Lytle Family Horseback Riding

07/04/2024

Happy July 4th!

07/01/2024

It was a hot but successful weekend at BEST for Barbara Guido, Aimee May and Molly Doyle Hess with Cindy Lytle coaching. But today we’re focusing on the newbies — Barbara and Cali, who did their first show together with ribbons in two under saddle classes! Congrats!

06/25/2024

A hot week when we’re not riding as much can be a good time to learn something while sitting in the AC! Our USEF Judge Cindy Lytle offers this critique from “The Judge’s Perspective” of Aimee May (who graciously agreed to be judged!) So what does Cindy see? To start — a well-turned out pair with a good first impression. Aimee has a secure leg with her heel under her hip, eyes up and both looking focused on the task. What could be improved? Cindy noted her hip angle is a bit too closed with her shoulder closer to Moe’s neck than her seat to the saddle. Aimee’s arm from shoulder to elbow is good but Cindy would like to see her forearm stretched more forward with some loop in the rein. Cindy also noted Moe is a little long and flat so Aimee needs a take-off spot closer to the jump. All in all, though, we agree they made a nice pair!

06/20/2024

We’re celebrating a Happy Birthday to our Cindy Lytle with a mini look at the early start of her awesome career! We wish her a happy day and many more candles in the future!! 🎂 🎈🍾

06/19/2024

On a hot day we ride early and make a XC course in the field!

06/16/2024

When twins are both riding plain bays and wearing matching jackets, it takes a minute to sort out. But congrats to Molly Doyle Hess on the left and Aimee May on the right!

06/11/2024

It was a great weekend for Mountain Man (Manny) aka our favorite Haflinger, owned by Laurie A. Dove and ridden by Allison Rosenstock. They got good ribbons at the Hunter show held at the Lehigh Riding Club in Westminster. Manny trailers in for lessons — to our great delight! He elicits a lot of gawking! 😆

06/09/2024

It was a barn field trip to the Upperville Grand Prix today. Decent weather, a little rain, some very nice horses. Cindy even got a break to join us for a bit! Jumps were a tad bigger than at home!

06/07/2024

Yes, that’s our Cindy Lytle, a USEF-recognized R judge, doing her thing at the jumper ring at Upperville C**t & Horse Show. Good luck to all the competitors. If you’ve got time, head on out to watch! https://www.upperville.com/

06/05/2024

We’re all about celebrating birthdays! So Happy 5th Birthday to Monty (owned by Molly Doyle Hess). And those goodies are only, alas, for the horses!

06/02/2024

We’re so fortunate to be able to trail ride right off the farm all the way to the Monocacy River. It’s beautiful countryside. But in the years ahead we’ll be riding in a shady forest thanks to landowners and a state/county re-leaf program reforesting farmland near waterways. Some 33,000 trees have been planted along our route, including redbuds, black walnut, persimmon and other native trees. We applaud this awesome program and the generous landowners! Maryland Department of Natural Resources Montgomery Countryside Alliance

05/28/2024

We were at Loch Moy’s horse trial this weekend with Caitlyn Felkoski and junior rider Hallie H. Both got ribbons, learned a lot and had fun under the watchful eye of our Cindy Lytle. But we wanted to put the focus on their mounts. JR is owned by Cathy Hare and white pony Brinkley is a Lytle mount. Both did a great job and we are grateful to them and all the horses there this weekend doing their best! ❤️

05/25/2024

Our horses were very curious about the goodies baked by Liz Zander, a great friend and an avid supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Liz has been raising money through baking for several years now, setting up her tent along our farm on Mouth of Monocacy. We can attest to her baking skills! Next up for Liz is participating in the upcoming Xtreme Hike to benefit the foundation and her friend, young rider Brynn. To learn more about the foundation and how you can help, go here: https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=10079

05/22/2024

It’s safe to say most of us hope to be riding well into “old age.” So, for Older Americans Month, (yes, that’s a thing) we’re spotlighting our Betty Webb! She started riding before 1st grade and was working for Edna Lytle in exchange for lessons by 6th grade. She’s been part of the Lytle family ever since — breaking race horses, grooming ponies, doing barn work and showing jumpers — and being godmother to Cindy Lytle! Today, closing in on 85, she’s still in the saddle, riding Lytle horses and trusty Maverick, owned by Donna K. Citrin. She’s our role model without a doubt and we love her!

05/19/2024

Our Aimee May and Molly Doyle Hess jumped at the chance to lesson with Linda Allen. (See what we did there?) The famed rider and course designer with the Atlanta Olympics on her resume is a great teacher and clinician. She even signed her book for Molly! We’re so lucky to have access to the greats in our sport.

05/16/2024

With the Preakness coming up Saturday, we wanted to highlight two of our ex-racers. They may not be running for the finish line these days but our Moe and Hennessy are winners in our book! (BTW, who is hoping Mystik Dan gets the second leg of the Triple Crown?!)

05/13/2024

Last weekend was a successful combo of great rounds at BEST and Mother’s Day! Great job by Aimee May and Molly Doyle Hess (here with their kids) and Hallie’s first “real” show with super pony Brinkley (photo taken by Hallie’s mom Schwartzman Holzman). Congrats to you and coach Cindy Lytle!

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the different kinds of moms to all the different kinds of kids!

05/04/2024

We have a new boy at the farm! Congrats to Molly Doyle Hess on her purchase of Monty, a 4-year-old KWPN who will be her future show hunter/equitation partner! Shout outs to seller Samantha Folley and breeder Stoney Hill Stables in NY. Trainer Cindy Lytle and Molly’s twin Aimee May will help the pair succeed. We have no doubt! 🍾🏆

05/02/2024

reminds us all the importance of staying hydrated during this taste of summer! Thanks, Buddha! 😆

04/22/2024

At Otasaga, we think every day is Earth Day. We take seriously our stewardship of this beautiful farm and are proud to stand with the other barns, farms, orchards and vineyards of the Ag Reserve. Montgomery Countryside Alliance

04/22/2024

It was a great weekend at BEST with Aimee May and Molly Doyle Hess on Moe, Nic and Cali (getting her hoof wet in the show world) with Cindy Lytle coaching and our favorite barn rat/groom, Hallie. Great job!

04/14/2024

Big congratulations to Caitlyn Felkoski for her Combined Test debut at Loch Moy today (with a clean stadium round and a rocking 24.7 dressage score) plus kudos to coach Cindy Lytle and JR’s owner Cathy Hare. And thanks to the barn family that came out to cheer her on!

04/11/2024

We’re celebrating National Autism Awareness Month by highlighting our own Adam Jones, a rider with us, a barn attendant at Madison Fields and an advocate for people on the spectrum. Here he is doing what he loves on Sky! https://madisonfields.org/

04/08/2024

It was a little underwhelming!

04/05/2024

A break in the rain is greatly appreciated by the horses (and people) at Otasaga Farm!

04/03/2024

03/30/2024

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!(like many amateur photographers we occasionally experiment with editing!)

03/27/2024

This is what happens when your trainer gets back from a clinic! 😆

03/24/2024

That’s our Cindy Lytle (leftish), with her friend and mentor Joe Fargis, learning new exercises and approaches that she will no doubt apply to us! We may or may not like them! 😆