Grace Leigh Performance Horses

02/27/2024

What a wonderful, educational morning yesterday watching my good friend Janelle Fleming ride with William Fox-Pitt at her beautiful winter home! I’m feeling so thankful for good friends, great horses and mostly well behaved children. Thank you for having us Janelle!

02/20/2024

💙

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.

01/27/2024

Love these!

01/19/2024

It’s one of the most anticipated Showmanship maneuvers to watch and the most stressful to perform–the challenging pivot. The multi-tasking that is involved for exhibitors to execute this technical maneuver correctly can be overwhelming, and it’s equally as demanding for the horses that show in this class.

Three Showmanship trainers share tips about how to fix pivot problems and give us advice about how to keep the right foot grounded–in practice and in the show ring: Clint Ainsworth of Clint Ainsworth Show Horses, Jenny Jordan Frid of Robin Frid Show Horses, and Shannon Gillespie of Gillespie Show Horses.

Read this fabulous article with photos by Writer Laura Boynton Jobson: http://www.equinechronicle.com/the-showmanship-pivot/

01/14/2024

As of now, there will be NO lessons this week. Along with the temperature, the snow drifts on the roads are making it dangerous to get to the barn. Stay warm, and stay safe!!

Just a friendly reminder that even though it is freezing (currently -29 wind chill here in northern Illinois), and the road conditions are horrendous, people still have to take care of your horses. There are no days off for the horse industry. Think about what you can do to encourage a friend who may be working in the conditions this week. A hot meal, a coffee gift card, or even a thank you text goes a long way!

Thank you to ALL livestock and barn workers who put your comfort to the side for the sake of our animal friends!

01/09/2024

01/09/2024

Great educational post!

You may wonder why we pull back into the syringe when giving injections in the vein. This picture explains why. We don't pull back to make sure we're in the vessel, we do it to make sure we're in the RIGHT vessel. Today I went to give an injection and pulled back and saw blood brighter than I wanted. I decided to go and get a new dose of sedation and once again pulled back and then gave my dose of sedation. The syringe on the left was my first injection and the syringe on the right was my second injection. Does anyone know why I shouldn't have injected that first syringe? And had I injected that first injection, what would have happened?

01/09/2024

Please join me in congratulating Kaylee G on a wonderful first show of the 2024 season!

This past weekend we competed at the first NIHJA show of the year. Kaylee did a fantastic job on her mare, Annie. She left the show with a rainbow of ribbons and plenty of blue!

Thank you NIHJA for being so welcoming to us, this was my first show in Illinois and I look forward to attending more from this association. Great job Kaylee and Annie, you are a joy to coach and I look forward to continuing to watch you two grow and progress!

11/17/2023

✨CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - TODDLER EDITION✨

With the announcement of my Christmas package special, I had multiple inquiries from parents wanting lessons for their 3 and 4 year old children. While toddlers may love horses, their little bodies just aren’t ready for the coordination and attention span that riding lessons take. That being said, I want to make this Christmas special for ALL the horse enthusiasts out there!

I am offering a toddler Christmas special at a discounted price. If you buy 3 ”toddler rides” at the price of $35 each, your 4th will be free ($105 total). I provide everything for them to ride, including my Inky Dinky Saddle, which is special made to keep tiny riders in the saddle.

This is not an option I typically offer, so make sure to jump on it while it lasts until January 1!

Lessons are provided in Kirkland at Winding Creek Equestrian Center in an indoor arena. There is also a heated viewing area for spectators.

11/13/2023

✨CHRISTMAS LESSON SPECIAL✨

This Christmas gift your child or special someone an experience rather than another item! From now until January 1st if you buy a package of four lessons, your fifth one will be free. Learn on one of our experienced, safe lesson horses, or your own horse! Lessons are held in an indoor arena out of the winter weather and wind, and there is a heated viewing room for anyone wanting to watch at Winding Creek Equestrian Center in Kirkland.

Message GLPH on Facebook for more information, or contact Grace at 616-481-1217.

10/21/2023

We can’t wait to see you tomorrow for our Fall Fest at the barn! This event is FREE and fun for the whole family!

10/14/2023

Good morning! I came across this description of “feel” this morning that I liked, so I thought I’d share.

Many think “feel” is a natural ability some are just born with and while that is also true, it’s still a skill only developed by saddling a horse over and over again, day after day.

FEEL is the ability to read and predict a horse’s body movements and intentions through light contact with the reins, your legs and your body.

In equine sports, having feel allows you to react sooner and more accurately.

While it is hard to teach, it can be learned by spending lots of time in the saddle, while being intentional and present.

10/09/2023

Join us at our Fall Festival October 21!

Please join us for our little Fall Festival!

