Hynders Appaloosa Western Performance Stud

04/09/2026

🟧PREPPING FOR NATIONALS | PART 1🖤

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

Natural Veld • Lucerne • Living Out • Condition

When we talk about preparing a performance horse for Nationals, it is easy to focus on the final weeks — the training, the classes and the competition.

But for us, preparation starts much earlier.

It starts at home, it starts in the Karoo.

And it starts with building a horse that is healthy, well-conditioned and mentally settled long before they ever walk into the show arena.

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🌾THE KAROO IS PART OF OUR PROGRAMME

Our horses live out.

They have access to natural veld, space to move and the opportunity to behave like horses.

That lifestyle is an important part of our foundation.

The natural movement throughout the day, grazing and browsing opportunities, fresh air and open space all contribute to the horse we eventually take to competition.

We don't believe preparation begins by putting a horse into a stable and suddenly increasing their workload.

The athlete is built through the everyday routine.

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🌿LUCERNE AS OUR FORAGE SUPPORT

In our environment, Lucerne is the forage we have available to support the natural veld.

For a performance horse, forage isn't simply something to fill the stomach.

It provides fibre and forms an important part of the horse's overall nutritional foundation.

The amount required will vary according to the individual horse, their workload, body condition and the quality of the available veld and Lucerne.

The important thing is to look at the whole horse, rather than feeding by numbers alone.

Condition tells us a story.

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🐴LIVING OUT — BUT STILL CONDITIONING

Living out doesn't mean our horses aren't athletes.

In fact, the natural movement associated with living out can be a valuable part of their foundation.

But competition conditioning still needs to be deliberate.

Training gradually develops:

Strength.
Fitness.
Balance.
Coordination.
Suppleness.
Stamina.

The aim isn't simply to make the horse tired.

It is to progressively develop the physical ability they need for their chosen discipline.

And just as importantly, to allow adequate recovery.

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💪CONDITION BEFORE COMPETITION

We don't want to arrive at Nationals hoping to create condition in the final few weeks.

The horse should arrive already carrying the appropriate amount of muscle and body condition for their individual needs.

That means monitoring them throughout the year.

Not just before a show.

Changes in body condition can tell us when something in the programmed needs attention — whether that means looking at forage, workload, recovery or the overall nutritional balance.

The goal is not maximum condition.

The goal is appropriate condition for performance.

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🧠THE MENTAL FOUNDATION

A performance horse isn't only a body - they are an athlete with a mind.

Living out gives our horses the opportunity to move, graze, socialize and decompress naturally.

That matters.

A horse that is mentally settled at home has a stronger foundation from which to handle the demands of training and, eventually, competition.

Nationals will bring a completely different environment.

So we want to build confidence long before we arrive.

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THE FOUNDATION COMES FIRST

Before we think about the arena, we think about the horse.

Natural veld. Lucerne. Movement. Condition. Training. Recovery. Mental wellbeing. These are not separate pieces. They work together to create the athlete.

And this is where our journey towards Nationals begins.

Not in the show arena - at home, in the Karoo.

Prepare the horse. Build the foundation. Trust the process.

🟧NEXT — PART 2

FUELING THE ATHLETE

Nutrition • Energy • Hydration • Minerals • Recovery

04/09/2026

🟧🖤 PREPPING FOR APPALOOSA NATIONALS — THE JOURNEY BEGINS🖤🟧

Preparing a performance horse for Nationals is about far more than getting them fit and riding a few good patterns.

For us, it starts much earlier.

It starts out in the Karoo — with horses living out on natural veld, supported with good-quality Lucerne, developing fitness, strength, confidence and the partnership we rely on when we finally step into the arena after a year of preparation.

Then comes the part we don't always see in the photographs.

The feeding. The conditioning. The recovery. The mental preparation. The journey.

The change from open veld to a busy show environment.

And for horses accustomed to living out, the adjustment to potentially being stabled 24/7 for up to a week at Nationals when they aren't attending classes or being taken out for in-hand walks or brief turnout.

Then there is competition itself.

Managing hydration. Forage. Salt and electrolytes. Feeding around classes. Movement. Rest. Recovery.

And keeping the horse mentally settled through several days of competition - because Nationals isn't just about the few minutes inside the arena.

