstable Surfaces: This is a more advanced move and is another great activity to engage stabilizer muscles and increase balance. Always begin on solid surfaces and then progress, when appropriate, to 2 feet standing on an unstable surface. Having your dog perform exercises with all 4 feet on an unstable surface should only be done by dogs who are ready for advanced fitness exercises.

Some Tips for Success:
Avoid slippery surfaces.
Encourage controlled movements and proper body posture.
Stop if you see signs of fatigue or signs of discomfort.

Finally, be sure to give your dog’s body plenty of time to adapt to a new exercise before making it more difficult. (This can sometimes take weeks.) When you’re ready to make things more challenging, increase the workload gradually by only about 10%. Then give your dog’s body time to adapt before increasing difficulty once more.

08/03/2025

Squares are something I will always have on hand. Truly cannot have enough of them. This year I only need 100 as I still have lots, this would be the one thing I do hoard 🤣. It’s a work out for sure 💪 glad the 2025 square bale season is over for me.

08/01/2025

I will always love and have a Great Dane❤️🤣❤️

07/30/2025

Keeping Your Pets Cool and Safe this Summer:

With the scorching heat upon us, it's essential to ensure our beloved animals stay cool and comfortable. In particular, dogs and horses are more susceptible to heat-related stress. Here are some simple yet effective measures to help them beat the heat.

Provide Ample Shade and Water
Offer plenty of shade and fresh water for your pets, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Ensure they have a cool place to retreat to when the sun is blazing.

For dogs:

1. Avoid Midday Walks: Stick to early morning or late evening walks when temperatures are lower.
2. Watch for Hot Pavement: If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. Opt for grass or shaded paths.
3. Hydration is Key: Always have fresh, cool water available—consider adding ice cubes for a fun touch.
4. Cool-Down Options: Kiddie pools, damp towels, and fans can be great for helping dogs cool off at home.
5. Never Leave in Cars: Even for a few minutes—temperatures rise dangerously fast.

For horses:

1. Provide Shade: Make sure they have access to trees, run-in shelters, or shaded areas during peak sun hours.
2. Frequent Water Refills: Horses can drink up to 10+ gallons a day—ensure clean, cool water is always available.
3. Avoid Midday Workouts: Ride or exercise horses early or late in the day.
4. Electrolyte Support: If your horse is sweating heavily, consider adding electrolytes to their feed or water.
5. Hose Down Safely: Rinse with cool water, especially legs and chest.

07/28/2025

Cupping decompresses the tissue. Other than tape, all other treatment modalities and manual therapy techniques are compressing the tissue.
Decompression separates fascial layers to improve fascial glide, improves blood flow, breaks up fascial adhesion, improves lymphatic fluid movement, and actually helps a lot with supporting the immune system.

Can cupping be done on my horse or dog? You bet it can! Contact me today 🙂