Whispering Ivy Stables

09/04/2025

Teenage Barn Drama: Zero Tolerance Policy in Effect 🚫

Let me be crystal clear about something: My barn is not a social experiment.

The drama I've witnessed:
- "She got to ride MY horse!" (it was a lesson horse!!)
- Cliques excluding other riders
- Gossip sessions in the tack room
- Mean girl behavior toward newer students
- Social media drama spilling into the barn

Here's my policy: One warning. Then you're out.

Why zero tolerance?
🐴 Horses feel tension - your drama stresses them out
🔒 Other students suffer - quiet kids quit because of your behavior
⏰ My time is valuable - I'm not a middle school counselor

After kicking a problem student out of my program, the mother said to me "But they're just teenagers!" Exactly. Which means this is the PERFECT time to learn that actions have consequences.

What I tell the teens: "You can have drama OR you can have horses. Pick one."
The result? My barn stays focused on horses and riding. Students actually learn. The good kids thrive without toxic energy around them.

Life's too short to manage teenage attitudes when there are horses to ride and skills to build.

Fellow instructors: Am I too harsh? How do you handle barn drama?

Horses deserve better than our human drama. So do the students who actually want to learn.

09/01/2025

*Pending*

Lovely Companion Horse available for forever care lease, located in Reidsville, NC.

23yr old AQHA 15hh Chestnut Gelding.

Retired Lesson Horse, ADORES kids, and has great ground manners. Taught kids the halter patterns, how to pick feet and is just the ultimate kids best friend. Senior QH gelding, companion sound only, but could still walk the grandkids around ba****ck. Trailers easy, stands for farrier and vet, to be bathed, and is barefoot. Up to date on all vaccines, coggins, trims, etc.

Only vice to be aware of is that he cannot be turned out with, or stalled near mares. Nothing aggressive, just gets so buddy sour with them to the point of refusing to eat, sleep and function when separated for 2 milliseconds. Geldings, no issue with at all.

I know someone is looking for this exact horse for their grandkids to lead around and groom all day long to be a companion for another gelding on a small private property, without all the hubbub we have here.

He will be the perfect companion horse being a care lease, with zero risk, because there are no upfront costs and if he doesn't work out for whatever reason, he can come back. No questions asked. Only reason for offering him is that with him out of work, he gets more buddy sour to mares, and my facility can't accomodate keeping him separated long term.

PM me for more info. References of vet and farrier will be required.

08/12/2025

Dear amateur owners,

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry if you’ve never felt heard about troubles, questions or concerns with your horse.

I’m sorry if you weren’t believed about what you thought the problem could be.

I’m sorry if you asked for help and didn’t get it.

I’m sorry if you’ve felt defeated.

I’m sorry if you got run round in circles because your concerns were ignored.

I understand.

I have been there, in your shoes, as the owner, trainer, rider, manager, etc, etc. and told my concerns were invalid, incorrect and it was all my fault by multiple professionals.

When, in fact, I was right all along.

And I’m sorry that happened to you, too.

Please know that every time you take a lesson from me I ask, “How is it going? How is he/she? Is there anything you have questions about or want to focus on?”

This isn’t me not knowing what to do. This is me focusing on what’s most important to you, why it’s happening and how to help, fix it or improve it.

I am here for you.

I am a safe space for you and your horse.

Your voice is the most powerful advocate your horse has. I’m here to hand you the megaphone, be your biggest cheerleader and help you get to the bottom of your concerns.

Always,
❤️ © Cara Blanchard

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

04/13/2025

03/27/2025