Winding River Ranch

08/29/2026

Welcome to the ranch Lou and Ollie!

08/16/2026

Join us at FENCE for our Fall Open Horse Show on September 26!

Whether you’re a seasoned show rider or looking for a fun day to get in the ring, we’d love to have you join us. We’ll have High Point Divisions & Awards, with ribbons through 6th place.

📅 September 26
📍 FENCE Equestrian Grounds
236 Mane Gate Dr., Tryon, NC 28782

💰 Pre-registration: $12 per class
💰 Day-of registration: $15 per class

Pre-registration will open soon, so keep an eye out for more information!

Stalls and RV hookups will also be available.

Come spend a fall day at FENCE, bring your horse, and show with us! 🍁

08/16/2026

Be kind to each other ❣️🦄

We are living in not the best of times to have horses. Feed prices are up, so is fuel. They call it an affordability crisis. This is about horses so don't make it political. We've had tough times before regardless of the politics at the time. The problem is many people are having trouble taking care of their horses. The image is of an Animal Control officer confiscating a malnourished horse that I saw in the news this week.

At times like these I remember the old horse community that got replaced by the current very commercial horse industry. Industries don't care, communities do. I remember many times in the past when horse people helped one another. In the dead of winter, a neighbor might drop some hay off for a neighbor's struggling horses or maybe someone did a free trim to help a horse get by. No more, at least where I am.

It takes a lot more money to keep a horse today than years ago. The horse world is really divided now into the haves and the have nots. I am saying if you have a little more than the next horse owner does maybe find a way to help a horse. Times like this don't last and when they're gone you will feel better for having helped, and someone who received some help will always remember. That's community. Everybody feels better.

07/25/2026

Nova of Winding River






Michelle Barshaw
Calm Connected Confident Natural Horsemanship

07/25/2026

07/10/2026

Signs that your horse trusts you or their environment.

06/22/2026

What does it take to be a good horseman? To really understand the horse, as an animal? Here, we apply very similar principal’s in the Calm Connected Confident Natural Horsemanship training and boarding programs. To understand your horse and be able to connect with them is the ultimate part of horsemanship, then comes the riding part.
Michelle Barshaw

06/14/2026

A little piece of folk art found its home today. ❤️

Our new barn quilt tile is finally up at Winding River, adding a splash of color and a nod to the quilting traditions in WNC. I am drawn to the star pattern and it’s fun when I see something new in it.

I haven’t seen many of these in Tryon, maybe I’m the first. Some nearby mountain towns have barn quilt tours. I love it.

05/16/2026

Michelle Barshaw and Caroline S Coates
Victory loves his therapy cone. Please have one available at all times. 😆🤣😇