Equilab ride tracker year end stats for 2025!

 I absolutely love my Equilab app, which tracks my rides.  I have gotten all my riders and leasers to use it as well.  But a fun bonus of the app was my 2025 year end recap.  Here are some of the screenshots.  

I didn't include everything, such as my top speed of 35 MPH on Atticus (because I rather doubt the accuracy of that one), or the fact that I rode more than 80% of the Equilab users (I really don't ride half as much as a could, so I guess the serious riders just aren't tracking their rides, or are using some other app?)

But here are some fun bits of info:

Cookie, the mini, pulling a sled!

Miniature Horse sledding, revisited

I posted this video last year on January 13th, when we had a nice snow that stuck around for a couple days.  I am hoping for snow this coming weekend so I can give it another shot!

I did have to buy a replacement game sled from Amazon, as the old one has quite a few holes.  I did try adding metal poles as runners, which seems to work in the right conditions, but also makes it a lot heavier.  If we get some decent snow this year, maybe I will have to have a side-by-side comparison of the two sleds.  

I have been periodically working with my miniature horse, Cookie, to teach her to drive. She still needs a bit of refinement on important skills such as turning and stopping, but yesterday was a big milestone! Now I look forward to any remaining snow days this year so we can practice a few more times. One horse open sleigh with a mini is a blast!

I think my favorite part is because I am literally on the ground, and the sled and shaft poles are plastic and flexible, this who setup feels super safe.  Even though I spilled out a few times (such as the time she decided to make a dive towards her pasture and sent us twisting upside down the other way), it was a no harm, no foul situation and we were right as rain again in a jiffy! ( How do you like that for lots of folksy idioms?)

For someone else's set up that is very similar to mine, take a look at My One Horse Open Sleigh!

Rainy Day Stall Training or Stuck on Stall Rest

Considering that the ground outside has been looking like a swamp for the past couple weeks, it's getting really frustrating, and starting to feel like I have made no progress whatsoever with the horses.  So I decided to start brainstorming some things I could do in one of the run-ins or in one of the stalls.  I would love to hear other suggestions... these are mostly things I have been working on anyway in the open.

Exercises For The Stall Or Run-In

Teach horse to step hindquarters toward you for mounting. Stand on mounting block with horse on lead rope, reach over back to tap far hip. Keep tapping until horse takes a step toward you, then stop and reward.  

Practice cues for turn on haunches and turn on forehand from the ground, using your hand instead of leg.

Practice “head down” cue (Pressure on poll).

Accustom horse to clippers… acclimate them to the sound, then the vibration on various parts of the body… no actual clipping needed! OR…. Use a percussion massage gun!

Sit on horse bareback and use leg cues to pivot…

ü Move leg forward and tap shoulder for turn on haunches
ü Move leg back and tap for turn on forehand

Trick Training & Clicker Training

Teach to touch a target (i.e. empty water bottle) for a click & treat

 Cues for pick up foot …

ü Tap behind cannon for pick up behind (i.e. for bow)
ü Tap in front of cannon for reach out (i.e. Spanish walk)

Step up on pedestal

Pick up all feet from one side.

Teach "ears forward" cue for photos - 

ü Flashing hand sign up high. (Use horse neigh sounds from YouTube to get initial reaction so the horse gets the idea.) Click & Treat.

Teach horse to back up to a hand signal (Usually a wagging finger) ☝

 Just for fun

Practice vaulting on horse bareback. 

Sit on horse with rope halter and lead rope.  Practice flipping rope over horse’s head to pull head left, then right. This can later be used when riding.

Find your horse’s favorite scratchy spot… under the neck?  On the withers?

Practice your braiding skills

Practice putting on polos / leg wraps

Give applesauce and molasses in an empty dewormer syringe to make it fun and easy.

And finally, you can try these....

Teaching correct turns and self carriage to your horse

What do all these riders have in common?  The horse is on a loose rein and carrying themselves properly, without leaning or falling on the forehand.

---

Teaching Self-Carriage to Your Horse

What exactly is self-carriage?  It is when the horse is able to move in the proper frame without being "held up" by the rider.   Notice how the horse looks light in the front end despite a loose rein (or no reins!). Here are some good examples:

  

---

Using the Stop to Teach Self-Carriage

A proper stop helps your horse learn balance, engagement, and self-carriage.

1. The Importance of a Good Stop:

   • A correct stop keeps the horse’s back rounded, their legs underneath them, and their head in a comfortable position.
   • Avoid a hollow-backed stop, where the horse throws their head up and pulls the reins from your hands.

2. How to Teach a Proper Stop (Using a Fence):

   • Walk your horse toward a fence and let the fence stop them, not your hands.
   • As you approach the fence:
     • Change your seat: Bring your shoulders back, sink into the saddle, and move your legs slightly forward.
     • Lift your hands to take the slack out of the reins without pulling.
   • The fence naturally stops the horse, while you maintain calm, forward-driving energy with your seat and legs.

This teaches the horse to stop with their back rounded, haunches engaged, and head in a balanced frame. Over time, the horse learns to respond to your body signals rather than relying on your hands for stopping.

---

Teaching the Back-Up from a Stop

Once your horse stops properly, you can teach them to back up with self-carriage. Backing up requires them to lighten their forehand, so it's a good exercise to engage the hindquarter muscles.

1. Set Up the Back-Up:

   • At the fence, take the slack out of the reins and maintain light contact.
   • Keep your body in the “stop position”: shoulders back, seat deep, and legs slightly forward.

2. Cue the Back-Up:

   • Use your seat and gently squeeze with your legs. Since the horse is at the fence and can’t move forward, they’ll step back.
   • If the horse doesn’t respond, lightly bump your legs just in front of the girth (near the shoulders). This frees up their shoulders and encourages them to step back.

3. Reinforce the Difference Between Forward and Backward Cues:

   • Use leg pressure slightly behind the girth to ask for forward movement.
   • Use leg pressure in front of the girth to cue for backing up. This teaches the horse to recognize the difference in cues.

4. Practice Backing:

   • After the stop, ask for a few steps back while keeping the same “stop frame.”
   • Then change your position to a “forward frame” (shoulders forward, hands forward, legs behind the girth) and move the horse forward again.
   • Repeat: stop, back up, move forward.

---

Tips for Success:

• Don’t overdo it—end the session on a positive note. Gradually increase the number of back-up steps in future sessions. This can be very tiring for a horse that isn't fit, or isn't used to using their hindquarters a lot.
• This exercise helps the horse carry themselves during backing and improves their ability to carry themselves when moving forward.

By teaching these methods, your horse learns to balance, respond to your body signals, and move with confidence and proper form.

---