Thistle Dew Farm

04/24/2024

Ride the horse. Enter the class.

04/11/2024

We still have a few spots! Message if you would like one. You’ll be glad you did!

Jeremy is a coach, clinician, trainer, breeder, chiropractor and judge. He teaches everything from HUS and pleasure to reining and barrels. Something for everyone. All levels and ages welcome! 🙂

03/29/2024

It’s been a minute, but Jeremy will be back the end of April! Spring should be in full effect by then 🤞

Jeremy is a coach, clinician, trainer, breeder, chiropractor and judge. If you need some help with your horse this is the clinic for you! All ages and levels welcome.

Come and get some help on tuning up your ponies with us! 😁

03/27/2024

It’s not too late to join us for the Kempton Phillips clinic next weekend! 2 - 1 1/2 hour rides per day! That’s 6 hours of instruction time! All disciplines and levels welcome. Going to be a great clinic. Message if you’re interested! 😁

03/18/2024

Copied and it’s worth reading…

As we enter Horse Show Season
1. Horses don’t get broke at home. Be brave and enter!
2. EVERY disappointment at the show is a learning opportunity..... Be humble, be open to change.
3. Everyone gets nervous. Everyone has bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Literally: EVERYONE!
4. Don’t watch others in the warmup ring and start changing what you have been doing - if you see something cool or you want to step up your game that’s homework for after the show!
5. When we run out of knowledge, we often punish our horses. Seek help instead.
6. Be a competitor! But be a horseman first. There is always someone watching who sees you as a role model.
7. Supporting your fellow competitors and engaging with people will enrich your show life.
8. Know the rules of competition! Make sure your attire and tack is legal. Read the rule book, ask questions and be well prepared.
9. Have FUN, don’t sweat the small stuff!

~Julia Keil Quibell~

03/07/2024

This is going to be an amazing weekend! Come join us in welcoming Kempton on his first visit to Thistle Dew! Very limited spots. Don't miss out on this great opportunity! Great kick start to the 2024 season!

03/05/2024

Scrolling through Facebook land and found…us! ❤️ Thank you Iron Horse H**p for this opportunity! 😁

Please join us in welcoming Sharon Harnish to the 2024 Iron Horse H**p Performance Team! 🤠

Sharon Harnish owns and operates Thistle Dew Farm, a boarding and lesson facility in Albert Bridge, NS. She is a Registered Coach with Equine Canada and is currently working toward her NCCP Western Competition Coach certification. She is a director of the Maritime Paint Horse Club and competes in the Open division at the AQHA and APHA show circuits in the Maritimes. She has earned many awards over the years from Provincial Championships with Equestrian Nova Scotia to year end awards from MQHA and MPHC. Most recently she was a qualifier for the 2023 AQHA World Show in Junior Hunter Under Saddle Level 2 & 3. Sharon uses Iron Horse H**p 100% H**p Seed Oil. This product helps with recovery, produces a shiny coat, promotes gut health, and helps maintain healthy weight.

**p2024
**pCoast2Coast 🇨🇦

02/29/2024

Show up. 🙌🏼👏🏼🙏🏼💪🏼

02/19/2024

Mini clinic this Sunday! Want to do something with your horse but can’t with all this snow? A lot of this you don’t need a lot of room at home. Tune up some maneuvers and have a better connection with your horse while we wait for spring to get here!

01/23/2024

Time to get back at it 💪

The time will pass anyway, don’t let your dreams slip away!

01/14/2024

Update: We are full! If you’d like to put your name on a cancellation list just in case, let us know.

Would you know what to do in an emergency? If not, here is your chance to learn how to help our fur babies when a crisis strikes.

We will be hosting an Equi-Health First Aid course May 11th. Cost will be $190 for the day. $50 non refundable deposit required to hold your spot. Limited spots available.

01/14/2024

Hey Cowgirl,

Don’t forget that when you started, you were a little person who thought horses were magical.

Don’t forget that you didn’t have any pressure - just the love of seeing what cool things they could do.

Don’t forget that before you feared the judgment of others, you forgot anyone was watching.

Don’t forget that little you is so proud of you.

But also, don’t forget to push yourself as hard as you can now that you’re living your dream.

Don’t settle. Don’t make your dreams smaller. Don’t shrink yourself so you can fit in with the non-dreamers. Don’t give up on yourself, and don’t let your emotions take over.

Don’t ever let her down. The you before the world shaped you. 🥰💪🏾🥹

01/09/2024

Yay!! Way to go Team Ty!! Ty is the sire of our very own Huntinforagoodtyme aka Wilson.

Congratulations to Team Ty on claiming the 2023 CQHA Canadian National Amateur Team Tournament Championship!!

The top 5 teams for the 2023 Season are as follows!

1st Team Ty
2nd One Lopin Machine
3rd Kirtzinger Quarter Horses
4th Rod Jeffries Quarter Horses
5th My Sleepy Valentine

Congratulations to all team sponsors and all team members!
Prize Packages will be assembled in the next few weeks and shipped out to you!

Thanks to our 2023 CNATT Program Sponsors Hoof Doctor, Show Horse Today, Epona PR, Ace Therapy Canada & AlfaTech.

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas to you and your fur babies and wishing you all of the best in the New Year!

12/12/2023

Exciting!! 🤠

Look out Calgary!
Grab your cowboy hats & buckles! 🤠 🐎

The Rath Eastlink Community Centre has announced that The Nova Scotia Stampede will kick off in Fall of 2024.

Attendees can expect a weekend filled with thrilling pro rodeo events such as saddle bronc, ba****ck riding, bull riding, gymkhana, and barrel racing while layered with live musical entertainment, delicious NS grown food, the 44th annual 4-H Nova Scotia Provincial Show and an array of fun activities for all ages.