It is about everything we do before, between and after those minutes.

Over the next four parts, we'll share how we're approaching the journey from Karoo horse to competition athlete — and why we believe that good preparation isn't about doing more.

It's about doing the right things, consistently, for the individual horse.

🟧PART 1 — BUILDING THE FOUNDATION
Natural Veld • Lucerne • Living Out • Condition

🟧PART 2 — FUELING THE ATHLETE
Nutrition • Energy • Hydration • Recovery

🟧PART 3 — FROM KAROO TO COMPETITION
Travel • Stabling • Movement • Mental Preparation

🟧PART 4 — COMPETITION READY
Feeding • Hydration • Recovery • Multi-Day Management

This is our journey to Nationals 2026.

Not just preparing a horse to compete - Preparing the whole horse for everything that competition brings.

Prepare the horse. Trust the work. Ride the moment.

01/09/2026

Touchy subject, I know. So let me start with a disclaimer: I don’t own a stud chain. I don’t even have one in my barn.
And that’s intentional.

If I have a stallion that requires a stud chain for me to safely handle him on a normal day, he doesn’t stay a stallion at my house.
Now, before everybody comes for me — I am not talking about breeding situations. Breeding is a different environment with different levels of excitement, hormones, and risk. I’m talking about everyday life.

Leading to the barn.
Loading in the trailer.
Standing tied.
Going to a show.
Walking through a busy environment.
Basic training and handling.
If I need a chain across a horse’s nose every day just to have control of him, then in my opinion, we have one of two problems:

A. He needs more training.
B. He shouldn’t be a stallion.
And maybe that sounds harsh.
But being a stallion is a privilege, not an excuse for poor behavior.

I expect my stallions to understand personal space. I expect them to lead quietly. I expect them to pay attention to me even when there are mares around. I expect them to be manageable by knowledgeable horsemen without needing increasingly severe equipment just to maintain basic control.
Does that mean they’re robots? Absolutely not.
They’re stallions. They have hormones. They have personalities. They can get excited. They can make mistakes.
But “he’s a stud” shouldn’t be the explanation we use every time a horse drags somebody around, runs over them, screams through the barn, or becomes unmanageable.

Good training doesn’t remove the stallion from the horse. It teaches the stallion that there are still rules.
And frankly, temperament matters too.
We talk endlessly about conformation, movement, color, hair, pedigree, performance and what a stallion can produce physically.
But what about his mind?

If we’re intentionally breeding a horse, shouldn’t temperament and trainability be part of the equation?
I know this won’t be a popular opinion with everybody, and that’s okay. There are plenty of good horsemen who use equipment differently than I do.
But in my program, if I need a stud chain every single day to control a stallion, my answer isn’t a stronger chain.

My answer is more training — or fewer testicles. 😅

14/08/2026

Trust Looks Like This

There is something profoundly humbling about seeing a horse choose to lie down in your presence.

In the wild, lying down is one of the most vulnerable positions a horse can be in. It means surrendering the ability to flee in an instant. Every instinct tells them to stay alert, yet every now and then they choose peace over fear.

This morning, as the sun rose over the mountains, I quietly walked over to remove the blanket from Kondos Palesa, one of our more alert broodmares, who remained comfortably napping in the sun. There was no rush, no anxiety, and no need for her to stand. She simply trusted that she was safe.

Nearby, I spent a few quiet moments sitting beside Maxwells Hot Chocolate, a mare who has come further than I ever imagined possible in the five years I have owned her.

When Chocolate first came into my life, trust wasn't something she gave freely. Her instinct was to run first and think later. She would strike out, push through people, and react from fear rather than understanding. She wasn't a "bad" horse—she was a horse who didn't yet know that humans could be a place of safety instead of something to escape.

Over the years, we have built that trust one quiet moment at a time. There was never a shortcut, only patience, consistency, and allowing her to discover that she would never be punished for being afraid. Every interaction became another brick in the foundation of our partnership.

This morning, that journey came full circle.

Once Palesa's blanket was removed, both mares stretched out and enjoyed long, contented rolls in the fresh morning air. When they stood, neither of them hurried away. Instead, they walked over and simply stayed with me.

