Kim Roe Archives – The Northwest Horse Source

Editor’s Postcard: Learning to Listen

December 13, 2024 by Kim Roe

Horses Don’t Always Want What People Think They Want Not that long ago the norm for top-notch equine care was to stall horses at night and turn them out in paddocks or fields in the day. We spent a lot of time leading horses in and out, stall cleaning was …

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Editor’s Postcard: How’s Your Friend’s Horse?

November 6, 2024November 6, 2024 by Kim Roe

Photo Courtesy Kim Roe

Horse People, Let’s Support Each Other When I was a broke twenty-something college student, I had the opportunity to take a lesson from a local grand prix-level dressage rider, Stephanie Blockley-Clarke. I hitched a ride for my horse, Sailor, and myself with a woman from the barn where I boarded …

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Editor’s Postcard: Hanging Around with Horse Friends

October 22, 2024 by Kim Roe

One of my first working equitation experiences was at the Pedro Torres Academy in 2016, and many of these people have become friends. My horse Gunner and I are fifth from the left. Photo Credit: Pedro Torres Academy

Connections with Horse People Enrich Lives I spent a lot of time and money over this past summer working on advancing my judge’s license with USA Working Equitation (USAWE). Like working for an advanced degree in college, I’m investing in something that I tell myself will (hopefully) pay off. I …

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Editor’s Postcard: What Will Winter Bring?

September 18, 2024 by Kim Roe

A scene from Blue Gate Farm in winter. By Kim Roe.

The Time to Prepare is Now Recently, I was startled awake at 3:00 in the morning by claps of thunder. My first thought was a horse in the barn was cast, so I listened in the dark for a few seconds as I tried to decide if I needed to …

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Trainer’s Corner: Does Your Horse Come to You?

August 19, 2024 by Kim Roe

My gelding Exodus learns to connect eyes and ears in a “whoa/stay” with liberty trainer Donna Kelleher. This connection becomes a powerful reward to a horse. Photo by Kim Roe

How to Create an Easy-to-Catch Horse One of the more satisfying moments in horse ownership is standing at a field gate, calling your horse, and have him break into a canter and come joyfully to you. By contrast, it’s frustrating to find yourself walking after a sour-faced horse who turns …

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Editor’s Postcard: Piloting a Horse Farm

August 17, 2024 by Kim Roe

Photo Courtesy Kim Roe

Equine Professionals Wear Many Hats Think of an airplane pilot. They train for years, are repeatedly tested, and then earn their wings. Now imagine if that pilot had to purchase the airplane, keep it running, pay for and install upgrades, keep the books, clean the garbage out from under the …

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Editor’s Postcard: What Makes a Horseman?

July 29, 2024July 24, 2024 by Kim Roe

Photo by Kim Roe

It’s a Lifelong Trip horse·man, noun, 14th century 1. a rider or driver of horses; especially: one whose skill is exceptional2. A person skilled in caring for or managing horses Merriam Webster Dictionary A long time ago I was at a dressage show sitting on my tack trunk in front of …

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Editor’s Postcard: A Few Thoughts on Competition

June 20, 2024 by Kim Roe

Photo by Kim Roe

After the Show—a Judge’s Musings I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I love horse shows, and I love being a judge. Judging horse shows takes me places I’d never be able to see and allows me to meet wonderful like-minded people. I also get to see horses, beautiful …

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Editor’s Postcard: The Grass Dilemma

May 15, 2024 by Kim Roe

Welsh Cob Gus practices yoga poses to reach a blade of grass. Photo Courtesy Kim Roe, Blue Gate Farm.

Managing Plump, Bored Horses Means Rethinking Equine Husbandry With nearly 40 acres of pastures, fields, and woods, my place, Blue Gate Farm, sits on fertile soil and has plenty of water. Even in the hottest, driest summers the grass stays green without irrigation. I’ve spent thousands of dollars and many …

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Feature Story: What’s in My Hay?

May 4, 2024 by Kim Roe

Photo Courtesy Kim Roe

Educate Yourself to Save Money and Keep Animals Healthy A few years ago I ordered a load of teff hay for my metabolic horse. The seller had posted photos and analysis on social media, and though it was expensive—nearly $600 per ton delivered and stacked—it looked like a good product …

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Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

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