Clover Run

12/20/2025

Let your horses be horses.

Let them roll in the dirt and get muddy.

Let them bask in the warm sunlight on sunny days, sunning their coat as they nap in the dirt with friends.

Let them play with other horses, they may get the occasional nick or scratch but their mental health can remain unscathed.

Let them stretch their legs and romp across ground without being under the control of a rider, let them control their pace and buck and play.

Horses don’t care about what brand of blanket they wear, how expensive their saddle is or how neat and tidy their coat is.

They don’t care about appearances, they don’t care about monetary values, they don’t care about status…

This is a large part of why we love them so much, they don’t judge like humans do. They are so much more simple in that way.

Let your horses be horses because there is nothing more breathtaking than a happy and fulfilled horse.

Let your horses be horses and they will thank you forever and you will be able to get to know them in ways you did not know possible.

Pictured is Juniper the Mustang being a happy little swamp donkey.

12/10/2025

Equestrians spend a lot of time, money, and effort to be able to ride their horses. Whether you take multiple lessons a week or one a month, time with a good trainer is a privilege. It’s important to set yourself up for success, especially when starting with a new trainer or attending a clinic.

A good lesson will give you takeaways that last far longer than the time in the ring, but students have to do their part. Here are my tips for getting the most out of your lesson.

1. Arrive on time to be mounted in the ring at the appointed time so you are not late (and stressed).

If you’re late to your lesson, you’ll miss out on valuable information that you may not get back depending on the schedule. Your trainer also has a schedule to keep, and it’s frustrating (as well as unfair to others) when some arrive rate. Plus, the added stress of rushing to get ready will not help your riding. Get there early, give yourself plenty of time, and enter the ring relaxed and ready to learn.

2. Have everything you need organized in a bag or backpack.

Again, this helps your mental state for your lesson. Plus, it’s great to be prepared if your instructor asks you to add a spur or crop. It never hurts to be over prepared!

3. Focus. Focus. Focus. Listen carefully and do your best to follow directions.

It doesn’t matter if you had a hard test at school or a stressful day at work prior to your lesson. Try to flush everything else from your mind, and focus on your horse and the help coming to you. A good trainer will never get upset at someone making mistakes while trying to learn, but failing to listen to directions will leave everyone flustered.

4. A positive attitude is important.

When things don’t go well, remember that challenging yourself is hard. Take the mistakes as learning opportunities, and continue to push harder. A poor attitude will almost always ensure failure.

5. Don’t decide you already know a better or different way.

There are countless ways to teach something. Just because you’ve been doing it a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean that’s the best way. All horses respond differently. Be open to new ideas. After all, you showed up to hear the trainer’s expertise!

6. Watch what’s going on around you.

Watch the other riders in your group when they’re taking their turn. See who was able to follow directions. See how their trips worked out. Learning isn’t limited to what you are doing. You soak a lot in by observing.

7. Study the horses too.

Watching the others is also a good way to learn about different types of horses. Quick ones, lazy ones, horses that are heavy on the forehand, horses that go around with their head up in the air. See how the riders navigate their different strengths and weaknesses, and what does (or doesn’t!) work out.

8. Be open to a lifetime of learning with horses.

This is not a sport that can be learned overnight. The best riders are lifelong learners who are completely open minded. They listen to everything, and try their hardest. You don’t even stop learning, so never stop trying to improve!

📎 Save & share this article by Robin Greenwood at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2021/04/08/8-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-every-lesson/

12/06/2025

"Joy. Fear. Affection. The science of animal emotions has confirmed what many animal owners have long known: animals do have intense emotions. However, what they actually feel is not always what owners are used to thinking.

“Advances in the science of animal emotions have had a transformative effect on our worldview,” says Dr Helena Telkanranta, the main author of the acclaimed nonfiction graphic novel The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics.

“Scientists now know that all mammals, birds, and even fish do experience basic emotions, such as pleasure and fear. Such feelings are strong, regardless of whether the species also is intelligent,” she says.

