Riverbottom Stables

09/04/2024

I’m excited to be both the Coach for the OSU IDA Dressage Team and the home barn for the OSU Dressage Club!!

Are you interested in joining our 2024-2025 IDA team?
The OSU IDA team is within Region O (WWU, OSU, and WSU). The team consists of at least 4 individuals dedicated to representing their school within the equestrian sport of dressage. The team is meant to represent varying show levels and skill experience. If you are interested in signing up to tryout please attend our info session on campus September 30th at 6pm in the Dixon Upper Classroom. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to comment or message us.

What is IDA?
“The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) is a national organization. At IDA shows collegiate riders in teams of four, compete at Introductory Level (Intro A & Intro B), Lower Training Level (Intro C & Training Level Test 1), Upper Training Level (Training Level Test 2 & 3), and First Level. Host colleges provide the horses used during competitions which adds to the challenge and sportsmanship of the competition.” https://teamdressage.com/shows/calendar/

We can’t wait to meet you all,
Naomi Bailey (President) & Jackie Wittler (IDA & Show Coordinator)

09/04/2024

Rainman had a busy summer! He and the rest of the lesson horses are looking forward to seeing everyone soon!! The Fall 2024 Lesson Session begins the week of September 16th!! Please contact me if you have not yet confirmed a lesson time!! -Lynn

08/30/2024

Final day of the Summer Lesson & Camp Schedule today. And these four brought their A Game!! 💕🦄💕

08/26/2024

Excellent!

Good equitation is not just about a certain look but more of a function. It’s about sitting “into” the horse and absorbing their movement through our bodies, instead of just perched on top of them. A good rider is not something for a horse to carry, but instead creates no discrepancies between the horses back and theirs.

That means that every body will have the same principles of movement, but there will be many modifications for individual bodies.

To be able to absorb the movement of the horse, we have to move beyond achieving a look and develop a feeling. It means letting go of some places and becoming more structured in other places.

I always remember the words my teacher said to me: if you can’t feel the hind legs of the horse under you, you are not absorbing movement but perched. When I understood this that feeling became as clear as day - no longer just an idea or a memorized and disconnected timing, but a very clear feeling.

And so good riding is mainly that- feeling ourselves to feel the horse, and going together. Becoming more than a body controlling another body, but one entity, two bodies moving in harmony together.

Photo by Jade Premont

08/16/2024

As always, a beautiful day at Perrydale Trails!!

08/14/2024

I’m putting together the Fall Lesson Schedule over the next week or so. If we haven’t already talked, please text or message me with your preferred days & times! I will do my best to accommodate! Topics of focus; Hunt Seat, Gaming, Young Horse Training and 4H begins in October!!!

08/14/2024

Trail Rides!! 🥰

08/13/2024

While verbal thank yous are more than enough, written ones bring a special joy! 🥰

07/31/2024

What can I say? Welcome to the pack Keeper!!! ❤️

07/27/2024

Happy piggies!! Thank you Tricia!!

07/02/2024

Just look at these little faces who greeted me this morning!! 💕

06/29/2024

Big thank you to Johnson Family Farms for the yummy ton of alfalfa,top sirloin steaks for the 4th of July BBQ & a bit of jerky for immediate enjoyment!!

06/29/2024

This summers puppy take-over has commenced!!

06/27/2024

Horse Part ID!!

06/26/2024

Camp! 🦄

06/25/2024

Chalk outlines from camp today!!

06/18/2024

Baby On Board! Metallic Pake (Hardy) x Holiwood At Noon (Marge) ETA 4/28/25

06/14/2024

Supportive & honest!

A good teacher will support you, but not always validate you.

It’s in our nature to subconsciously seek comfort. When we are met with the discomfort of changing our habits and taking responsibility for our learning, our minds often subconsciously sabotage us from growing.

Sometimes this can take a sneakier presentation, where a student might meet constructive criticism with self deprication. A lot of times this is a subconscious on the students part to end the discomfort and be comforted with validating praise.

True learning is going to be uncomfortable at times. It will challenge your perception of who you are and what you know about yourself. It may bring up some ugly stuff. The important thing is to accept that it is hard for everyone, and messy and beautiful all at the same time.

Just because you want to learn doesn’t mean your brain won’t fight to stay comfortable - Discipline of mind and body is the only way to truly accomplish a connection with a horse, and if this is what you want, the road is winding and long. Stay awake to your own habits, stay alert to the subliminal sabotage of familiar mental and physical habits.

And find a good teacher- the ones that truly believe in you will support you to the end of the earth, but they will not validate you in your poor habits.

06/12/2024

Limited Availability remaining for the first Summer Day Camp at Riverbottom Stables! June 24-28th! 9am-1pm. Camps include a daily riding lesson, horse care, games & craft time!!

06/03/2024

Yesterday Tricia & Gambler, along with Barb & Sassy, traveled up to Sherwood to participate in the Rainy Day Ponies All In Hand Show. It was an amazing day putting to use all the skills we have been working so hard on building! Halter , showmanship & trail classes. At a lovely facility during an atmospheric river…aka mini monsoon! We made new friends and caught up with some old ones!

05/12/2024

Dreams came true today! Congratulations Savannah & Lollipop! 🦄💕

05/02/2024

2024 Summer Day Camps
Message for details!!

04/29/2024

These two, Rainman & Mable went to the OSU Dressage Team Show today at Inavale Farms. Combined they rode six tests with four different riders from the OSU Dressage Team. Every rider came home with a top three placing & one received the high point in their division. I’m very proud of both these riders & horses!! 🧡

04/08/2024

A great way to start a Monday! Welcome to the herd Brioche!! 💕

04/07/2024

Little Biscuit has a new playmate! Meet Hardtack!! 💙

03/29/2024

Things got a bit goofy today! Zane does love his girl!!! 💙

03/28/2024

Friendship bracelets!!!

03/26/2024

Snuck in a trail ride in the sunshine with these two today!! ☀️🤩☀️🤩

03/13/2024

The OSU Dressage Team rides here at RBS!! Support them & get yourself some fun stuff!!!