Valkyrie Ranch

05/03/2026

~⭐️Working Student Program Openings⭐️~

Lauren here🙋‍♀️, on a personal note I want to say that I was a genuine barn rat and gained an awful lot of my experience & knowledge as a working student all through my teen years. For that reason, extending that same opportunity to todays youngsters has always been important to me. My working student program holds a special place in my heart even though it seems to get harder and harder to find people with grit that don't mind getting dirty and putting in some work. We have had some really fantastic working students here over the years but they grow up so fast! 🥲

Anyway... we are looking for a couple of teens/college age/or whatever with reliable transportation that love horses and want to learn! Schedule is extremely flexible but expect to get out of it in proportion to what you put in. You will get to learn all about caring for and training horses at all different levels (both English & Western). Everything from starting under saddle to competition level training. You will get time in the saddle! You will also get time cleaning the barn, grooming, etc. Fair is fair 🤷‍♀️
Your responsibilities and what will be asked of you will depend on your level of experience and you can expect to do cooler things the more skilled you become.
Most important requirments:
🐴 A strong desire to learn!
🐴Love horses!
🐴Not afraid of work/dirt (including in heat/rain/etc.)
🐴Physically fit

Please reach out to me directly either via facebook messenger or emailing [email protected]

04/30/2026

DRESSAGE TRIVIA:

Do you know the answer to this "CORNER CONUNDRUM?" 🤔

How deep are you supposed to ride into your corners?

The answer is, it depends, and here's why:👇

Information is VAGUE out there! But according to the USEF Rule Book, “Corners should be ridden as one-quarter of a volte appropriate to the level of the test (10 meters at training-First Levels, 8 meters at Second-Fourth Levels and 6 meters above Fourth Level).”
[USEF Rule Book DR109]

But in reality, it depends on the development of both the horse and the rider. And in my humble opinion, this is the BEST answer. 🙌
It is far better to ride a good corner that will help support you and your horse for the next movement than to try to jam yourself into a black hole 😉

So definitely strive for the USEF guidelines, but only go as deep as you and your horse can without disturbing the rhythm, balance, and harmony.

04/28/2026

I'm not in the rodeo business... THIS is what the starting under saddle process is supposed to look like- slow, calm, methodical, with intention. The whole point, the ONLY point, is to build the horses confidence and understanding!
I've started many horses this exact way and we never get any bronco fireworks. The exact time frame may differ from horse to horse. If they are nervous at a specific point then we may just hang out there for an extra session or two. Stella has been practically perfect in every way so she's progressed right along without a hitch! Most all horses that are prepared thoroughly on the ground will also progress through the starting process like it's no big deal.

This video is Stellas fourth time with a rider on her back. For the first "ride" we only mount and dismount many times from the ground and from a mounting block. For the second ride we repeat what was done before and then hand walk for only a couple minutes & disengaged the hindquarters so they really have to check into the hind end with the added weight of a rider. The third ride we repeat everything that's been done before and then send her out on the lunge gaining some distance from the handler. At this point the handler is still the one in control and giving cues but the rider is beginning to add their cues as well. This video is showing the lunging part of her fourth ride, due to weather and scheduling issues there was about 6 weeks in between her 3rd & 4th ride... which only attests to her willingness and work ethic! For this ride we spent much more time in trot as she needs to develope her balance, coordination, & strength while carrying a rider. The rider also started to give her cues first which were then followed by the handlers cues. This way the horse will begin to tune into the rider more and more, but prevents any confusion about the aids- The handlers role is to boost confidence and offer clarity.

🌠Stella is available for sale and her price will only go up the more training she gets! Check out our website https://valkyrieranchllc.com/stud-%26-sales for more info.

https://youtu.be/9arT-ogviW4?si=fTIEgEDm-TD9kkVj

Ride #4 for Stella

04/24/2026

ISO: pasture/fenced grass field to rent. Looking for grass for 2 cows and a couple horses in or near Locust Grove. What's out there???

02/11/2026

All this ice is finally starting to melt, ushering us unceremoniously into mud season. Sage and Lauren have both added a ton of "make-up lesson" openings to the calendar for the last half of February. This will give everyone a chance to get caught up on the lessons missed to due the snow. You can book your make-up lessons with either Sage or Lauren regardless of who you normally ride with. To schedule your make-up lessons please email us directly at [email protected] with the days/times you would like to book.

02/02/2026

Lessons are cancelled again this week. Still too much ice & snow to try to do anything safely. Hoping we'll be back to the usual schedule next week! ❄️

01/25/2026

They say "if you're cold, they're cold" but I don't know about that.... 🤔🌨️😆

01/15/2026

Carrot stretch between the front legs is the equine equivalent of a human sit-up. It’s great for better back flexibility and core stability.

How to do it
I suggest using two carrots. Use the first carrot to encourage your horse to lower his head to about fetlock height. Hold the second carrot between your horse’s front legs and move it backwards to create the stretch.

To stop your horse snatching at the carrot, and to keep the stretch smooth, keep the carrot touching your horse’s chin.

Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds before allowing your horse to take a nibble of carrot.
Repeat 2-3 times gradually increasing the stretch by taking the head further back.

Comment Pilates for more exercises to try.

01/15/2026

Ope! 🤭 look what we did today!
I'm excited that I've got the Pivo back working and will be able to share video throughout the whole (calm, gentle & uneventful) starting under saddle process with you!

01/05/2026

Very important!!!

Here's your incredibly important blanketing season reminder courtesy of the horse doctors at Miamitown Equine Veterinary Services:

"When securing blankets, make sure that the snaps/clips are facing inward, toward the horse! If they are facing out, they can easily become stuck on something, like the hay net in the picture."

12/30/2025

The weather forecast as far as the eye can see is looking decent for a January in Virginia! We have openings for both group & private riding lessons here at Valkyrie Ranch on lesson horses. Lauren will be teaching at Del Dios Way in Culpeper on 1/24 if you'd like to trailer your horse over for a lesson in the indoor arena.
Message the page here or email [email protected] to book!