About Jessica Hughes Expertise I can answer diet and nutrition questions regarding performance, breeding/raising young horses, showing, and pleasure riding needs. I can answer questions regarding riding and training problems or advice. I can answer questions regarding equine behavior problems. I can answer questions regarding show horses, how to groom the english or western horse for the horse show arena. I can answer any general question regarding horses.
Experience My expertise includes owning and running a successful show and boarding facility. I have done much research on the nutritional needs of all different types of horses and how their digestive system works and how to keep that healthy. I have shown and trained horses for cutting, western pleasure, halter, breed show all around, and currently hunter/jumpers on the hunter curcuit. I have also raised babies and bred my own mares for the last 5 years specializing in thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and welsh ponies. I also give lessons to all types of riders. I evented for 3 years.
Organizations I currently belong to Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association and American Quarter Horse Association.
Education/Credentials I apprenticed under Mark Poovey an accomplished cutting horse trainer for 4 years where I was assistant trainer and barn manager. I have ridden under and participated in many clinics under such people as George Morris and Daniel Geitner. I have also worked as a vet tech at a local veterinarian. I attended Isothermal Community College where I attained my business degree.
Awards and Honors I was #8 in the nation in 1994 with the American Paint Horse Association at the end of that year in the event of Working Hunter 18 & Under. I was also 4th at the AQHA World Show in 1994 in the event of Hunter Under Saddle Youth Team Tournament. I won many year end awards with the APHA during that year. I also won the Raleigh Cutting Horse Futuritiy in the youth division in 1994. I was leader of a local 4-H group for many years.
Past/Present Clients Hope Bleeker, Freda Jessen, Judy Scott, Sharon Scruggs, Elizabeth White, Jackie Gardinier, Laura Bailey, Kevin Hamby, Jane Juanaco,
Anne Schager, Diane Randolph
Question I have a 7 yr old quarter horse mare. I bought her 2 years ago and was told she was good at barrel racing. When I ride her, i can tell she knows what she is doing, but over the past two years her "muscle tone has decreased" and she has gotten "fat and lazy" and I noticed after a barrel run she has a hard time catching her breath. What can I do to increase her endurance?
Answer Hi JoAnne, It sounds like to me that you need to work your horse on a schedule regularly and stick to it. You may be doing this already, if so increase what your doing. I would suggest riding your horse 5 days a week and at least 4 days of the 5 work your horse so that he does sweat and breaths hard, with walk intervals if needed. Trot sets are great for building stamina and muscles, I would start off trotting for 15 minutes, walk 5 minutes, trot again 15 minutes and cool out to start with. Once your horse can handle that well, you may want to do this same regimen but increase the time trotting and work him up hills to build back and hind end muscles plus stamina. I would only do trot sets maybe 2 days a week and do 2-3 days of working on barrels or ring work, and 1 day of a trail ride with some trotting worked in. Trot work will build muscles and stamina much better than the canter will, that's the reason for all the trotting. Each time you ride your horse be sure he's working and going forward and not just sucked back and flopping around as this will do him no good. Your horse should have a good sweat going and be breathing hard. It should only take about 5-15 minutes for your horse to catch his breath and start to dry off after work, so if it takes longer then he's not ready for that much work so lesson the work load a little. I don't know what your horse's fitness level is so it's hard to say how much to push him in the beginning but this should give you an idea. Hope this helps, Jessica
