Sterling Hunter/Jumpers Riding Stable

08/01/2024

A freshly mowed jump field is just as gorgeous as a freshly dragged arena!!

07/19/2024

My IEA and IHSA riders knew Stephanie and how much she would always contribute to the success of the programs; it was my pleasure to get to know her and be able to call her a friend as well as a colleague. Please consider helping her family as they navigate through this extremely unfortunate situation.

Dear Friends, Family, and Kind-Hearted Supporters, Today, I want… Laurie Kuhnle needs your support for Rally Round Stephanie Cook's Journey to Recovery!!!

07/12/2024

Super proud of this girl for working hard to be able to focus on track, pace, and rhythm! Sometimes Deco is positive that he knows how best to do everything and she is doing a fantastic job of helping him to pay better attention to her! And can we talk about how great he looks at 24?!?

06/24/2024

Form = Function!

04/18/2024

So happy that they’re happy!!

04/17/2024

You know that I will ONLY recommend a product if I have used it and believe in it; I highly recommend The Greene Pharmacist products as we’ve experienced fantastic results with several of our horses! Don’t miss this weekends sale to give the products a try at almost half the normal cost!!!

03/15/2024

Lauren Penland and I had a lovely evening last night, attending Janet’s seminar! Never stop learning; you can always be better and do better for those around you! I cannot recommend Janet’s book, “Horse Brain, Human Brain,” enough…truly life changing!

Thanks to one of my new friends, Randy Winter, for sending me this image. The definition of "horsemanship" that I was taught as a child and have always followed is: THE HORSE COMES FIRST. No matter what. I was also taught that a "horseman" (male or female) is defined by the integrity with which they follow this rule. The final chapter of "Horse Brain, Human Brain" goes into more detail. It's a great motto to remember when faced with complex human decisions about training, stable management, barn drama, and equine comfort.

03/07/2024

An excellent article about the importance of pole work….and now I have another book that I need to purchase!

An excerpt from "Pole Work for Dressage Riders" by Ann Katrin Querbach.

02/25/2024

This is a wonderful reminder! I’d add to remember to “give the horse a place to go” with an outside opening rein as needed when asking for a lateral yield.

To avoid using the indirect inside rein when you should be using your inside leg...

Imagine your inside rein has paint on it and every time it touches your horse’s neck, you get paint on him. (And you have to get off to clean him up!)—Lendon Gray

🎨: Sandy Rabinwitz

02/20/2024

Absolutely true! Don’t take it personally…we all have our good days, not so good days, and bad days! It doesn’t mean that practice can’t be perfect even if that means schooling a bit on a not so good day and then going home and having a relaxing evening!!

What rider schooling a horse hasn’t noticed that some days seem better than others? "Better" can mean many things, calmer, steadier, more responsive to aids, more actively forward, less frantically forward, easier to keep balanced, lots of different ways of responding to the training that we think of as positive.

And what I have begun to realize is that old saying that “comparison is the thief of joy.”

By that I mean that if I start to question, “Why is he being like this today when he was so good just two days ago?” I am creating a slightly accusatory tone, maybe if only to a subtle extent, but that disappointment is there, and disappointment is a negative quality to hold when anyone is training a horse.

Why? Because of the ever so human and natural desire to fix it, to improve it, to get it back to the way it was two days ago.

And what is wrong with that? Don’t we train so that the horse DOES get better?

Yes, but not if we start to intensify the fix-it buttons by adding, perhaps, more pressure, more repetition, more urgency. Training well is a subtle dance between asking for some difference while tiptoeing along below the anxiety threshold of the horse.

So often if we had just been able to think, “He was better two days ago,” and leave it at that without asking the “WHY” we could have ended on a better note than by getting into any sort of contest, two days ago versus today?

Anyway, something to possibly consider if you find yourself in that situation---.

02/20/2024

This. Over and over and over again.❤️❤️

Thank your lesson horse

In this industry, we all too often see the average lesson horse viewed as lesser than or below other horses. Yet, they have the hardest job of any horse.

