We are a small family run farm In Columbus, NJ and we are excited to share our passion for horses wit
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We may have melted just a little this morning but we got some nice rides in! And all early enough to get the horses home and cooled down before the afternoon heat set in.
Jenna and Nova rode training 1 for the first time and had nice smooth tests. Madison memorized both of her tests and got her highest score of the season. Liana also got her high score for the year
Nice job ladies!
Score and school at saddlebrook today, luckily we were able to get done before the heat got too bad
This was the first time I had the girls memorize their test and they both did great. No more calling tests for Jenna & Maddy now!
Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.
2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…
3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..
4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.
5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...
6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.
7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.
8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.
9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.
Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.
*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!
I’m making it official
This little filly is here to stay 🥰
I told myself I’m only keeping horses who remind me of Brody while gentling and this one is giving Brody a run for his money in ease of training. Echo is allowing me to walk up to her, halter her and is leading extremely well for only her second day of halter training. I’m planning on getting her turnout with Layla and Nova towards the end of this week.
I’m in no hurry to sell Delilah but will be letting her go when the right home comes along. She will make someone an amazing horse one day but I can’t keep them all and sometimes they choose you.
“There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humor and the other is patience.”
-John Lyons
Reminder
As summer approaches we will be monitoring the weather and will not be riding if combined humidity and temperature is over 150
The first heat wave of the summer is coming on fast!
Ask me to show you poetry in motion and I will show you a horse. – Author Unknown
Color & Curls!
Delilah is a 4 year old mare from Pancake HMA. Stands 14.3 hands and is extremely stocky. She’s unique in every way from her curls to her beautiful sabino coloring. She’s slicked out for summer now but I’ll add some photos of her in her winter woolies to show how curly she can be!
So far she can
-leads, knows basic groundwork
-stands tied
-pick up all 4 feet, trimmed on 6/4
-stands for fly spray/hose
She is more on the nervous side and does best with a patient/calm handler.
I will be picky about where she goes, mustang experience preferred. Experience with green horses required.
BLM branded but requires approved USFS application, not titled.
Echo would like the world to know she’s no longer just a number 🥰
"When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have"
Felt like we rode through all 4 season in just one morning today but it was a successful day for everyone!
Maddy & Sporty are starting to come together and are improving rapidly. Beth & Brody were steady as usual and had a ton of great moments. Liana & Jenna both rode new tests, which were the highest for their divisions, and did great.
Almost everyone has officially qualified for year ends which means the rest of the year is working towards improving those scores!
I’m going to share the stories of the horses who influenced my riding career and got me to where I am today.
I’m kicking it off by going way back to the beginning to show that the memories of these lesson horses do stay with you forever. I started riding in 1998 at a farm called Field of Dreams. My first lesson was on a white(gray) pony named Casper, he was the best and was my favorite. I found Casper a few years after leaving his barn working for a therapeutic riding center. It was nice to see that he ended up in a good home for the last portion of his life. Sabrina was another white pony and Casper’s best friend. She wouldn’t take direction from her rider but would go anywhere Casper went so if you rode Sabrina you spent your lesson staring at Casper’s tail.
Licorice was a big(in my 8 year old mind) black mare that was a very good girl. Sunny was a bay pony that I swear had devil horns hidden somewhere behind those ears. He was good for teaching you how to fall. Two others I remember were that I remember names of are Pierre(another gray) and Freckles(an Appaloosa).
I’ll make a lesson horse part 2 for the barn I move onto after
Pictured is Casper & I during a lesson; Licorice and I winning a blue ribbon at a show; and me on Sunny listening closely to my instructor in hopes she gives me a good hint on how to not p**s off the pony 🤣
Am I crazy? Yes but you all should know that by now.
Mustang “E” has arrived
She is a 2 year old filly from sand springs Oregon
The plan is to get to know this pretty lady a bit more then I’ll decide to keep either her or Delilah as a long term resident. Who stays will depend on personality as well as who will make the better ambassador for their breed and hold their own in the show ring.
“E” has a name but you know the rules, tags on, we’ll announce her name as soon as she lets us take it off!
Walter
2010 titled mustang gelding from antelope valley hma 14 hands
Walter is the first to meet you at the gate, he is my shadow while doing chores and has the goofy gelding type personality. He has excellent ground manners, good for vet/farrier, loads on trailer and stands quiet on cross ties.
Under saddle Walter is still very green. I would recommend a restart to anyone who takes him on.
I purchased Walter with the hopes of making him into a lesson horse back in March. Unfortunately soon after coming here he was diagnosed with Lyme disease which slowed his training. I’m in need of a lesson horse now and Walter is no where near ready to be put into my program. One has to go to make room for another so I’m trying to find a home for Walter who’s willing to continue his treatment and put the time in he deserves
He’s being treated with doxy and doing well. Will go into full details of his medical records to any serious inquires.
Once you have won a mare’s heart, you have won all of her. In exchange for your best—and nothing less—she will give you everything.
Some horses will test you, some will teach you, and some will bring out the best in you.
Look who’s doing all the big girl things.
Delilah has been making leaps and bounds these past few weeks. Yesterday she walked over the bridge for the first time with zero hesitation and got hosed down for the first time.
