Skye’s Diamond Performance Horses

03/10/2023

Nitro aka Nitro

Goofy, overgrown baby, class clown to still goofy but a tad more mature and class favorite.

Where do we begin with this big guy, Nitro Nitro Nitro the most chill, laid back, goofy, immature 18.3h 3 year old I’ve ever met. I’ll be completely honest he was and is the most obnoxious, irritating creature on the planet and starting off I wasn’t overly impressed with his eager attempts to just drive you crazy. You’d try and teach him something and the whole thing was a game, you’d get upset and it was still a game. Not only would he test every single button you have he would test everyone’s buttons by trying to chew the barn down or jump the fence or keep chewing on everything his mouth could get ahold of. You think your turnout boots would be safe since they would be ON HIS LEGS, haha better have several spares because they are torn to shreds, it was like having a 1,500lb puppy with no manners. Starting him was way to easy like he’s already done and been taught everything, nothing phased him. As immature and irritating he was on the ground riding him wasn’t nearly as bad only trick was you had to out smart him.

After sending Nitro home, I started working for his owner and in the beginning they were just as frustrated as we were, so yet again it was me and Nitro. I really didn’t wanna keep dealing with this oversized clown, but we got to work and man I started falling in love with him. We started riding more like a team then the class clown and the teacher. Riding him constantly and pushing his brain to think and do more was absolutely amazing, he is a full blown natural. I fell in love with him he was everything I ever wanted in a horse, he was one that was hard to let go of. I traveled with him to Wellington Fl and continued his progression and mine as well they all taught me so much and helped me more then anyone of them would know.

I love and appreciate every horse we work with, whither it’s ours, someone else’s or a resell project everyone of them has taught me a lesson but Nitro was different. If I ever get the chance to have him back in my barn there will be no hesitation. “He really is something special”

Thank you for meeting Nitro

02/21/2023

Lady Kingsley aka Kingsley

Once a Small shy filly, to small but mighty mare

Lady Kingsley had nothing under her little belt, she was worried and shy and overall a very nervous, over worrying little one. Fast movements would freak her out, loud noises would send her over the edge, anything new wasn’t really an option. She didn’t trust anything nor anyone to say the least but once she let us in she blossomed and we got to see the personality and drive this little mare had.

Starting slow ground work was priority to get her to trust us then slowly but surely we had our first ride on the loung line and she was fantastic, after that everything kinda fell into place she was still an over worrier but she started to learn how to put that into a better use. Soon after her first ride off the lounge happened and to be honest we were extremely proud of how far this little mare came and boy she became a ton of fun to be around. More as you taught and pushed more as her personality appeared. She had the attitude to do big things. She went back home and is now living her life as a young showjumper traveling with the best. She showed us the true meaning of tiny but mighty and sometimes you just need a push in the right direction to see something fascinating.

Thank you for meeting our little shy gray mare Kingsley!

01/18/2023

ISO: project horse 🐎

Back burners 😅
Problem child 🤪
Red mare syndrome 🔥
Heifers 🐮
Blown up 🤬
green 🥴
Not started 😵‍💫
No manners 🥱
Wife told me to get rid of it 👿
Or husband.

Send anything and everything, looking for cheap unwanted pain in the *** type horse, pony. Color doesn’t matter, doesn’t need papers, only thing no studs thank you 😊

Odessa, FL willing to travel for the right problem 😉

Picture of my problem boys for attention ❤️

01/18/2023

Satin

Show horse that’s sat plus 30 day refresher.

Beautiful little bay mare was sitting till an amazing little family bought her but unsure of how to bring her back to her golden years. 30 days could mean and do so many things some need more others less just depends on the horse in question. Well this little mare made 30 days really easy, first day like she didn’t miss a beat, no muscle of course but responsive and willing. One we build a little more muscle she started to show us all her fun little buttons.

She was one of the easiest but she was also one of the most difficult to figure out all her little buttons, she was so responsive she’d do what ever I’d ask but occasionally I’d try and ask for something and she would get confused till we realized she’s fancy fancy broke and she was the one teaching us. Overall a very nice mare easy going, knows her job, and willing to teach you and put up with your mistakes, because honestly she very rarely made any mistakes herself.

Thank you for meeting satin!

