Star Struck Horsemanship

22/07/2024

Buddy 💙 a good horse sure makes it easier to learn and try new things

Layton Photography

21/07/2024

To put it mildly Stampede was a struggle this year. And I struggled deciding if I should post this or not.

I struggled with my balance. I struggled with my strength. My energy. My sight. (By Saturday morning warm-up I couldn’t see you if you were passing on my left side 🫤) I struggled with dealing with what my new normal is going to be and how much it is going to affect my riding, my life.

Anyone who really knows me knows I procrastinate. I put things off till the last possible moment. Especially if it’s something I don’t want to do. Something I don’t want to deal with. Well my body loud and clear told me last week that I can’t put it off anymore and I actually need to deal with what’s going on. (Which was in the works just before leaving for Calgary but nothing actually done)

Thank you to everyone who showed concern both during and after Stampede. It was pretty obvious that I wasn’t 100% and that I wasn’t riding like I can ride.

I’m not big on sharing. And I very privately like to deal with my own problems. But know that I’ll be ok. I may not be ok every day but I will get through this.
I will share what is going on but on my own time. Right now I’m just not ready 🧡

Not a post to get sympathy or make excuses. It was not my week. My horse was there for me but there were just too many other factors limiting a good performance.

Congratulations Sophia on a well deserved championship! 🥰 And congratulations to all the other competitors it was an honour to get to ride with so many world champions and accomplished riders.

20/07/2024

Better late than never! Cowboy Up! Results from last weekend.

Video https://youtu.be/bae7mpn1I-s?si=SAbit5jnAnMSchET

14/07/2024

Finals Sunday is here! Action starts at 7:00pm

https://www.tikilive.com/channel/feature-productions-2

13/07/2024

Few bobbles last night. We have today off and then clean slate Sunday night for finals.
Friday night’s video in comments

12/07/2024

Last night’s results. Video in comments.

12/07/2024

Here we go! 🐎

11/07/2024

Early morning warm up 🥱 I am still not a morning person!
Cowboy Up! starts at 7:00pm tonight!
Check it out: https://www.tikilive.com/channel/feature-productions-2

08/07/2024

Sue n I will be chasing my dreams later on this week 🤠 Cowboy Up! Starts Thursday at 7:00

Livestream: https://www.tikilive.com/channel/feature-productions-2

02/07/2024

Aᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ Lᴇssᴏɴs
July 15 - August 22
6 Weeks

Hᴏʀsᴇᴍᴀɴsʜɪᴘ Lᴇssᴏɴs
⭐️Monday 4:30 - Group - 10-14
⭐️Monday 5:30 - Group - 8-12
⭐️Monday 6:30 - Group - Adult
⭐️Monday 7:30 - Open time slot available for group, semi private, or private lessons

⭐️Tuesday 6:30 - Group - Adult

⭐️Wednesday 3:30 - Group - 12-17

Oʙsᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ Lᴇssᴏɴs
⭐️Thursday 7:30 - Group - Adult

Tᴇxᴛ Nɪᴄᴏʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴꜰᴏ ᴏʀ ᴛᴏ sɪɢɴ ᴜᴘ

24/06/2024

How to make a horse girl happy!

05/06/2024

This past weekend was jam packed full of fun! All day Saturday Jim and I were branding. We gathered 3 groups of cow/calf pairs throughout the day and Sue n I roped and dragged a few calves each group. She worked hard and pulled some good sized calves.
After working all day Saturday I thought maybe she’d be a bit tired for the Extreme Cowboy Alberta race in Leduc but nope she’s an energizer bunny! She had a great run in pro placing first and even with a couple bobbles in the open class she still sneaked in for a win in that class too.
Sprinkles also raced on Sunday. She had a couple obstacles that did go as planned and hurt our scores. She placed second. She is getting better with every run and feeling more solid all the time!
There was a great turnout of my students who race. Most of them were able to make it, 12 riders altogether. It was awesome to see everyone get into the ring in front of a hometown crowd. A couple new horses and new riders made their debut in extreme cowboy racing. I’m so proud of how everyone did!

04/06/2024

So excited! 🤩

03/06/2024

🌟Always working 🌟 Always learning 🌟
💫Always striving to do better💫

30/05/2024

A few of the girls and I went to Leduc Tuesday morning and did an extreme cowboy race demo for a few of the Leduc schools. Everyone is excited and ready to race this Sunday at the extreme cowboy race competition put on by Extreme Cowboy Alberta in conjunction with Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo at the Leduc Rec Center. Come check it out you’ll probably see a familiar horse or two! 

27/05/2024

The Leduc Black Gold Rodeo is still looking for volunteers! Sign up and mention that you’re with Star Struck Horsemanship. Anyone who volunteers will be put into a draw to win summer lessons!

Don’t wait sign up today!!

Get caught up in the excitement by volunteering with Black Gold Rodeo. There are countless ways you can help - sell tickets, organize events, security

20/05/2024

Any day spent with a horse is a good day. Right?!