Chocolate stood beside me as if there was nowhere else she would rather be. Her head hung low, her eyes softened, and for nearly five minutes she yawned over and over, releasing every ounce of tension while choosing my company over walking away. Even after I removed her blanket she stayed quietly by my side, content and at peace.

For many people, it may have looked like an ordinary moment.

For me, it was everything.

To see a mare who once believed the safest answer was to run now choosing to stand quietly beside me is a reminder that trust is not measured by how well a horse performs. It is measured by how safe they feel in your presence.

Moments like these are impossible to force. They cannot be bought, trained, or demanded. They are earned through thousands of quiet interactions—showing up every day with patience, consistency, fairness, and respect.

For me, this is what horsemanship is truly about.

Not control.
Not dominance.
Not proving who is in charge.

It is about becoming someone a horse feels completely safe with. Safe enough to rest. Safe enough to be vulnerable. Safe enough to simply exist without fear.

Looking across the field this morning, with one mare peacefully lying in the sunshine and another quietly sharing the moment beside me, I was reminded that the greatest achievements in horsemanship are rarely seen in an arena.

They happen in the silence between horse and human, where trust speaks louder than words ever could.

These are the moments that fill my heart the most. Because when a horse chooses to trust you with its most vulnerable self, it has given you something far more valuable than obedience.

It has given you its confidence.

Its peace.

And a small piece of its soul.

09/08/2026

Celebrating the strength, passion and determination of women—in the saddle, in life and in the businesses they build with heart. 🧡🐴

Happy National Women’s Day! 🌸

09/08/2026

This is an intresting article

Put down the breeder pellets - overfeeding your mare can have serious consequences for your foal - especially if you are after high performance!

Obese and/or overfed mares have foals that are prone to metabolic issues later in life, and are more likely to have developmental orthopaedic disease as they grow.

This is why I already routinely avoid high starch "stud feeds" and lots of grain in my broodmare diets, and in fact have many succesful pregnancy diets with no energy concentrates added whatsoever!

Further research shows that foals with overfed mothers have a shift in their muscle fibres from the fast-twitch Type II, to slow-twitch muscle fibres, especially in the important muscles of hind leg - which could seriously limit performance potential in horses, especially in sports that require fast acceleration - e.g. thoroughbred racing.

Time to think again about breeding nutrition? 🤨

08/08/2026

08/08/2026

🌿🐴 Gearing Up for Appaloosa Nationals! 🐴🌿

Our latest AHFS herbal stock-up is in for the horses here at home as we get serious about preparing for Appaloosa Nationals in November! 🇿🇦🏆

With their Holistic Mix, Kelp and Nettle on hand, we’re putting the focus on supporting the horses’ overall wellbeing, condition and day-to-day training as we work towards Nationals.

It’s all about consistency, good management, quality nutrition and giving these horses the support they need to perform at their best. 💪✨

November, we’re coming for you!🐎🔥

08/08/2026

Not every horseman is called to the same role.

Some are competitors who thrive under pressure and love the thrill of the arena. Some are incredible horsemen who may never win big, but their feel, timing, and understanding of a horse are second to none. Some are gifted coaches and mentors, pouring into the next generation and helping others achieve their dreams.

Some are trainers who would rather stay at home, starting colts, solving problems, and building great horses than chasing rodeo miles. And some are blessed to do a little bit of all of the above.

I’ve seen champions who have won a lot but aren’t great horsemen. I’ve seen outstanding horsemen who rarely compete or never seem to win. I’ve seen people who excel at both.

I’ve also seen trainers who have no desire to compete they simply love developing horses and helping others succeed. And I’ve seen successful competitors who are so busy competing that they don’t have the time to coach.

None of these paths is more valuable than another.

The horse industry needs competitors, horsemen, trainers, coaches, and mentors. Each one plays a different role, and together they make our industry stronger.

So don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Keep working hard, stay true to the role God has called you to, and do what brings you joy.

Success isn’t determined by the arena you’re standing in. It’s determined by the impact you leave behind and by the horses and people who are better because you crossed their path.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
Elsabe Hausauer
MBR Performance Horsemanship LLC

📸: AA Media & Marketing

24/07/2026