Pedro & Athena in the Big Field

Written By Alexandra Mackenzie Doan

Pedro and Athena out together — finally! We’ve been wanting to try them in the big field, and they seem kind and respectful with each other. I prefer to have horses paired up or in groups whenever possible, and it makes me so happy to see this.

There’s scientific research showing that horses’ heart rates are slower and their blood sugar levels lower when they live in a herd setting rather than being individually locked in stalls without much social contact. Horses work best as a herd — it’s how they’re meant to be.

That’s one of the many reasons I set up my barn (20 years ago!) with open paddocks connected to my stalls, so the horses can live with a herd mentality and have contact over the fence 24/7, while still having privacy in their stalls when needed — especially if they have different food needs or just want to protect their meals.

Alexandra Mackenzie Doan

Positively Reinforcing good horse and dog behavior

Moose Ridge Farm is located in Lincolnville, Maine just 15 minutes from the coast. A small Dressage Barn where ground work and under saddle work come together to create deeper understanding between horse and rider through clicker training. The horses are able to move around 24/7 in paddocks adjoining their stalls and in the fields. There is a lovely sunny indoor arena, heated tack room and warm water in the wash stall. Horses are given hay 4x day and stalls are fluffy. Alexandra has been clicker training horses for 23 years - her personal horses, her boarders and her riding students. She loves putting the puzzle pieces of animal behavior and training of equines and canines together, not only worki.n with the animals but also coaching the humans. Dog classes, though new to the farm, are not new to her. She grew up with dogs and cats, has raised 3 dogs the past 25 years and is a true animal lover. Positive Reinforcement training is fun and encourages kind, clear communication within boundaries.

https://www.mooseridgefarm.com
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