Chasing Dreams Equestrian LLC.

12/03/2025

10 Phrases You Should Never Say At the Barn

“It’s Not My Fault”

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. It’s probably just how the day is going. So many issues happen every single day with all the moving parts at the barn. Instead of wasting everyone else’s time having to put fingers at something (or someone) else, use that energy to work on what you can control. That’s the best way to add value to the situation, for you and your horse.

Anything Negative About Someone Who is Trying

If you are not actively employing this person or involved in the outcome (e.g. you own the horse), this is gossip—plain and simple. For you to be uninvolved, negative and defeatist to someone who is trying to improve their life makes you the bad guy here. Gossip is so tempting. Check in with yourself periodically to see if you are behaving in a manner that is truly consistent with your values.

“I Don’t Have Time to Walk to Warmup”

If you don’t have time to walk your horse properly before you begin, you don’t have time to ride. Working walk, stretching, extension, and cardio and muscular warmup are an essential part of every ride for your horse. You can run a tight ship and still prioritize doing it right.

X is a Bad Horse

Calling a horse bad is never a good conversation piece. If it’s not your horse, it’s not really any of your business. If it is your horse, it’s not helpful. Work on developing the tools within yourself to encourage every horse to go as well as possible for you. Think about your part in this “bad” behavior. See what you can take responsibility for and improve.

“It’s Not Fair”

No. It’s not. Horses are, unfortunately, very unfair. But dwelling on this at the barn is not time well spent for anyone. Do we need systemic change? Yes. Join an organization fighting for opportunity and fair play in our sport and work with them to develop their programs, scholarships, education, and leveling playing fields. We all have low moments, but if you find yourself repeating “it’s not fair” over and over… you likely need to change your attitude and work ethic. Control what you can and consider volunteering to make it better for people coming up behind you.

“That’s Not My Job”

Yes, this sport is expensive. You’re paying a lot to be a client/customer and feel like you should get a certain amount of service for that. However, I guarantee that everyone is getting more services than they actually pay for at their barn if they really penciled everything that comes with their experience. Be grateful for the infrastructure and financial risk someone is taking for you to pursue your dream. We’re all together at the barn. It’s all of our jobs to help take better care of our people, ourselves, and our horses. If you’re asked to do something, it is because it would be of value to one of your human teammates in this horse experience. Do it.

📎 Continue reading Piper Klemm's article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/01/16/10-phrases-you-should-never-say-at-the-barn/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

12/03/2025

11/30/2025

11/29/2025

"People leave trainers, but it’s how they leave that makes all the difference. There is a right way and there is a wrong way.

So, you’ve decided to leave for a change in discipline, pace, or a different program. Maybe you have outgrown your trainer? Maybe you want to be closer to home? Maybe there is a ‘deal’ you cannot pass up? These things happen! It’s okay to make a change, but it is not okay to be crappy to the people that have taken care of you/your four-legged friend. Most professionals spend more time, effort, and energy on you/your critter than you will ever know. It costs nothing to be kind as you make your departure.

Instead of being snippy, have a conversation with your trainer/barn owner, or send a note. However you want to do it, let them know that you’ll be leaving for a change. Most owners/trainers will be bummed, but we know this stuff happens. Be honest with us.

Some things that aren’t helpful when leaving:

Don’t lie. Don’t tell your trainer that your kid is taking a break from riding to pursue a school sport when you are actually switching barns. This is especially important if you will be running into one another at the shows. Be honest. We’d rather find out from you.

Do not announce your departure on Facebook so your barn/trainer finds out through social media or through a third party. Having the conversation can be super uncomfortable, but there are absolutely no excuses for your trainer to find out from someone else or online.

Do not post comments, pictures, and videos ‘digging’ at your old barn. “Look at what I’m doing now that I left!” Most of us are professionals and aren’t going to comment that what you are doing looks dangerous or that you weren’t showing up for lessons or riding regularly so that’s why we didn’t have you doing XYZ. Maybe we weren’t comfortable with something you wanted to try. Or one hard truth, maybe your ‘new’ trainer is better for you than we were. Is it nice to post that kind of stuff on social media? The only reason that I can think of that people do this is to hurt feelings and create drama. Be better.

Do not recruit current clients. You are leaving. There is no reason to take others down with you. What if some asks you where you’re going? Sure! Tell them. Do whatever. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the client that leaves and actively reaches out to others left behind to encourage them to leave as well. That’s just crappy.

The worst situation is one where you were asked to leave. I realize that must have been really hard for you. But guess what—it’s also really hard for your barn/trainer."

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2021/11/04/how-professionals-wish-clients-acted-when-they-leave-a-trainer/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

11/28/2025

In Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation, Teall reminds riders that while horses make good riders, it’s often the trainer who makes great ones. The relationship between rider and instructor is more than a business arrangement. It’s a partnership built on trust, communication, and respect. In a sport where safety, emotion, and ambition collide, that trust is not optional.