They do not complain when an unbalanced first time rider mounts for their lesson. They are a calming force for the most timid of riders, promising safety and security. They are patient and kind, allowing riders to grow and evolve in a safe space without fear of making mistakes.

They take the brunt of your “bad day” emotions, without complaint, even though the negative emotions should not be taken out on them in the first place. They would have every right to not perform or act out, yet they are gracious enough to be a shoulder to cry on.

They have the remarkable ability to sense your insecurities and needs, and provide you with the exact ride you need for the day. To teach the lessons you need in that moment, lessons you didn’t even know you needed to learn.

Even on the frustrating days, “when the lesson horse isn’t listening,” they don’t take your accusations to heart. They continue on with their masterful plans to instill humility, critical thinking, and grace in their partner - and you will finally understand that they’re always listening, and they’re always right.

And when you finally graduate to your own fancier horse, take a moment to think of all the lesson horses who brought you to this milestone. They gave you the knowledge, ability, and skill to be where you are right now. And they gave you their heart and soul in the process.

So next time you see a lesson horse, thank them. Give them a pat and a peppermint, a warm hug, and a promise to treat them with respect - for they are the backbone of this industry, and the foundation for all future equestrians.

02/17/2024

“Edible treats are like race cars - they work extremely well, but only if you know what you’re doing….Most people assume that a reward is very special. But in fact, it’s anything desirable. For a horse, that may be a rest from work and a pat on the neck.” -Janet Jones
Anything from Janet Jones is a must read!!

To accommodate a horse’s associative talents, provide the right rewards at the right time, and only for behavior you want to encourage.

01/31/2024

I cannot wait to attend this seminar and will be looking forward to sharing what I learn with my virtual lesson folks! If you haven’t read “Horse Brain, Human Brain”…you really need to get yourself a copy!

01/28/2024

This past week included some productive consult calls and I can’t wait to get started with virtual lessons this week! Let me know how I can motivate you to set and meet goals, and/or supplement your current program with new “eyes” and ideas!

01/17/2024

Here goes, everyone, I’m trying something new! VIRTUAL LESSONS!!! All you need are ear buds, a phone, and someone to hold your phone to video (well…and a horse and all that goes with it)! We can use FaceTime or FB Messenger Video and I will be “in your ear” as I watch your ride and coach from afar! I will send you exercise set up diagrams as well. Let me know what you think and if you’d like to schedule a lesson; only $25 per session is the special intro rate as I work to fine tune this new format!!

01/08/2024

This! This! This! As any of you who have ridden with me know…I feel like the function of the hips is the key to proper form!!

12/21/2023

So proud of Kailey’s progress in building her position and confidence! This was her first time playing with one hand behind the back over fences and she rocked it! And of course, Deco is a rock star, even in the rain!

05/20/2023

Wow! Fantastic information!

Virginia Tech (USA) Publishes Independent Equestrian Helmet Ratings

With sponsorship from Jacqueline Mars, USHJA, USEF and USEA, Virginia Tech in the USA have rated a total of 40 equestrian helmets using the STAR evaluation system.

The impact tests evaluate a helmet's ability to reduce linear and rotational acceleration of the head from a range of head impacts a rider might experience. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with fewer stars.

The real surprise is that paying more doesn’t necessarily give you better protection. The top two helmets were 8x different in price!!!!

FULL RESULTS >>> https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/equestrian-helmet-ratings.html

05/26/2022

An absolutely amazing facility and we are so proud of our very own Lauren Penland who is a vet tech at the facility (and little Gus got to be the first canine patient)!

05/23/2022

Soooo happy that Mary Grace and Devlin came to visit us in Ocala! Love these girls!!! Here’s a little video of MG and Ava!

05/23/2022

More fun with “my girls”! Here’s Dev and Princeton!

05/13/2022

This amazing young woman graduates today; what a gift it’s been to be a part of your life! Congratulations, Jac (and family), we love you!!

05/06/2022

Congratulations to Mary Grace for being accepted into the USHJA’s Emerging Athletes Program! Very proud!!

04/08/2022

Easter Bunny Diva being as photogenic as ever while working as a camp pony in Aiken at Crimson Jewel!!!

03/14/2022

On Mondays, we play with cows!