Chrysalis Equine

06/15/2026

Another great trail ride today! Macaria says bikes, construction signs, mailboxes, and flags are no big deal. The only exciting part was the horses nearby who came up to say hi.

06/01/2026

I got a break from puppy raising today to go see my mare. Macaria BEC PF aka "Aria" was a star today on our outdoor ride. Without any lungeing or ground work, I mounted and rode her to the outdoor for our first ride out there. And she got a little dripped on by rain too (also a first). I am so thankful Colleen showed us the field we can ride around, and the mystery trail behind the house next door (on which Macaria trail-blazed!). I am proud of her for handling it all with aplomb, including Colleen's Dalmatian Freida running up past her her.

My prescription for a good trail horse: go for trail walks together, with you on the ground. Build confidence experiencing novel objects and creatures in familiar places, with friends (you count!), before venturing further. Bring treats and encourage your horse to approach and even touch objects, reward their courage with treats.

What do you do to help your horse become confident on the trail?

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

Poppy sure enjoys having a friend to wrestle with! Kaylee is pretty fierce too! I love how they both take breaks too.

05/23/2026

Miss Kaylee Hope is home! She had a grueling 5 hour car ride and was a superstar! She mostly slept or napped on our laps, did potty outside, and was very brave with hardly any whining and no trembling. Clearly she is an adventurous pup and a very licky cuddler!

Poppy is as charmed as the rest of us. 💛 After some greeting time, Kaylee got the rest of her lunch and is now snoozing some more. She had so much to see and experience today!

05/22/2026

One of my goals is to live life so fully that I see the good in every day, see the beauty around me, and share that sense of wonder with those around me. Animals and nature remind me to slow down, to appreciate all the good.

Yesterday we spent the day preparing to bring our new puppy home. Our house is clean, puppy-proofed, and ready to welcome home our girl Kaylee Hope! It was an unusual day with no horses but lots of time with my husband and Poppy. My heart is full. ❤️

05/21/2026

On Conformation, Posture, and Musculature

What do you see in these two photos? These are two different young Friesian cross mares standing in nearly the same position. Which do you prefer?

A lot of people look at the neck. They want that telescoping look of the horse on the right. The horse on the left can do that too and actually has a lovely neck length and shape but is currently relaxing instead.

My eye is drawn to the conformational differences in the hind ends. The mare on the right has a shorter, steeper hip. See how her hip ends before her cannon bone? This is common among Friesians and crosses. But I prefer the hip of the mare on the left. There is a straight line from the end of her hip down her cannon bone. If the hip is short and steep, it has nowhere to go to rotate into collection.

Another difference is the posture. The mare on the right is standing with her weight shifted forward past her forelegs. This usually indicates a weaker thoracic sling and chest/core. The mare on the left used to stand like that too, but rarely does so now as she has gotten stronger with targeted exercises. Her foreleg is straight underneath her shoulder.

One last point, notice their very different topline musculature. The one on the right is rather angular whereas the mare on the left has round lines. I particularly love how she is filled in between the withers and the neck. This area is involved in correct carriage of their body, using their core and thoracic sling.

What do you see in these mares? Which do you prefer now now?

05/16/2026

Miss Poppy turns 4 today! I can't imagine life without her bubbly effervescent joy her cheerful sunny optimism, her playful happy cuddly self! This dog has changed my life and Steven's and touches everyone she meets! 💕

05/14/2026

Miss Macaria got to play with SureFoot pads today! I thought the little micro balancing necessary to stay stable would help her develop proprioception and strength with her hyper mobility.

Well, she certainly found these medium firmness pads interesting! She spent 5-10 minutes processing and quietly standing there when she could totally walk off anytime.

She also got to her her chiropractor today and had a massage last week. What therapies do you offer your horse?

Also, what do you do for yourself? Most equestrian neglect their own heath. Horses certainly do demand our financial resources! But I do prioritize chiropractic and massage to help my body be balanced.

05/13/2026

Don't you just love those rides where you get a break-through?! Macaria trusts me now that I can help her balance in the trot. Our ridden more is more connected, balanced, and through.

She is an exacting mare, especially challenging to ride as a young horse. So often I try to explain to her that we sometimes have to try and muddle through together until it is better, that no one can be perfect when first learning something.

Honestly I usually have that conversation with human clients, not horses! It is a valuable lesson for us all. Work for progress, not perfection.