Blog

Although we won’t be leaving the farm anytime soon, we can still dream of future field trips! With a little extra time to practice our communication and groundwork, we are taking the opportunity to get all of our horses comfortably self-loading and unloading from the trailer. Trailer loading is often associated with stress (we’re going… Continue

Here at Horses with Hope we have a ‘no riding’ policy currently in place. We don’t want to risk needing medical attention when our health industry is already stretched to the max, and so we’re getting creative about other ways to work our horses. Luckily, there are many other great options to keep our horses… Continue

In any form of horse training it is very important that we break everything down into small steps that are easier for the horse to understand.  Mikey’s trick training clearly showcases how little pieces can be put together to create a finished product. We are not experts at trick training, but we thought it would… Continue

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with Libby Lyman. We are always looking to improve in our daily training and horsemanship skills, and Libby offers a unique perspective. Libby’s work is based on the idea of becoming aware of what the horse is thinking. She teaches students how to ‘set up a problem’… Continue

Not too many people truly enjoy Winter. Most would rather be enjoying the warmth and sunshine of the spring and summer months. As equestrians we may feel even stronger about this, because winter means limited riding time, frozen water buckets, frozen ground, blanketing, and lots of cold days. However here at Horses with Hope, life… Continue

Each time a new horse arrives for training, we begin with the basics. It doesn’t matter whether they have previous riding experience or not– we have a specific ‘checklist’ that we go through before ever climbing aboard. Forrest, an 8-year old Standardbred gelding, is no exception. Although Forrest had already been started under saddle following… Continue

Winter can be difficult to endure for humans and animals alike.  The extreme cold, shortened daylight, and increase in major weather events, can lead to dangerous conditions and health concerns for our horses.  It is important as horse owners that we take all necessary steps and precautions to prevent our horses from experiencing any injury… Continue

Horses are natural grazers and in the wild would spend the majority of their day eating.  Since horses were meant to be nibbling almost constantly, their stomachs secrete acid 24 hours a day to help digest all that food.  Unfortunately, most farms do not have the option to let their horses graze or eat to… Continue

Just as it is beneficial for us as humans to stretch, the practice is also helpful for our horses. Stretches increase range of motion, they reduce tension and resistance in the muscles, and they can also help build up correct muscling. When done correctly and consistently, stretches yield improvement in approximately three months. It’s a… Continue

When you look at Daphne today you would never guess that a little over a year ago she was sick, emaciated, feral, and pregnant. This little mare had a rough start in life, and when she arrived at the MSSPA she didn’t want anything to do with people. These days it is the complete opposite:… Continue

As the saying goes, good things come in small packages!  Magic and Frankie are two new adorable geldings who are with us for training from NEER North in Massachusetts. We are very excited to add them to our herd of “littles,” and look forward to working with them this winter.  Magic is a 19-year old… Continue

An important part of our training program involves exposing horses to new obstacles and experiences. This helps in setting them up to be successful when they go out into the “real world.” In addition, it can be a great way to discover what they enjoy and are best suited to do. A few weeks ago,… Continue

Oakley is one of the newest additions to the farm. He is a 20 year old, 14.1 hand Morgan/Welsh pony cross owned by the MSSPA.  After several weeks of work, Oakley is starting to settle in and his personality is really starting to show. We don’t know much about his past, including any riding career he… Continue

Peaches joined our program in late May through collaboration with the NHSPCA. At the time of her arrival Peaches had only basic handling, and so we are evaluating what she may be best suited for in future.  Initially, Peaches was quite reactive and easily distracted by the new setting and all of the farm activities…. Continue

In December of 2017, the MSSPA received two horses in dire need of help. Authorities had been pursuing their owners for several months, as the horses had been living in a trailer and were in bad shape. Buck’s companion, a mare, was in such poor condition that she had to be humanely euthanized. Buck, a… Continue

Before meeting Marley, we didn’t have any hands on experience with Tennessee Walkers. As Marley has progressed in his training and totally won us all over, we’ve become big fans of the breed. Marley’s ancestors originated in Tennessee, where Narragansett and Canadian Pacers from Kentucky crossed with gaited Spanish Mustangs from Texas to create ‘Tennessee… Continue