Great Heights Stable

06/07/2026

06/02/2026

🥹 Too Good Not to share🥹

We have to re-train our eyes to see correct movement and reread the old school dressage manuals that emphasized slow progression through the training scales for a reason.

Unfortunately the way the human brain works is seeing “incorrect” repetitively rewrires what you think should appear normal.

For example, mirror neurons are very strong within families. If your mom or dad walks with a certain characteristic shuffle or posture you will subconsciously adopt this same movement pattern simply from seeing it all the time.

Similarly associations between things also can subconsciously drive movement patterns- remember that study where they measured student posture and speed walking down the hall, the students read words then walked back down the hall. Students who read words like “orange” and “Florida” walked slower and a more hunched posture returning down the hall simply after reading a few words! Why? Because we unconsciously associate “elderly” with the words and therefore adopted an elderly postural pattern.

So to swing this back to horses- if we ride incorrectly, see professionals ride incorrectly, we are programming our postural and behaviors to pattern off this, echoing the incorrect elements. This is how incorrect movement and progressions get normalized.

I love this side by side video because I am lucky enough to have enough training to be able to see the good part and bad parts in both but also recognize the net lack of tension overall is greater for our enthusiastic bridleless gray. He also has a happy and engaged thinking expression the entire time- this is very special. He looks dang proud of what he’s doing!

The facial expressions on horses are undervalued and underutilized. I personally am obsessed with how the Horse feels about whatever we are doing- they need to be radiating back as much joy or interest as me or it’s not worth it and I need to pivot my approach.

It doesn’t have to be bitless, but if we are using tack, the horse should still have a happy, engaged face I think.

05/31/2026

🐴 Busy Day at GHS 🐴

-Canter and Trot work for Nova with poles
-ponying work for Atlas with obstacles
-Liberty with Pony
-intro to ground driving for Roman
-nervous system regulation in Trot for Orion
-pairs liberty for Roman and Orion
-string disengagement for Summit

✅✅✅

05/29/2026

🌱 This weeks Core Base Blend:🌱

*Chamomile — calming, digestive soothing, anti-inflammatory
*Calendula — healing, drying, toning, lymphatic support
*Dandelion root — liver supporting, digestive stimulating, gentle detoxifying
*Barley grass powder — mineral rich, alkalizing, antioxidant supportive
*Oat straw powder — nourishing, nervous system supporting particularly repair and calming, mineral replenishing
*Yarrow — circulation supporting, wound healing, antimicrobial
*Thyme — respiratory supporting, antimicrobial, immune supportive, cleansing, moving, and clearing
*Nettle leaf — nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory, allergy supportive

🌼🌼🌼

This is what my herds and clients will be offered, plus some individualized herbs on top of this depending on what each individual pony needs and asks for.

For instance, one mare keeps selecting herbs that have an affinity with muscle building and detox support, another seems to be working with herbs that demonstrate specificity with ligaments and connective tissue, and the mustang is, not surprisingly, selecting calming herbs.

Roman has a few cuts so he gets double dose of herbs that have an affinity with repair and wound healing.

Can I just say that this blend smells divine- must mean I need something in it 🌿 ❤️

I love this time of year because there are a ton of additional herbs finally growing all around us that I can grab throughout the day and offer all the horses.

Favorites at the moment are:
*violet leaves and flowers
*cleavers
*shepherd's purse
*baby yarrow
*plantain, both lance and broad leaf
*horsetail
*ivy
*Creeping Charlie and other mint family herbies
*baby raspberry leaves

💭 Have you noticed your horse seeking out any particular plants?

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

One of the best parts of being here is the amazing team of various professionals we have helping these horses.

We couldn’t imagine life without Harmonia Equine- look at this transformation! It was the most beautiful session and fascinating to watch this mare make so many adjustments.