Meet Ella

Meet Ella, a 16-year-old Holsteiner mare.

She came to Bridge the Gap Equine as an underweight broodmare with significant trauma after being involved in a trailering crash.

Through slow, methodical rehabilitation, Ella recovered. We worked closely with an equine nutritionist to develop the best feeding program for her and watched her not only reach a healthy weight but become a shiny, healthy, happy, energetic mare.

From there, we began work on developing her body further. Through thoughtful, consistent training sessions designed to regulate her nervous system, Ella gained confidence.

She learned how to use her body in a way that increased her comfort, her proprioception, and her trust in both herself and her rider.

With that foundation lain, we addressed the trailer phobia Ella had understandably sustained following her accident. By taking the pressure off, reinforcing the techniques we’d established to help her self-regulate, and staying calm and patient always, we helped Ella overcome her anxiety and create positive new trailering experiences.

Today, at 16 years old, Ella has never looked, moved, or felt better. She happily gets on the trailer and embarks on new adventures with her people. We love having this sweet girl (and her son, Moose!) in the barn at BGE!

Meet Pippin

From his owner, Kate

“Pippin is my 10-year-old thoroughbred that I have owned since the end of his racing career in 2020. I moved him to BGE in the Fall of 2025, with a good feeling knowing that we would be very happy at this new farm. What I didn’t anticipate was how Madeline would help Pip become the best version of himself, beyond what I could have imagined. Her kind, patient, consistent way of developing horses is something really special.

Madeline has had Pip in training for a year now, riding him two times a week, and then teaching me once a week. He has become really supple, engaged and willing under saddle. I feel more confident and connected in my own riding — and feel like Pip and I are really working together as a team. He enjoys regular PEMF and bodywork from Madeline, which has really helped his quality of movement and occasional stiffness from arthritis caused by his racing career. She has fine-tuned and customized his nutrition plan, and also makes sure he has free choice high-quality hay. He is a hard keeper, very quick to lose weight and top line, but she stays on top of it making sure to edit as needed. He’s never looked better. I have seen him positively thrive in her program, and it has given him confidence and fitness to keep him happy, healthy, and sound.

Pip has really formed a strong bond with Madeline, she cares for him as if he is one of her own horses. He happily whinnies to greet everyone as they come into the barn, he has a best friend named Quimby, loves the entire barn staff and all of the kids who come to lesson. Seeing him so happy - living his best life - makes my heart full. He has come so far in our time at BGE and I’m so thankful to Madeline for all of it!”