BitterSweet Stables- Boarding, Lessons, Training, etc.

08/30/2024

Shows/Events BitterSweet Stables plans to attend:
Sept. 7th Creekside Horse Park Scavenger Hunt/Obsticle Course & Sept 8th Creekside Fun Show (western games)
(weekend camping trip with horses/shows)
Both:$500.00 (we will stay overnight in cabins and horses in corrals)(food is not included on pricing)
Or only the 7th for $250.00
*we will either do both or just the Saturday
*please let me know aspa if you want to do this so I can reserve cabins/corrals
Sept. 28th & 29th CVF (Jumper) 28th=$335.00
(1 Height Division- 1 warm up class + 3 classes)
29th= $315.00 (1 Height Division- 3 classes )
Both days:$580.00
Oct 6th Hinkley (Jumper) $320.00 (1 Height Division- 1 warm up class + 3 classes)
Oct 10th CVF (Jumper) $315.00 (1 Height Division- 3 classes )
Nov. 10th CVF (Jumper) $315.00 (1 Height Division- 3 classes )
Dec. 22nd
CVF (Jumper) $315.00 (1 Height Division- 3 classes )
****For Jumper shows we will haul in the night before and schooling is available at $35.00 per ride******

****These events are only available through BitterSweet Stables to students activity enrolled in my program who are consistently doing lessons and at the w/t/c level (advanced riders)****

08/22/2024

2024 Movie Night at the barn !!!

It was full of games, water ballons, laughs, smores, pizza, and Fun!!!! What a blast!!!

08/21/2024

I had someone ask me this week why attendance is one of the factors that affects scheduling.

I thought it was an odd question, because it has a pretty simple answer...open lesson times don't pay bills. So scheduling someone who isn't going to show up regularly isn't a good business decision.

But it really goes deeper than that.

One of the most profound lessons that horses teach us is commitment. Commitment to caring for them, commitment to bettering ourselves, and commitment to setting goals and achieving them.

If you aren't attending the lessons you scheduled (horseback riding or any other sport) regularly, you're missing this point. Your progress will be minimal and you'll end up frustrated.

Holding space for someone who isn't committed to that space will suck the life right out of you. (Read that twice, because it applies every single day of your life). It isn't just a financial drain. It's tough to get excited to teach someone who isn't committed to learning.

So yes, I'm going to schedule riders who are committed to learning and who attend regularly first. Their enthusiasm keeps me going when the day is kicking my butt. They remind me that this purpose is far bigger than just what is happening in the arena.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 🤣

08/21/2024

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

08/21/2024

08/21/2024

As a barn owner, the hardest line you'll ever draw is the boundary of who you allow in and who you allow to stay.

A friendly reminder to my fellow trainers (and any horse person in general)-

-Nobody is worth your peace of mind..if they cost you your peace, kick them out!

- No one can buy your trust, when you see their true actions...believe them.

- If they can't respect you or the facility, they need to leave.

- No amount of money is worth harboring negative energy in your work and play atmosphere.

I am done trying to hatch bad eggs. I am no longer willing to try to fix, help, slave or suffer for those not willing to give the same effort or at the least carry themselves with class and integrity.

Say it with me friends:

Your barn, your rules. And your happy place. If they don't like it, they can leave.

Customer service should not feel like slavery. You shouldn't feel uncomfortable when people pull into your barn driveway. Stick to your guts. And your boundaries. 💕

- Ian Baese O’Connor

📸 Kaly Madison Photography

08/21/2024

08/21/2024

06/24/2024

What a full fun day at Puregold Stables with the girls (Alexa, Maddie, Anna, and Nia) and the horses (Shamrock, Juniper, and Wish). The girls did a phenomal job memorizing their courses and riding their mounts.

6/23/24
Theme: Freedom

Class #7. 2ft with Optimal time
1st- Maddie on Juniper
2nd- Anna on Wish
3rd-Alexa on Shamrock

Class #8. 2ft with Jump off
1st- Maddie on Juniper
2nd- Alexa on Sham

Class #9. 2'3ft with Optimal Time
1st-Alexa on Shamrock
2nd- Anna on Wish
3rd- Nia on Juniper