So, what do horses need to feel good? According to up-to-date science, the most important things for a horse’s well-being are the company of familiar, friendly horses, and the absence of fear and pain in daily life. Right at the heels of these are the other keys to a good life: Freedom to move around in a varied environment such as a large pasture. Natural foraging, which means searching for and finding food here and there across a wide area. Constant or nearly constant access to something fibre-rich to eat. And physical comfort, such as a straw-covered floor with enough space to sleep lying down, which gives a better quality of sleep than sleeping while standing. Finally, to make it possible for a horse to enjoy companions at a later age, the best thing that can be given to a foal is growing up in a group of other foals and adult horses to learn social skills from.

Happiness stemming from having to search for food instead of just having it served in front of the horse may sound counterintuitive, but it is because of how the brain works. Horses’ ancestors evolved on open grasslands, where a typical day involved strolling for kilometres while looking for the tastiest plants. Searching and finding elicit repeated releases of dopamine, serotonin and other natural feel-good molecules in the brain. To feel happy or even normal, any animal needs an opportunity for activities that cause the production of these vital molecules at sufficient levels."

📎 Continue reading at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2024/12/13/horses-feel-strongly-and-scientists-know-what-they-need-to-be-happy/
📸 © The Mind of a Horse

12/05/2025

BlogsBarn LoungeNotes to my daughter – Life lessons at the horse show July 7, 2017 Pictured: Grace McReynolds leading Lorelei Cudney’s Bits N’ Pieces at Colorado Spring Preview 2017 | PC: TPH Intern Mackenzie Shuman By Averill Pessin As parents, we hope our children get two main things from th...

11/25/2025

Due to the current Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) multi-state outbreak, Maryland is instituting the following actions.

Effective immediately:

1. The use of EECVI's is suspended until further notice.

2. Interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVIs) for equids originating from all states are required.

3. In addition, an intrastate certificate of veterinary inspection is required for all equine events within Maryland.

4. Equids originating from states with confirmed positive EHV-1 cases will need a CVI to be issued within 5 days of travel.

5. The following statement must be included on all equid CVI's: “The equine(s) listed on this CVI have, during the 21 days prior to the shipment date, not originated from a premises under EHV-1 quarantine, not been exposed to an EHV-1 positive equine, and not attended any event where an EHV-1 positive equine has been confirmed or suspected.”

These actions supersede the current animal import regulations on the website. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in regulatory or legal action.

Please be aware that many states are changing their entry requirements for equids. You will need to contact the state of destination for the most current requirements.

11/24/2025

Wanted!
Clover Run needs a washing machine.

Are you or someone you know upgrading your washing machine? Do you have an older unit that is maybe ugly, makes a lot of noise, maybe leaks a little, but still works great? Top loading preferred, must have an agitator. Front load would work. Needs to be within reasonable driving distance from Edgewater, Md.

11/19/2025

Riding is a sport that demands constant awareness and humility. Every horse, every course, every moment in the saddle is a new opportunity to learn. Even the most seasoned professionals, Teall argues, benefit from revisiting the basics, asking questions, and seeking feedback from others who see what they can’t.

Teall writes that “riders of all ages and all levels need instruction throughout their careers.” That principle may seem obvious to a beginner struggling through their first lessons, but it’s just as true for the riders walking into the Grand Prix ring. With horses, there’s no such thing as mastery, only improvement. “When it comes to horses,” Teall continues, “no one will ever know it all.”

The very nature of riding keeps us humble. Horses change, trends evolve, and what worked for one partnership might not work for the next. A good rider adapts constantly, adjusting to each new challenge rather than assuming the old answers still apply. The only way to maintain that adaptability is through instruction.

The amount and type of instruction a rider needs changes over time. Teall explains that “your need for instruction declines proportionately as you gain expertise.” A beginner requires constant supervision, not just for safety but for correct muscle memory and position. Every ride is a lesson in survival and repetition.

As the rider’s skills develop, however, the balance shifts. Lessons become more focused, feedback more specific. Advanced riders might take fewer lessons, but they take them more intentionally. Instead of being told every move, they engage in conversation with their instructor to exchange insights rather than a one-way lecture.

