KLS Equine Services

04/07/2024

Its taken me a while to come up with the words to write this post as it saddens me.

As many of you know this past winter I struggled with a hip problem, well with much sadness, this riding season, several of my riding students have already been switched to other local riding instructors, and I have a few more I need to reach out to, I will be having surgery in July. With possibility of moving up sooner.

I am taking the next couple months to focus on finishing out the school year, spending as much physical time in the saddle as I can, and enjoying it prior to being laid up all summer.

I am also not taking on any client horses this year, however, to my clients who have their own horses and I have worked with you in the past I can continue to do so for the time being.

Those of you who make it to shows this year, if I can! I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines with my crutches in hand. I appreciate all of your love and support, all of your references and referrals. The equine community around me is great and I'm sure each of you will thrive.

Here are just a few quick happy photos from this past year. 😉

02/29/2024

Let's state the obvious: New York is horse country. 146,700 horses - and their doting humans -call this state home, to the tune of a $7 billion impact on NY's economy. Check out what breed grew most in popularity and what we do with all those equines in our infographic.
The numbers come from a breakout study of NY's equine industry conducted as part of a national survey by the American Horse Council.

11/10/2023

I share this every couple years, it doesn't matter who you are, the basics are the foundation for a great horse.

10/25/2023

The look of disgust and disappointment in her face for the pre-ride groom session 🤣

10/20/2023

A day in the life of Magic. Captions under the photos 🤣 my poor lesson kid.

10/08/2023

Unfortunately all lessons with only Bandit until further notice are cancelled. I will reach out to those of you who can only ride him, this is a choice on the behalf of my horse to keep him happy and healthy. Several of my students may advance up to another horse, we need several sessions of chiro to address the issue he is having. If you don't hear from me, we will keep the lesson times agreed upon! I appreciate all your support, and thank you for understanding.

09/16/2023

Emma and Magic are growing to be quite the team, she's learning the most subtle cues make a huge ask with him!

08/27/2023

For my fellow barn owners/ trainers out there!

Lessons learned long and hard in the horse business as a professional..

1. It's easy to fall in love with your customers. They become a family who you spend a lot of time with. However, in the end they will do what's best for themselves. And, for you and them, those paths may not be the same. Prepare to get your heart broken. Keep business and personal relationships separate.

2. People will not always trust in your experience and will second guess you. They will think they know better because they read it in a book, or saw it online. Don't try to be all things to all people. Do what you are good at. Run your barn in a way that you can sleep at night knowing that you did right in your mind by them and their horses. The clients opinion of that may be different than your beliefs, but you have to live with choices that leave you at peace. That may mean confrontation, hard conversations and even asking people to move on for your own peace.

3. Horses are easy 99% of the time. It's the people who come with them that make things complicated.

4. Remember that horses need to be horses.

5. People will always judge you, and have opinions. The better you are, the more haters will have opinions.

6. Success isn't measured by ribbons and show placings. It's measured in happy animals and the quality of their lives.

7. There is always an exception or quirk that doesn't " follow the rules" in horse care. Do what works, not what the books say works.

8. When you get annoyed by seeing somebody's car pull in to the barn, it's time to let that person move on. Your barn should be a happy place. It literally only takes one bad sour apple to ruin the whole atmosphere and dynamic in a barn.

9. Let it go.... if someone moves on don't be upset by it. Ignore what they say. Don't take it personally. Every barn is not a good fit for every person.

10. This is a business. If a person or horse isn't working for you, or the compensation isn't offsetting your cost, it's time for them to go. The exception to this is your retired horses, see #11.

11. Horses only have so many jumps, so many runs, so many rides. Don’t waste your horses. Teach your students they aren’t machines. You owe it to your retired horses to have a safe, comfortable and dignified end. Your schoolies worked for you. When the time comes they can no longer do that, either give them a pleasant retirement, or put them in the ground where you know they are safe. Do not dump them at auctions or onto other people where you are not 100% sure that they will be cared for.

12. There is no shame in euthanasia for a horse owner. Always better a week too early then a second too late. Do not judge anyone for their reasons for doing this.

13. Most clients fall Into two categories. Those who are "high maintenance", open in their opinions and will confront situations head on. The second is the quiet type who will not say a word and will not openly talk with you about their expectations or issues. You have no idea they have a problem until it's too late. The people in between these two are the clients you want. They will be long term and make life easy.

14. Know your worth. KNOW YOUR WORTH. Your time and experience has a monetary value. Don't do things for free, even if you like the person. Every bit of time or effort you give to clients has value. So when you don't value your effort, neither will a client. They will come to expect "freebies", which always leads to resentment from someone.

15. Be honest. It's not always easy. But in this business it takes forever to build reputation and seconds to destroy it.

16. Remember horses are dangerous. Always use your best judgment and air on the side of caution when working with horses and students. Their lives and your own life can change in an instant.

17. Get paid up front. Keep good records. People don't go to the grocery store and ask for food they will pay for next week. Good business practices keep everyone honest and sets boundaries for clients.

18. Normalize passing on price increases. Service industries, especially ones like ours always "feel guilty " when raising prices. You are not there to subsidize someone else's horse habit. Prices have been going up on costs, so should your fees.

