Valley Farm

Things I learned while trying something completely new:
1. I actually have the best friends, that includes so much generous help, encouragement and late-night porch drop off care packages with encouraging messages & fuel🍋
2. Everything will show up and try to present itself as an obstacle🙇🏼‍♀️
3. I actually can stay up past 10pm if I put my mind to it💪
In all seriousness, I've just launched my new Horse Ownership 101 Course. I'm so insanely passionate about helping new horse owners make confident decisions that are good for them and their new horses, that I poured my heart into this starter course.
I'm so excited to share a Founding Members launch with the world! If you're interested in learning more you can visit the link copied below. If you know someone who might be interested tag them below🙏!
Thanks to everyone who is along for the ride! 🧡
https://www.valleyfarm.ca/horse-ownership-101-course.html

Dreaming about buying your first horse 🐴 but feeling overwhelmed or like you’re not ready? 🤔
I’m sharing the top 5 🖐things I wish I knew sooner about horses and horse ownership.
Grab my quick start guide to happy healthy horses and start feeling more confident in your horse ownership journey! 😁
Grab the guide here: https://bit.ly/3nluQ5M

Merry Christmas from our fuzzy family to yours!

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Yes! We love our trail horses 😎

JUST A TRAIL HORSE?

One of the most underestimated beholders of equine prowess would have to be the trail horse. I often hear in conversation “I’m just after a trail horse, nothing special or well educated”.
But do they really know what they are asking for? And more so what is expected of this “nothing fancy” horse?

It’s like saying “they’re just a stay-at-home mum” - without understanding what is required for the job at hand.
A job with a “nothing fancy” title can sure hold a lot of responsibility.
A trail horse is required to be easily adaptable, emotionally sound and brave in an ever-changing environment. This is totally unlike the horse school or the arena where the environment is controlled and predictable - the trail horse needs to be able to handle its own emotions and those of the people and at times, other horses, around it.

The trail horse needs a solid education, where they can be guided through difficult terrain and unknown situations without batting an eye.

Consider all the jobs required along the trail - open and closing of gates, creek or river crossings and navigating traffic, wheelie bins and plastic bags, motorbikes, dogs and nervous riders.

The trail horse is a lot more than “just a trail horse” and requires a solid education to be a stable one.
The questions is, are you a solid influence on your “nothing fancy” horse?
- Tiffanie Edwards

It’s already been two years since Tangle and I made our move to Valley Farm. I love the opportunity to offer horses a natural lifestyle outdoors where they get to forage naturally for their food 🌱🌾☘️ and be with the company of their herd 🐴🦄🐴. My favourite parts might be getting to watch how different each of the horses are and how they play, and watching how the farm changes as the seasons change. Thanks for following along on our adventure! ☺️
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"Your horse needs to be a horse" 🐴

Every horse is an individual, with their own unique history and set of genetics, but they are still a horse. We can't use statements like "every horse is unique" to dismiss science and information that relates to the species as a whole.


Horses have specific needs and ways of communicating as a species, there is very little variability in this.


We as the teacher choose the way we teach our horses. Modifications or more time may be needed for each individual, and this is why I disagree with "one method fits all" training programs, but that doesn't impact how/why the horse is learning. No individual horse is exempt from the laws of learning.


And while *right now* a horse may be more comfortable in a stall at night than in the pasture, that doesn't change their biological need to be moving freely even at night.


Some horse may prefer the taste of sugary processed feeds or be used to eating twice a day, but that doesn't mean that's how they are designed to eat or what's best for them.


The point is, don't let current circumstances, or a horse's current conditioned behavioral patterns, hold you hostage and convince you that that's what the horse needs. Your horse needs to be a horse... They can and ARE individuals. But they are still horses.


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Any photographers out there looking for a new space? We are opening the farm for photography sessions, suitable for corporate, wedding or family photography! Visit our website to find out more or send us a message! Prebooking is required 📸😎