At this stage, instruction becomes refinement: adjusting the details, checking the foundation, sharpening focus. Great riders don’t need to be told what to do every moment; they need someone to help them see the things they’ve stopped noticing.

Formal lessons are just one part of Teall’s definition of instruction. “Your skills will improve,” he writes, “from reading books, taking lessons, talking to your peers, conducting or participating in clinics, or judging horse shows.” In other words, the entire riding life can be a classroom if you approach it that way.

Reading offers the chance to absorb theory and perspective from others who’ve spent lifetimes in the sport. Clinics and judging experiences expand understanding by offering fresh ways to observe horses and riders in motion. Even casual conversations with peers like discussing courses, tack, or training challenges, can trigger moments of insight that reshape how we ride.

The key, Teall suggests, is to stay teachable. Riders who think they have nothing left to learn often find themselves stuck or frustrated, while those who stay curious continue to evolve.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/13/why-even-the-most-experienced-riders-still-need-lessons/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

11/11/2025

"I’ve always said that riding is like tennis (or, these days, pickleball). It’s a lifetime sport. You can enjoy riding at almost any age, and there are many levels of participation. Things don’t get tricky until you want to compete. And then they get really tricky when you want to compete—and succeed—at a high level. Here are some thoughts on success in horse sports.

If you’ve been in this sport for any length of time, you already know this. If you’re just starting out… well, welcome aboard the struggle bus.

However, there is a path to success. You may think that path involves talent, and while talent surely doesn’t hurt, it’s not always the main ingredient for success in horse sport. If you’re not the most talented rider out there, there are other things you can do that will help vault you to the top.

At least 50% of the people (okay, 99%) reading this right now are thinking the same thing—money. And they’re not wrong. I’m a realist, and have been playing in this sandbox long enough to understand that money plays a significant role in horse sport. Frankly, access to some fairly deep pockets is essential. A competitive horse is expensive. Top coaching and training are expensive. Upper-level horse shows are expensive.

But there are some things that money can’t buy. And those things can get you closer to the top, regardless of how rich or talented you might be. Here’s my top 3.

Time

Success in this sport requires a great deal of time. This includes time in the tack as well as time at the barn. That sounds easy enough, right? I wish.

I’ve spoken to so many parents over the years who wonder why Suzie isn’t doing better…doing more…winning more. Unfortunately, Suzie takes one or two lessons a week, misses a lot for school activities, social activities, “tired”, or a million other reasons, and cannot find time to come to the barn to ride her horse much outside of her scheduled lesson rides. She is very busy and just doesn’t have the time.

To really succeed in this sport, you have to know your horse. You must know his canter in all its facets. And for that to happen, you need to make a serious time commitment to the barn and to your horse. You need to take lessons at least twice weekly (preferably with one of them a flat lesson), and ride on your own several other times.

If you are not putting the time in with your horse at home, it’s hard to be the winner at shows.

Anyone can enjoy this sport at a lower level without spending a lot of time at it, but to succeed at a higher level, time riding and at the barn is essential.

Effort

Here’s another one that sounds easy. But, like time, effort is sometimes rare.

I’ve known kids who come to the barn a lot. They show up with friends, spend an hour or so chatting and having fun, finally get their horse ready, and ride for 15 or 20 minutes between standing center ring and gabbing. I like fun, I like chatting, and I like gabbing. It’s important, and it definitely belongs in a barn. I’d just like to see that same effort expended on actually riding.

We spend a lot of time on tracking exercises in lessons, and I know other trainers do as well. The foundation for a winning hunter ride is track and pace. And yet many students don’t practice difficult tracks when they hack on their own. It’s all w/t/c on the rail, and an occasional circle. Your horse doesn’t need to work hard every ride, but he does need to concentrate occasionally. It’s a skill that requires effort.

What does effort look like? It looks like practicing difficult tracks, it looks like varying your canter pace, it looks like riding on your own without stirrups, it looks like cantering in a half seat for a hot minute, it looks like varying your posting rhythm, and challenging yourself with some hard ones. It looks like framing, and bending, and flexing, and stretching. And once your ride is over, it looks like taking good care of your horse with a proper cool-down, maybe ice boots or some liniment, maybe a nice bath, maybe a hand-graze. It’s certainly not just throwing him back in his stall after a cursory brushing.

