Four Seasons Equestrian Facility

03/02/2024

I liked this.

Ok friends, let’s be real… We’ve all seen some ISO ads lately that would make any true horseman stop in their tracks…

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ISO Unicorn

Absolutely no spook, quirks, vices, maintenance, special needs. 100% safe.
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Thank goodness they are shopping for unicorns and not horses, because a good horseman knows that is absolutely impossible from a horse.

Personally I spooked at a squirrel yesterday, and I have better vision than a horse and am not a prey animal.

No one can guarantee any activity in your life is safe—-not soccer, not baseball, not tennis, nothing. Those are the choices you make and the risks you voluntarily take on to participate in the activity you’ve chosen and to live your life. We all try to make the best choices we can of course, but any seller that promises any facet of your life is guaranteed safe is selling snake oil.

As for the horse’s quirks and special needs? I’ve owned hundreds of horses in my career and worked with many hundreds more. The five best horses of my career were as follows:

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Horse #5. Vices: Cannot pull mane or body clip without heavy sedation. Must be in front when hacking in group. Why it’s worth it: Horse of a lifetime for his rider.

Horse #4. Vices: Free because he failed his PPE so badly at 5yo. Needs $800 shoes from a top farrier every 6 weeks. Why it’s worth it: Competed at the upper levels of eventing very successfully and reliably for 11 years.

Horse #3. Vices: Poor mover in the trot, extremely hot, needs a very kind rider. Why it’s worth it: Evented through advanced level, national champion at intermediate.

Horse #2. Vices: May rear and buck. Kicks and bites on ground. Will not go in any wash stall. Why it’s worth it: Never once dropped his rider. Evented through advanced level.

Horse #1. Vices: Incredibly spooky, poor mover in trot, chip on X-rays. Why it’s worth it: Successful and prolific advanced horse, sold and exported to a European Olympic team.

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Our horse shopping advice to you? Be a good horseman.

If the horse makes you smile every day, who cares if it’s tough to pull its mane?

If the horse takes the best care of you, who cares if it flinches trotting past a trash can? Use your inside leg.

If the horse does the job you need it to do, who cares if it needs a good farrier? They should ALL have good farriers.

If the horse saves your behind every time you don’t see a distance, who cares if it cribs on a feed tub?

Good luck, happy shopping, and for the love of unicorns, stop seeking things that don’t exist or you’ll never find it.

—Megan Moore, Verona Equestrian
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(Welcome to share, please don’t copy paste.)

02/10/2024

08/25/2023

We have needed lights over this area for years now! It's soooo dark in the winter. Funny how these little things get ya so fired up when they get completed. These will also be such a great addition to the outdoor 💡💡💡🔦
Thanks Erik for the install!

04/20/2023

100% accuracy rate. 👍👍

03/15/2023

We are not a full board barn, but I can say I so appreciate those that help with feedings, clean aisles and take a extra step every once and awhile. Those that complain are usually the ones not lifting a hand. (In my expeience). Its a common space that is a nicer place to be when we all chip in.

Full Board Isn't Full Service

A friend asked me to write this a while ago..and I have been thinking on it for several months. So here is a go.

Full board Isn't full board. The average boarding farm with anywhere from 5 to 40 boarders is so much work. Just the daily grind of getting up, feeding, haying, checking water takes up a significant amount of time. Stalls, another massive chunk, then repeat pm feed.

Then you want the boarding farm to do blankets ( something I refuse to do. I worked for a QH trainer in the 90s and spent hrs every morning and night reblanketing all the horses under lights ...cured me ) , meds, you want night check. You want their weight and physical appearance monitored through their blankets.

Now all the extras : tackroom swept, aisle perfect, walls hosed down, no rodents, cobwebs , working washrack with drain that never clogs...

Then perfectly manacured fields , mowed, fertilized, weedwacking. Fences repairs etc....

Board or bored...when your horse is in the stall more for inclement weather , you need to get there to exercise it and prevent colic ( motion is lotion for guts and joints ! ). Full board doesnt cover checking every single inch of the horse ( though most of us do take a quick look, i have trained myself to look at all 4 legs both side every day ) for bumps, bruises, shoes with sprung heels , mysterious fungus that appears on its flank. Owners need to be present, take responsibility for their own horse, make coming out to groom that retired horse on a schedule....and always always be accessible for emergencies.

When you see something needs done, just do it instead of complaining about it. We have all seen the posts about the costs of boarding and basically, if you are paying less than $1000/ month, someone is subsidizing your board. So pick up a rake, a broom, be present. Run a hose, scrub the tub. Triple check your horse. Check on the horse whose owner is ill ( with their permission ) . Leave things better than they were.
Many barns have a person or 2 that randomly helps with some stalls....I guarantee you the barn owner appreciates that person. I used to have a students father who would clean many stalls while his daughter rode. I know I'll never forget him.

