Wild Rose Equine Services

I’m excited to report that I am now a Certified Basic Grade 2 ST Instructor!

Cynthia Adams — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:08:53 +0000

I started my journey in Marijke de Jong’s “Straightness Training” program in 2017 and this month (December 2022) I completed all the requirements to become the FIRST EVER Basic Grade 2 ST Instructor in Canada!

I am excited to offer instruction on this amazing program to my fellow Albertans. The ST program is super helpful in developing our horses in both Mind, Body and Spirt. Through its logical system of exercises and concepts, the ST program helps both horse as well as their humans.

ST has been a godsend for my personal horse “Dominique” in rehabilitating her from some serious injuries (see story below videos).

Straightness Training offers 5 pillars of work which include: Riding, Groundwork, Work in Hand, Lunging and Liberty. Here are two examples of some of my Liberty and Lunging work with Dominique.

Below is Dominique’s Story and my Journey doing ST with her …

The Straightness Training program has been an amazing program in helping Dominique overcome her previous injuries.

As a yearling, Dominique sustained a severe back injury. I found her spinning on the ground unable to stand up. At two, she had a relapse and my vet told me to euthanize her. Which I could not!

I started her under saddle, but riding was too much for her. On the other hand, if she did not get any exercise her legs would swell up (sometimes like posts), so light exercise was good for her.

At 4, Dominique severed her extensor tendon in her right front leg while at the breeding facility. Suddenly bucking was her new talent. I would later come to realize that there was a direct relationship between how much she bucked and how much her back hurt.

Dealing with a horse with chronic soundness issues and pain can be very frustrating. It was heartbreaking to see Dominique’s struggle with pain and stiffness. My goal with Dominique was for her to be as comfortable as possible and euthanasia (as the vet suggested) was not an option in my mind so I continued to give her exercise to keep her discomfort down.

I discovered Straightness Training after watching a video of Marijke de Jong on Facebook. I was blown away by the beauty of her liberty work and ended up joining her Mastery Program. The exercises on the ground appeared to be something I could do with Dominique to keep her active and looked MUCH more interesting than the traditional style lunging that I had been doing with her (which was rather boring!). I was very excited to try out of the variety of exercises in the ST program. Taking the ST program was the best decision I made for both of us!

I started taking the logical steps of progressive exercises. My original goal with ST was to keep Dominique active to help keep down her swelling. Each pillar (such as groundwork, work in hand, lunging, liberty and riding) help each other out. Once you go through all the pillars, it is interesting to see how each pillar contributes to the other pillars. For example, having a good liberty helps improve our horse’s mental state and helps riders become more aware of their own body language. This can result in better communication and a better relationship with our horses that can transfer into all other areas of our work with them (including riding).

After the first year of ST, we completed all our pillars on the ground in Grade 1 and Dominique was in much better shape. She didn’t have the typical swellings in her legs that she previously had and she was significantly stronger. Unfortunately, she would still buck when she picked up a canter out in the field and on the lunge. I thought I would test fate and try to ride her. To no surprise, she did buck me off. Lol. I decided I wouldn’t attempt to ride her again until she stopped bucking in her field and on the lunge.

After two winters of ST, Dominique suddenly stopped bucking when I worked her and I was able to successfully ride her. Shortly after that decision, I had to quit riding due to my own chronic knee problem. But that’s okay as we continue to enjoy our time together.

Fast forward to 2022 … We have now passed all the pillars on the ground in Grade 2 and Dominique is in the best shape of her life! And still no bucking when I work her!

Even though Dominique still has some bad days once in a while with stiffness, she hasn’t had any real issues for several years now. She used to get massage or chiropractic treatments 1 to 4 times a month to help her compensate with her pain. However, in the past couple years we have been able to reduce that down to only 2 times a year!! I can say with certainty that ST is a great way to help rehab horses that can’t be ridden. I highly recommend it!

If you would like to learn more about Straightness Training, I would love to help you out.

Fun with Liberty

Cynthia Adams — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 03:23:12 +0000

Its been a while since I’ve posted. Thought I would share a video of me and my mare doing liberty together.

What is liberty? And why is it a good thing to work on? To start with, liberty is working on the ground with our horses without the use of halters or bridles.

Liberty is a great way to help develop more effective communication between horse and rider. Liberty helps develop increased trust and a better relationship. Advanced liberty also helps the horse build better balance and learn to be in self carriage. So lots of great things to love about liberty … plus it looks pretty cool

The biggest reason use liberty with riders, is to teach people to be more effective with their body language.

The biggest reason to teach a horse liberty, or at least the prep work for liberty, is safety. When the horse can do basic liberty exercises (halt, back up, moving the shoulders and moving the hindquarters), the horse can focus more easily on us. They develop better respect of our personal space and as a result they are safer to be around. When they are spooky or nervous, they are less likely to jump into our personal space. If they get excitable, it is also much easier to regain their focus by simply going back to those basic exercises. I teach all horses (even those that I never plan on doing liberty with) the liberty prep exercises (halt, back up, moving the shoulders and moving the hindquarters).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video.

It only took 5 years, but our Quaterback filly finally arrived this year!

Cynthia Adams — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 23:38:06 +0000

5 years ago, I decided to breed my mare Dominique to Quaterback in hopes of getting a filly to keep for myself. After delivering 3 colts, Dominique FINALLY gave us a filly this year! We were super excited to meet her and have named her Qadence (Cadence).

