Stramel Ranch

Twenty-five years ago, I moved across the country and entered an industry because I loved horses. I thought I was joining an industry that loved horses as much as I did.

Instead, what I found and what I’ve learned, is that many people, maybe even most, in the performance horse industry, don’t actually love horses. They love what horses can do, what they can win, and what they can earn. And, that is a big difference.

Because, if you truly love something, you don’t destroy it.

After 25 years in veterinary medicine, 20 years as a physical therapist, nearly 20 years in performance horse barns, years studying movement, performance, injury, rehabilitation, and even pushing my own body to it’s full limitations, I learned some things.

The same injuries.
The same breakdowns.
The same excuses.

A decade passed.
Then another.

And still, the same thing over and over. Yet, no one says much about it....it seems.

I thought I was smart and apparently not, because .....

It took me decades to finally understand what was really behind the curtain.

The problem isn’t bad luck.
The problem isn’t genetics.
The problem isn’t that horses are fragile.

The problem is that we’ve normalized something that isn’t “normal.”

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

I’m so thankful for my own ranch.

Look at this amazing crew. I’m missing a super cute, rogue, 2 year old buckskin....he didn’t make it out from the barn in time for pictures. 🥰

Education changes industries.

Maybe it’s time to swing the pendulum back toward the horse.

More on this later.

Because at the end of the day, I really love the horses.

I appreciate having a place where horses can simply be horses.

"Rio" - 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 for 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝!

𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧, is a finalist for 2025 Welsh of the Year, and I am so proud of Zoe and this pony.

Now, he needs your help!

If you’re a WPCSA member, we would love your vote. If you’re not a member and your child wants to support Zoe, an annual junior membership is only $35 and lets you vote.

Every single vote matters!

Thank you for cheering her on and supporting her!

We love Rio - he's an amazing pony!

Voting link in the comments - Thanks!