Eagle Ridge Farm

03/11/2026

This may reference Barrel Racing but it applies to all disciplines~ 🐴

In this industry you absolutely need confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself, you’re already beat before you ever run through the alleyway.

But there’s a big difference between confidence and cockiness.

Time and time again you hear it…
“What do I have to learn from her? I’m beating her.”

And honestly you see it a lot with some of the younger crowd that’s fortunate enough to be sitting on really nice horses.

But here’s a reality check.

One day that horse might not be there.

One day you might be the one starting over.

That person you’re beating right now might be riding a horse they’re building from the ground up. They might be a trainer trying to put one back together that blew up on someone else. They might be seasoning a futurity horse that’s still learning the job.

You truly don’t know what someone is working with until you sit down and ask them.

This sport has a funny way of humbling people.

You can have all the confidence in the world and still be humble. In fact, the best horsemen usually are.

There is something to learn from everybody in this industry if you’ll just sit back, shut up, and watch.

Because here’s the truth…

In barrel racing we are all one injury, one sale, one bad step, or one tough season away from having to start completely over.

So instead of worrying about who you’re beating today, you might want to focus on putting your head down and getting better.

Because one day you might be the one rebuilding…
and you’ll hope the people around you show a little more humility than you did.

📸 | BH Photography

03/02/2026

Your horse isn’t matching your cues they’re matching your energy. 🎤⬇️

Horses don’t speak English.
They speak energy.

They don’t know if you:
• Had a bad day
• Lost a client
• Slept 3 hours
• Are frustrated with your run

But they absolutely know:
• If your breathing changed
• If your body got tight
• If your mind checked out
• If you walked up irritated

Your horse mirrors what you bring into the arena.
If you ride looking for what’s wrong, you’ll find it.
If you ride expecting a fight, you’ll get one.
If you ride tense, they’ll brace.

But if your calm…
If you have confidence…
If you have that “we’re going to figure this out” energy…

They soften.
They try.
They trust.

Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring problems.
It means correcting without emotion.
It means expecting improvement instead of disaster.
It means leading instead of reacting. Your horse didn’t wake up planning to ruin your ride.
They woke up ready to respond to whatever leader showed up.

So the question isn’t:
“Why is my horse like this?”

It’s:
“What am I bringing into the saddle today?”

Energy matters.
Leadership matters.
Positivity is not weakness …it’s control.

And horses feel it before you ever pick up the reins.🩶

02/22/2026

✨ The Madigan Squeeze — hopefully something you’ll never need, but worth knowing about. ✨

It’s a technique used in newborn foals that seem “off” — not nursing, not bonding, kind of confused or wandering. This can be linked to Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (often called dummy foal). 🍼

When done correctly, a soft rope is gently placed around the foal’s chest to apply steady pressure for about 20 minutes. It mimics the pressure of being in the birth canal. 🔗 to video in comments shows how to do on foals/ calves and then goats/lambs

After it’s released, many foals become more alert within minutes and start acting more like a normal newborn — looking for the udder, stronger suck reflex, and better awareness. ⏳✨

Hopefully you’ll never have to use it — but if you do, it can make all the difference. 💛

02/17/2026

The shedding is over… and a new rhythm begins. 🐎✨

The Year of the Fire Horse arrives with movement, courage, and forward momentum. What once felt heavy now lifts, making space for freedom, passion, and bold new paths. Trust where your spirit is guiding you, it’s time to ride towards what truly calls your soul. 🔥🔥

02/06/2026

✨ Big News for Buckskin Owners!

ABRA expanded the Buckskin Bred Program, and more horses than ever can now be recognized for their Buckskin lineage.

You may qualify if your horse has:
• A Buckskin (or qualifying color) great-great-grandparent
• Verified parentage
• White markings outside ABRA’s color rules (Hardship Clause REG124)

AND in 2026, Hardship Buckskin Bred registration is HALF PRICE!

