Skye Farm

05/07/2025

🌟 We’d Love Your Feedback! 🌟

If you’ve taken lessons, hauled in for a clinic, or boarded with us at Skye Farm, we’d be so grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review!

Your kind words help others discover what we do and support our small business in a big way. Whether it’s about a great lesson, a breakthrough moment with your horse, or just how much you love the atmosphere here—we’d love to hear it! 💬🐴

Thank you for being part of the Skye Farm family! ❤️

28/06/2025

04/06/2025

🐴✨ Ready to take your riding to the next level? Haul-in lessons are always welcome at Skye Farm!

Our after-school and weekend lesson spots fill up fast—but if you and your horse can make it before 3 PM on weekdays, there’s plenty of availability! 🌟

Whether you're looking to:
✔ Improve your general horsemanship
✔ Focus on groundwork
✔ Prep for the show ring

—we’re here to help you meet your goals, at your pace. Come once a week or once a month—your journey, your schedule.

📩 Fill out the Lesson Intake Form at the top of this page or message us to get started!

02/06/2025

🥕 3 Ways to Improve Your Horse – Part 3: Digestive Health 🧬
This one’s a two-for-one… but hey, I make the rules. 😄 And honestly, it deserves the extra attention. Because your horse’s digestive health plays a bigger role in their behavior, comfort, and performance than many riders realize.
Let’s break it down:
🔹 Start with the diet.
If you can, work with an independent equine nutrition consultant—someone who doesn’t sell feed but is focused solely on what’s best for your horse.
We all know hay matters. But are we taking that seriously enough?
👉 High-quality forage should be the foundation of your horse’s diet. For most horses without metabolic concerns, free-choice hay or pasture is one of the best things you can offer.
After that, choose a grain or balancer to fill in nutritional gaps—not as the main course. I personally prefer a grain-free, forage-first diet focused on supporting hoof growth and a healthy gut. (Shoutout to for their fantastic products!)
🔹 Next up: Ulcers.
Gastric ulcers are everywhere in the horse world—and still widely underdiagnosed.
We all know the “classic” signs:
• Weight loss
• Dull coat
• Recurrent colic
But here are some less obvious red flags:
• Girthy or cranky when saddled
• Tail swishing under saddle
• Leaving grain behind or eating slowly
• Dunking hay in water
• General “weird” behavior or resistance under saddle
In my (non-vet!) opinion, if your horse has ever been in a trailer or experienced stress for more than 20 minutes, ulcers are a real possibility.
And the worst part? Pain causes stress → stress causes ulcers → ulcers cause pain. It’s a vicious, exhausting cycle for your horse.
💡 Work with your vet to assess and address digestive health. Whether that means scoping, supportive supplements, or changes in management—it’s worth it.
________________________________________
✨ When these three core areas—hoof care, saddle fit, and digestive health—are dialed in, the difference in your horse’s behavior, willingness, and happiness can be huge.
I firmly believe we can't train a horse through pain. Our job is to advocate for their comfort—before we ever ask them to carry us.
Thanks for following along with this 3-part series. I hope it helps you and your horse enjoy the ride a little more. 💛

30/05/2025

🪑 3 Ways to Improve Your Horse – Part 2: Saddle Fit Matters 🐎
If Part 1 was all about the hooves, now we’re moving up the body—and straight to the back.
You don’t have to be a world-class competitor to prioritize saddle fit. Whether you’re clocking miles on the trail or enjoying a quiet ride once a week, the gear you use directly impacts your horse’s comfort, movement, and willingness to work.
Let me put it this way:
Imagine your best friend loves hiking. You’re not super into it, but you agree to tag along on Saturday mornings. Only, every single hike, she makes you carry a 25-pound backpack—with more pressure on your right shoulder and a sharp edge jabbing your lower back.
An hour later, you’re sore, frustrated, and counting the minutes till it’s over. How long before you find an excuse to skip out?
Now think about your horse. Maybe they’ve started hesitating to go down the trail. Maybe they pin their ears when you saddle up. Maybe they resist cantering or buck after a jump.
Often, we’re told to “push them through it” with a kick or a crop. But if saddle pain is the root cause, that’s like yelling at your hiking buddy to carry the backpack faster.
Not fair. And not fun.
🎯 The solution? Work with a professional saddle fitter.
Yes—even if you “just trail ride.”
A properly fitted saddle, paired with a high-quality pad, can make a world of difference in your horse’s attitude, movement, and overall soundness. And here’s the thing: horses change. Muscle tone shifts, body shape evolves, and what fit two years ago might be causing issues now.
💡 I recommend having your saddle fit checked at least once a year, but your fitter can guide you based on your horse’s needs and workload.
👉 Your horse works hard for you. They deserve equipment that supports—not hinders—them.
✨ Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll explore one final piece of the puzzle that could unlock better rides and a happier, more comfortable horse.

29/05/2025

🔧 3 Ways to Improve Your Horse – Part 1: Start from the Ground Up 🐴
Sounds like a gimmick, right? But don’t worry—I didn’t say easy or cheap. This is the horse world, after all.

The truth is, there are practical, impactful ways to dramatically improve your horse’s comfort, behavior, and performance. And no, it doesn’t involve magic supplements or miracle gadgets. This 3-part series is all about helping everyday equestrians have better rides and deeper bonds with their horses—by focusing on the fundamentals.

