Susy at White Winter LLC

Susy at White Winter LLC Horse training, riding lessons and consulting.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”-Judy Garland
06/17/2026

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”
-Judy Garland

Thank you to over 40 horses who competed this weekend in Hunters, Equitation, and Dressage. Cedar Creek Crossings, in Ki...
06/15/2026

Thank you to over 40 horses who competed this weekend in Hunters, Equitation, and Dressage. Cedar Creek Crossings, in Kingsley, MI was our peaceful and beautiful host venue for the second Stepping Stone Horse Show (SSHS) of the season. Thank you to Traverse Bay Pony Club for providing food, trainers and riders that showed with us, and supportive friends and families who make these amazing weekends possible.

Stepping Stone Horse Shows offer divisions from poles to 2’6”, Intro dressage and up, year end awards, and a supportive show atmosphere. All riders are welcome. Reach out if I can help you with what to wear (horses and riders), which classes to sign up for, and how to get involved.

Next show is July 11 and 12 at White Winter Farm, Traverse City, MI.

Registration links:

https://whitewinterfarm.as.me/SSHSJumping

https://whitewinterfarm.as.me/SSHSSDressage

06/08/2026

The most common mistake in rider development is not moving too slowly. It is moving forward before the current level is genuinely ready to support the next one. It usually happens with the best intentions - an enthusiastic student, a willing horse, an instructor who wants to keep the energy high or a pushy parent. A canter that was introduced before the trot was balanced is a canter built on an unstable base. A jump that came before the flatwork was solid is a jump that is going to reveal that gap every single time something goes slightly wrong. Foundations matter more than most students and some instructors give them credit for. Here is why...

1. Rushing creates problems that take longer to fix than building it right would have taken.

A rider who skips the foundational work does not just plateau earlier, they also develop habits and compensations that become increasingly difficult to unravel the longer they are reinforced. The chair seat that developed because the rider started cantering before their balance was ready. The death grip on the reins that formed because the rider was jumping before they had an independent seat. The horse that became dull, tight, or resistant because it was asked to carry an unbalanced rider through movements it was not yet ready for either. These are not minor inconveniences. They are structural problems built into the riding that require going back to properly address. Remember that it is easier to build a new habit than it is to fix an old one!

2. The horse pays the price when foundations are skipped.

A rider who is not ready for a skill does not just struggle with it themselves but they also communicate that struggle directly to the horse through unclear aids, unbalanced weight, and inconsistent contact. A horse carrying a rider who is not yet ready for the canter does not understand why the balance and communication that worked at the trot has suddenly changed. Over time a horse that is consistently asked to work with a rider above their foundation level becomes confused tense and eventually resistant. Not because the horse has a problem but because nobody set either of them up to succeed.

3. Going back to fix the foundation is not a step backward.

This is the one most students and parents struggle with most. Once a rider has experienced the canter or the jump or the lateral movement going back to walk and trot basics feels like regression. It is not - it is the most direct route forward available. A rider who genuinely masters the fundamentals at each level has something to fall back on when the next level gets hard, a foundation of competence and confidence that holds up under pressure rather than crumbling the moment something goes wrong. Every skill in riding is built on top of something else. Balance before rhythm. Rhythm before contact. Contact before collection. Each layer depends completely on the layer beneath it being solid. Rush the lower layers and every layer above them is unstable. Build them properly and each new skill has something real to stand on.

4. As instructors our job is to create the steps, not just the destination.

The students who get to the exciting milestones and actually stay there are the ones whose instructors built enough small achievable steps between where they started and where they were going that there were no gaps when they arrived. Not just getting them to the canter but also building the balance, the independent seat, the correct leg position, and the feel for the horse's rhythm that makes the canter safe and successful when it comes. Every step forward should feel like a natural extension of the step before it and not a giant leap into something the body and the horse are not yet prepared for.

Good riders are not made by how quickly they reach the milestones, they are made by how solidly they built everything that got them there. Take the time to build the foundation and the milestones will come.

How do you handle the conversation with a student or parent who wants to move faster than the foundation supports?

06/08/2026

Stepping Stone Horse Show Season is in full swing! The next show is this weekend (June 13 and 14) at Cedar Creek Crossings (Kinglsey, MI), and registration deadline has been extended thru today!

Dressage must be pre-registered by today and Jumping show participants are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to sign up ASAP to help the show run smoothly.

Sign-up links:
Jumping Show Saturday: https://whitewinterfarm.as.me/SSHSJumping
Dressage Show Sunday: https://whitewinterfarm.as.me/SSHSSDressage

Next Horse Shows:
July 11 and 12 at White Winter Farm, Traverse City, MI
August 1 and 2 at White Winter Farm, Traverse City, MI
August 15 and 16 at K. Colfer Sporthorses, Alanson, MI
September 12 and 13 at K. Colfer Sporthorses, Alanson, MI

Just another weekend at White Winter Farm. Schooling horses, teaching lessons, watching the veterinarian work, successfu...
06/08/2026

Just another weekend at White Winter Farm. Schooling horses, teaching lessons, watching the veterinarian work, successful jump schooling, unmounted Pony Club meeting to learn about traveling with horses and of course, a mare and foal. 

Perfect day for a jump school: the course is set, porta potty cleaned, bring your own water to drink! See you at 1:00.
06/06/2026

Perfect day for a jump school: the course is set, porta potty cleaned, bring your own water to drink! See you at 1:00.

Join us at White Winter Farm to school in our large outdoor arena, jump fun posted courses, get your horses out between ...
05/31/2026

Join us at White Winter Farm to school in our large outdoor arena, jump fun posted courses, get your horses out between or before horse shows. Sign up link in the comments, pre-registration required.

05/28/2026

🐴 We’re Hiring: Part-Time Riding Instructor 🐴
English Riding | Dressage & Jumping | White Winter Farm, Traverse City, MI
🕒 Part-Time (W-2 Employee)
📅 Flexible schedule with potential to grow into full-time
White Winter Farm is looking for a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Riding Instructor to join our growing equestrian program.
We primarily teach beginner to intermediate riders in English disciplines, focusing on dressage, jumping fundamentals, and horsemanship in a supportive, community-focused environment.
✨ You’ll be teaching:
• English riding lessons (dressage & jumping basics)
• Beginner to intermediate riders (children & adults)
• Mounted and unmounted horsemanship
• Grooming, tacking, and general horse care
🧡 Responsibilities include:
• Teaching safe, structured riding lessons
• Supporting horse care and barn education
• Assisting with camps, events, and clinics
💰 Compensation:
• Per-lesson pay (set rate)
• Extra earning opportunities through camps, clinics, and events
🎓 What we’re looking for:
• Minimum 2 years teaching or training experience
• Strong English riding background
• Comfortable working with children and adults
• Professional, reliable, and community-minded attitude
🌿 At White Winter Farm, we believe riding is about building confidence, horsemanship, and a positive connection between horse and rider.
📩 Apply via Indeed
Interviews arranged through Susy White – White Winter Farm, Traverse City, MI 49696
Position open until filled 🐎

The first Stepping Stone horse show was a success! Schooling Friday, Jumping Saturday and Dressage Sunday. We are all ho...
05/24/2026

The first Stepping Stone horse show was a success! Schooling Friday, Jumping Saturday and Dressage Sunday. We are all home, unpacked, and even made it to support one of our Pony Club members at her graduation party. I’m so grateful for our amazing horses, committed families, hard working riders, excellent horse show hosts, and all the competitors and spectators that make these shows rewarding for everyone.

Address

262 North Four Mile Road
Traverse City, MI
49686

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