Barefoot Acres

08/29/2024

It's that time of year :)
Who needs gold cards!!!!

08/19/2024

My SIM cars is still not activated
I only have access to FB messenger until I can get to Verizon
Please use messenger or contact Bill :(

08/18/2024

****My phone was stepped in by a fat Penny pony 3 days ago🤣 I haven't been Ignoring people *****
I have no access to ANYTHING 😊🤣
I will need everyone's contact/phone info again
And if you've sent me any messages via text in the last 3 days, I have no way to get it
****please shoot me a text with who you are!!!!!
Fair was a blast!!! So many people to send kuddos too, and thank you 😊 but for tonight I will finish laundry.....feed kids and unpack!!!!

08/08/2024

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

08/03/2024

07/22/2024

****reminder***** no lessons this week

*we come home Thursday night, as we are on a mini-vacation/ much needed break after last week!!!
What a week last week was!!! Camp was a blast, great kids amazing volunteers!!!!
Mid camp week Wimp became sick, at first we thought colic, however his belly was working OK
Low grade temp, no other normal signs of an illness
Just difficulty peeing, lethargic, not eating or drinking and for those that know wimp, the first indication of not feeling well was refusing his cookie ;)
After antibiotics for several days, fluids, a massage, bloodwork, conversation with UpState (trailer was hooked up and ready) and hours and hours with our amazing vet, he's happy, eating, peeing and his normal sassy self!!!!
Not sure why I can't tag people but a huge thank you to so many for my crazy week, and the ability to still leave ❤️
Becky, Pam and Aleisha and all the awesome patents, thanks for helping camp go smoothly❤️ Tamarra, Becky and Jenna for all the barn help
And for all those there for Wimp❤️❤️Savannah, Helena, Jaimee, Marley, Tara, Glen, Moreen and randy, Tracy, Hana, Ava and family, I know I'm forgetting people but thank youuuuu all so much!!!

07/02/2024

:) camp is July 15-19th please get your applications in *only a few spots left

06/18/2024

*****no lessons tues-thurs******

06/11/2024

****sharing again and again and again****

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:

1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be TEACHABLE to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. 🐎🐎This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.🐎🐎🐎

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!

06/10/2024

Soooo heartbreaking 💔

06/02/2024

So much going on!!!! But we have the best barn family

05/31/2024

Good job Belle ❤️ it's a boy

05/28/2024

Just updating :)
Please remember no lessons tomorrow the 29th and Thursday the 30th :)
This weekend we gave a clinic both days from 12-3, however I'll be available in the am :)
Remeber with the busy season to keep an eye on the calendar ❤️🐎🐎

05/22/2024

Edited** Hey everyone!!!!! Now that show season is upon us, and end of school time, Please please keep an eye on schedules :) touch base on lessons, and please be flexible ❤️🐎🐎☀️