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Notice breathing and recovery. How quickly does respirationsettle? Does your horse return to their usual posture, or do theyremain tense? Recovery tells you as much as performance.Small Signs That Add UpIndividually, many of these observations seem minor:%u2022 a shorter step leaving the cross-ties%u2022 stiffness that resolves unevenly%u2022 hesitation backing up%u2022 reluctance to stand square after workTaken together, they form a picture. The goal isn%u2019t to analyzeevery ride. It%u2019s to notice when the picture starts to change.Why These Minutes Matter More Than the Ride ItselfDuring the ride, adrenaline, structure and momentum canhide discomfort. Horses are very good at working throughthings when asked. Before and after the ride, that masking effectis gone. That%u2019s when asymmetry shows up more clearly. That%u2019swhen fatigue becomes visible. That%u2019s when compensation patterns appear without the influence of forward motion. Thesewindows give you cleaner data.Using Patterns Instead Of GuessworkOne off day doesn%u2019t mean much. Everyone has them. Horsesincluded. What matters is consistency.Ask yourself:Is this showing up more than once?Is it getting easier, harder, or staying the same?Does it appear before work, after work, or both?Those answers help you decide whether to adjust workload,change expectations, or seek more information.Better Decisions Come From Better TimingMany owners struggle not because they miss signs, but because they notice them too late or in the wrong context.Catching changes before a ride or immediately after keeps decisions grounded. You%u2019re responding to what the horse is offering, not reacting mid-ride when emotions and goals are alreadyinvolved. That timing matters.Making It Part Of The RoutineYou don%u2019t need extra time or tools to make the 10 minutescount. You need to slow your attention slightly at the beginningand end of each ride. Watch. Compare. Remember.When you build that habit, patterns become obvious. Andwhen patterns are obvious, decisions become easier. The ride itself is only part of the conversation. The first and last ten minutes are where your horse does most of the talking. oShelly Allen is the founder of HorseEmergencySkills.com and theinstructor behind Emergency Ready%u2122, an educational program thathelps horse owners respond with confidence during equine health emergencies. She teaches in-person, hands-on workshops from her propertyin Vernon, Arizona.22 Arizona Horse Connection June, 2026(602) 469-5719info@tacketc.net www.tacketc.netKerrits, Schockemohle and Kastel Now In Stock!GIFFORD EQUINEAppraising %u2022 Training %u2022 Rehoming %u2022 SalesLicensed horse appraiser and member of the AmericanSociety of Equine Appraisers. Jason Gifford appraiseshorses for insurance, various tax purposes including taxdonations, estate settlements, divorces, bankruptcies,loans, business partnerships and for selling horses, tolist just a few. He will travel to your location to thoroughly inspect your horses(s) and obtain all information needed to prepare the appraisal report. If you want an appraisalthat has a basis of fact, that supports the value opinion, that uses nationally accepted appraisal standards and methods, that can be explained and represents what the currentmarket says it%u2019s worth, then you need Jason%u2019s expertise to prepare the appraisal report!Jason Gifford %u2022 (623) 293-7487www.giffordequine.comARE YOU LOOKING FOR HORSE PROPERTYIN THE PRESCOTT AREA?MILD 4-SEASON CLIMATE, CLEAN AIR, STAR-FILLED SKIES, WILD LIFE GALORE, ANDLOTS OF HORSE PEOPLE!Trudy M. Zeiler DESIGNATED BROKER(928) 636-9380Come on up to the Prescottarea & let me show you around!HANDLING THEFOLLOWING AREAS:Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden, Williamson Valley,Dewey,Mayerwww.RealtyExpressions.netSPECIALIZING IN HORSE PROPERTY,RANCHES & ACREAGE