After working with hundreds of horses over the years, one major theme keeps popping up:
👉 Most behavioral or training problems are actually rooted in pain or discomfort.
The challenge? Pinpointing the source can feel like chasing shadows—and burning through vet bills. So where do I tell my clients to start?

📍 At the ground—and work their way up.

Tip #1: Invest in a Great Farrier and Trim More Frequently
Let’s talk hooves. Ever spent the day in shoes that don’t fit? Or fancy heels at an event? You’re sore by nightfall—and likely the next day too. That’s what unbalanced hooves feel like to your horse. Long toes, underrun heels, or improper angles can throw off their entire body, leading to soreness, stiffness, and even soft tissue injuries like bowed tendons or pulled muscles.

Finding a skilled, reliable farrier is step one. Step two? Shorten the trim cycle.
That traditional 6- to 8-week trim schedule? It’s too long for many horses. My herd stays on a 4-week rotation—year-round. Yes, there's less to trim each visit, but that’s exactly the point: small, frequent adjustments maintain balance and reduce the risk of discomfort.

When you stretch the interval, hooves grow out of balance—and correcting that imbalance all at once can leave your horse sore for days. If your horse’s feet are already out of alignment, a more frequent, consistent trim schedule will also help get things back on track faster.

✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll move up the body and tackle another key factor in your horse’s wellbeing.

17/05/2025

🌟 Lesson Spots Opening June 2nd! 🌟

Exciting news for aspiring riders! I’ll have 2 beginner and 1 intermediate private lesson spots opening up starting June 2nd here at Skye Farm in Elkhart Lake, WI 🐎

✨ Open to riders ages 7 and up
✨ Lessons available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
✨ Horse and tack provided
✨ Students must bring their own properly fitted ASTM-approved helmet and riding boots
✨ Focused on Western riding, barrel racing, and horsemanship

Whether you’re just starting your riding journey or looking to grow your confidence and skills, I provide a positive, safety-first teaching environment that supports both horse and rider every step of the way.

📩 Spots and times are limited!
Fill out the Lesson Intake Form to get started: https://forms.gle/DXfinCX2dh4N9Fvh9

Let’s ride! 🐴💛

06/05/2025

👋 Hey there, horse lovers! I’m Julie, your riding instructor here at Skye Farm in beautiful Elkhart Lake, WI 🐎🌾

Whether you’re a longtime follower or just getting to know us, I wanted to take a moment to (re)introduce myself!

I’ve been riding and working with horses professionally for over 15 years, and what started as helping other riders when I was a teenager has grown into a lifelong passion and career. I hold Associate degrees in Equestrian Science and Horse Science Technology from Black Hawk College, and I specialize in Western riding, barrel racing, and horsemanship.

At Skye Farm, I welcome students from ages 7 to 77, from total beginners to advanced riders. My teaching style is positive, safety-focused, and centered on the comfort of both horse and rider. My goal is to help you build confidence, skill, and a strong connection with your horse—whether you’re riding for fun or aiming for the arena.

Thanks for being part of the Skye Farm community. I’m so excited to keep sharing the joy of horses with all of you. 🐴💜

📅 Ready to ride? Fill out the Lesson Intake Form pinned to the top of this page!

01/05/2025

If we were to make some basic educational posts and videos, what topics would you be most interested in learning about?

Photo taken by the ever talented Maya Schneeberg

11/04/2025

1 stall available now at Skye Farm in Elkhart Lake, WI!

Small barn filled with great people! The horses comfort and well-being are always top priority.

Amenities include:
Top quality 10'x12' stalls
Fly spray system
Automatic waterers
Slow feed hay nets
Heated Wash Rack
60'x120' Indoor Arena
80'x180' Outdoor Arena
Safe, well maintained pastures and paddocks
Beautiful, home-grown hay
Climate controlled tack room
Climate controlled viewing room
And more!

I have a stall and a paddock available. These paddocks are great for horses that need limited calories or can't be on large grass pastures for health reasons.
Special needs, senior, and retired horses are welcome, but priority will be given to boarders who are interested in taking lessons on site.

I also offer rehab boarding for horses recovering from surgery, on stall rest, or for lameness/physical therapy work!

Please fill out my board inquiry form if you are interested!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScstLly7JFTVQ0nLqwkB3k5QE5Bwt7jxuXYCA2fpcyn0HOlrQ/viewform

13/12/2024

Why don't I offer gift cards anymore?
Recently, I've had several people contact me, stating they want to give riding lessons as a gift to someone in their life.
While I think this might be the 2nd greatest gift you could give to someone (1st being a pony or horse under the tree), I no longer offer gift cards.
I'm extremely fortunate to not only have a full schedule of lessons, but also a waiting list of people trying to get on my schedule. This makes it very hard to "cash in" those gift cards after Christmas. I work hard to make sure I connect with everyone who has been patiently waiting for a lesson spot on the rare occasion when I have an opening, so please feel free to fill out my Lesson Intake Form even if you are just curious!
Or check out other great lesson barns in the area and see if they have any availability! We are lucky to live in an area with so many wonderful instructors!
Hope everyone has a lovely holiday season!

08/10/2024

Interested in boarding at Skye Farm? Fill out this for to inquire about availability!

Please fill out this form to be placed on the waiting list for Skye Farm. You will be contacted when a board space opens up to see if you are still interested. These questions are just to give me an idea of what you are looking for as a boarder. Everything will be discussed in more detail when a sta...