Straight Forward Dressage

07/16/2026

Hi all,

This is an edited version of an email that went to our in-house members. Posting it here for all of our pull- in and clinic SFD'ers.

I know the news is concerned about our air quality. So here's what I know --

When we went through this a few years ago, all of the horses did just fine. That being said, we didn't do big distance cardio work with them. But we rarely do. That's just not how dressage horses are trained. Short intervals of quality work, then a break.

The experts say, for those with healthy lungs, AQI below 101 is safe. Over 150 is BAD so become an indoor pet. In between, listen to your body and change your plans accordingly.

For the horses, I suggest short sets and listening to their bodies too. If you find them breathing harder than usual, take a break. If they are coughing a lot, Air Power helps. Cough Free does too, but it takes a few days, and this will be over soon.

If we see any horses struggling AT ALL, we will 1) zip tie an air filter to their fan 2) call our vet to see if she has suggestions. We were prepared with both of these precautions last time and didn't need the air filters.

All of that being said, a few days off (on occasion) does not affect a horse's strength level, so skipping a ride or two when you are worried does no harm.

Thanks! Ange

06/18/2026

Dressage Today used a photo of baby Slingshot and Ange this month! Ironically, in stretchy trot, not the collection the article is about LOL

05/10/2026

There was a time when I boarded my horse and got heated, Jamie Sindell writes. I’m talking full-blown righteous fury over what I saw as egregious examples of poor care. Mistakes that made me seethe with rage. But now? I own my own farm. I’ve spent almost three years caring for my own horses. And I can say, with absolute certainty, that most of the time when I threw an inner-temper tantrum, I needed to relax.

Caring for horses is hard work. Caring for horses is not a perfect science. If I could go back in time, I’d tell Past Me to chill. Because now I understand things like…

Horses drink water.
I would show up to the barn, see an empty bucket, and my inner alarm bell screamed: NEGLECT. What I know now is it’s not like horses say, “Hey, I’m extra thirsty today, lady. I’m going to drain my bucket the minute you turn your back.” Odds are your horse went on a little water bender, and the staff just hasn’t been back around to top it off. He’s not dying of dehydration. He just drank a lot.

Horses hurt themselves.
I used to find a scratch or bump and immediately stew over it: Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Maybe it’s because no one saw it? Your horse could’ve done it in the privacy of his own stall, or while playing in turnout, when it didn’t look like much. Just because you see it now doesn’t mean it was obvious earlier. So maybe don’t go full psycho until you get the scoop.

Sometimes it’s best to skip turnout.
Back then, I was always complaining that my horse didn’t get enough turnout. If he was especially spicy, I’d blame it on that. Now? I’ve seen my ponies wipe out on the flattest, driest paddocks because they were acting like drunk frat boys. Add mud, ice, or sketchy weather, and the risk goes way up. Sometimes, a shorter turnout or zero turnout means your horse stays in one piece. So, ask yourself: do you want a fresh horse… or a broken one?

Horses don’t require a hay buffet.
If your horse maintains a healthy weight, most likely he’s getting enough food. I used to sneak my horse extra flakes to ensure he was “living his best life.” In hindsight, that was inconsiderate and unnecessary. Hay is expensive, and horses love to p*e all over the extra. Also, my horse didn’t need to be a porker to be happy–he needed not to founder.

Horses p**p. A lot.
I remember walking into a stall and thinking: Why is this so gross today? But some days, horses p**p more than others. And if they were kept in due to weather, it’s going to look (and smell) nastier. A bad stall day here or there doesn’t automatically equal poor care.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/05/15/confessions-of-a-reformed-boarder-karen/
📸 Photo © Jamie Sindell

04/06/2026

Final Florida blog in the comments

03/18/2026

From our small in-house training program, 3 riders put All-Breeds on their goal sheets for 2025. All goals accomplished!! Well, I think we can all agree, Bethany pretty much BLEW THAT GOAL OUT OF THE WATER! Contrats :-)

03/06/2026

https://conta.cc/4cxbY08

Email from Straight Forward Dressage We've all had enough of winter, let's start planning spring!   Greetings! Spring is coming, and as the weather gets warmer, we all start thinking about our riding

03/05/2026

The latest blog about Florida 2026

02/20/2026

If you've ever dreamed about going to FL with your horse, or are just curious, this is the Virtual Event for you. We'll talk about it all - the cost, training, housing, turnout, showing.

Sign up here!
If you've ever dreamed about going to FL with your horse, or are just curious, this is the Virtual Event for you. We'll talk about it all - the cost, training, housing, turnout, showing.

Sign up here
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/3a6c972b-6417-4fc7-99ea-7490a8c29fe4

https://conta.cc/4kMccT7

02/17/2026

Have you ever dreamed of going to FL for the season? Or just wondered about it? I'm here to talk about it in detail, giving you all the info you would need to decide if snowbirding with your horse is right for you.

We'll talk about the numbers, the showing, the housing, the horse care, and all of your questions.

Join us Friday at 7 pm for all of the info! Link is in the comments

02/15/2026

Want to know what it's like to spend winter training in FL? Friday, we'll talk about it!