Checkmate Equestrian

01/22/2026

Cheese! The ponies are all bundled up, we all hope you are staying warm in this arctic blast!! 💥 🥶

A few updates for everyone regarding Checkmate Equestrian coming into 2026 ⬇️⬇️⬇️

None of these updates will affect any of my CURRENT students/clients.

- Hold your horses! I am FULL for the 2026 season and closed off to new clients. Any horses that I will be taking in for the new year have already established a working relationship.

- I will not be taking NEW lesson students without their own horses. As much as I would love to make this as accessible for everyone as I can, I’m at my limit for rides/week on useable lesson horses (this will not change anything for current students)— that being said, lease horses are a different story, so keep your eyes open for possible lease opportunities.

- That is pretty much all In terms of updates that will affect clients!

Just a few more exciting Check Eq updates:

- I have partnered with Scenic River Farms! I am incredibly grateful for the educational opportunities in this position, as well as the ability to work alongside so many different talented trainers and horses. This is largely why I am cutting down my new horse and student load, so that I can still balance this new path while also giving my own horses and trusted barn family and students the attention that they deserve ❤️

- I have also been elected onto the Central States Dressage and Eventing Board!! I’m so excited to be able to contribute to my community; that being said, I’m hoping to make some more connections and help add members to our org, so if you want to be involved, let’s chat!!

Alright, that was a long one, but that about wraps it up! Let’s hope this cold snap passes as painlessly as possible and all of our critters (and hydrants!) stay warm!

As always, thanks for reading ☺️
Leah

10/14/2025

Sweet Jimi 🫶 an extremely challenging yet equally rewarding horse to have been on such a journey with. Thank you Em for your love for these horses and your trust in my working with them. We’re very excited for Jimi in her next chapter!

08/10/2025

Congratulations to these ladies for a very successful hunter show today!

Each of these riders were fiercely trying something new today. For Norah and Ellie, it was their first time jumping at a show, and for Mollie, her first time showing Fiona and only having jumped her once prior to today. Way to tackle some big goals and support each other! Everyone came home with some nice ribbons and was very happy with their rides and horses.

Huge thanks to North run farm for the lovely show environment, and another ENORMOUS thank you to Rochelle Wrisky for trailering and helping out today, both with your support as well as being my legs! 🫶 What a great kick off to some new beginnings!

07/27/2025

It was a lovely afternoon helping with community outreach! If you haven’t already checked out The Humble Horse and some of the ponies’ journeys, I encourage you to do so. It’s been so amazing working with this fantastic non-profit!

Mino appreciates a good Kokum scarf to keep the sun off his ears. Miigwetch to everyone who stopped by to say hello!

07/22/2025

⭐️Off-farm lessons are available for the next few weeks!

⭐️Accepting intermediate+ lesson students on my own personal horses with opportunity to show.

⭐️My OTTB, Winnie, is also available for lease to an advanced rider wanting to tackle some XC or take their jumping to the next level.

I am NOT taking beginner students at this time due to my involvement in helping bring horses in/get them tacked up. I’m benched with a fractured tibia and talar dome for the next four weeks, so at this time I’m not able to ride or demonstrate ground work. But I am still happy to teach and coach where I can!

Reach out to me via PM or by email, [email protected], to get something on the calendar. Happy riding!

06/28/2025

Welcome to my page! Checkmate Equestrian is a small training and lesson program based out of Wrisky Ranch in Prescott, WI. Specializing in horsemanship and correct biomechanics for both the rider and horse, we are a welcoming crew with riders and horses at all stages of their journeys.

A little bit of background on me, Leah!:

🦄I graduated in 2023 from UW River Falls with a minor in Equine Science
🦄Prior to this, I moved to Brewster, NY during quarantine in 2020 to fill a year-long position as a working student at Sapphire Sporthorses, an FEI/Gold Medal dressage barn ans Rehab facility. Fiona joined me!
🦄 Fiona, my heart horse and namesake (Hidden Meadow Neirin Checkmate), is a 10 year old Canadian horse. She and I have been together since 2018 when I bought her as an unstarted three year old, and are working on Third level scores.
🦄 My other unicorns include my two OTTBs and 3 year old Arabian, Khasey
🦄Starting sport horses is one of my favorite things to do! I’ve put around a dozen horses under saddle and love seeing them go on to achieve great things.
🦄 English and Western Dressage, Rehab work, as well as Reining and Horsemanship are my areas of expertise, but I’m slowly dipping my toes into Hunter/Jumpers and Eventing with my students and OTTBs.
🦄 I believe that riding is a partnership, and both parties should have an enjoyable experience!

I’m glad you’re here! Stick around for updates and horsey content 😁

-Leah Witt