Holidays....most barns have 1 of 2 ways of thinking. 1. Don't come out at all. 2. If you do come out, plan to help with feeding, haying, watering turnout and stalls. I can speak from personal experience...I havent had a holiday off since pre 2001 except for 1 Christmas, an exceptional student did all the work as my gift. I'll never forget that act of kindness. Nurses get double time for major holidays ( and still get to take off a day for Christmas , heck even the local convenience store pays double or time and half on major holidays) , barn owners get nothing, most of the time not even a thank you... I recall a colleague who boarded horses ( and of course taught lessons, trained horses, sold horses and ran shows because boarding doesnt pay the bills ) saying one day she realized her life was like the movie Ground Hog Day....and that she has done the same thing every morning every night for decades. Her farm went up for sale and she now boards her own horses.

Education. Do you know what horses diseases are, understand deworming, know what ailments to watch out for. When should the vet be called ? Can you wrap legs properly, handle an abscess, recognize fungus, spot a colic ? If not, pick up a book, watch some videos. Horse ownership means you love horses and you want to know everything about them.

Anyway...full care isn't day care you drop your "kid " off too and never pick them up from again. Be present. Your horse will appreciate the attention and the barn owner will feel relief that you are watching out for your horse.

3/27/23 update. 212,000 views. 1400 shares. And I have gotten a few nasty comments. I cannot understand the nastiness . Bringing awareness is a good thing. If it doesnt apply to you , then move on. Every barn has boundaries. Apparently some people are mad that I wont do blankets...not sure why, as none of them board with me ! Boundaries are made out of clarity and self respect. Every barn , I hope , has rules and boundaries ! Best wishes to all . Horses are my first and longest love.

( This post was made to bring awareness. At least in my area, boarding barns are becoming fewer to non existent. If we want them to stay, we must change . I have seen mostly positivity come from this...i particularly loved the person who shared it and wrote " I go a bit the other way . I try to help in some way every day that I am at the barn "
I , of course, want all the horses in my care to have good, healthy lives too. I would like to think we all do. )

12/12/2022

What a nice day! Thank you to Freestyle Horsemanship for all your time and efforts to put this Christmas show together. I loved hearing your students chat around the barn about "their first horse show". What a great first experience to feel supported and build confidence on home turf! Blake was thrilled Cece was invited to flex her skills around the barrels! Go Blake go!

11/15/2022

I just can't put my finger on it....but somethings different?? 🤷‍♀️

10/27/2022

All drains cleared today with a vactor truck, aisles built up with crusher and rain sheets are on. Ok Mother Nature be kind but if your having a bad day we are as ready as we can be!
🌧☔️⛈🌂🌦🌈💨🍃🌬

09/24/2022

Happiness.
A few of us worked to lift mats in the far aisle today and raked out the gravel, my always helpful neighbour, brought in. This helped build up a low spot from last years rain storms🌧We had enough matierial to do the middle aisle too. When I left today to pick up the kids I knew I had to return to do some raking etc in the morning....
It was Christmas morning getting a picture of the job completed. Thank you J. Your extra help and work does not go unnoticed! It looks great. ❤️

09/17/2022

Tiny tales is offering Neufelds as our latest and greatest fundraiser! Follow the link to place your order

One week left to place your order!

Browse & order here: https://app.neufeldfarms.ca/fundraising/2022-tiny-tales-pony-rescue-c4cfacff1a/ref/sm

09/17/2022

Progress!

09/08/2022

I made some life changing mistakes last year with my mares, please take this warning. It happens even when you think you've got it.

07/14/2022

06/18/2022

06/14/2022

Sadly our outdoor needs a bit more time to compact. But we are still working at it! Here is a pic below of what it looked like a few years ago at this time versus this weekend. It's been a long road, we are almost there!

06/11/2022

Rolling.....

06/11/2022

Parade season.

05/22/2022

Adorable. 🌻

04/12/2022

"We could see pretty much anything tomorrow"
Is global news weather gal's description of what tomorrow will bring....🤦‍♀️

04/01/2022

Margie and TC were 2 Four Seasons originals!
Today I saw their "growth chart" within their old tack room door jam. 💕throwback Thursday. Who remembers them??

03/14/2022

Some of us don't mind a bit of extra water in the round pen. 😜

02/21/2022

My poor mom....💕she does a great job

Yep!

02/12/2022

Making a base while the sun shines ☀️

01/24/2022

Work is going strong on our outdoor project! If you'd like to contribute to the cost we would be so grateful!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/tiny-tales-pony-rescue-society/campaign/volunteer-training-arena/ -a-campaign

Donate to Volunteer training arena by Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society, and make a difference today. Support the causes you care about at CanadaHelps. Donating is easy and secure.

01/22/2022

Dreaming of new footing. 💭

01/17/2022

I'm just saying, seeing this little lady this evening gave me one glimmer of hope...Spring will come 🐞

01/16/2022

I feel this! Thankfully I snuck in a ride on Friday! Hopeful to string a few more together! When was the last time you rode!?

Just checking up on everyone! Spring happens March 20th! 🐴🥶

12/28/2021

Thank you to everyone who broke an extra bucket this week, checked a hose, spread some salt, fed an extra feeding. Your help made it possible for the horses at the barn to stay happy and healthy thus far but you also enabled me and my family to take a little us time. And for that I am extremely thankful.

12/20/2021

Check out Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society latest fundraiser! Get prepared! Or as my mom says don't be scared be aware. (And prepared)