19. The buck stops with you. Your employees mistakes fall back to your responsibility. Always verify and check on important care aspects of daily activities.

20. Make time for family and rest. Too many of us get burnt out from the stress of expectations in this industry. In the end, boarders and students come and go. Your family is who you will have left.

Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope it can help support some of you feeling burnt out, and maybe help some people who are starting out in their journey into this industry.

Written by Rhea Distefano

08/24/2023

What does everyone have for off site lease, or lease with option to buy, someone that has a kid safe horse I can use in my small lesson program. I’m going to need another lesson crew member to lighten the load a bit on my other, but I have been searching for some time and haven't quite found the right fit.
Located in Adams Center NY

Requirements:
🦄Height: would like between 13-16hh (no minis/drafts)
🦄Age: any
🦄Maintenance: maintenance is okay but horse must be SOUND
🦄Training: beginner safe, not spooky / flight type horse, a stop and look is okay, running for their life leaving a kid on the ground is not. A horse needing a job, Must be able to do a few walk trot lessons a week and be able to teach the canter as the students further along.
🦄 Bonus points if the horse neck reins well
🦄 Other: Mare or gelding, breed doesn’t matter, english and western
🦄 Papers do not matter to me - safety does
🦄 If long term lease, local shows would be in the cards

🦄🦄🦄I must add, the horse must accept mistakes with kindness, the kids I have in my program are beginners / advanced beginners learning the basics, so they are bound to make mistakes. A horse that can accept these mistakes, without overreacting is the goal. However I also must add a horse that responds to cues when asked is not going to be disciplined.

A solid citizen is the goal, if you have a horse that has been sitting around for a bit that may need a little refresher, but fit this description, I can also do that refresher.

Thank you. If you have any questions, or think you may have a good fit, please reach out!
Pfa

08/23/2023

While I gave Tamryn a lesson her Momma gave my big man Rooster a good grooming, boy did she spit shine him!

08/18/2023

One of my cutest yet sassiest clients. Patiently waiting this morning ground tied for mom to get her helmet.

08/18/2023

Even when these 2 have their stubborn moments together, she still spoils him ❤️

07/28/2023

Mom of one of my lesson students Kaydence wanted to do a little photoshoot with Bandit today.

I snapped these candids

Mom to kid - "smile would ya"

Bandit "happy to oblige 😅"

07/19/2023

I just want to take a moment and shout from the rooftops a HUGE HOORAY for my newest lesson student. While we have had only a single handful of lessons together, the growth this young man has shown is truly great! Today although prior commitments didn't allow me to be there, i recieved videos throughout the day, he had a 4-H show at the Lewis County Fair.

Tristyn placed
1st in fitting & showmanship
1st in command
1st in Golfball Game
2nd in western equitation
2nd in Western horsemanship.
2nd in western pleasure
4th in western Road Hack

With all of this said, I am so happy he has the best family and support system. This family has endured quite the struggle over the past few weeks over a multitude of issues.

I would also like to shout out to Mackenzie Smith of Lucky Hand Performance Horses who stepped in and helped T at the show this morning when he needed it, and those who have offered a helping hand when any of these wonderful people or their kids needed it. Whether it was as simple as the hose we used last night, the bailing twine they needed, or just those cheering on from the sidelines. Your support is not unnoticed and appreciated more than you know.

07/16/2023

Horse shows are the one form of competition where it really matters how you play the game, not if you win or lose

-Daniel Lenehan

Right now, I see more kids leaving shows crying because they didn't recieve a 1$ ribbon from a 10$ class. Not my kids just to be clear! I look around everywhere I go.
I see students frustrated in the equestrian community because they feel they are not good enough, because their peers beat them down instead of build them up. Their trainers, think winning is the only thing that matters, and focuses more so on the more talented riders in their lesson program. Or the kids that have the talented horses. .
I've seen at a few shows this past couple years kids hauled in large groups that have been outcasts in their groups. Lost amongst their own stable mates. Instead of good sportsmanship and talking it out or anything they just laugh because they are better. . .
Or in recent events a young man was told he was a crap rider and would never make it in the horse world. . .
This for me is a problem.
The kids left behind are the kids who end up with major confidence issues with their horses, and usually end up getting hurt.

It's not right. It's not safe, and in the end it will make your child drive right out of the horse world.

07/15/2023

I always say this! Do not!

This story is all over the Internet, but it needs to be posted again !
If you MUST use a chain lead shank always use it over or under the horses nose and through the halter as intended. Or leave it long and hook it to the halter.
Most find it to long so they just run it through the ring and hook it back onto itself by the leather. Here is a sad story, about a trainer that did just that....................

It was a routine day at the barn and after finishing with her lessons, Karen had some extra time to ride and enjoy one of her own horses, a solid, tried-and-true gelding. After a wonderful ride, Karen proceeded with her normal routine to untack and groom her horse and put him away.