01/14/2023

Poco San Brandy aka Rambo and his person Elyse

Blown up barrel horse and nervous kid to a magical team.

Like any pair trying to become one they argued and fought against each other’s every move. The horse not understanding anything but pattern and run and kid not understanding smooth is fast and flat work fixes pattern work. Was a rough start to their partnership the first couple months, but over their first winter together we started 2-3 lessons a month and things started to click.

From horse pushing against the bit, running off, no sense of slow and patients and kid not understanding how to not fight with him to get him there to being able to ride peacefully when and where they wanted with bending and flexing and even a whoa. We stepped away from the pattern and started building a new relationship between the two. Once flat worked clicked we went back to the pattern slowly then next thing we knew we starting running at shows again.

After that first winter working slow Rambo and Elyse started hauling and running at shows with us. Those first couple shows were hard and ended with some disappointment but more they worked and more they tried the better they started getting to finally having a smooth clean run and placing in the 3D. Hauling and running became a normal thing to everyone the horse started loving his job and the girl started loving the horse ending with both taking care of one another through thick and thin.

We can’t take all the credit we just pointed Elyse in the right direction and gave her advise and the opportunity, but she did all the hard work at home to be sure her next lesson or next run had improved from the last and showed us she wanted it just as much as we wanted to watch her progress. Not only was she one of our lesson kids she became a very dear friend who we’d spend a lot of good memories with.

We’re beyond proud of how far she’s come and where she’s off to, still to this day we help even being 1,200miles away. But honestly at this point she knows the answer to most of her own questions. To say they are an amazing team is an understatement.

Thank you for meeting one of my favorite lesson kids!

Video credit goes to Elyse thank you again kiddo

01/12/2023

O’Sassenach aka t***s

Untouched 4 year old to all around amazing little hunter horse.

Stepping off that trailer, we questioned what we were getting ourselves into. She was a mess, scared, confused, flustered and all the above. Getting her down the isle was a hassle and boy trying to convince her into a stall was even worse, poor thing had no idea what a normal horse life was like.

Getting started was a struggles, we starting at the beginning like she was a weanling but 1,200lb of muscle and baby brain. Starting on the ground with the basic she started to blossom into this curious, willing young horse who constantly wanted to learn and do more and more, after we got pasted her rough start everything else just fell into place.

After 60 days walk, trot, canter both ways with ease she wanted more and to learn more the biggest fight you would have was keeping her entertained and constantly changing what you were doing, you could not do something more then a couple times or she’d catch on and then become bored. First ride went to first time off the loung line then next thing we knew she had automatic lead changed and started jumping 2’6 with no issues.

Our Little bay sass taught us a lot about patients is key to success, now she’s successfully in a constant show barn with her own person to love her unconditionally, if we didn’t already keep 2 of our “ sales horses “ honestly she would of stuck around with us but she deserves the spot light and constant attention and cookies from her person. One of the hardest horses to to send away but she deserves every moment of success.

Thank you for meeting little mare t***s!

01/11/2023

Really A Leader aka Tux

Pasture ornament to solid 1D 2D barrel horse.

16.2hh of pure talent started like any horse would was getting worked from about 3-5 years old nothing crazy “ started on the pattern “ but with a heavy hand and fear. Tux was extremely strong with no flex nor bend in any given direction, along with a very strong personality. He was never able to show his true abilities, he was strong and had a lot more go then whoa and then that’s when he was let sit for almost 5-6 years with no other training.

Tux was bought as a resell project, brought him home and no loung no hesitation, put a saddle on like he’s been doing it his whole life, and rode walk, trot, canter like the time off didn’t even exist. After about 30 days is when he started showing his problems and difficulties, being supple was not an option and then putting him on the pattern made him anxious and hot with no off switch.

We came back down to the basics like it was his first time and the first year was rough we blew a-lot of barrels, plowed over 90% of our poles and nearly running into gates and fences being he had breaks while working just not running. That following winter we slowed things down even more no pattern work just working on the flat, that’s when we started actually seeing some improvement. After some confidence was built and some more buttons were placed, we started running and that’s when eveything came together.

We started running consistently in the 2D at most local shows 3D at the big shows. Qualified for his first State Fair then off to his first fair winning 14-18 barrels then turning around and winning 14-18 hunter under saddle the next day. to finish our fair second in the versatility. We stepped away from the fair and 4-H stuff and started running in the IBRA, the more he ran the more confident and comfortable we got.

