Very Important Pony - Elaine Hildreth, MMCP

09/01/2024

Angels, best friends, professors… whatever you call them, I hope you’re able to spend some extra time with them this weekend.

08/30/2024

08/28/2024

Horses teach so many lessons. Cherish the moments you have with them as much as they cherish their time with you. ❤️🐎

08/25/2024

It’s that time of year again - the sugars in the grass change when the grass is stressed. It’s not only spring grasses we need to be mindful of, but also heat stressed grass and the grass in the fall. As the sugars change sensitive horses/ponies have a higher risk of experiencing negative side effects.

Best funny memes of The Day! 🐈‍⬛🥰🐾

08/25/2024

For every rider, owner, instructor, and trainer who refuses to settle, constantly seeks improvement, and puts the horse's needs first, your commitment is truly inspiring.

08/24/2024

Listen in! Platinum Performance interviewed Piper Norton and two other incredible vets to share the latest info about anhidrosis. Even if your horse is currently sweating, this condition is one every horse owner needs to stay up to date on.

When the weather gets hot and humid, the risk for anhidrosis increases, especially in the Southern and Gulf Coast regions. Tune in to the Platinum Performance® Podcast as we chat alongside veterinary experts Drs. Piper Norton, Ben Buchanan, and Jerome Kotzur, while this expert team of veterinarians explores the intricacies of anhidrosis, what causes this disruption in normal sweating, and what vets are reaching for in terms of treatments and preventive strategies.

🎧 Listen Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/platinum-performance-podcast/id1535855327?i=1000666057673

08/24/2024

It’s always worth it to keep digging to learn what is bothering your horse to cause reluctance and/or negative behaviors. Work with your vet to find viable options for your horse that are within your budget. If and when bodywork is an appropriate addition to the treatment, make sure you ask the bodyworker to communicate with your vet regarding what is appropriate for your horse at each stage of healing and for long term maintenance.

Learn about the clinical signs of neck or back issues in horses and how they are diagnosed.

08/22/2024

Horse person problems…

08/20/2024

If we allow them, horses teach us to be better humans. ❤️

03/29/2024

A productive walk is so beneficial. When riders ask about getting their horses fitter for their sport, I always suggest long, productive walks a few days a week… sadly, many riders simply don’t value the benefits of walking.

They W-I-L-L N-O-T D-O I-T.

Will not do what? Use active walks for strength training as an. add-on to their regular training schedules. Eventers, show jumpers, dressage riders, whoever could gain benefit from having stronger equine athletes.

What are you talking about?

Well, this---In 1974 Jack LeGoff had a shallow bench of advanced 3-day horses to send to the World Championshipd to be held in September at Burghley. He had six riders and six horses, zero extras if one got hurt. He wanted to maximize their fitness, because cross country day, back then, would be over 17 miles long, and would require one hour and twenty minutes of trotting and galloping.

So he used vigorous long walks three days a week in addition to the normal schools. So say we did 45 minutes of flat work in the morning, which, with warmup and cool down might take an hour, give or take. Then, in the afternoon, say Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he would have us saddle up again after lunch, and go hike around the open hills at Wylie. About one to one and a half hours, as I remember, each walk day.

Walks do not stress horses much. They are highly unlikely to cause injury. They build base strength and create muscular development. They are a win-win.

But virtually NOBODY does this, Most human sports teams now employ strength coaches because when technique starts to fail, raw strength can create that winning edge. Why would human horse trainers not want stronger horses?

But does ANYONE grasp this in 2024? Or, if they do, do they make the effort to actually do it?

There’s a hidden gorilla in the room, actually more of a train than a gorilla, It is called the Excuse Train. Nobody wants to admit being lazy, so they dig up reasons to deflect.

“I don’t have time.” That’s a big one.
“I don’t have a place to do it.”
I don’t have enough help.”

But the real reason is usually more basic, six words. “I don’t want to do it.”

Everyone wants an edge. Strength is an edge. There’s a reasonably safe and straightforward method to add strength, Take Jack’s advice or deny it----.

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10/01/2023

As you become more patient with yourself, you will find you also have more patience for your horse.