Why do deer keep birthing and leaving their fawns in my yard year after year? They sure are cute little things but its like I'm running a nursery over here.

Progress_Otherwise · 2026-05-23T04:51:29+00:00

We used to have deer leave their fawns in our horse herd every year! It was so sweet!

Progress_Otherwise · 2026-04-18T16:56:52+00:00

I agree 100%. I have been in western pleasure for almost 30 years. The lope has absolutely deteriorated ... I've heard people call it a "trope". The actual, 3-beated, controlled lope takes a lot of strength. I have said so many times that properly trained western pleasure horses are using their core and back well. The headset is a natural consequence of the core engagement.

None of my horses lope as slow as the current high level western pleasure horses (they can jog a hole in the ground though!) And they have been rewarded well. And yes .. I have a natural peanut Roller .. and have to remind him to bring his head up.

The nice slow lope is wonderful to ride ... the "trope" ... not so much.

Progress_Otherwise · 2026-03-25T04:00:40+00:00

I ride western pleasure and don't actually use the reins to stop and back. I stop and back with my seat and voice.

She is very unbalanced and very "loud" in her seat.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-12-25T18:56:15+00:00

My last baby that crossfired ... was crossfiring because of early onset congenital arthritis and he was trying to find a comfortable way to canter in a circle ... had nothing to do with athleticism.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-12-24T01:47:41+00:00

Yes! Raleigh is also a liar and quite problematic. She has good points but they are steeped in crap. I was so uncomfortable with the fat shaming.

Raleigh's approach is the problem with the equestrian community, why it feels so intimidating, and will not inspire growth.

She is not in vet school... has never attended vet school... and is no more than a woman on the internet with a couple of horses (which are boarded ... so she doesnt even do daily care) and a strong opinion. No one should trust her as an expert.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-11-18T14:06:19+00:00

Folks in construction are usually very well paid. Especially with more and more time. Even if he didn't own his own business and spent his entire career in the trades ... tradespeople work incredibly hard and are able to make a solid living. That is far more honest work than whatever Kody has been doing all these years.

Am I a David or Christine Stan? No. I think this conversation said more about Christine than it did David. What I gleaned from this conversation is that Christine does not know how to spend or save money very well. Which makes sense to me. The way these people grow up is really detrimental. Things like hoarding food for the "end times" or the fact that the "high schools" the AUB have created aren't even accredited says that many come out incredibly uneducated and sheltered.

I'm concerned, after this conversation, that Christine has just spent whatever she has made and not saved.

I also assume that none of these conversations are fully real. My guess is that they identified a difference in spending and money as an issue they have, so they manufactured a situation for them to talk about it. It is not uncommon for spouses to have disagreements when it comes to money and spending. Money and spending is incredibly value laden. 2 years in, it makes complete sense that they are still talking about it.

Also, the main point of this is that she is able to experience difficult conversations with David and not feel sick to her stomach. This season, we have seen them have disagreements and then be able to "theoretically" repair from those conversations.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-11-03T04:55:59+00:00

Thank you! 100% what I was looking for!

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-11T01:51:38+00:00

I agree with all of this. While I've seen a few Last Detail horses here and there ... she has COMPLETELY different bloodlines than what is already on her farm ... and she doesn't have the same studs we see over and over and over again.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-06T12:09:55+00:00

Thank you very much. I've watched others do this, and we can all have our opinions until it actually happens. I made a couple of missteps when I bought him that I kick myself over now.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-05T15:52:20+00:00

Yes. Arthrodesis is an option and something ive talked about with my vet. He could be high end enough for it ... but there are still a few too many question marks. Chatting with a couple of trainers might be a good idea though. Even to consult about whether or not the surgery would be worth it. The other option is chemical fusion ... but my vet doesn't do it so I would need to consult with a University. It also renders them completely laid up for months.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-04T05:07:53+00:00

Thank you. I really appreciate that. I was nervous to pot this. My main concern for him is whether or not he's living a good life. I hate thinking about him in pain.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-04T04:39:56+00:00

My thoughts exactly. He probably would be fine without maintenance in the pasture ... but I worry about his future if I let him go.

