Blog — Catherine Sauer

Progress Check

It’s hard to believe February has come and gone! It was a serious whirlwind month, too - New England finally took a snow hit worth noting (of course, nobody at the barn had winter shoes on…), so many appointments to help get Factor feeling his best, and learning the ropes of a new farm (both horse and human!). As I sit watching the pre-dawn rain chip away at the ice and snow on the porch, it’s incredible to reflect on the happenings of this shorter-than-others month.

equestrianCatherine SauerMarch 1, 2021training, goals, factor

Contact

This is probably more a training brief than anything more involved, but the last several days have seen steady progress in Factor’s world.

equestrianCatherine SauerFebruary 21, 2021training, contact

Make the Bridle a Safe Place

It seems so simple, that idea, and yet the reason for why we want quiet hands is soft often a quick impart from the instructor about the horse’s mouth being sensitive… But the physicality of the horse’s jaw, tongue, pallet and the mechanics of a bit are so incredibly important to understand at a more-than-conceptual level (in my opinion) when you begin the discussion with a young horse or retrain an OTTB.

equestrianCatherine SauerFebruary 18, 2021horse, learning, preventative careComment

The Magic Sauce is Consistency

All I can say is ‘he’s getting it!’

equestrianCatherine SauerFebruary 11, 2021horse, training

Pony Spa

This past week has been an adjustment time all around, but after a few spa-like appointments, it’s great to see Factor seem confident with his new surroundings. He has stopped calling when I let him loose in the indoor (not consistent calling, just once to hear who responded…so far, no one…) but is quick to offer a whicker hello every time he hears me in the barn aisle. It’s also given me a chance to learn some more of his quirks!

equestrianCatherine SauerFebruary 9, 2021horse, spa

Two Steps Forward, One Shoulder Bulging Sideways

Mother Nature hit us with something like 14 inches of snow over the last 24 hours - definitely the largest amount dumped on us this winter. While the temperature was warmer than it has been over the last few days (hovering around freezing most of the day) it was blustery and windy, basically the right kind of weather to move snow through any crack or opening in a structure.

equestrianCatherine SauerFebruary 2, 2021goals, training, factor

Snowy Arrivals and Indoor Antics

This weekend marks a new change for Factor and me: we have moved to a new farm!

equestrianCatherine SauerJanuary 30, 2021horse, playComment

Bring on Winter

In discussion with my house mates, a comment got passed around about how we’re already almost a month into January, and hardly any snow. The general consensus was that this was by no means indicative of the next two months… We are, inevitably, about to enter the dead of winter.

equestrianCatherine SauerJanuary 28, 2021horse, partnership, change

Horse Crazy [repost]

There are many jokes that seem to filter through the equine community, specifically correlating to the concept of what it means to be an equestrian, to be "horse crazy", or a rider. For most of us - and it is true, the majority of riders are female - it started before we could understand what it is to be "obsessed" with something.

equestrianCatherine SauerJanuary 17, 2021partnership, trust Comment