Woodstock Acres Riding Stable

25/07/2025

Beautiful riding weather!

18/07/2025

We set a course in the big field! The weather is perfect to master riding out in the open🦄

14/07/2025

All of our riders and horses had a great weekend at TSHA! I am so incredibly proud of everyone. What makes me the most happy is seeing our riders make such big improvements and seeing the confidence grow! The support these riders show for each other and the teamwork with this group is beyond anything I could hope for❤️ the real heroes this weekend are the incredibly supportive PARENTS. We always comment on the horses and riders but we could not pull this off without the moms and dads who spent the entire weekend helping prepare, holding horses, hydrating and feeding kids and horses (and the trainer too) thank you guys for keeping things organized and enduring the heat, dust and occasional grumpy moments (although there wasn’t much grumpiness in-spite of the long days!) you are all the absolute BEST

14/06/2025

Repost:
Let’s talk about something we see all the time in this industry.

You buy a horse. You move it to a new program. A month later, you’re wondering… “Why isn’t it the same horse I tried?”
You notice sale horses going beautifully — while yours feels like it’s going backwards.

The truth? Those sale horses are in a program.
They’re ridden by professionals 5–6 days a week — correctly, consistently, confidently.

Now imagine taking that same horse and handing it to a junior or amateur rider — with no professional support, no plan, just expectations.
The horse doesn’t suddenly “change.” It loses confidence. It gets confused.
It gets tired of mistakes, and without a professional to reset and re-instill trust, it starts to say no.

We see this over and over:
Talented horses become unrecognizable because people don’t listen when the trainer says, “It needs a program.”
That doesn’t just mean rides — it means structured development, boundaries, and encouragement at the right time.

Your trainer is there for you — use them.
We’re not here to take your horse away — we’re here to help you keep it going well.
Let us rebuild the confidence, refine the training, and help you and your horse stay on track.

Horses are not robots. They are not bulletproof.
They are not disposable — and they shouldn’t have to be.

If you’re looking around the ring wondering why others are progressing faster… ask yourself: What changed?
Talk to your trainer. Trust their guidance. A good program doesn’t just preserve your investment — it builds a better horse and rider for the long run.

10/06/2025

10/06/2025

Everland says horseshowing is HARD!
I hope everyone had a good refreshing sleep after our fun weekend at TSHA 🦄🦄

14/05/2025

There are a few spots left in our summer horsemanship week of July 21st! Full days of fun with horses and riding. No experience necessary, just a love for horses and desire to spend time learning all about them.

18/04/2025

10/04/2025

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞’𝐬

Lately, something’s been sitting heavy with me and it hit even harder after spending more time helping out at the local pony club. There’s a shift happening in the equestrian world that’s hard to ignore, and honestly, it’s starting to feel like we’re losing sight of what this sport is really about.

Everywhere you turn, you see kids turning up on high-priced horses €/£/$20,000+ for a youngster with all the bloodlines and breeding, destined to jump no more than 80 or 90cm in their life. These are lovely animals, don’t get me wrong. But at the grassroots level, the horse doesn’t need to be bred for Grand Prix. It just needs to be safe and suitable.

What I’m not seeing anymore? The scruffy ponies. The odd-shaped ones. The old semi-retired hunter that’s taught half the kids in the county how to sit a buck. The “Plain Janes” of the horse world. Where have they gone?

When did we stop letting our kids learn the hard way?

It’s not just about the money (though, yes the cost of horses in 2025 is mind-blowing). It’s about what we’re expecting from these kids, and how we think a “good horse” will shortcut them into being a great rider. Spoiler: it won’t.

Because before you can make a good rider, you’ve got to make a problem solver. And problem solvers aren’t made on perfect horses. They’re made on ponies that stop at the gate. That duck out. That need a soft hand one day and a strong leg the next. They’re made in moments of frustration and tiny breakthroughs. They’re made in muck and chaos and trying again and again.

The pressure to “have the right horse” is everywhere. But the truth is, the right horse might be the one with a few quirks, not the one with a five-figure price tag.

We’ve created this illusion that a child’s success in riding depends on the flashiest setup the horse, the truck, the gear. But the best riders I’ve known? They learned on what was available. They fell off more than they stayed on. They learned to adjust, to listen, to think, and to feel. And none of that came from being bought the perfect ride.

So here’s a gentle plea to parents, trainers, and riders alike:

Let’s normalise kids riding average horses again.

Let them ride the hairy cob. The semi-retired showjumper with a dodgy change. The pony that came from the riding school, or off a farm, or doesn’t have a passport full of fancy breeding. Let them earn their feel, their seat, their instinct not buy it.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not the horse that makes the rider. It’s the hard lessons, the dirty boots, and the thousands of tiny moments when they choose to keep going, even when it’s tough.

So if your kid has a safe pony, a helmet, and a dream? That’s enough.

And if you want to teach them to win start by letting them lose. Start by letting them learn.

That’s what makes a rider. Not a receipt.

The School Master of Gurteen 2013.

10/04/2025

Summer horse weeks!
Still a few openings
riders age 7-12 full day 9-3. Two riding sessions per day. Swiming and water fun. Horse theme craft. Horse care and special topics each week. Pizza party for lunch on Friday $475
June 23rd week ( full )
July 21st week ( 4 openings)
August 18th ( 3 openings)
Half day session
Age 4-7
9-12:30
July 7,8,9
Come have summer fun and lots of quality horse time.

23/03/2025

Congratulations to Fiona and Dylan!!Both of them are doing amazing in their IHSA shows ❤️ We are so proud!

23/02/2025

2025 summer horsemanship weeks are posted at the barn. We always have a great time! Hours are 9-3 with tons of riding and educational horse activities 🦄