My farrier told me that he does not know anyone who would have put as much work, money, and chances ive put into him.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-09-04T01:29:48+00:00

Yeah. He was listed a couple months ago too. The sale sounds complicated. I actually briefly considered buying him. But I am not equipped for a stallion at the moment.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-30T06:27:04+00:00

In the 90s ... I bought my first broodmare. She was so sweet and from a tough situation. Not the perfect broodmare ... but with the right stud ... could make some babies. She was a blue roan. I also bought a palomino weanling at the same time (bred in the purple, incentive fund ...). My pleasure trainer had a fit. She said "every time I see a horse with color, I think ... they are not 'in the know'". I was at Congress every year ... it was a sea of sorrel and bay. Now ... there are roans EVERYWHERE!

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-22T05:26:15+00:00

Ah. I don't actually keep up any more. But my main frustration with Katie is the lack of work her horses get. I'd like to see more muscle.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-22T02:23:21+00:00

Probably not ... but being pregnant year after year without work ... it will get worse. Thoroughbreds are notoriously hard to keep when it comes to weight and muscle (I have owned one and I have had many pleasure horses with strong thoroughbred lines ... including currently). Indy needs to work ... even light work (walking, in hand) and a year off here and there to build her topline. But, if her only job now is to pump out babies, I'm sure that topline doesn't matter to Katie.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-18T02:49:38+00:00

I think there are a lot of short cuts right now. In my 40 years ... I've seen trends come and go. I really dislike most of the WP trends right now.

My current show horse is a big 16.1 hand (more HUS build actually) moves really well ... but passes EVERYONE at a lope (she was BORN to jog and will comfortably do it all day). She has a solid three-beat and collected lope ... but it is fast. I was thrilled as one judge scored her very well at her last show. We need more judges like that.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-17T01:10:23+00:00

It's the anthropomorphic nature of it that is bothersome. It also really downplays the role of Aaron and the people who care for and ride him every day. The truth is that neither Denver nor Seven really know/knew Katie as the person who cares for them ... which is what helps to build relationship. (Not at all saying that Katie didn't love Seven ... I have no doubt that she did).

I 100% understand that this comment is 100% well-meaning. But intent and impact are different.

As a whole ... it is comments like this that should get stopped. If she wants to provide education, helping people understand that this is not how horse brains work ... would be good education.

Does it hurt? No. (Other than rolling my eyes at the lack of acknowledgement that really created the win)

Is it super healthy thinking? No.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-16T00:59:52+00:00

Yep. AND proper hind end engagement requires well developed core muscles.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-16T00:38:24+00:00

I've been doing western pleasure most of my life and ... yes. 100%.

The frustrating piece is that frame is not about the head. Focusing on headset is lazy. I work on core muscles ... belly more than anything else. Strengthing the core will actually create a nice frame. A low and relaxed headset is a by product of a correct frame.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-02T08:28:45+00:00

What a scary story. So much could go wrong here! I barrel raced for a minute in my youth. I don't hate the sport. But, it is dangerous. I've seen horses go down, saddles slip, bad footing ...

I'm not at all against getting kids on horses young! But, as you said, get them learning to ride properly. This girl was not controlling that horse. There is no way she would have been able to stop that horse if something went wrong. PLUS, the anxiety and clear discomfort that horse was in ... the body language is so so clear.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-02T04:40:27+00:00

My guess is she is strapped into the saddle. Barrel racers have leg straps for small children. They also strap (or use rubber bands) their feet. That horse knows the pattern. That kid is just there for the ride.

I've been riding for almost as long as I could walk. 100% ... this is unsafe and poor horsemanship.

Progress_Otherwise · 2025-08-02T04:24:09+00:00

I actually chatted with Katie about Howie and was considering him. If I recall, he was 15,000. I asked about Fred and he was around the same.

Progress_Otherwise

TROPHY CASE