We started winning jackpots and winning the youth and making money in the open, consistently running in the 1D with more heart and soul every run. Knowing where he started to then hearing that announcer say “ that’s your new leader “ gives you chills every time. We were unstoppable not for the reason he made us quit a bit of money and ranking but for the fact we weren’t supposed to keep him around but this pasture pet turned out being everything we needed, became my heart horse.

Thank you for meeting Tuxy Bear

01/10/2023

One Sweet Chex aka Sweety

Once a rearing, bolting, pacing ” safe youth horse “
To a showing, dependable, amazing, wonder pony.

This little red showed us the true meaning of “ blood, sweat and tears “. At any point in your ride she’d rear and not a little crow hop, straight up nearly flipping over almost every time. Ooh and this “ proven show horse “ also would bolt with no whoa, no steering, she’d take the bit and run like her life depended on it. Wanting a chill, relaxed horse in the stall, forget it. No matter the time or day she’d pace and pace and pace till she was drenched in sweat with the biggest hole in the front of her stall and even by the trailer.

That first year was honestly horrible, you’d feel like your getting somewhere at home, go to a show and nothing changed. The whole year was taking 1 step forward to only take 12 steps back. Several times did we wanna give up, but we stuck it out and that next year came around and man did she show us what she could really be and what kinda horse she truly was.

Riding at home became fun and productive, going to shows was absolutely amazing and we started placing almost everywhere we went. We qualified for The Ohio State Fair 4 years in a row, went to Youth Show and placed in every one of our classes, along with going to our local fair and winning english high point, and second over all western high point. Our 14.1hh red mare also took my little sister to The Ohio State Fair and got 2nd in her hunter under saddle class of 45 horses, to end up getting 5th in the overall hunter undersaddle championships, Same year they won western high point at our fair.

That little mare proved her worth and taught us so many key things about patience, time, and work, that she is now teaching her pride and joy 5 year old little girl everything she knows. They are showing almost every weekend and has been placing top 5 in every class they go in. To say this mare is a saint is an understatement, she’s The Wonder Pony.

Thank you for meeting Sweety

01/09/2023

Bohemian Rhapsody aka Bo

A nothing horse to something special, Bo was a cheap, easy, buy, sell, project to begin with but he ended up being so much more.

Our beloved $100 rescue was about 7 years old when we acquired him, no papers, no history, no training, and had no idea what being a horse really entitled. Starting Bo wasn’t the hard part ( well for the most part ) teaching him to be a horse was.

Our cranky 17.2hh baby would not tie, would not stand, would rodeo bronc you at least once every ride, and good luck getting a vet or farrier even close. After we started him under saddle we decided it was best for him to be out and be a horse and grow up mentally. After about 6 months to a year not being taught or really messed with we brought him back and boy was he a completely different animal, that same year we went to our first horse show and he was absolutely fantastic. Then off to our second show being The Ohio State Fair qualifiers, soon after we ended up at his third show ever at The Ohio State Fair.

Showing became a normal thing and boy did his handsome bay self bring home tons of ribbons. Everything started falling into place Bo became this lovable, social, rock star who was the center of attention. ( even if he wasn’t part of the conversation) Several years go by and well let’s just say he wasn’t on the list to be a resell project anymore. Bo Bo has been part of my family since 2012-2022.

Thank you for meeting my Big Bay Angel!

01/08/2023

01/08/2023

Welcome to SDPH

SDPH is owned by Skye Mckenzie who’s heritage dates back to 1952 when her Great Great Grandfather established Diamond pony farm. The farm produced over 70 hackney world champion ponies and secured her Great Grandfather a spot in the hackney hall of fame. In 2002 her mother received her Bereiter FN degree in Germany.

Skye has grown up on horseback starting her showing career from lead line as a 3 year old to showing western pleasure, hunter under saddle, and showmanship, all the way to show jumpers and back to barrel racing. She has started multiple young horses for clients with her mother and has also fixed problem horses and turned them into her very own show horses.

If you’re interested in lessons or any training please contact Skye at 614-800-0129 or send a PM.

Have an absolutely amazing day. 🙃