Today was her first farrier visit and she stood like a statue. Our farrier Craig said she’s his new favorite.❤️
Only thing that makes Delilah difficult is her being head shy which is why she has her fly mask on in her pictures. I want to keep that pink nose covered but sometimes get lazy about taking on and off her fly mask because it’s a process. She’s getting more and more comfortable about my hand being around her head I’m confident she’ll be over it within the next few weeks
Maybe it’s their mystical beauty, those chiseled faces with long flowing manes and tails. It might also be the power a young girl feels as she leads or rides an animal ten times her weight. It could also be the confidence being around horses and ponies instills in a young girl. Trotting, cantering, and flying over jumps via horseback is harder than it looks and requires a certain level of perseverance and bravery. No matter what it is about horses that young girls find appealing, horses are good for girls.
-Jaimie Tucker; Equine Chronicle
Jenna & Nova finished recording for the WDAA International Challenge today! It took two days to get 3 tests that we are happy with to submit.
Now Brody and I have to get ours done!
This show has been an adventure so far but we’re having fun with it!
“A horse is poetry in motion.” – Arabian Proverb
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’”
-Audrey Hepburn
Summer showing is here!
Jillian, Madison, Mina, Beth and myself all rode today and everyone scored in the upper 60’s! Congrats everyone❤️❤️
Keep your face always towards the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.
-Walt Whitman
A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell
Fear is a mile wide & an inch deep.
-Edgar Nye
Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out
-John Wooden
Make the most of the best & the least of the worst
-Robert Louis Stevenson
🇺🇸 To the loved ones we have lost: You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice to our country will never be forgotten 🇺🇸
NJ
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Who knew virtual showing was just as stressful if not more so than live shows. I actually did but I forgot how much work goes into it 😅. Jenna and I are entered in the WDAA international challenge which is going to be our biggest show of 2024. I managed to record this morning and have one test ready to send in! Hoping we can get the rest of our recording done this week! Thanks to my camera crew Mark & Willow for helping me out this morning
Merry Christmas from all of our Jolly Reindeer 🎅🏻🦌🎄
Trial ride scheduled for 12/29/23 weather permitting. Open to any student who is riding walk/trot/canter independently during lessons. $60 per rider. Reserve your space today! ❄️❄️
My love for horses started long ago, longer than I can remember, but more specifically I loved wild horses. Mustangs. I knew one day I would have my own and Arlo made that dream a reality. Today I sent Arlo off onto his next chapter and while I know it’s for the best it’s never easy to say goodbye. He taught me so much in our time together, he will always hold a special place in my heart. Good bye bubs, be a good boy and good luck. ❤️ Arlo is living at South Jersey Horse Rescue, donations can be made towards his care through Facebook.
Day one working with Laurent and he’s already making progress! This guy definitely has some anxiety about being ridden but he’s a quick learner.
Jingle’s superbowl pick won last year and if you ask me Sporty agrees with him 😆
Just submitted our results from the @biomaneproducts #biomane90daychallenge We have a few inches of new growth in his mane, tail and even forelock! What you can’t tell through video is how much healthier his tail is. It’s fuller, softer and shiny compared to brittle and dull when we started back in May When it comes time to vote we’ll need your help! I’ll share the link once it’s available 🥰
For me working from the ground is sometimes more rewarding than actually riding. Brody has been a very easy mustang to work with but I still didn’t think he’d be working at liberty at just over 3 months out of holding
Look who’s back home! Think they missed him? 🤣 Sporty needs a few days rest then he can return to work like normal. Thank you for all your support over the weekend obviously it worked!
Brody had his first ride yesterday after 28 days of being here! This video is from today, we’re still working on understanding what go forward means but he’s already improved from yesterday.
Everyone worked hard yesterday getting the horses ready for their first show of the year!
Switching from baby to that adolescence stage, happy 5th Birthday Ransom! . . . . . . . . . . . . . #ottbsofinstagram #thoroughbredsofinstagram #horsebirthday #greyhorsesofinstagram #thoroughbreds #ottb
Jingles prediction for tonight’s game!
Happy Birthday Garcia!! 🎂
What the horses see 👀
The horses are like kids sometimes, they get excited when it snows! #devilsgardenwildhorses #devilsgardenmustang #mustanghorsesofinstagram #pasofino #pasofinohorse #horsesofinstagram #horseplay #horsesofnewjersey #njhorse
⛄️ Schedule is open for winter break (12/26-1/2) ❄️ Not brave enough to weather the winter with us? 🌺 We’ve started our contact list for spring lessons. We’ll reach out to you at the first sign of spring to start riding! 🌸 Be sure to get in early before we fill up. 🤠
It looked like it was snowing there for a second 😂 The horses are all starting to shed, that means they know something we don’t! 🍁🎃❄️ #horsesofnewjersey #equestrian #horselover #ridinglessons #horseaddict #painthorsesofinstagram #minihorses #minaturehorsesofinstagram #poniesofinstagram #westernriding #dressage #westerndressage #mustangsofinstagram #pasofinosofinstagram #njhorses #asseenthroughhorseears #saddletime #smartpakequine #lifeouthere #getoutdoors #equinesofinstagram #equestriansofinstagram #nutrenafeeds #horse #horsebackriding #devilsgardenwildhorses #quarterhorsesofinstagram
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