08/12/2023

For all the kids who did not

(Join us for the of last year's wonderful blog by Michelle Bowman!)

I see you. I was you.

I know how incredibly hard you worked to get to the world show. All the shows that it took to qualify to compete. All the practices and preparation to be ready. All the little details that you finessed to try to set you above the rest of the competition.

But even the best laid plans go awry. Maybe you had just one bobble that kept you out of the cut. Maybe you couldn’t find the perfect rail spot to let your horse shine. Maybe you laid down one of your best patterns and it still just wasn’t enough in the judges’ eyes.

Read the rest here: https://www.equinechronicle.com/for-all-the-kids-who-did-not-getthatglobe/

08/11/2023

Exciting news!

We are starting both a western YEDA team and an English IEA team at Winding Creek Equestrian Center in Kirkland, Illinois.

Both YEDA and IEA are open to riders of all levels in 4th-12th grade. Both of these associations are great ways for your kids to learn about horse showing WITHOUT owning your own horse! If you are interested in one or both of these teams, please reach out to me on messenger, or by text/call at 616-481-1217.

07/29/2023

But they’re worth it!😉

07/27/2023

Maintenance maintenance maintenance! Thank you Heather Winnan for the monthly chiropractic adjustment. A healthy horse is a happy horse, and we are so thankful to all our care providers!

07/24/2023

I have had a lot of inquiries lately relating to riding lessons for toddlers. Unfortunately, while there are some exceptions, I do not start lessons until age 5. That being said I am happy to tell you why!

Horseback riding is a mentally and physically demanding sport. While riding can be an enjoyable experience for young children, they are just not ready to absorb the information that is necessary to keep them safe. I know this first hand, being a mom to an almost three year old! I cannot in good faith receive payment from parents when your child may only last minutes on the horse.

Like I stated above, there are exceptions to this rule. If you have a child under the age of 5 but you believe they are ready for riding lessons, I am happy to give you an evaluation “pony ride”, and I will be honest with you about whether or not I think they are ready for the investment of regular riding lessons. If this is something you are interested in, please reach out to me!

07/23/2023

A surprising number of riders, including many with experience, bounce in the saddle at the canter. As the pace of the canter increases, the bouncing tends to increase. Riders who cannot sit the canter try to use various means to avoid the discomfort. Standing in the irons in various ways is a common "fix".

The reason riders bounce in the canter is because the movement of their hips is restrained by their shoulders being closed and tight. Closing one's shoulders stops the hips from moving forward in a synchronized or unified way with the movement of the horse when cantering.

Changing a rider's position by opening their shoulders can be helpful. Here I offer an image of the rider moving their hips freely like a child's swing. I have employed this image effectively when teaching riders to sit the canter. I tell riders who bounce at the canter to envision their body as the chains or ropes hanging from the top of a swing set's frame, with their shoulders along the top horizontal pole of the swing's frame. I ask the rider to open and push their shoulders back and open to make a straight line between their shoulders in the most relaxed manner they can. Then, when cantering, I tell them to envision their body swinging freely back and forth like the swing.

It is useful to also explain that the 1-2-3 beats of the canter are not on a single arc plane exactly like the seat of the swing, but rather there is a rotational movement in the swing of the three beats of the canter. After the rider opens up their shoulders and lets their upper body and hips swing with the horse's motion at the canter, they begin to feel the elliptical rotation of the horse's back in their hips during the 1-2-3 beats of the gait. At this step I use an image of an egg on its side to help them envision and feel the elliptical movement at the canter. When the rider is relaxed and they let the horse's movement move their body, they stop bouncing and can sit deep in the saddle at the canter.

This teaching method works with most students. When it does not, it is usually because the rider is carrying excessive tension in the upper body. I address this by having them walk, slowly trot and sometimes canter, in a circle on a lunge line with their arms outstretched like wings with no stirrups. This is important work because both the horse and rider greatly benefit from reducing and removing the rider's body tension that causes them to bounce at the canter.

07/20/2023

More educational material, requested by yours truly! I often times see people using too long of stirrups, and your stirrup length is more important than you may realize for the rest of your position.

One of my personal favorite rules of thumb is to keep your stirrup just above your ankle bone for hunt seat, and at or slightly below your ankle bone for western.

07/19/2023

Great education Taylor 🙂

07/05/2023

Thank you Natalie from Natalie Pittenger Training & Bodywork for coming out and helping our Maddie feel her best this morning! While Maddie is coming into her senior years and needs some extra love and care, I firmly believe there is no such thing as a “no maintenance” horse without doing your regular maintenance. Regular massages is one way to keep your horses feeling their best!

07/02/2023

Weekends are best spent in the saddle💙