After unbridling the horse, she put on the nylon halter and looking around for a lead shank to lead him back to the barn, all that Karen could find was a shank with a chain. The horse had just been ridden and was tired, so he certainly did not need the chain over his nose for control, but since it was the only lead handy, Karen decided to use it anyway. She ran the snap of the chain through the bottom ring of the halter and snapped it back on itself, doubling the chain, as most people do in order to shorten the chain and make it stronger when the chain is not needed over the horse’s nose or under its chin.

Enjoying the afternoon and savoring the excellent ride she just had on her gelding, Karen walked the horse slowly back toward his stall, deciding to offer him a treat and allow him to graze on the fresh green grass on the way back to the barn. Having used the chain lead shank in this manner dozens, if not hundreds of times before, Karen had no idea that she had created a noose for her horse and by letting him graze, she was setting the trap.

Within a moment of having his head down in the grass, Karen saw the gelding’s hoof in the loop of the chain. In a split second, before Karen could take any corrective action, he ripped his head up and reared; his leg was trapped in the chain and the horse began to struggle.

Tragically, the chain did not break, but the horse’s neck did. The horse could not untangle himself and in his struggle to get free, his neck broke and as he collapsed to the ground, he also broke his hip. Within an hour of their last ride together, Karen held her fine gelding’s head in her lap as he was euthanized.

06/26/2023

Be prepared , if we get this smoke, for the safety of our students and horses lessons may be cancelled/rescheduled again!

Governor Hochu updated New Yorkers on expected air quality this week.

06/13/2023

I read a post yesterday. Its fueled and put words into my head I cannot explain.. I've been trying to find the words to say, it's been hard. It hurt me to read it. A very young man with a strong desire to be a horseman one day, was picked apart by a person in the equine community. Not in a constructive criticism way either.

This day was meant to be a day of praise and confidence boost for this youngster, instead, he walked away with a hurt mentality, and a lack or little desire to be what he wanted to.
People always complain about the horse show class sizes lately. How they are not as competitive, how we can't get youth involved, anyone wonder why?
The horse community is there for people yes, yet not everyone is supporting our youth as they need to be, instead of judging and picking them apart and bruising them, why not offer them some advice. Don't say you are a horrible rider, you can't do this, you'll never make it, you'll never be good enough, offer help, offer guidance, when it's a passion, it's in your blood, your bones, you don't want to give it up.

Growth is a beautiful thing. I do not care who you are, how old you are, where you've been, you will always learn more when it comes to horses, and when you think you know it all... a horse will come along to humble you. I still go to clinics, go to local barns. Ask questions. There is nothing my fellow horseman cannot answer. That is when they are bold enough. We have to remember, to keep this sport alive, we need to support everyone coming in.

I remember as a youth. I had a decent amount of knowledge but I didn't know how to use it. There were fancy people around me who said the same, I'd never be good enough, all the same. I didn't know what do to do with myself. Where to go, yet someone else believed in me, took me under his wing. Without Joe Abbott, I wouldn't be where I am today, Advanced my skillset, I trained the "deemed unbreakable mare " I am today a very versatile person. With alot of knowledge to offer. I've got more ribbons than I can hang, but they are just ribbons... I may not ever go to congress, or Worlds. I also don't need a paper to ride a horse.

I choose today to build the confidence of those who others have been broken down. To start the ones who need a bit more time. Who need to use the fire that others have fueled to keep them going.

Please remember. Do not let other people bring you down. Let them be your driving force to be better. Be stronger.

06/11/2023

This week I'm featuring my lesson student Tamryn, she is a strong young lady with a love for horses, shes a beginner, with only pony ride time. She has come a very long way in a short period of time! She's now getting independent ride time off the lunge line, and loving every minute of it. Her favorite thing to do after each lesson, is have mom cut an apple into 4 and feed it to the star horse Skipper. On top of a couple extra cookies 😅

On that note!!!

School is almost out, and summer is nearly here!! Let's get riding lessons booked! Also offering the intro to horses class (non-riding) but hands on ! Please message the page for more details.

06/07/2023

Remember. Even if air quality goes back to normal. This doesn't mean your horses are A-Ok! Keep an eye on them! The trauma the smoke inhalation has already caused takes time to heal just as it does for humans.

They take care of us, let's take care of them! Skip that lesson! Skip that show! It's not worth risking your partners wellbeing.

06/07/2023

At this time, For the safety of our horses, our kids and myself, im canceling any lessons for today the 7th and tomorrow the 8th. With the impeding air quality declining yet again, we would rather be safe than sorry for both your children, and our hard working horses. Thank you for your understanding. I will be reaching out to reschedule. .

This is the prediction for todays smoke pattern by mid afternoon..

05/13/2023

Congratulations to Cai Hobbs on the purchase of his new horse formerly known as "Harleigh" now called Tawny, welcome to the Royal Stables family can't wait to watch you both blossom!

05/07/2023

Trainer - What day is it
Student - Wednesday
Trainer - What day is it
Student - The 5th
Trainer - What day is it
Student - 😡
Trainer - I kept asking you the same question and you gave me the right answer, but I didn’t accept it as right. So you changed your answer, got frustrated and confused. This is exactly how your horse can feel if you miss the release.

05/01/2023

03/29/2023

03/13/2023