Windsong Equestrian

06/11/2024

Thank you Hannah Marie Photography for capturing me, my girls, and Windsong's OG, Paddington. These photos mean more than I can express.

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06/11/2024

Regardless of which side you're on, I know a lot of people are struggling today with sadness and hopelessness. If you need some levity and to block out the world for a minute, come out and hug a horse today. My barn is a place of healing and horse therapy is the best medicine. Peaches is particularly huggable.

Let's find unity, not divide and remember to be kind and gentle with one another.🕊️

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05/11/2024

Which one of these is not like the other?🛴 If you know, you know.

Holy smokes! What a show season we had! We wrapped up 2024 with a super fun Hunter Derby on Sunday at the beautiful Rest and Be Thankful. It was something none of us had done before and it's safe to say, we have all caught the bug!

We brought some honorary Windsong peeps with us - Liz & Lilian, who both rode and showed Liz's incredible Thoroughbred, Charlie.

✨Osman & Spumoni✨
5th in Ground Poles

✨Lilian & Charlie✨
4th in Ground Poles

✨Lindsay & Providence Sly Fox✨
9th in 18"

✨Liz & Charlie✨
6th in 2'3"

Henley & Wild put in some incredible jumps. I was not only hobbling on one foot but I was helping as a part of show management so coaching took a back seat. Thank goodness for Crystal and all of her help, coaching, tacking, etc. but Henley had to do much of the schooling on her own. I'm amazed in how far these two have come in less than a calendar year and can't wait to school over more cross-country fences!

And bless Crouton. I went from being in an air-cast to shoving my foot in my tall boot, hopping on and flopping around with basically no right leg. See last photo for definition of He was such a good pony toting me around and not having warmed up over anything in the field. I can't wait to give him a better ride next year and hopefully be less broken.

Thank you to Crystal who got thrown into being show groom. Thank you to Courtney for letting me borrow your shadbelly for my rounds and Emilia for letting me borrow YOUR shadbelly for the victory gallop. I'm so grateful for good friends and community.🫶🏼

Maybe Santa will bring me my own shadbelly this year.🎅🏼

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02/11/2024

Derby Day is TOMORROW! Come join in on the fun!

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Get your entries in for the MeHJA Derby Day before they close at 12pm tomorrow! You can find the entry form on our webpage!

30/10/2024

We were long overdue for a barn party so on Saturday, we celebrated fall and Halloween on the farm. I always forget how much this Barn Family and program has grown until I see (mostly) everyone in the same space at the same time. It's pretty wild to think that this started as a side gig during the pandemic.

My heart was filled to the brim seeing kids in costume running around playing, my teens and teens dressing up the horses and going for silly rides in the arena, and parents and family members enjoying food and conversation around the bonfire.

Thank you to the special people who show up and bring the Windsong Magic!🪄

Swipe to see Cowboy Matt getting it done with pumpkin carving.

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28/10/2024

Choose to be a cheerleader instead of a bully. The smallest act of kindness or compassion could turn someone's day around and fill your soul with joy instead of hate.

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17/10/2024

Horse showing with the funk is not for the faint of heart. I'm nearly fully recovered from Fall Finals but wanted to share some big successes.

✨Rosie & Spumoni✨
3rd place in Leadline Hunter Seat Final.

It was a big turnout of lead liners and Rosie did a great job working on her posting trot rhythm inbetween checking herself out in the mirrors. Jesus take the wheel as I toss this courageous girl into the walk trot ring next year.

✨Henley & Wild Caramelo✨
1st place 11 & Up Walk Trot Final
1st place MeHJA Walk Trot Poles Medal

This new partnership set out to give showing a try this season and to see what Wild the OTTB thought of it all. They knocked it out of the park and I can't wait to see them in Long Stirrup next year.

✨Crystal & Wild Caramelo✨
2nd in Schooling Hunter

Lucy, Sam and Lily had some great moments in the ring and took some knowledge nuggets that we apply during next show season.

I am grateful for Asher who was a helping hand all day long and Crystal who I tagged in as coach on and off as I felt like a puddle of mud.

Thank you to Graystone for hosting another wonderful Fall Finals!🍂

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14/10/2024

Beyond grateful to be a part of the MeHJA board.💛💙 I cannot take an ounce of credit to what was brought to fruition yesterday. I have been a shell of myself recently dealing with my own behind the scenes moments but dang, did these gals knock it out of the park. The attention to detail, thought, time and care that went into finals was above and beyond. We love our growing hunter-jumper community and I think yesterday was a beautiful example of that.

