Edgewood Stable

08/31/2023

Clinic coming up near Ripley, Maine! Join us won’t you? Learn more about Shawna and Jessie in the comments.

05/08/2022

Do we have to constantly be stopping to feed while we are riding? This is a very important video explaining why we would classically condition the cues for o...

02/23/2022

Shawna works with 8 month old Auggie on settling and relaxation and talks about how we want the young horses to engage with us instead of becoming confrontat...

11/30/2021

Looking Snazz

11/16/2021

“Consider that a horse who has undergone tremendous stress or sustained periods of anxiety to be the same as a person who has had a physical brain injury. It takes time in both instances for them to heal and special care should be taken in this process.”

https://equineadvocateblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/ptsd-in-horses/

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder causes a person to have severe and disturbing thoughts and feelings resulting from a terrifying event or multiple stressful situations. The condition can often trigge…

11/12/2021

Santino using the target in his early phases of learning to trot with a rider on his back. This gives him somewhere to focus and go to. This is also only his second time wearing a bridle so it eliminates the added complication of steering and let’s him focus on one thing at a time.

10/27/2021

09/26/2021

Some of our Edgewood babies all grown up. All three of these were winners on the line either at the Devon Horse Show or for year end awards. Photo credit to Shawna Whitty.

09/26/2021

Baby Augustino is looking more like a horse all the time and less like a foal. We are so blessed to have such good little boys this year. Both he and Tiko are sweet little guys.

09/18/2021

This little 4 month c**t by Epic Eastwood has the best temperament. We are starting both our c**ts from this year with positive reinforcement quite early and it’s made a huge difference in a short time. 💙

09/18/2021

I love how flexible Santino is through his back. I’m so excited to be able to ride him as he continues to progress. But right now, we are focusing on travel for a little while. He and Henley (two Edgewood bred babies) will be attending clinics where Shawna is teaching positive reinforcement. Our next one is at the USET location Sept 25-26. There are just a couple spots left for that if you’re interested. AND both of them will be doing demos at Equitana at the Horse Park in Lexington, KY Oct 1-3. 💙💚🤸‍♂️

09/18/2021

Baby Auggie starting to learn some positive reinforcement. He’s at a very pliable phase of development. It’s good to start developing a strong reinforcement history with things he’s learning such as wearing a halter and leading.

09/15/2021

Our big 5 yr gelding, Kavatino (Banderas x Landwerder x Zeus).

09/14/2021

Shawna Karrasch and I did a clinic in Salem, CT and It was Santinos first time away from home. Here he is traveling around the reverse round pen (a lunging circle used without a lunge line where you’re directing from the middle using only positive reinforcement cues). He also got to meet minis and donkeys for the first time so that was exciting. 😀

08/29/2021

08/22/2021

💙It’s really hard to get a good photo of Tiko since he’s so dark. But he’s really pretty in person and shedding all the lighter brown hair now. He’s also just really silly. Sometimes he detours when it’s time to go to his stall and then becomes upset that he’s lost his way. His dam, Addy is over it. She doesn’t help him anymore. She went from helicopter mom to “momma don’t care” in a hurry and sometimes Tiko isn’t sure what to make of that.

💙This is the point where they can become rowdy. They don’t feel quite as looked after by mom but they’re not secure enough in humans to rely on them either. These are make or break moments with foals. Their insecurities can lead to anxieties and frustration. It’s our job to help them past this point by setting them up for success.

💙How? Make every interaction pleasant. It’s not our job to try to teach them who’s boss but to convince them that we are reliably going to be there during their moments of uncertainty. Every time we try to domineer, we destroy trust. Be patient. Take a step back. Think. Take a breath. Then calmly and rationally think of the best thing to do in each situation.

💙What did I do when Tiko started frantically running around the barn tonight looking for his mom? I sure couldn’t stop him. I grabbed his mom and led her to him. He needed her. He’s not ready to be apart from her yet. He’s made that clear. If he were ready, he would tell me.

08/21/2021

Fish out of water?? Auggie 😆

08/21/2021

He hadn’t realized just how handsome till now. 💙