Seminar Series

Note: Most classes will occur at the Painted Bar Stables but some classes may be hosted at remote locations.
Please register ahead of time and follow on facebook to keep in the loop of where class will be hosted.

Equine Anatomy

Instructor: Jennifer VanDusen

Fridays in January 2025 at 6:00pm

Seminar Information & Registration Here

Understanding how a horse is built is the foundation of understanding how they move. Before you can better understand biomechanics of riding, you first must understand the anatomy of your mount.

Each class will include handouts and hands-on activities followed by lecture and discusion.

01.10.2025
Week 1: Body Parts
The Outside of the Horse

Identifying terminology, body part locations, and breed specific comformation qualities versus overarching good conformation that spans across breeds.
Hands On: Measuring Height, Weight and Body Condition Scoring

01.17.2025
Week 2: Organs and Systems
The Inside of the Horse

Locating organs within the body and understanding their functions.
Hands On: Checking Vitals, Digital Pulse and Listening Gut Sounds

01.24.2025
Week 3: Musculoskeletal Systems & Biomechanics
How Things Move

Idenfying bones, muscle groups and soft tissues and understanding their role in movement functions. Understanding how biomechanics play a role in facial expressions and body language.
Hands On: Identifying Gaits, Strides, Footfalls, Leads and Diagonals

01.31.2025
Week 4: Integumentary System
Skin, Hair and Hooves

Understanding the epithelial layers and their functions and natural defense mechanisms as well as the role that grooming and care plays in the health of the horse.
Hands On: Exploring the Hoof Capsule Inside and Out with a dissection of a hoof capsule.

***Future Seminars on Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine, Lymphatic, Digestive and Neurological Systems

Farrier Courses

Instructor: Jennifer VanDusen & Jake Mayette

Fridays in February and March 2025 at 6:00pm

Farrier Course Information & Registration Here

101. Farrier 101 for Owners and Riders

The perfect class for owners and riders of all levels to better understand their horses feet and how farriers can affect the wellbeing of their horses longterm. 

Target Audience: Owners and Riders of any Level age 13+
Horsemanship Skills Learned: Properly Picking Feet, Pulling Shoes, Rasping Flares, Basic Lower Limb Anatomy, Biomechanics, Common Hoof Problems, Dissection
Farrier Concept Topics: Equine Anatomy, Farrier Ergonomics, Hoof Dissection Analysis, Hoof Hydration, Abscesses and Lamenesses.

  • 02.07.2025 - Lower Limb and Hoof Anatomy
  • 02.14.2025 - Biomechanics
  • 02.21.2025 - Common Hoof Problems
  • 02.28.2025 - Cadaver Hoof Dissection


201. Entry Level Farriery

The perfect class for those ready to start trimming feet and become farriers as well as owners and riders who want to better be able to support their horses between farrier visits.

Pre-Requisite: enrollment in Painted Bar Stables Farrier 101 within the last two years.

Target Audience: People with a foundation of hoof knowledge and experience with farrier concepts ready to learn how to work with farriery skills
Tool Skills Learned: Hoof Testers, Rasp, Hoof Knife, Nippers, Crease Nail Pullers
Farrier Concepts Topics: Hoof Trim Concepts, Farrier Tool Names and Function

  • 03.07.2025 - The Basic Trim
  • 03.14.2025 - The Hoof Knife
  • 03.21.2025 - The Rasp
  • 03.28.2025 - Pulling and Tacking On Shoes


∞. Forging your Future: Farrier Apprenticeship 

Target Audience: Experienced Horse People looking to become a farrier or shoe their own horses
Work alongside Jen in a 1:1 setting to gain experience and knowledge of shoeing horses. Over time develop the skills to be able to trim, forge, cold shoe and hot shoe under Jen's watchful eye.
The perfect prerequisite for enrolling in the Cornell Farrier School.
Apprenticeships are no charge, but require a specific commitment to longterm investment in skills.

Blacksmithing and Forging

Instructor: Jennifer VanDusen & Jake Mayette

Sundays in February and March 2025 at 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Blacksmithing Information & Registration Here

The blacksmithing class is a fun introduction to forging and shaping steel for people of all levels. The entire class will be focused on helping participants design and build their own project throughout the 4 weeks of class.  

Target Audience: People with an interest in shaping and building things out of steel through forging age +16. No experience necessary.
Tool Skills Learned: Twists and shaping, Drawing, Punching Holes
Maximum Class Size: 6 Participants + Auditors
  • 02.07.2025 - Building Coat Hooks: Twists and Shaping
  • 02.14.2025 - Project Development: Drawing Steel
  • 02.21.2025 - Project Development: Punching Holes
  • 02.28.2025 - Project Wrap Up

    Blacksmithing Courses
    $50 each + $30 supplies **
    $250 for four class segment (as Participant with Supplies)
    **due to limited anvil and forge space Single Class attendance is only sold as available. Priority is given to those registering for the entire month. 

    Auditing Courses:
    (attending, learning, watching but no hands-on)
    $50 each
    $150 for four classes (as Auditor)

Baby Horses & Foaling:

What to Expect when You're Expecting

Instructor: Alyssa Anway

Date TBD

Seminar Information & Registration Here

Learn more about what to expect when you’re expecting with two seminars talking about pre-natal and birthing processes, and another on what to do after the foal is born.

Mare Watch and Birth

Foaling Care and Techniques

 

PAST SEMINARS

Equine Color Genetics

Instructor: Erika Eckstrom

Friday, February 28th, 2020
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Available via Online Webinar As Well
More Information & Webinar Registration Here
Live Webinar Access $15 per Webinar
Webinar Download $15 per Download
Webinar downloads are free for in person attendees.

Currently not scheduled as in-person seminar

Why should the average horse enthusiast know about color genetics? 

Color Genetics are a great entryway to the world of understanding genetics because the genetic results are, well, quite often very visible. And this knowledge is then easily transferable to other genetic traits that can be less obvious such as genetic diseases.

Genes, and particularly color genes in horses, are often pleiotropic, meaning that any given gene might have multiple functions in the body. For every change in coat color, that genetic change will have an action in more than one system in the body: perception, behavior, immunology, fertility, etc…

As a result, some color genetic combinations can have problematic health issues correlated to them. Lavender foal, lethal white, melanomas, blindness, and deafness are all color-related genetic problems. 

From a registration standpoint, some breed registries are either based on horses’ coat colors or have color restrictions. Registries such as The American Paint Horse Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club, and the International Buckskin Horse Association, among others, are all color breed organizations that have classifications specific to the coloration. On the other end of the spectrum, some groups like the Friesian Horse Association of North America and the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association won’t allow horses to be registered if they have certain amounts of white patches.

And from an economic perspective, some horsemen believe horses of certain coat colors are easier to market and sell than others. 

  
 
Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce Member USFS Outfitter Permit Holder Painted Bar Stables Girl Scouts Approved Riding Stable
We accept cash, check and credit cards • Gift Certificates are available.
4093 Lake Avenue (Rte. 79) Burdett, NY 14818 • 607.216.8141 • [email protected]