StrideSync

When you're trying to give a massage and SOMEONE can't help but pester!

There's always one in every crowd 😂

There's nothing quite like seeing your kids step into your boots - even when they're still a few sizes too small 😍

This week, our oldest (8 years old) joined me while I offered massage therapy to the lesson horses for the university's Veterans Equine Assisted Services program. As I worked, he quietly stepped up, laid his hands on Henry (the mini and very patient volunteer) and mimicked what he's watched me do dozens of times. 🐴

This is what we love about homeschooling 🤓 It's not about books and lessons - it's about LIVING the learning. It's about giving our kids space to explore what matters, to grow in compassion and capability, and to learn the value of service from the saddle up. There’s no better classroom than the barn - this is where real life lessons stick.

We raise performance horses, but we're raising good men, too. And sometimes, the best lessons aren't taught - they're caught.

I'm honored to be part of something that means so much to me. Thank you to the MSU Extension Equine Assisted Services Veterans Horsemanship Program for the kind words—and for all you do to serve those who’ve served. Glad to give back in my own small way 🐴

Does your horse struggle with ulcers? Ulcers can begin or be exacerbated by an empty stomach + anxiety = stomach acid causing erosion and damage to the stomach and esophageal lining. Horses are naturally grazers that require a consistent intake of roughage. Due to the continuous acid secretion in a horse's stomach, irregular feeding patterns can lead to gastric ulcers as there is insufficient feed to counterbalance the acid.

The solution?

1) Feed before you ride! Give the digestive juices something to work on (food) instead of the lining of your horse's stomach.

2) Increase the frequency you feed. A horse can start developing signs of ulcers in as little as 2 hours on an empty stomach. And yet, many people feed at intervals of one to two times per day with 12 to 24 hours between. Consider a slow feeder.

3) Consider alfalfa hay or cubes - the high calcium content helps to coat the lining of the stomach to slow or even prevent erosion between meals.

Follow for more tips!

Unlike humans, horses are designed to run on a full stomach. Feeding your horse 2-3L of chaff or a biscuit of hay prior to exercise has two benefits :
1️⃣ The chaff will form a ball of feed in the stomach, which will help prevent acid from splashing up from the lower part of the stomach to cause gastric ulcers.
2️⃣ Blood is normally diverted away from the stomach during exercise, which reduces some of its normal protective mechanisms. Research has shown that feeding your horse before exercise actually reduces the amount of blood that is shunted away from the stomach and also increases the amount of blood delivered to the skeletal muscles and muscles of the chest. So not only are you helping to protect the stomach, you also might be improving your horse’s performance.
For more information : http://ow.ly/CfYy50Dmwnh

Great idea to store away for later use as needed!

Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome AKA “dummy foal syndrome” occurs in 3- 5% of live foal births. These foals fail to recognize their mares and have no interest in nursing. They often require round the clock intensive care to keep them alive (feeding tube, IV fluids) until they begin nursing on their own. The Madigan Foal Squeeze shown here is a technique developed to reenact the birthing process by applying pressure to the rib cage using ropes. The squeeze triggers biochemical changes in the central nervous system that are critical for transitioning the foal from being asleep in the uterus to awake and conscious at birth. The pressure around their torso causes the foal to go into a sound sleep and the squeeze is held for approximately 20 minutes. Once finished, pressure is released and the foal will awaken themselves. Our goal is they search for their mother and are stimulated to nurse.

Keep up!

Outta the way 😂