Janie Rentz

Cold Weather Grooming Tips

Janie Rentz — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:26:27 +0000

With cold weather still in the air here in Virginia giving your horse a bath is not really a safe option. How then do you make your horse presentable and clean? I have recently found a way, so I figured that I would share it with those of you who are stuck in the cold weather along with me and my horses
The company Shapley’s has this amazing product called EASY-OUT, it is a no rinse shampoo that gets out the dirt and then makes your horse shine! When I was getting ready to take my horse to the Bent Jensen clinic I knew that my horse had to look his best. It was too cold for a bath, so I tried this product and it was amazing! I also put some MAGIC SHEEN hair polish in his tail to get out tangles and make it so that I could comb his tail without pulling a bunch of hair out! I have also been spraying the MAGIC SHEEN in all of my horses tails to keep the mud out. If you are living where the rain has been crazy and the mud will not stop, this product will keep the mud clumps out of your horses tails!
These products worked so well that I wanted to share them with you, check out Shapley’s web site for all of the great grooming products that they offer.
www.shapleys.com

Here is a way to make dressage fun, even in the winter weather!

Janie Rentz — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:31:04 +0000

A great way to stay motivated and focused on your riding goals, especially during the winter months, is to pick a clinician that is coming to your area and sign up! I decided to do just that and had a great time with Bent Jensen at Jeannette Bair’s gorgeous farm in Maryland! I used to work for Bent many years ago, and so it was so much fun to ride with him and get some great pointers to work on! He always has great exercises to help you to get the most out of the horse you are riding.
Another great thing about most clinics is that you are allowed to watch other riders thru auditing. Watching others ride and the exercises and tips that you pick up can be invaluable tools to add to your “tool chest” of knowledge.
Who are your favorite clinicians? What have your experiences been?

Have you ever had this happen?

Janie Rentz — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:20:38 +0000

So, when you are super busy and trying to do over 100 things at once and someone shows up at your barn trying to sell you something…. Most of the time we just politely say thank you, but I am busy, please come back another time. Well, I was lucky enough that when I said to please come back another time Ann Higgens from H.C. Summers Feed and Supply, in Jefferson, MD did just that!
When I took a minute to stop and listen I found that Ann was trying to help my horses and me, not just sell horse feed. I was fortunate enough that Dr. Daniel Burke, Ph.D was coming to town and would be able to come to my barn as a courtesy to look at each horse and come up with an individual nutrition program for them.
Dr. Burke knows that dressage horses require athletic ability, proper conditioning, focus and endurance. Nutrition is the key to us getting the most out of each of our horses.
I went with the Tribute grain that is called “Calm and Easy”. The reason that I chose this grain is that research has shown that sugar and starch levels are what cause hyperactivity in horses due to insulin responses in the brain, not protein levels. What this means for horses is that you can feed a higher protein, less sugar and starch feed which increases the horses focus and improves endurance. They also put in the proper amino acid levels, so that you can feed less grain, which is better for the horses and any barn’s budget. Check out Tributes web site to find out more, I am so happy with how my horses look and the weight that they are maintaining on this feed, that I just had to share it with you! The horse in the photo was a little under weight when I bought him and now he looks amazing thanks to this feed!

tributeequinenutrition.com

I also hope that everyone is enjoying the holidays and is getting shopping done!! I am heading over to H.C Summers Open House December 15th. They are having Santa pet photos and lots of savings from 9-1. It is a great place to buy feed, with amazing customer service.
Come on over to the store!
4002 Jefferson Pike
Jefferson, MD 21755

Check them out at:

www.hcsummers.com

Dressage and hunters, what a great mix!

Janie Rentz — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:43:03 +0000

This past weekend I had a great time at Blue Chip Riding Club in Patterson, NY. The trainers at Blue Chip understand the importance of good flat work and dressage for their horses.
The students were all well turned out and riding appropriate horses and ponies. We worked on straightness, bending and transitions all weekend. If hunters ever thought that dressage was for wimps, they have a new view now! Faces turned red, jackets had to come off, dressage work had them working up a sweat!
The riders all listened and were able to execute what I had them working on, and I was impressed with the positions that they demonstrated. The head trainer at Blue Chip, Sissy Scarpelli is a graduate of the equestrian studies program at Wilson College. Her emphasis on teaching the importance of having a proper position and balance is evident in her riders.
What an enjoyable group to work with, I look forward to my next clinic!

What riding group can be under 25 and called a club?

