At Dawn Gilbert Show Horses LLC, the horse is our priority.
Dawn Gilbert Show Horses LLC - we value making good equine citizens.
What does that mean actually? At Dawn Gilbert Show Horses it means that our training focus isn't so much about creating winning athletes- although they certainly do win; at ALL levels! It means that our focus is on longevity for your horse's physical and emotional well being. It means that we strive to create willing equine students that have learned to LEARN, and are therefore more prepared for what life may have in store for them.
Since our focus is on training that lasts for a horse that will last that means EVERY ASPECT of the entire program is curated and customized to your horse.
...what else TRAINING means at DGSH..
TURNOUT
Alone or in a small group, depending on what level of socialization your horse requires. It's been proven that horses that have access to turnout are happier, healthier, and learn better. At DGSH we try to maximize your horse's turnout schedule while balancing the other demands on your horse's time.
CUSTOM DIET
We have extensive equine nutrition knowledge and we are always expanding our education in that category. As part of the program we provide forage, usually in the form of farm grown orchard/timothy hay, 5x/day, and concentrates 2x daily. Amounts and type are customized to the horse's needs. Additional supplements are provided by the owner, although we highly recommend dac products.
DIVERSITY
A well rounded education, means your horse is prepared for more than just what you have planned for him. Also, you never know just how well a horse has learned a lesson until you see their response under different, potentially challenging circumstances and environments. To this end, we like to get the arena horses out of indoor, the trail horses to the bustle of horse shows and parades, and teach them ALL the life skills of doing things like crossing bridges, water, and dealing with ropes.
PASSIVE LEARNING
Even when a horse isn't being actively ridden, that doesn't mean it can't be learning something.
CUSTOMIZED WORKLOAD
Just like human students, there is no "One-size-fits-all" program. Some learn best with lots of work and repetition, others do best with occasional work and plenty of time to "think". At DGSH we work to physically develop your athlete while balancing their current mental needs and keeping their future workload requirements in mind.
OWNER EDUCATION
What good is having a horse with all this training, if you don't know how to get the most out of them afterwards? What if you run into an issue? What if you're just worried about "screwing them up"? (you can't btw) We find that for your sake as well as your horse's it's best if you, the owner, and the horse stay on the same page, so to speak, as your animal progresses. To this end, we offer a lesson a week to owners (in a "use it or lose it" format) to help everyone come out happier in the end.