H.W. Horsesports

08/10/2024

Love this team and our sister farm HL Bleu Fox Farm! Such a great weekend at Lone Tree Stables for the annual Derby Cross!

07/18/2024

Now that I’ve recovered from the weekend 😅 we had a fantastic time at HL Bleu Fox Farm with the always amazing Daniela Moguel! So much learning and laughing for 3 days just fills me with so much joy and motivation!

07/02/2024

There’s nothing quite like dancing with Milly. Thank you Green Gables Farm, LLC for hosting the Patrick Burssens clinic over the weekend! We had a wonderfully productive ride 😍

06/19/2024

We had such a great time getting out of Michigan and riding at Come Again Farm this past weekend! It was a very educational course for horses and riders. Will definitely put it on the list for future visits!

05/28/2024

We are thoroughly enjoying spring here at HWH! We’ve had some amazing time doing some arena eventing and a horse trial at Revel Run Equestrian. And most recently enjoyed our first jumper show of the season at Wyn Farm! What a great start to show season! So proud of all my awesome students 🤩

05/24/2024

Love this! Striving to do better is awesome! But don’t get down on yourself for one bad ride or one bad movement. Learn from it and move on. You know who you are 😂

9 Facts About Perfectionism: A mindset that must be unlearned or will ultimately bring your riding down 🧠

1. Every rider makes mistakes, even the best of the best.
It’s an unavoidable, universal experience and all a part of the sport.

2. Mistakes are learning opportunities.
You can grow from them and become better because of them.

3. Hyper-focusing on mistakes helps them happen.
They both become a self-fulfilling prophecy and take your focus away from your ride.

4. Mistakes mean you’re on the right track.
You can’t improve, learn, overcome challenges, and level up without them.

5. It’s not what happened but how you move forward from it that matters the most.
Moving on from the mistake matters more than the mistake itself.

6. Mistakes are temporary.
Work to fix and put them in the past instead of dwelling and allowing them to stick around.

7. Mistakes don’t define you.
You may have had a bad ride, but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad rider.

8. Social media only shows highlights.
Everyone is struggling whether they post about it or not.

9. Perfect doesn’t exist.
It’s impossible to meet unattainable expectations.

A perfectionist mindset and a lack of an ability to accept mistakes will do much more harm than good for an athlete’s mental performance. Mistakes are a normal part of sport and life. Everyone makes mistakes no matter how talented of an athlete they may be. Since perfect doesn’t exist, holding yourself to an unrealistic standard will only set you up for disappointment every ride. Instead, give yourself permission to make mistakes, using them to your advantage by viewing them as valuable feedback and learning opportunities. Refer to this post whenever you begin to feel hard on yourself, and remember that you are not alone! 🏇🏽💭✨
www.mindalignperformance.com

04/21/2024

Woot woot! Another Sunday spotlight from The Classic Equestrian with our very own Brandie Eggebeen! We love Brandie and Collins!

04/17/2024

This spring is flying by! We’ve already had a busy start to the nice weather with another fabulous Daniela Moguel clinic at HL Bleu Fox Farm, our first show at Revel Run Equestrian, and lots of fun lessons! Cant wait for more to come!

04/01/2024

All my students should read this! All of this is so important in every discipline. The only thing I disagree with is the truck and trailer thing. It affords you so much freedom and your trainer *ahem* appreciates more room for supplies and horses on trips.

But other than that, hang on every word of this article! Be the barn… 😉

The more we travel to shows the more overwhelmed I am by the amount of money required to play our sport. My daughter thrives in the jumper ring so I need to make this work. I asked around and came up with a list of things I wish I knew/did 10 years ago, so I figured I would share…

Volunteer for everything and do a great job, it opens doors and creates relationships.

Don’t be afraid to ask people for advice - most would love to chat and share their experience, be ok if they are too busy. Always ask, always be ok with the answer being no.

Read everything, or if you’re not a reader listen to podcasts, audiobooks, always learn

Learn German or Spanish, trust me.

Get a subscription to ClipMyHorse.tv for 149 Euro/year. Not only can you watch an awesome amount of international shows BUT they have an Academy that is included in the subscription. Tons of mini lessons from the best in the world.

Work the hardest (body clip, braid, muck stalls, etc) - it’s seen and appreciated by those that count

Become obsessive with your horse and its care. Obsess about their feed, their feet, their condition, make the horse you have the very best it can be.

This is silly but valid… make a note on your phone of what coffee order folks want. Nothing better than someone walking up during a long show day with your favorite drink. Relationships matter.

Be thankful to everyone. Thank the ingate, the jump crew, the course designer, the steward - their job is under appreciated and without them no one can be successful.

Help load/unload your shavings and hay deliveries. Please. I hate when folks sip lattes watching others sweat.

Find a side hustle in the horse business. We started Millbrook Leathers - there is a ton of customers out there, start small but start, every dollar counts.

Tell your fellow competitors good job, clap for them, become a friend and a supporter. It’s ok to have friends outside your own barn.

If you’re waiting for a jump, help the trainer on the jump adjust it - go up 2, go wider - you’re anyway just standing there waiting, be helpful.

No hoof, no horse. Ask questions, chat with your farrier.

