Great Scot Riding & Training

21/07/2025

Had a fun week playing at HITS Commonwealth Horse Park , missing some of our Ammy's but brought two new ones along. As with all my shows, learning is growing,growing is learning. So many things in this sport can be learned at these multi day shows; grit, conditioning, traffic mindfulness, adrenaline control, memorizing courses , taking care of your partner....I could go on and on. As always I'm so proud of my riders and my horses, we had more rain and thunder and lightning and they handled it like bosses 🙌 I got to hang out with families and dads and siblings which is always a treat. I got to coddle and encourage and speak sternly and celebrate victories. 🍾 very grateful for this life as always me and my girl Shanna Jones Rock it better together. And Sanmar Farm Sandra Ruiz keeps the boy on point 👉

18/07/2025

Support your local shows!!! It took me a couple years to find our home show but between Lake Of The Woods Equestrian Center and HITS Culpeper , LEAGUE SERIES my students and horses get to hone their skills at two great venues where staff is friendly, potties are clean, courses are simple enough that mechanics can be practiced, families can come watch comfortably.

Rant ahead-
As a small barn owner I am bummed. Bummed for my riders that don’t get to go show this weekend.

I get it.

As a small barn I can stay home and make more money on lessons than just a few riders going to a show for the day.
It isn’t about the money.
It is about the opportunity for them to show.
To put our barn out there.
To have a future show to go to.
To connect with show management and other trainers.
We for sure can’t commit to every show but we try to get out there. To support those shows.

I want a future for our sport on the smaller level even if that means I make few less dollars because the bigger picture is important.

At the end of the show year I don’t want to hear or see people complain that the prizes aren’t like they used to be. What did you do to help?

Associations are struggling in this new world and the gap is getting wider between elite barns and smaller schooling barns. How are you bridging the gap?

I want my riders to have a show to go to. I want your riders to have a show to go to.

12/07/2025

My favorite sun shirt company is offering this limited edition pattern if you like it order one !! Why a sun shirt and not a tank top when it's hot and your riding ? Protect your skin from the sun, sweat helps keep you cool and any time you can show off the brand why not ??

30/06/2025

Time for brag post on League #3 HITS Commonwealth Horse Park at this point in the season everyone is finding their grooves. The team I have right now are hard workers, they have realistic goals and they are not afraid of putting in the work. Was it hot?? Yep. Did everything go perfectly ? No. Did everyone go home with new homework? Indeed. Each and every one of my students have their own story and their own mountains they are climbing. I have the same expectations of each one: if you show up I expect you to work, if you point your horse at a jump get to the other side and if you come to the horse show as a competitor be gracious , be patient and be intentional. We had the best time ! Again the HITS Culpeper, Virginia staff is friendly, they welcome us each time with beautiful jumps, groomed arenas, great atmosphere in the Café. There is so much shade all over the venue so when we invite friends and family to come watch, they all have somewhere comfortable to stand and watch 🌲🌳🌲🌳we will rest this week and get back at it !! Great job Team Great Scot Riding & Training

23/06/2025

I'm getting alot of messages about lessons this week !! My rule is this, if you are up for some modified lessons due to heat come for your lesson. We will do what we do and than we will carry on. If you don't do well in the heat stay home. No lessons Friday due to a show !! All 10 am and 11am lessons will be running unless you hear otherwise.....

21/06/2025

What a week of lessons, I went over my books and counted 23 lessons were taught ! 😳 My goodness we were working out here. Had the privilege of teaching a clinic midweek where we had a talk on hunters vs jumpers and the specific specialty classes each discipline offers. I had a few students who pushed through some big hurdles this week and came out on the other side in one piece !! I am so proud. This picture represents this sanctuary, this education center, this place where learning begins. I pray it's a place where your cup is filled and the worries and stresses of life get left at the gate.

02/06/2025

I knew today was going to be a whirlwind, with 13 students and 8 horses we were busy !! There was some good, bad and ugly. But here is the thing, my students showed up. Each one RODE. Each student looked me in the eye as they went into the ring with confidence and boldly stepped into that arena. Were mistakes made ? Sure. Were tears cried ? Yep. Were hopes crushed ? Definitely. I can't wait to see them all the week after a show because we get to talk about all the things, we get to improve the mistakes, we get to smooth out the wrinkles. What we don't get to do is practice the adrenaline, the crowds, the nerves, the situation. We have to save that for the next horse show because you can only truly practice being nervous and performing at your best in that space ONE TIME. We love our Lake Of The Woods Equestrian Center where we get to practice this ! 🙌 Thank you to my Katie Donohoe for the hospitality table, Summer Fun. All the parents who came and watched and supported. Thank you Bayberry Riding Center for always being my right hand , we have so much fun. Until fall , we will be over here riding and loving on the unicorns 🦄 please add pics if I missed anyone

23/05/2025

Happy last day of school to all my students!!! You are free to be kids and spend extra time with the unicorns 🦄 enjoy every day of it

03/05/2025

Lady Harriet has begun her debut into the unicorn academy 🦄🦄 she is muscling up well, has enjoyed her couple months of learning how to steer and trot under saddle with my older kids. So I threw a wee one on her today and Viola !! She's a perfect little angel

19/04/2025

Putting in WORK on our big arena !! Our first year here I threw some jumps out in it and we played but I didn't love the footing or the balance of the arena. 5 years later we are back at it. It's going to get a face lift and some landscaping 🌳🪻🌷🌻

17/04/2025

Thursdays are for carrots and kisses and smiles 😃