Teall views the riding instructor as far more than a teacher. They are a manager, mentor, and sometimes even a protector. “Your instructor controls safety,” he writes. “He gives you exercises, provides experience to help you learn and offers feedback. He manages your time, your horse’s soundness, and your career, so both you and your horse are still enjoying the sport several years later.”

That’s an enormous amount of responsibility. It requires a rider’s full confidence that their trainer is making choices in their best interest. When a trainer suggests a specific horse, recommends a show, or decides it’s time to take a step back, that decision often involves experience the student doesn’t yet have. The student’s role is to communicate openly and trust that their instructor is guiding them toward long-term success—not just short-term gratification.

In riding, instruction is not simply about achieving results. Teall emphasizes that “it’s important to ride with someone whose methods you believe in and who you trust. This is much more than a success issue. It is a safety issue.” Horses are powerful, unpredictable animals, and mistakes can have real consequences.

That’s why trust between rider and trainer must be absolute. You can’t improve if you’re second-guessing every direction. If a rider feels unsure or afraid of their trainer’s approach, progress will always be limited. The same applies in reverse: trainers need to know that their students will follow instructions promptly and thoughtfully, especially when things go wrong.

Teall encourages riders to look for trainers “with whom you can communicate and who make you feel confident and totally comfortable.” The most productive rider–trainer relationships are those where communication is open and consistent. Questions are encouraged, feedback flows both ways, and misunderstandings are addressed early.

Good trainers know that communication isn’t just about what’s said, but also how it’s heard. The same correction can either motivate or discourage, depending on the tone and timing. Riders should feel safe enough to admit confusion or fear without judgment, while trainers must be skilled enough to balance honesty with encouragement.

When both sides prioritize clarity, lessons become collaborative. A trainer can only teach effectively when they understand how a rider thinks and reacts. Likewise, a rider can only learn when they trust that corrections come from a place of investment, not irritation.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/26/building-a-trust-based-relationship-with-your-trainer/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

11/27/2025

Black Friday at Saddlers Row is back… and it’s time to Beat the Clock!
The earlier you shop, the bigger the savings — and these deals move fast.

From 8–10 a.m. enjoy 40% off.*
From 10–12 p.m. take 30% off.*
From 12–2 p.m. save 25%.*
From 2–6 p.m. wrap up the day with 20% off.*

And to kick things off, the first 100 customers will receive a free saddle pad with monogramming. Also, the first 10 customers will receive a brand-new bridle from us as a thank-you for spending your Black Friday at Saddlers Row.

Doors open early, the deals are massive, and the barn is buzzing already. Don’t miss it!

11/27/2025

When it’s cold and the big furr babies deserve only the best… hot soaked beet pulp 🥰

11/26/2025

WANT TO AVOID THE COLD THIS WINTER??

Kopping Farm Equestrian Center, home of Chasing Dreams Equestrian LLC., will now have a heated indoor arena as well as multiple heated barns! Stalls are currently available starting at $650 (most expensive being UNDER $750!)
Stall sizes start at 12x12 and go up to 12x15. Home grown hay, cleaned 6 days a week, owners live on premises! Heated bathroom, viewing room with Wi-Fi, security cameras, Thera-Plate, indoor round pen, trailer parking… come for a tour! Located in Lemont IL, just minutes from I55, 355, 80, 88, rt. 83!

Kopping Farms
Chasing Dreams Equestrian LLC.

11/25/2025

In the chaos of the warm-up ring, trainer and “R” judge Geoff Case looks for one thing above all else—not the flashiest rider, not the biggest stride, but the calmest mind.

“The best riders don’t look like they’re doing more,” he said. “They look like they’re doing less. But inside, they’re thinking clearly.” Case believes that composure isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill. “You can train your body, you can train your position, but you can also train your calm,” he said.

Case has seen riders at every level, from short stirrup kids to top professionals, fall apart when nerves take over. “Pressure isn’t the problem,” he said. “It’s how you handle it that matters.”

He compares show nerves to riding fitness. “You don’t get strong by avoiding hard workouts,” he said. “You get strong by learning to breathe through them.” That means treating nerves as information, not failure. “If you’re nervous, it just means you care,” he said. “You can use that. Learn to manage it instead of fight it.”

For Case, composure comes from consistency and preparation. “If you’ve practiced being calm at home, you’ll know what it feels like at the show,” he said. “You can’t fake that when it matters.”

One of Case’s favorite teaching phrases is slow down to think faster. He reminds riders that rushing mentally leads to chaos physically. “When your brain speeds up, your hands and legs go with it,” he said. “That’s when mistakes happen. If you can slow down your thoughts, everything else follows.”

He encourages riders to pause between exercises or rounds, take a breath, and reset. “When you stop, breathe, and refocus, you make room for better decisions,” he said. “You ride smarter.”

That sense of deliberate control, Case said, is what makes professionals look so effortless. “They’re not relaxed because they don’t care. They’re relaxed because they’re managing their energy,” he said.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/24/calm-is-a-skill-how-to-keep-your-mind-quiet-when-it-matters-most/
📸 © The Plaid Horse