Layton Photography

07/05/2024

Available Lessons
May 10 to June 28
7 Weeks

Horsemanship Lessons
💫 Monday 6:30 - GROUP Adult
💫 Tuesday 6:30 - GROUP Adult
💫 Tuesday 7:30 - Open Time for PRIVATE, SEMI PRIVATE or GROUP

🌟💫Friday availability for private and semi private horsemanship or obstacle lessons 💫🌟
🌟6:00
🌟7:30

Group $245
Semi Private $315
Private $385

06/05/2024

It’s hard to see the progress you’re making when things get tough. Keep moving towards your dreams!

💫Author Nᴏʀᴛʜᴇʀɴ Bᴇʟʟᴇ Sᴛᴀʙʟᴇs💫
When you feel like you took two steps forward and one step back. And you ask yourself "Am I getting worse?"
The answer is: No! You're leveling up
You're past the level of knowledge or skill you were previously at and on the precipice of taking things to a new level. You and your horse are in transition. Where things get messy, a bit uncomfortable and you feel like the more you know, the more you don't know.
In the barn. In the saddle. In life.
Give yourself permission to get messy.
Lean into the discomfort.
Be open to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Remember that growth is not linear

22/04/2024

Branding season is just around the corner. Who’s excited? 🙋🏼‍♀️

Layton Photography

08/04/2024

I’ll just be workin’ away 🤠

25/03/2024

Definitely this year’s goal! Focus way more on the good!

Layton Photography

19/03/2024

I’m proud of the lesson horses I have. They are not perfect but can offer so much. Stay tuned for some highlights on the awesome horses used in my lesson program.

Picture of 💕Merry💕 my original and favourite lesson horse.

💫Author ᴊᴇᴀɴᴇᴛᴛᴇ ᴀʀɴᴀᴏᴜᴛ💫
One of my biggest frustrations in this industry is the lack of understanding and consideration for the role that lesson horses play. So often, I see riders complaining about lesson horses for a huge variety of reasons: for their perceived lack of quality or value, for having to ride one they don’t like, for not getting to ride the one they do like, for their trainer not having enough lesson horses, or for the lesson horses not being available at their convenience when their personal horse is out of commission. I’ve dealt with all of the above and I know I’ll continue to do so, but I think it’s important that people understand the reality of lesson horses, and that’s that they aren’t here for your kid to ride forever and climb the levels with your one or two lesson a week commitment. They’re here to get you started, safely and productively, while you decide just how far you want to take this.

Lesson horses are incredibly special creatures. They have to be easily caught by beginners who don’t know how to properly approach a prey animal. They have to stand like statues on the crossties while tiny kids take the better part of an hour to get them clean. They have to hold their head still while beginners jam the bit into their teeth for the fiftieth time in a row to put the bridle on. They have to stand still at the mounting block while someone stands for too long with all their weight in the left stirrup and then slams down on their back with no consideration for their comfort. They tolerantly teach riders who are unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unclear, who catch their mouths and bounce on their backs and kick at their sides, and every single time, they are expected to just come again without so much as a swish of their tail or pinning of their ears. And any time one of these horses has a moment where they act like a regular horse or force the rider to really ride, they’re labeled annoying or rude or bad or lazy or whatever.

Lesson horses are not intended to take you up the levels and jump big jumps and win all the classes. If these horses were this beginner-friendly and this tolerant AND the hack winner with an auto lead change, you couldn’t afford them! That’s not to say these horses can’t be winners if you ride them well and pull your weight, but their ability to win in the show ring is not where their real value lies. Lesson horses exist to bring new riders into the sport. To teach them the ropes and get them started, lay a foundation and prepare them to make a bigger commitment to the sport by leasing or purchasing the next step horse. Lesson horses are not responsible for chasing your Olympic dreams for you. They’re responsible for getting them started in the first place. For riders to act like a lesson horse isn’t valuable because he isn’t the winner in any company is ignorant and unfair.

Every horse you ride has something to teach you. Whether it’s the crotchety old school pony who likes to root when you’re not paying attention, or the younger lesson horse who will only pick up the right lead if you ask *just right*, or the ultra reliable skip-change king, they all will add to your toolkit that you can one day apply to the fancier model you get to take you to the next level. Don’t forget about all the lessons you learn along the way and remember that without lesson horses, you wouldn’t be riding at all!

18/03/2024

Fʀɪᴅᴀʏ Dʀᴏᴘ Iɴ Lᴇssᴏɴs
🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫

I have a few time slots available for drop in obstacle or horsemanship lessons on Fridays.

If you have any questions contact Nicole.
Sign up online at: https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/SWQHV9T

13/03/2024

Another great weekend filled with learning! Two days with Lukacs Performance Horses and Tyler Albrecht Performance Horses working the flag and cows. And then wrapped up the weekend with Wendy Nelson and some reining.
We had some very tired ponies by Sunday night!

11/03/2024

06/03/2024

I attended the reining clinic with JP Forget put on by Parkland Equestrian this past weekend. A couple of my students also joined. We had a fabulous day!
Thank you JP for everything you have taught me!