I can't wait to round out the year with Lucky Clover's Halloween Show and our First Annual Hunter Derby!!!🤩

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Meg Fox
Courtney Guertin
Jessie Schnell
Maggie Seitz
Hannah Elizabeth Ouellette
Wendy McCann
Kate Bennett
Jessica Douglas

What a day!! We hope that you all got your ponies home safe, sound, and dry (!) and that everyone got some good sleep last night. Thank you to every single rider, trainer, parent, friend, supporter, volunteer, to Tina for feeding us, Hannah for snapping photos and getting video, and the entire Graystone Stables crew, for all of the incredible work you did yesterday and all season long. The weather mostly cooperated, and even though we finished with minutes of murky “daylight” to spare, I think we can confidently say we had a successful Finals!!

Please, please tag us in your photos so we can see everyone’s joyous faces and beautiful ponies!

Get some rest - we have two more events on the calendar! October 27, Lucky Clover is holding a Halloween show with an epic costume class, and November 3, we will be hosting our first ever (and hopefully annual) Hunter Derby Day at Rest and Be Thankful! Hope to see you there!

GREAT JOB, everyone! ✨✨✨

06/10/2024

It was a beautiful sunny day at Graystone for their final show of the season!🌤️

✨Henley & Wild✨
1st Walk Trot Pleasure Classic
2nd Wall Trot Equitation Classic

With minimal prep, like "get on, trot to the ring, your class is starting" prep😅 they marched into the class and shined!

✨Rosie & Spumoni✨
2nd Leadline Pleasure Championship
3rd Leadline Equitation Championship

It's been a really rewarding year as a mom to see how much Rosie has grown. Last year, she was blowing kisses while she was in the ring and constantly making goofy faces, all of which I loved. This year, she can post while holding her reins independently and outside of her braids, gets herself ready on her own. The sass is strong and she has a hard time understanding that she can't canter and jump away from home yet, but she has such incredible horsemanship and sportsmanship. I love the life skills horses are teaching her.

✨Henley & Spumoni✨
I am so impressed with how this young rider balanced 2 horses. Short/Long Stirrup was a huge division and then with her exhausted GPS giving her the incorrect coordinates 🫣 no ribbons were received but Henley made another positive experience for our green-to-fences Spumoni Pony at a show.

Crystal & I raced to make our Hunter U/S class which was HUGE. I think I counted 20 of us in the ring. No pinnings but both of us could not be more pleased with how well-behaved both Wild the OTTB and Spumoni the mystery auction pony were in such a large group.

Thank you Graystone for sharing your beautiful facility with us. Fall Finals is next weekend to wrap up our show season!🏆

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04/10/2024

Spumoni has to be the luckiest pony in the world to not have one but TWO amazing young ladies to love him.🥰

Congratulations to Sam and Elise on your leases of Spumoni Pony!

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29/09/2024

The majority of our horsey outtings are horse shows and usually we have a big group. It's a blast but I see how hard it has been for my daughter Rosie to share her mom and ponies time and time again - Although she does both so well and I am very proud of her for that!

I decided to bring Rosie and her honorary big sisters, Henley and Ava, on a different kind of horsey adventure yesterday. It was one where I intentionally made time just for Rosie and her ponies; Maple and Peaches.

We went to the Versatility Challenge hosted by . Rosie led a sassy Peaches in-hand over obstacles for a 2nd place finish. Then, she rode Maple through those same obstacles with a 1st place finish. Henley rode her handsome horse, Wild earning a 2nd. Wild is such a cool OTTB and has not said "no" to anything we've thrown at him. These two have bonded so deep and I cannot wait to see what else they accomplish together.

Thank you to Megan Harmon for hosting such a well-run and welcoming show. And thank you to judge Debbie Little for your kindness, encouragement, and constructive feedback. Aili, for Daisy wrangling and Ava for all of your help. I'm looking forward to many more horsey outings with my two horse loving daughters. What a dream come true!🥰

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27/09/2024

The past few months, summer leading into fall have been filled with many a horsey adventure. I'll be honest, I'm exhausted and flat out these days and I don't spend enough time in the saddle. I'm grateful for my partner in crime Crystal, who is always encouraging/peer pressuring 😉 me to get out there. Crystal makes outings seem less of a huge undertaking as she's so casually hooks up the four horse trailer and we are on our way.

We have been horse showing, chasing cows at Cattle Play Day, trail riding to the ocean and in the woods, cross country schooling, fox hunting, and this weekend, I'm taking my oldest daughter to a versatility challenge where she'll navigate an obstacle course with her fire breathing dragon pony, Maple.

What I'm finding with trying new things is remembering why I fell in love with horses in the first place: Because they're amazing and riding is and should be fun! Another huge benefit in taking our horses out on adventures is that they are really enjoying trying new things too! I always encourage a well rounded equestrian, but I think that a well-rounded horse is just as beneficial.
And remember, don't let the kids have all of the fun.🦄

So enjoy a dump of many of an adventure behind the ears feeling like I'm 10 years old all over again. I'm endlessly grateful to the horses who carry me safely.🙏🏼

(Videos in the comments)

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27/09/2024

The countdown begins to 🍂Fall Finals at Graystone Stables! 🍂 We cannot wait!🤩

Calling all volunteers! We are looking for folks to help make Fall Finals run smoothly, efficiently, and most importantly, with great fun! We need help on Saturday afternoon to set up, as well as all day Sunday. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED - just helping hands!

