Hidden Creek Farm

07/02/2024

06/17/2024

We had a great time at the horse show this past Saturday! Aralyn got the job to be the first kid to show Tilly at the pony’s second horse show ever, and she did a great job winning all of her ground pole classes. She looked like a total pro on a green pony and I couldn’t have asked for better rides! Cricket and Roxie got to go be show ponies again too! Neither one of them has shown in years. Cricket helped Aralyn get through her move up to crossrails and they were champion of the division. Roxie did the 2’ and had some good trips to be reserve champion!

05/14/2024

Frankie, you were a character and there will never be another horse like you. Rest in peace, sweet boy. You will be missed.

04/16/2024

Fun weekend with the ponies!

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Hidden Creek Farm!

03/08/2023

First horse show of the season ✔️

02/27/2023

Some photos from the past few weeks!

02/07/2023

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.

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from all of us at Hidden Creek Farm!

11/10/2022

A little late, but Bits & Pablo were great at the horse show Halloween weekend! Bits was champion in the baby greens and Pablo was reserve champion!

09/17/2022

Bacardi’s double clear .85m round from Wednesday!

09/17/2022

Had a great week of horse showing with Bacardi this past week!

08/29/2022

The newest little rider at the barn, Nacho! ❤️

08/22/2022

A few weeks late but we had some fun taking the bridles off some of the horses and seeing what we could do!

07/18/2022

Photos from the past few weeks!

06/20/2022

A big congratulations to Aralyn on a great first horse show! This kid has wanted nothing more than to do a horse show for quite a while now and it finally happened for her! Marco also tagged along so that he could get out and do something since he hasn’t been to a horse show in months and he was champion of cross rails with Riley and champion of the 2’ schooling hunters with Stephanie!

06/08/2022

More photos from the horse show last weekend 🌟

06/06/2022

Another horse show weekend in the books! Pablo did his second show at 2’6” and was champion in the money hunters out of 18 horses and also champion in the baby greens! Chloe got to show her pony, Roxie, for the first time and also stepped up to the short stirrup division with some good rides! Bella also showed Roxie and stepped up to 2’3” with good rides to finish reserve champion! Bacardi stepped back up to the .85-.95 and finished reserve champion!

05/15/2022

Photos from the past two horse shows!

03/28/2022

Some photos from the weekend! Lots of good ponies!

03/23/2022

Stalled Progress

When we start something new, horseback riding being a good example, we start from so low a place that almost any improvement seems significant.

Watch a lesson. Inevitably, someone will have been given some instruction, and within minutes, that person will ask, “Is this better?”

We all do that, but what it shows is that humans are hungry for progress, and frustrated when they don’t feel as though they are getting “better.”

In reality, though, it takes a long time with hundreds---some claim thousands—of hours of practice to become adept at something as complex as riding a horse, and on that road there will be times that it seems that zero improvement is happening.

I believe that it has been called by sports author George Leonard “long plateaus of seeming non-improvement.” For those who need the constant stroking of being assured that, “yes, you are getting better” on a lesson by lesson basis, this is when many of them jump ship. They can’t stand the frustration of not “improving” even when they ARE improving, but at too imperceptible a rate as to be reassuring.

So they go off to hunt for some next fix of “Oh, this is SO MUCH BETTER,” in some other pursuit, when if they’d had the true grit to stick it out, they could have been successful as riders.

There was a famous German dressage trainer giving a clinic some years ago in Massachusetts, and when this topic came up, she summed it up like this.

“I have seen them come. And I have seen them go. So many more go than stay."

03/16/2022

We had a great time at the MOHJO awards banquet! Congratulations to all the riders on a great show season!

Marco, Flash, and Cricket all got year end awards in crossrails with Marco finishing as reserve champion, Flash 4th and Cricket 5th.

Pablo finished 4th in short stirrup.

Bella and Riley both got ribbons in crossrail eq with Bella finishing 5th and Riley 6th.

Riley also finished 4th in short stirrup eq.

03/10/2022

Bacardi and Bits were very good boys at the horse show this past weekend! Both horses moved up and Bits was reserve champion his first time in the baby greens!

02/25/2022

Tuesday Tip:
Remember, this horse showing and riding is supposed to be FUN! That's how most of us got started. Smile, enjoy your your horse and what you are learning. It's all a process. Some days you win and some days you learn! I have found that the more you have fun, the more success you make. Being overly critical of yourself or your horse generally works against you. Always find the good in everything first. Whether you are the rider, trainer, sponsor or parent be positive, be supportive. No one tries to do poorly! SO many riders beat themselves up and are critical of themselves. They don't need help at that! Focus on the positive and you will see much more positive results! Try it and see what happens!!!

02/08/2022

I hope your trainer doesn't give you what you want.

I DO hope your trainer gives you what you need, more importantly...what your horse needs.

There will always be someone willing to do it faster and flashier. There will always be someone willing to get you into the show ring on your time line instead of your horses. There will always be someone who will tell you only the things you want to hear. For the right price, there will always be someone.

I don't want that kind of someone...not for me and not for you all either.

So, choose your someone carefully.

Choose someone who values their process enough that they can't be swayed from it by demands and dollars. They know where they've been, where they're going and all of the things they've learned between. They put your horse first and show you the value in work that is centered around what the horse needs. They are your biggest supporter while remaining honest and realistic about what it takes to achieve your goals. The only promise they make, is that your horse will get better...and you will too. You pay them but at the same time, who they are at their core can't be bought. They live their truth each day, honest and humble.

That type of someone is priceless...

- Terra

📸: Logan Astrup

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas from all of us at Hidden Creek Farm!

11/21/2021

Pablo & Riley from earlier this week 😍🥺

11/08/2021

Photos from the horse show yesterday! Luna was perfect for her first time showing over fences and Bella had great rides for her first time showing Pablo. Chloe also did trot poles on Marco and had some good rides as well!

11/03/2021

Had a blast at the horse show this past weekend! Congratulations to everyone on great rides!!