South Wood Haven Farm

12/08/2023

Summer days 2023

07/29/2023

Just a few 2023 snap shots of the SWHF family

06/02/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=257355270314236&id=100081192951295&mibextid=Nif5oz

Dearest Riders,

Please let me remind you of something very important. Horse showing, riding and training are insanely difficult. If you have a crappy ride, a less than stellar show ring result (or if you made your trainer want to pull their hair out today), it just means there's more to learn. The people who had good rides today are not exempt from disappointing rides tomorrow. They also have bad days and, if they're very experienced riders, they've had a whole bunch of bad days.

There will always be someone out there on a more talented horse, someone with a bigger bank account, someone who never struggled to learn to sit the trot...life isn't fair. You probably can't win the lottery or grow 5 more inches of leg. You can, however, wake up every morning and be thankful that you're able to ride horses. Work hard at becoming the best rider you can be with the body and the bank account that you have right now. Work at being the rider your horse wants up there on his back. Your horse's opinion of your riding is more valuable than any judge's opinion could ever be.

- originally written by Amber Kimball

12/25/2020

Past memories of the many 'loves' of South Wood Haven Farm...❤ 2000 - 2020

12/20/2020

Jade and Prima Donna enjoying a little Christmas fun!!

10/23/2020

This was a post shared by one of boarders and I loved it so much that I had to share it with MY barn family. Thank you Kathy Williams for tagging me in this post. We appreciate you here at South Wood Haven just as much as you appreciate us. xo

"Finding the right barn family isn’t just about finding friends to ride with… it’s about our mental health.

I feel like there’s this common theme of “barn drama” and I think we need to break the thought of that being normal. Our horses are our time to find peace and an escape from the world. It is absolutely not the place for petty comments, reality TV drama, or constant tension.

You need to be surrounded by people who build you up, not tear you down…

People who are cheering you on whether it’s at an A show or over a 6” cross rail…

People who aren’t judging you for only wanting to walk around or having no desire to show at all…

People who don’t care what outfit you show up to the barn in…

People who want you & your horse to win, not just a ribbon, but to win at life.

Let’s be real… horseback riding is a pretty intense sport. The fact that we’re strapping some leather onto a thousand-pound prey animal and hoping we can keep all four feet on the ground while holding onto two straps that aren’t much wider than your little finger… well it’s pretty remarkable in itself. Every time you get your butt in the saddle & manage to land back on the ground on two feet safely… well that alone is quite an accomplishment.

Horseback riding is emotional. It’s raw. It’s intense. It’s an escape from reality because we have to be present in that moment, just as our horses are. But it is absolutely not for the faint of heart.

When you are choosing to put your foot in the stirrup, the last thing you need is to feel emotionally drained from the 10 minute conversation you had in the barn with Karen who was just telling you all the “he said, she said” of who has been talking smack about you and your horse behind your back. You shouldn’t be going into that ride thinking about how angry you are at the fact that Sarah can’t keep her 300 saddle pads contained and they’re taking over your space in the tack room. You shouldn’t be wondering who’s talking crap about you while you ride. And you definitely shouldn’t be worried about who’s casually glancing at the arena and judging every move you make on your horse, just waiting for their opportunity to claim you were riding in Rollkur (cue PETA).

There’s enough drama at work, on social media, and in those reality TV shows I can’t seem to understand how people watch; we don’t need that crap at the barn.

As someone who used to suffer with severe anxiety, panic attacks, & depression, I now protect my mental health at all costs. I have overcome all my mental health issues & I refuse to let the atmosphere at my barn be a cause of any anxiety. I can’t emphasize just how important it is to surround yourself with the right people when at all possible.

Sure, your barn might have the best landscaping, the most beautiful tack lockers, & arena footing that’s softer than your 20 year old mattress, but none of that matters if you dread going out because Susan might be there waiting to start a Kardashian style argument. No amount of perfectly swept barn aisles or pressure washed white fencing can make up for a toxic atmosphere."

10/17/2020

Summer days 2020

10/17/2020

Summer days at Southwood Haven

06/10/2020

Photos of South Wood Haven Farm in Kingsville...

05/30/2020

This is my belief as well...

When trainers don't actually know how to train, a common next step is to pull out the hardware,

Draw reins, bitting rigs, other leverage devices, sharp bits, all aimed at forcing the horse to submit.

There is a saying about such devices---"The only trainers who are competent enough to use them are competent enough to not need them."

So that's what I think when someone argues for their use.

Not that some won't try----

(And then, of course, there is drugging, an entire subject in and of itself---)

11/29/2019

South Wood Haven Team takes Gold overall in Cadora this year and Kailey takes Cadora Ontario Training Level Champion with Prima Donna! Well done Kailey Mastronardi, Michaela Ryan, Jade Kirner and Layla Ferreira! You girls really work hard and I'm proud to be your coach! 🎉🐎

11/09/2019

08/26/2019

My riders and horses ❤

06/14/2019

12/02/2018

I didn't write this, but I saw this on Andrea's wall and I can 100% relate...

Shared.❤❤
When you pay for a lesson or training, you aren’t buying an hour of my time. You’re paying for thousands of hours of sweat, struggle, success and tears. You’re buying injuries, mistakes, and revelations. You’re buying nights awake thinking about a horse or student I need to help more. You’re buying hours of hauling hay, mucking stalls and grooming, of carefully checking your horse over like It was my own. You’re paying for my further education, because i still take lessons as frequently as possible. You’re paying for my care, concern, over dinner conversation, and you inevitably become a central part of my life.
You can’t put a price on education, or personal development, or the bliss of finally being “with” a horse. Thank you for sharing with me, teaching me, and letting me teach you, while I put food on my table and hay in my barn with the most fulfilling job ever. ❤️
(Shared)

11/04/2018

Over the past 16 years....

11/04/2018

South Wood Haven Farm Cadora Team Silver, Some Division Championships, and High Point Championship! Love you girls! Way to work hard, Kailey Mastronardi, Micheala Ryan, Layla Ferriera, Jade Kirner and Faith Lewis ❤❤