When I was 16yo I braided enough manes to afford a flight to Switzerland. I worked my butt off for free, and it changed my life. People always say going to Europe is a dream, it can be a reality. 

Show up as the person you needed when you were growing up.

This is the hardest one… say hi to people when you pass. Lots of times I think they have no idea who I am, so I just look at my phone, look the other way. If you’ve met them or had some sort of interaction chances are they remember you. Make eye contact, say good morning, develop all the relationships.

Get a dog. That’s just general life advice, get a dog.

If you’re a woman, ask for opportunities, be ok with the answer being no. So many men are at the top of the sport and I swear it’s because they actively ask for opportunity while women tend to work hard and passively hope to be noticed. Ask. All they can say is yes or no, it may start a conversation and who knows where that will lead.

Dont get so busy chasing dreams that you forget the fun.

If you’re moving up a level or just need to work out kinks, do the blue ribbon rounds or school on Tuesdays/mornings if allowed. Division classes are $$ and if you’re not ready to be competitive why not do the same height in a no pressure/less cost situation? I feel like these options are too often overlooked.

If you’re a working student, be first in last out. What you lack in experience and talent make up for in work ethic. Talent is everywhere, dedicated horsemen are a rarity.

Someone is ALWAYS watching. The good and the bad.

Get the VIP. Trust me, I was never this person. But now I budget that into my savings plan - scrimp elsewhere to splurge there. VIP is where folks are sitting and relaxing, some of the most influential conversations I’ve had have happened in VIP because people had the time to chat.

Be kind and grateful to the office staff. They get all sorts of rude behavior thrown at them. They want you to succeed and your paperwork to be easy. Appreciate them and if there are issues work through them with patience and kindness at the forefront. Also, bring them cookies or cake because they are locked at that desk – who doesn’t love snacks?

Always watch the warm up, listen and learn, the warm up is the best place to be.

Talk to the course designer, ask them what's hard in their course, what's easy in the course, why they did it, etc

Walk the small classes and the big classes, then see if they ride how you thought

If you see someone needing help, go help them - this should be obvious but…

Talk to the grooms in your aisle, bring them coffee, they have so much knowledge and are so undervalued.

Look outside the box when traveling to shows. Do you have to stable on grounds or is there a trailer in option? Our horses stay in a beautiful field in Wellington for $10/day, yes it means we drive back and forth a lot, but $10/day…

If you’re a USEF member you get 10% off at Dover

Even if you aren’t a hunter, watch the pro hunter ring. Just watch trips. Many of them. In the jumpers there are fairly obvious moves made to accomplish goals. In the hunters you start to see the tiny, minuscule adjustments that add to super consistent pace and get an incredible jump out of a horse. All of these adjustments are useful tools.

Your horse’s stomach health needs to be focused on more.

Unless you have uses for hauling other things, do not get a truck and trailer to save hauling money. If you are taking less than 3 horses to every show it will rarely even out.

Be grateful. Always.

If outside hay/shavings are allowed, bring them or go to local Murdoch’s/Tractor Supply avoid paying the mark up. Always go to the gas station for ice.

Clinics! There are so many clinics out there, if you can’t afford to ride in them then audit them.

USHJA offers Emerging Athletes Program, Gold Star Clinic, etc – try to join this pathway, it’s invaluable access to some of the industry’s top professionals.

And last but not least, always pet the pony.

What would you add?

03/30/2024

So excited to add this cute new face to the HWH team! Welcome Poppy! Congrats to Fiona! We can’t wait to see what you guys can do together 😍

03/25/2024

Our very own Kimmie made the Sunday Spotlight at The Classic Equestrian! So excited for new things to come at one of my favorite stores!

03/24/2024

As usual we are having the best time with Daniela Moguel and HL Bleu Fox Farm! Our home away from home ❤️

02/10/2024

We have been loving the weather lately! Even have been doing some riding outside! Early spring? I think (hope) so 😉

12/23/2023

What a fun week of holiday shenanigans!

12/07/2023

Kit getting a little baby love in ❤️ I see a horseman in the making!

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to my barn family! I’m thankful for every student, horse mom, horse dad, horse spouse, and everyone in between. I’m honored to coach you all through your riding journey!

11/11/2023

Come see us at the Winning Edge tack sale in Coopers!! Lots of great prices! Also, good boot shopping at many vendors for students!

11/09/2023

Just what everyone needs to keep them warm on a cold barn night, a Kitten in your coat! 😂

11/03/2023

We have the best barn family! What a fun “adults” ride day at HWH! Thanks for the help afterwards ladies!

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween!!

10/30/2023

Know better. Do better. This is the basis of HWH.

The horse industry needs to reflect on some normalized care practices to help improve the welfare of horses and safety of riders. What are your horses' "othe...

10/20/2023

HDR dressage saddle for sale!

https://www.facebook.com/40004985/posts/10105150367095251/?mibextid=o96XRl

10/19/2023

Milly appreciation post! Love this horse! We’ve come a long way as a team with some pretty significant ups and downs, but she is always my favorite partner 👸🏼

10/18/2023

Congratulations to Kira on the purchase of Hugh! So excited to see what the future holds for you guys! I’m sure you will love him just as much as we do!