Janie Rentz — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:37:26 +0000

This weekend I enjoyed a Pony Club Rally at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. The kids had such a great time and they all encouraged and cheered for each other. When one girl had finished her dressage test I saw five of her friends quickly walk over to tell her what a great job she did. This kind of encouragement is what will make these kids keep riding!
The pony club has many rules and guidelines for everyone involved to follow. One of these is no parents are allowed in the barn, only the selected barn management team. It brought me back to my days at Tamarack Stables where my riding instructor would tell parents to stay OUT of the barn! It is amazing what kids can do when they simply HAVE to, and so I enjoyed walking thru the barns to see how these kids did without parents help. I must say it was impressive organization and the parents would have been proud! The highlight of the rally for me was watching my friends daughter Maggie put in a great test on her pony Princess! My second favorite was watching the musical freestyles. I’m telling you these kids know how to have fun! Check out your local pony club if you are looking for a organized and fun group to horse around with!

Tips for Selling a Horse Farm

Janie Rentz — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:43:24 +0000

My farm in Westminster, MD recently sold thanks to my real estate agent Laura Lee Jones.
In todays market selling a horse farm can be a tricky endeavor, so I hope that you find these tips from Laura helpful.
” Selling a farm, to some degree, is similar to selling a horse. When they look good and are well taken care of the buyer wants to learn more.
The first thing that your potential buyer sees is the farm entrance, so make sure that looks as good as possible. Well groomed fields, maintained fence lines, animal safe and ready is ideal. Any large debris or manure piles should be removed. All excess tack, blankets, etc.. should be stored neatly. Clean and organize any feed or tack rooms. Remove old or unusable hay. If your barn needs a new coat of paint, it is your best return on investment for the least amount of money. If you have a ring, keep it dragged, free of weeds/ debris.
In the house make sure that the entrance is neat, tidy, and clean. Keep clutter to a minimum in the house. If something is old and worn it’s best to take it out. For example, a broken set of blinds is better removed then left hanging.
When you have a potential buyer scheduled to come to your farm turn all of the lights on in your house and open any blinds or shades. Also, if you have any pets or if you smoke, try to keep the house smelling as neutral as possible, refrain from strong smelling room deodorizers.
Remember that the condition of your property is a direct relation to value, So, if you want top dollar than you have to have top condition.”
I hope that you find these tips helpful and forward them to anyone you know looking to sell a horse farm. I found it very beneficial to the sale of my horse property to have an agent that is a horse person. Her web site is myhomesdb.com\myhomenow.

Lake Erie College, click on this blog page to learn more!

Janie Rentz — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:35:41 +0000

Recently I was contacted by Lake Erie College to do a write up about my days at L.E.C and what I could tell prospective students about my experience.
It got me thinking of what an awesome time I had and how wonderful a small liberal arts college was for me. Small classes make you have to attend, you get to know all of your teachers, and you make close knit friends that last a lifetime.
The equestrian program is one of the best in the country, you get exposure to everything in the horse world and learn what “real life” is going to be about.
I was a Communications major and took horse classes because I had a small horse scholarship that allowed me to get my horse classes paid for.
At the time that I was in college I had no idea that I would end up working in the horse world, but L.E.C prepared me even though I didn’t know it at the time!
Once you become an L.E.C alumni, you will find yourself running into other graduates out in the horse world. The small L.E.C community has a large impact on the equestrian world!
If anyone is looking for a Liberal Arts education you may want to seriously consider L.E.C.

Dressage Today Magazine Solutions

Janie Rentz — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:20:23 +0000

I wanted to share with everyone the latest solution that is in this months Dressage Today Magazine. In many of the lessons that I teach I keep telling students to “sit up”. I found that the analogy of the parachute works well, because not only do you have to sit up, but you also have to lift your abs. This visual reference is a great way to lift your middle and keep your shoulders tall. Remember to breath and relax as well. Let me know how this works for you.

To breed or not to breed?

Janie Rentz — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:27:46 +0000

With Spring fast approaching I was wondering who had plans for breeding this year? I know that many people over the last few years have decided to stop breeding, but I was wondering who still is and on what kind of scale?
For myself, I am a bit concerned about the quality of horses that I will be able to find in five years. The price of high quality horses I am sure will be thru the roof, because the law of supply and demand is sure to catch up. I have been contemplating breeding one of my mares. What are your thoughts? Would enjoy feedback on this topic. Here is a pic of the dutch mare that I am thinking of breeding, any dressage stallion suggestions?

Happy New Year from Me and Big D!!

Janie Rentz — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:28:24 +0000

Happy New Year everyone, I hope that it is off to a great start for you! I wanted to put this out as a challenge to you for 2012, this New Year keep a training journal on one or more of your horses. If you don’t have a horse, but take lessons on someone else’s, keep a journal of your progress.
Many times in training we don’t realize how far we have come until we look back over what we have been working on. The training process can feel slow at times, and a journal is a great way to track your progress. It is also a great tool for remembering tips that you have gotten from your trainer, or heard at a clinic.
Has anybody ever tried this? I have done it on a few horses that I have broke and trained up the levels, it is a wonderful tool. Keep me posted on how it goes!

Happy New Year 2012!