Foothills Farms & Piedmont Connemaras

03/25/2025

Katherine Wilson and Foothills Highlander (Balmullos Beacon x Foothills River Queen)

03/18/2025

This was sent in by Rosie. L Dunlop

Why My Mum Paid for Horse Riding

When I was little, I remember sitting quietly while my mum and her friends had a good gossip over tea and biscuits. One of them turned to her and said, “Why on earth do you spend so much money on horse riding?”

My mum just smiled and said, “Oh, I don’t pay for horse riding.”

Cue confused looks and someone nearly choking on a custard cream.

She continued:

I pay for the moments when my child is so shattered they want to quit but can’t, because the horse still needs mucking out and, funnily enough, doesn’t clean up after itself.

I pay for the days they come home from school “too tired” but still drag themselves to the yard, because apparently, horses don’t appreciate being left to their own devices.

I pay for them to learn responsibility,since forgetting your PE kit is one thing, but forgetting to tighten your girth leads to a very public lesson in gravity.

I pay for them to understand that no matter how much you beg, horses do not do homework extensions, and “the pony ate it” is not a valid excuse.

I pay for them to develop patience, because sometimes, your horse just decides that a leaf, a shadow, or absolutely nothing at all is life-threatening, and you have to just sit there and accept it.

I pay for them to learn resilience when they fall off, get covered in mud, and still have to get back on while their so-called friends are laughing instead of helping.

I pay for them to experience character-building situations, like being soaked, freezing, and smelling like a stable, while their non-horsey friends are warm, dry, and wondering why their car stinks after giving them a lift home.

I pay for them to understand that success doesn’t happen overnight but vet bills, saddle fittings, and emergency farrier visits sure do.

I pay for them to have friendships built on shared experiences, like the trauma of a pony refusing to be caught for an hour, only to suddenly trot over the second you give up and put the headcollar away.

I pay for them to learn that a “quick trip to the yard” is never, ever quick, and that one horse hair in your food means there are probably ten more you just haven’t noticed yet.

I pay for them to spend time outdoors, learning life lessons, instead of glued to a screen (unless they’re watching riding videos on YouTube and planning their next unrealistic equestrian purchase).

I pay for the absolute chaos that is Pony Club on a Friday night, where kids fly in all directions, ponies test every boundary, and parents question all their life choices but still show up again next week.

At the end of the day, my mum wasn’t paying for horse riding. She was funding a lifelong obsession, an impressive collection of bruises, and a social life that revolved entirely around the smell of hay and manure. And honestly? It was worth every penny.

03/15/2025

Sky and Cat's first look at WE obstacles

03/15/2025

Make Them Carry Their Saddle
A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.
After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.
Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.
So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.
Hannah Campbell Zapletal

03/14/2025

Early mornings and camping at horse events are exhausting for Boo. This is a 10 am nap😊🐕AUDIO ON FOR FULL APPRECIATION

03/14/2025

This is a practice post so I can learn how to do IG ( I'm a little behind the curve)

03/13/2025

Sky and Cat learning to tolerate cows🤠🤔🤪
I think this lass might prefer sheep😊☘️🐴

02/10/2025

Never underestimate the smaller ones❤️☘️🐴

Stroller the Olympic Wonder Pony
Despite being significantly smaller—often eight inches shorter than his nearest competitors—Stroller could leap as high as the best in the world. In the 1960s and 70s, if you were passionate about show jumping in either England or North America, one name stood out among the rest. During a time when major league sports dominated cable television, and hockey and baseball were broadcast around the clock, show jumping in Great Britain enjoyed an unparalleled following. This was an era when top riders published books and annuals, delighting their devoted fans, while company-sponsored jumpers proudly carried their sponsors' names as part of their own. Enthusiasts even wrote in to request locks of hair from their favorite equine stars.

Amidst a sea of tall, long-legged show jumpers, an extraordinary talent emerged: Stroller, a 14.1-hand Connemara-Thoroughbred mix, who seemed to have been touched by the magic of genetics. He possessed both confidence and remarkable jumping ability, allowing him to compete with the best, despite his smaller stature.

Born in 1950, Stroller was initially purchased in a bulk deal from Ireland by a dealer and later sold to Ted Cripps for his daughter. It didn't take long for Ted to realize he had discovered a true gem. He sold Stroller to Ralph Coakes, a farmer from New Milton who had a solid understanding of horses and the show jumping scene. By acquiring this little pony, Ralph and his daughter Marion were about to embark on a journey with a star that would shine brightly for the next 15 years.

While Marion had two brothers, John and Douglas, who were part of the British Show Jumping Team, it was Marion who possessed the innate riding talent to truly connect with Stroller. Although it seemed natural for her to eventually transition to riding a horse, Marion and Stroller were destined for greatness together.

02/07/2025

Foothills Good Friday aka Goodman (Tullymor's Mountain Steel x Marshwood Summer Keavey) 14.2, rising 2 yr old pb gelding. I think he needs to stay here to be my "old lady" (aka last) all-purpose horse.
❤️☘️🐴