💛 Member $100
💛 Non-Member $140

Learn more 👉 https://www.americanbuckskin.com/buckskin-bred-program

01/29/2026

😌❤️🐴Calming Signals Horse Homework🐴❤️😌

The next time you’re with your horse, try this. It’s been amazing to see how many stressed, behaviourally challenging horses begin to soften and calm when this piece is put in place. It all starts internally with you…..

Before you ask for anything from your horse, breathe fully out slowly, letting all the air leave your lungs. Let your body soften, smile, and allow your expression to relax. Let your heart rate slow, and think calm, zen, peaceful thoughts. Then take a long, slow breath in through your nose, hold it briefly, and breathe fully out again slowly.

If you do this in response to everything you ask of your horse, it often works extremely well as a reward, creating a deeper state of release. Horses genuinely seem to like it. Calm attracts calm through the limbic system in your body, and when you regulate your central nervous system, your horse feels safer and calmer in response.

The result is usually a calmer, more willing horse who genuinely wants to be with you because you help them to feel safe ❤️❤️❤️.

01/27/2026

Trusted Company, the last known living daughter of Secretariat, passed away at 34 years old.

Her life stood as a rare connection to one of the most iconic names in Thoroughbred racing. With her passing, an extraordinary chapter in racing history quietly turns its final page.

But Secretariat’s legacy was never meant to end with one final daughter—it was built to last through generations.

Secretariat didn’t just leave behind a Triple Crown. He left behind a bloodline that continued to shape the sport long after the roar of 1973 faded. While no one could replicate the sheer dominance of “Big Red” in full stride, his influence lived on through the horses who carried his name in their veins—runners who delivered elite performances, earned championship honors, and kept his presence woven into the story of racing.

Among his most celebrated offspring were horses like Lady’s Secret, a brilliant mare who rose to the very top and was crowned Horse of the Year, and Risen Star, who proved Secretariat’s class could translate to the classics with victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. His reach even extended beyond American racing through champions like Kingston Rule, whose success on the world stage showed Secretariat’s impact wasn’t limited by geography.

And while Secretariat produced standout sons, many believe his most powerful, lasting gift to the breed came through his daughters. In breeding, daughters often become the foundation—the ones who quietly carry greatness forward. Over time, Secretariat’s daughters became anchors in pedigrees that would later produce generations of elite performers, influencing the modern Thoroughbred era in ways that are still felt today.

That’s what makes Trusted Company’s life so meaningful. She wasn’t just a horse with a famous father—she was a living bridge to a time when one extraordinary champion redefined what greatness looked like.

Her story—and the legacy behind it—will never be forgotten.

01/23/2026

This is what real horse love looks like.

When the wind stings your face.
When your fingers go numb.
When the water freezes, the gates ice over, and the snow feels endless…

Horse people still show up.

Not because it’s easy.
Not because it’s convenient.
But because those horses are counting on us.

While most of the world is warm inside, scrolling and sipping coffee…
there are horse owners out here breaking ice, hauling water, checking blankets, and whispering soft words into cold ears.

It’s not glamorous.
It’s not always seen.
But it is love in its truest form.

💙 Winter care reminders for horse owners:
• Check water sources often (they freeze fast!)
• Make sure blankets are dry and properly fitted
• Increase hay — it helps keep horses warm
• Break ice on troughs and buckets daily
• Check hooves for packed snow and ice
• Walk fences after storms

This isn’t just a chore.
It’s a promise.

Because no matter how cold the storm…
our horses will never face it alone.

🐎❄️💛

01/10/2026

Today is the day! ⭐️ Bidding ends tonight at 7 pm!

Bidding is open for the 2026 Minnesota North Star Futurity SSA!
Stallions will be added to our list as the contracts are received and start at 40% of their advertised fee.
Message, text or call to place your bids!

Michelle Schlaeger 320-420-1517
Darsey Prokosch 320-216-5105