The province of Nova Scotia will help out with $150,000 to help support this first annual Nova Scotia Stampede.

Check out the official press release in the comments below 👇

12/11/2023

We have one front quarter left of grass fed Highland beef raised here on our farm. $7.50 a pound based on hanging weight. It is at the butcher's as we speak. If you would like to have it, message asap to have it cut to your preference.

11/24/2023

Equine Community Update - Please Share!

EHV-1 in Nova Scotia

"Charlie" would like to share some welcome news 😉!

As horse owners know, there were recently confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Nova Scotia (1 confirmed, 3 presumptive) which resulted in the loss of some horses and a barn closure in addition to some anxiety and stress.

As a result of many level-headed people in the NS horse community pulling together and making the good choice to stay home and post-pone some events there has been no further spread and no additional cases for at least 3 weeks.

This means the risk of further cases associated with this outbreak is considered low and we should all be thankful and feel comfortable resuming normal activities.

As a matter of good biosecurity and hygiene, newly introduced horses (especially those shipped from long distances) should be isolated for at least 2 weeks from existing horses on a property when bringing new horses in.

Also, maintaining up-to-date vaccination is a good tool to help prevent risk across the horse population.

If you have any questions about how best to prevent the spread of disease, it is always best to contact your equine veterinarian to have that conversation.

Dr. Trevor Lawson

11/19/2023

Equestrian Nova Scotia year end awards were held today in Truro. Huge congratulations to the Thistle Dew Crew on their winnings!!

Jorja Borden & Zippos Good Conclusion
Cape Breton Champion Junior Showmanship
Provincial Champion Junior Showmanship

Ava Powers & MDS Yankee Kid
Provincial Reserve Champion Junior Showmanship

Mariah MacNeil & Chics Be Callin
Cape Breton Champion Junior Western Performance
Provincial Champion Junior Western Performance

Cate Giannandrea & Elegant Art
Cape Breton Champion Senior Showmanship
Provincial Champion Senior Showmanship

Congratulations to all the winners today especially our fellow Capers!! Cape Breton was well represented today!!

11/05/2023

Cape Breton Western Riders Banquet was last night and the girls took home lots of goodies! Congratulations to all of the winners last night and a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who put on these great shows. We will see you next year!!

Jorja & Zippos Good Conclusion
Champion Western Pleasure Jr Rider
Reserve Champion Showmanship Jr
Reserve Champion English Pleasure Horse Open
RESERVE HIGH POINT JUNIOR RIDER

Ava/Jayme & MDS Yankee Kid
Champion Trail Horse
Reserve Champion Halter Geldings
Reserve Champion Command
Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Open
RESERVE HIGH POINT WESTERN HORSE

Amaya & Smokin Rumour
Champion Show Hack Horse
Reserve Champion English Pleasure Open
Reserve Champion Novice Horse English Pleasure
RESERVE HIGH POINT ENGLISH HORSE

Mariah & Chics Be Callin
Champion Open Reining
Champion Ranch Riding Open
Champion Command Horse
Reserve Champion Horsemanship Jr
Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Jr
HIGH POINT WESTERN HORSE

Cate Giannandrea & Elegant Art
Reserve Champion English Pleasure Open

11/02/2023

Boooo 👎

10/26/2023

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.

09/27/2023

Huge congratulations to the Thistle Dew Crew on qualifying for the 2023 Scotia Series Provincial Championships that will be held in Windsor in a few weeks!

Jorja & Zippos Good Conclusion:
Showmanship Junior
Western Performance Junior
English Flat Junior

Ava & MDS Yankee Kid:
Showmanship Junior
Western Performance Junior

Jayme & MDS Yankee Kid:
Western Performance Senior

Mariah & Chics Be Callin:
Western Performance Junior

Cate Giannandrea & Elegant Art:
Showmanship Senior
English Flat Senior

09/17/2023

The girls are back from the Sumac Slide. Congrats to Autumn & Honey on placing in the top three in all three of her huge reining classes. 3rd in Green Rider out of 18, 3rd in Youth Stock Open out of 14 and 1st in Green as Grass Open out of 14. She also scored a new personal best and her first win in an open class!
Also congratulations to Mariah & Chance scoring their new personal best and 1st place finishes in Rookie Level 1, Rookie level 2, Youth Ranch and 2nd in Freestyle Reining!
Congratulations girls. Awesome way to end the year! ❤️

07/16/2023

Autumn Pen & Honey Pie were on a roll again today with two more 1st place finishes! Congratulations Autumn!!

07/15/2023

Busy weekend! Big congrats to Ashley Irene , JR and their pit crew placing 3rd out of 43 in Novice Horse Barrels at the MBRA’s Jackpot in Pictou today!!

07/15/2023

So proud of Autumn Pen and Honey Pie! They are having some great rides at the Valley Reiners Show in Windsor placing 1st and 2nd in their classes today! Congratulations 🎉

06/20/2023

We had a little bit of everything’s this past weekend at the CBWR show. From torrential rain to spicy horses 😂 But the girls did amazing at their first show of the year! Too many placings to list but some of the highlights are Mariah MacNeil and Chics Be Callin winning Champion Western Horse and Reserve Champion All Around Horse. Jayme Baker and MDS Yankee Kid winning Reserve Champion Western Horse. Autumn Pentecost & Ruby’s A Lakota Chex and Cate Giannandrea & Elegant Art had multiple top 3 placings. Congratulations girls!

06/07/2023

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!

05/22/2023

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard - Tim Notke

02/15/2023

😆