Class #11 2'6ft with Optimal Time
1st-Maddie on Shamrock
2nd-Nia on Juniper

Class #12. 2'6ft with Jump off
1st-Maddie on Shamrock
2nd-Nia on Juniper

06/20/2024

Revision to wording on rate sheet for easy/clarification

Rates:
Lesson prices:
$70.00 Private (1 hour)
$55.00 Semi Private (x2 riders)(1 hour)
$45.00 Group (x3-up riders) (1 hour)
(These lessons rate above will max at 2ft for those who jump. To jump higher there will be an additional fee per lesson. If weather is not suited to jump those higher heights you will just pay the normal rates as listed above)
Jump Height Fee:$10.00 per lesson
(When jumping 2'3ft-higher)(this is to help pay for the horses supplements/injections/chiro /magnawave needed to allow them to continue to jump at these higher heights)
(I will be the one determining the heights of the jumps I think you and your mount are ready for/capable of doing in your lessons)
****If using you own equine these height rates don't apply****
***Additionally if your rider is not averaging at 2 lessons per month they will not be eligible for cantering/jumping/offsite activities. Riding is a sport that takes time, practice, commitment just like every other sport****

Board options:
My facility offers: provides top quality grain, 2 cut timothy/orchard grass mix, pine pelleted bedding, stalls mucked daily, grain given x2 daily, turnout daily weather permitting, access to arena/arena equipment when not by lesson program and Bittersweet stable events)
-$650.00 Full care board in tent stall/shelter/used in program
-$750.00 Full care board in tent stall/shelter/not used program
-$750.00 Full Care board in main barn/used in lesson program
-$950.00 Full Care board in main barn/not used in lesson program
-$1,150 Full Care in training board worked 3-5 days per week/ Lesson program optional housed in tent/shelter
-$1,250 Full Care in training board worked 3-5 days per week/ Lesson program optional housed in main barn
-$30.00 overnight stall in barn

Horse Training:
Offsite: $65.00 per hour (Only will travel to barns up to 20 miles. If further additional rates will apply)
Onsite: $50 per hour

Horse Showing/Evals: If you are interested in buying/leasing a mount that is off property and you would like me to go with you to look at said mount: $50.00 per hour (drive time there and back will be included in the clocking time as well as the evaluation of said animal)

Trail Rides:(For riders proficient at the walk, trot, and canter (intermediate-advanced riders))(Additionally, have to be averaging at 2 lesson minimum per month to be eligible)
Local Parks: $120.00 (3 hours)(West Woods, Beartown, Tupelo, South Chagrin)
DERTHICK Corn Maze: $100.00
Cleveland Edgewater Beach Ride: $300.00

Camps:
Kids Camp:
4 hours (8am-12pm) or (12pm-4pm)-$400.00
8 hours (8am-4pm)-$600.00
After/before camp care: $100 for the week or $15 per day person and $20 each day after

Advance Camp: (only for intermediate to advanced riders)
6 hours (8am-2pm)-$525.00

Pony Parties/Birthday group rides:
2 hour events= $60 per rider minimum x4 riders

Barn Movie Night Sleepover: (Limit 18 kids)(We will be announcing date ahead of time)
Admission: $50.00 (covers all food dinner/breakfast, games, movies)
Participants will need to bring: Pj's, sweatshirt, sleeping bag, pillow, lot of layers, blanket, etc.

Horse Showing: (will update with other show venues)
CVF (Jumping)(Chagrin Falls) ($315 for the Division x3 classes= 5 courses and
schooling the evening before ($35.00))
Puregold (Jumpers)(Salem)($250.00 x4 classes = 2-3 courses at 2 different heights)
Blue Lakes (Contesting)(Newbury) ($250.00 x 7 classes)
GHPA (Contesting)(Burton)($225 x 5 classes) (Keyhole, Stakes, Flags, Poles, Barrels)
******Discount $75.00 off if you haul/use your own mount******
******If exhibiting a BitterSweet Stables Equine at a show I will be the one deciding which horse/classes the rider will be exhibiting in based off their goals/riding ability/etc.********

Hauling: $2.00 per mile (Mileage starts/ends from where my trailer is hitched/unhitched at my barn facility unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon)

06/04/2024

https://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/2268362.html

Another one of our sale ponys!!!

Grey Welsh Cob Mare, Luna-Hunter Jumper Pony Soon to be all around pony in Ohio. DreamHorse.com is the premier horse classifieds site with horses for sale, lease, adoption, and auction, breeding stallions, and more.

06/04/2024

https://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/2269648.html

One of our sale horses!!!

Bay Thoroughbred Mare, Juniper- Thoughbred who jumps 3ft with ease and scope for mo in Ohio. DreamHorse.com is the premier horse classifieds site with horses for sale, lease, adoption, and auction, breeding stallions, and more.