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Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 82: Joy Orr from Retired Racehorse Radio

Selfie of Joy Orr and her Mare
Load Trail Logo

This episode is brought to you by: Load Trail Trailers. American-made dump and utility trailers that make barn life easier.


The saying goes: “If you ask ten different horse people how to do something, you will get 10 different answers.” Well, Helena decided to put that adage to the test and ask ten different horse people their opinions about what qualifies for happy horse keeping.

The ten people happen to be her Horse Radio Network colleagues–all horse professionals in some way shape or form, and all with a similar horse-first philosophy when it comes to keeping, training, and competing their horses.

And while each episode in this series aims to address the same set of questions, the conversations go in their own directions. That’s what makes horse people so fun to talk to; you never know quite where the discussion will lead, so listen in!

Headshot of Siouxsie and Brody
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 49: Frustrations

This episode is sponsored by: Lucas Equine Equipment and Airlite USA

Lucas Equine Equipment Logo

When you finally get your horses home, there is no other feeling like it. Looking out your window and seeing your favorite creatures enjoying life under your care is one of THE most gratifying experiences for a horse lover. 

But there’s a flip side. Happy Horsekeeping isn’t as easy as it sometimes seems. While we can design our barns, yards, and turnout to keep our horses safe, feed them the best hay and grains, and provide a low-stress environment for them, there are times when that’s still not enough. Listen in!

For more information:

Close-up of baled hay
First Cut Hay

Summer sore on horse's lip
Summer Sore caused by Habronema spp

Helena on Siouxsie at Halt
Behavior Blog

Have a Plan and Be Ready to Trash It

About 90% of the time, the plan I have for Siouxsie on any given day gets trashed in less than 10 minutes in the saddle. That’s cool though, ’cause in the abandoned plan’s place, we work on whatever presents itself that day. It usually turns out pretty well. Today was no different.
What I thought was going to be a simple session of Walk -> Sit -> Post -> Sit -> Walk transitions turned out to be a day of Canter Departs. Who knew?!
Sioux’s head was in the right place for it today, actually. And before we go on adventures off property, I want to make sure I can both ride and rate her canter if it turns into something more racehorse-y.
Anyway, there were a dozen things that we did beautifully today and dozen more that were just wonky. As you can tell from my smile, I enjoyed every single minute of it.  -H
Helena and Siouxsie
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 44: A Thoroughbred in My Yard

This episode is brought to you by:

LUCAS EQUINE EQUIPMENT
Makers of Quality Stall Components and Stable Accessories

Lucas Equine Equipment Logo

In another installment of “Siouxsie and the Solitary Witch”, Helena catches listeners up on the first year (and canter!) with her OTTB mare, Siouxsie.

One of the hardest things to overcome when you work by yourself, and you’re a bit of an overachiever, is to stop second guessing yourself. And lemme tell ya, a Thoroughbred in your back yard will most certainly give you reason to second guess yourself!

In today’s episode, Helena talks about how one middle-aged mom and backyard horse owner is faring as she works on bringing along a green OTTB mare in the midst of a pandemic. From inside the mare’s stall, to the life that revolves around the little stable just outside the kitchen window. Listen in!

For more information:

Upward Fixation of the Patella Ligament (UFP)

Horse Training

Siouxsie Sioux
Blog

Building Trust By Swearing a Little

I’m having a Feeling Proud moment, so I gotta share.

After getting today’s podcast episode live (published), I decided to treat myself to a mid-winter ride in the balmy 40-degree sun here in New England.

Owning my first OTTB mare and having her in my backyard is challenging. I’m alone. I’m probably a bit overfaced with such a young, green horse, and that’s kind of how I like it right now. When I told my husband I wanted a horse that was in front of my leg, I wondered what that might actually look like in real life. Now I know.

Lots of experienced “friends” said that I would likely have a handful – that Siouxsie would need to “be in a program”, and “Am I sure I know what I’m getting myself into?” Or, “You really need to be fit to ride an OTTB.” Oh, and then there was the professional trainer who declared, “I don’t like mares.”

So while trying to figure out this new horse, understand my own capabilities, and how to quiet the naysayers in my brain, I’ve also had to satisfy the yahoo in me who just wants to get on and ride this fancy sports car of a horse. Of course, things never quite work out the way we plan. Sometimes they turn out better.

It’s been very warm and rainy in the northeast this winter. Siouxsie is back under saddle after her bazillion dollar ulcer treatment, and we’re going verrry slowly. At the moment, we’re up to 25 minutes of walking. The first ten minutes we just hack on the buckle if she’s calm and focused. The next 15 minutes includes various fun and easy exercises or horsey puzzles for Sioux to figure out.

There is still a lot of retraining that is happening, especially at the mounting block, but I *am* seeing a bunch of old anxious behaviors starting to improve.

I bought a proper mounting block, and I think that being able to mount from the top step has eased my anxiety, and therefore Siouxsie’s also (cue the lightbulb).

Anyway, the reason I’m feeling really proud is because it was windy today. When I went out to the barn to ride, things were fairly calm and sunny. But after tacking up and getting ready to mount, the wind picked up quite a bit. Remember, we are very near the ocean, so when the wind kicks up, it’s a party around here!

Siouxsie, in stereotypical young OTTB fashion, looked at every corner of our property as the gateway to hell. While today’s plan for riding was to introduce a few strides of trot-trot on the long side, I quickly realized that my plan had morphed into something more like How to Tame Your Dragon.

But you know, I’m so tired of being anxious or afraid or overly cautious, that I said f#$%^ it. I’m not getting out of this saddle until I’m done. Whatever this mare brings today, I’m just gonna have to ride it.

And I did.

When she looked into the neighbor’s shrubs for trolls, I asked her to collect. When she balked at the wheelbarrow, we serpentined. When she spooked at the Whatever It Was It Probably Wasn’t Even A Real Thing, I decided we should do a turn on the forehand. People, I don’t even know how to ride a turn on the forehand on a MADE horse, let alone how to teach a green thoroughbred how to do it on a fake spring day in February! But by golly, she did it. WE did it. And it wasn’t the fact that we accomplished a particular move that makes me so proud. It was that we were both able to quiet the naysayers for a few minutes and trust each other enough to get something accomplished — together. That’s the best part about riding to me; the teamwork.

Trust is earned, but sometimes it requires a bit of bravery first. ❤️ -HgH