Anyone can enjoy this sport at a lower level without making a huge effort, but to succeed at a higher level, effort is essential.

Commitment

This one is a little more elusive than the first two. Basically, it’s sticking to something when it gets hard. “I asked him to do that, and he didn’t.”

“He won’t listen.”

“I did everything right, and we still didn’t win.”

My answer? Try it again. And possibly again. And possibly 100 times after that, without getting angry or frustrated or taking it out on your horse. Read the first sentence of this article again. Success in this sport is hard. There will be frustrating moments. There will be many fails. You can do everything right and still not win. And yet, do it again. Try harder. Keep your cool. Assess. Evaluate. Tweak. Listen. Change. Learn. Grow.

Anyone can enjoy this sport at a lower level without making an enormous commitment, but to succeed at a higher level, commitment is essential.

If you can put in the time, give the effort, and make the commitment, you might be surprised how far you can get."

📎 Save & share this article by Daphne Thornton at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/11/success-in-this-sport-is-hard/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

11/05/2025

11/04/2025

Because riding involves a living partner, instruction in this sport carries a unique weight. A good teacher doesn’t just improve a rider’s form; they safeguard the welfare of both horse and rider. They manage soundness, structure your time, and help you reach your goals without sacrificing balance or joy. Teall writes that an instructor “is also a manager. He manages your time, your horse’s soundness, and your career, so both you and your horse are still enjoying the sport several years later.”

A good instructor teaches more than position. They help you understand the “why” behind every exercise. They set goals, guide your progress, and teach you how the countless details of riding fit into one unified system. Over time, they become not only a coach but also a mentor and guide through this complicated sport.

Finding that right trainer requires research, reflection, and honesty. Many riders choose instructors by reputation or convenience. They pick the trainer with the biggest barn at the show or the one their friends recommend. But results alone don’t tell the whole story. The best rider in the world might not be the right teacher for you. Success in the show ring doesn’t always translate into skill in the teaching ring.

Before you commit, Teall advises spending time “shopping for a good one.” Watch lessons, go to shows, and observe how a trainer interacts with students and horses. Look for riders who seem calm, confident, and capable. Those riders who can understand the exercises, not just execute them. When you find a program that produces the kind of horse-and-rider combinations you admire, take note of who is behind them.

Equally important, remember that riding is personal. “You should be comfortable with the person who directs your riding,” Teall reminds us. That comfort doesn’t mean complacency. Good instruction can challenge you, but you should feel safe and respected while being pushed to improve.

Questions to Guide Your Search
To help riders make a thoughtful choice, Teall shares 15 self-assessment questions designed to clarify what kind of instruction you really need. These questions aren’t about testing the instructor as much as understanding yourself.

1. Do I need instruction? (Hint: the answer is always yes.)
2. What’s important to me—competition, horsemanship, confidence, or enjoyment?
3. Do I want to show?
4. What kind of rider am I—nervous, competent, or confident?
5. How much traveling am I willing to do for lessons or shows?
6. Does it matter if my instructor is male or female?
7. Does it matter if my instructor rides competitively?
8. Do I want a trainer who shows or one who focuses on teaching?
9. What kind of experience do I want them to have?
10. How much emphasis do I want on horse care and management?
11. How important is the facility itself?
12. Can I communicate comfortably with this person?
13. Do I trust this person’s judgment?
14. Do they have the knowledge I need?
15. Will I be satisfied with this person long-term?

Working through these questions can reveal priorities you didn’t know you had. Maybe you’ll realize that winning matters less than enjoying your horse. Maybe you’ll decide that a smaller, more personal program suits you better than a large show barn. Or perhaps you’ll discover that what you truly want is a teacher who challenges you to become more self-sufficient.

📎 Read more about finding the right trainer at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/04/15-questions-to-help-you-find-the-right-riding-instructor/