⭐️ If you didn't show at Summer Classic and you can't show at Finals, volunteering with us still gets you qualified for Year End awards! ⭐️

We have jobs and shifts of all types, so we can find something for you to do, whether you are a Walk-Trot kiddo done with your rides, a horse dad wanting to learn some new horse-y skills, an Adult Ammy waiting for your classes, a supportive sibling... we want you!

Comment below or reach out to us through messenger or email to let us know if you'd like to help (or volunteer your child, parent, or spouse).

Thank you for your support in helping us make this a successful wrap-up of our season - we can't wait to see you! 🤩

27/09/2024

It's been a season of change and trying new things with the horses.

I'm practicing seeing things from different perspectives but still from behind the ears of our four-legged partners.

I've been trying to not take things too seriously and just have fun.

I'm working on relighting that fire and remembering why I fell in love with horses.

So go ahead, give it a try. You might find a new spark.✨

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18/09/2024

Summer is hanging on by a thread but fall is creeping in. Photo dump of life around the barn recently.

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14/09/2024

✨WE ARE HIRING!✨

ISO morning barn help 2-4 mornings a week on an active 7.5 horse property in Scarborough.

Morning barn chores take roughly 1-2 hours. I pay $$ or would entertain a working lease on one of our horses for the right candidate.

Chores look like but are not limited to:
-feeding
-blanketing
-turn-out
-cleaning stalls
-mucking out paddock
-scrubbing, cleaning & refilling water buckets
-filling hay nets
-tidying up the barn

I am looking for someone reliable, responsible and professional. I run a tight ship while hosting a fun and close-knit program. All of our horses are very well-mannered and taken care of and easy to handle.

This would be a great opportunity for a high school or college student looking for more saddle time and/or barn managerial experience. Or an adult who wants to ditch their gym membership and reap the physical and horse therapy benefits of this gig.

If you’re interested, please send me a message with your name, horse experience and a little bit about you.

Only serious inquires need apply. Ideally, this individual would likely be a long-term team member and additional opportunities may be available for the right person.

You can reach me via PM or [email protected]

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09/09/2024

We had a sunny but blustery horse show at Life's A Ride!🍃 I was thrilled at how well the horses behaved with the high winds. At one point the judge's tent even took flight.🪁 Even still the spooky season seemed to stay at bay and the horses were on their best behavior.

We had a special guest/catch rider, Lillian, who had never showed before, or met me, hopped on Crouton with some quick coaching and came out in a competitive group with some ribbons. It was a very proud pony mom moment for me.

✨Rosie & Spumoni✨
2nd Hunter Breeding Ponies
3rd Leadline Pleasure
2nd Leadline Equitation

✨Lily & Maple Stirrup✨
4th Hunter Breeding Ponies
1st Leadline Pleasure
1st Leadline Equitation

✨Sam & Providence Sly Fox✨
1st Hunter Breeding Ponies

✨Henley & Wild Caramelo✨
3rd Hunter Breeding Horses
1st Walk Trot Eq 11 & Up
1st Walk Trot Pleasure 11 & Up
3rd MeHJA Walk Trot Poles

✨Sam & Paddington✨
5th Walk Trot Eq 11 & Up
4th Walk Trot Pleasure 11 & Up
5th MeHJA Walk Trot Poles

✨Lillian & Providence Sly Fox✨
7th Walk Trot Eq 11 & Up
6th Walk Trot Pleasure 11 & Up

✨Emma & Paddington✨
1st Hunter Breeding Horses
4th Easy Does It U/S
4th Easy Does It O/F
4th Easy Does It Hunter Stake
1st Hunter Pleasure Horse

✨Lindsay & Spumoni✨
3rd Easy Does It U/S
8th Easy Does It O/F
6th Easy Does It Hunter Stake

✨Ella & Providence Sly Fox✨
3rd Pre-Green Hunter U/S
1st Pre-Green Hunter O/F
1st Pre-Green Hunter Stake
1st Modified 2'3" Medal

✨Crystal & Wild Caramelo✨
1st Pre-Green Hunter U/S
4th Pre-Green Hunter O/F
3rd Pre-Green Hunter Stake
2nd Hunter Pleasure Horse

And Jack came on a field trip as we continue to teach him that Pony Parties are actually quite fun.

Thank you to my mom for providing the most AMAZING snack table fueling us all day long. Thank you to both of my parents for wrangling the girls so I could focus on coaching and riding. And thank you to Ava, for all of your help, hard work and team spirit! You are such a great example of what Windsong is.🫶🏼

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