Cadence is a dressage term that refers to a “marked accentuation of the rhythm”. For example, a trot with “cadence” has more expression (spring to its step) than one that does not have it. I thought the name Qadence (Cadence) would be perfect for a dressage prospect. Although, so far, Qadence appears to love jumping! For weeks, every time I let her out into the arena, she would be jumping all the poles. It was super cute.

Here is a short video of Qadence.

Today Quazar heads to his new home in Williams Lake, BC

Cynthia Adams — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 17:58:47 +0000

I was originally planning on keeping Quazar until my mare foaled a filly and this year we are anticipating a filly! Therefore, it was time to let Quazar go to a new home. I wish the best to Quazar and Anthony on their new partnership!

Here are a few videos of Quazar …

Quazar turns 2 this year & Dominique is believed to be carrying a filly!

Cynthia Adams — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 21:33:46 +0000

This summer has been so incredibly hectic that I completely forgot I had pictures of Quazar. But here they finally are!

At only two and a half years of age, Quazar is already 16.3 hands high! I had a feeling he was going to be a big boy as he was a large foal at birth. He is quite the handsome guy and still has lovely movement!

Quazar is the first foal out of my mare Dominique. And I can’t believe how fast time has gone by since I first decided to breed Dominique to Quaterback (almost 4 years ago)! I originally bred my mare in hopes of getting a filly for myself (as I normally only keep fillies … although, I decided to keep Quazar around until a filly was born). After producing 3 colts in a row, this years ultrasound looks like Dominique may finally be carrying a filly for me! I am so excited … I can’t wait to meet her! (fingers crossed, the vet is correct and a healthy baby girl is born next year!) Yay

‘Quasi Quattro’ makes his way to Manchester, Michigan USA

Cynthia Adams — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 19:56:32 +0000

Congratulations to Anne Howard on the arrival of her new colt, Quasi Quattro. Quasi was conditionally sold in-utero and has now officially made his long journey to his new home in Manchester, Michigan USA.

It has been quite a while since my last blog as things here have been incredibly hectic these past 11 months!

Quasi was born June 1st, 2018 (he is sired by Quaterback and out of my mare Dominique III by Chico’s Boy). Quasi has 3 distinct white socks with one extremely tiny splash of white on the fourth leg. My husband thought it fitting to name him Quasi Quattro. The name is an inside joke as my husband knows I like four white socks on my horses. In this case, Quasi “sort of/almost” has 4 socks, lol.

Before Quasi’s arrival, we purchased a new home in town and this fall we officially moved off the farm! I am so happy that I got to enjoy having one last foal being born on the acreage. I will greatly miss watching the horses from my kitchen window and feel blessed to have had many wonderful memories there. But it is time for a new adventure.

Here are some pictures and a video of Quasi …

Video of Quasi …

And some pictures ….

2018 In-Utero Foal (colt option only) under contract

Cynthia Adams — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 17:14:25 +0000

We are pleased to report that Dominique’s in-utero foal (by Quaterback) is currently under contract (colt option only). If everything goes as planned, next year’s colt will be moving to Vermont. If the vet’s ultrasound prediction (of a colt) turns out to be inaccurate, then we will be thrilled to be able to retain a filly. Now we eagerly wait to see what Dominique produces next year

Quantum Salto travels to his new home at Riverlands Equestrian Facility in BC

Cynthia Adams — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:30:41 +0000

Quantum has had a very busy few weeks.

September 30, Quantum attended his first show (The Canadian Warmblood Breeders Show in Alberta). He did very well … receiving 1st Place Dressage Foal, Champion Foal and Grand Champion Young Horse! Although, I felt like I had him in the wrong class as he looked more like a jumping horse than a dressage horse with all his bouncing around. I guess naming him Quantum Salto (salto means jump) was the perfect name for him! lol.

On October 14th, Quantum started his journey to beautiful Pemberton, British Columbia. It was a long drive in the trailer (14 hours), but upon arrival at Riverlands Equestrian Facility, Quantum settled in amazingly quickly! He started eating and didn’t even look around!!!! The facility is incredibly stunning. I am so happy that Quantum has gone to such an amazing place with amazing people. I look forward to hearing how Quantum does in the future. Thank you Wes and Jo!

Videos of Quantum …

Quantum Salto has arrived!

Cynthia Adams — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 16:32:21 +0000

Dominique delivered her 2017 foal by Quaterback at 3am on June 1st! Quantum Salto is a dark bay colt with four white socks and the cutest little marking on his face.

Pictured below at 3 and 4 days of age …

June 14th Update: Quantum Salto is conditionally sold! If all goes as planned, he will be heading to BC in October

Quazar was very brave for his first obstacle course

Cynthia Adams — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 21:50:59 +0000

Well, we ventured out on a field trip. Quazar went through his first obstacle course!

Since I’m a wimp with the cold, I got a bit crazy dressing up into my snow suit … it was only -2C out, lol. But I stayed toasty warm! It was nice to be able to enjoy the last “warm” day before the -20C weather hit! Brrrrr. Thank you to Lisa Wieben of Mountain View Training Stables for hosting the event. We look forward to going to the next one (weather permitting of course). And for those that noticed … yes, I did chop off all my hair! Eek!!!

Quazar was very brave! He surprised me and didn’t even bat an eye the first time through the course! Good boy Quazar