Willow Grove Ranch

Willow Grove Ranch Deep-rooted education that is beneficial & respectful of all horses, disciplines, & riders. I believe that wellness in all areas is as important as education.

Each horse and rider have their own emotional, intellectual, and physical experience. The means of fostering wellness need to be of highest quality and integrity to release the potential inherent in these two divergent species. Groundwork, liberty, in hand work, double lunge, basic movement correction/massage and extremely detailed ridden work are the modalities I use to diagnose and guide horses

and riders toward their mutual benefit. The in hand and ridden work follow the cultural and technical heritage of Légèreté, the education of horse and rider in the French tradition. I have extensive experience with many breeds (stock horses, thoroughbreds, draft breeds, ponies, minis, gated horses, Arabians, Morgans, Hackneys, Friesians, warmbloods) and disciplines (most western disinclines, stock horse breed show disciplines, basic work over fences, carriage driving, combined driving, dressage). My lifelong specialities have been troubled horses and starting youngsters. Willow Grove is also involved in the preservation and promotion (via breeding and exhibition) of the critically endangered Hackney Horse.

So, last weekend I participated in my first LD (limited distance) ride at the Trick or Trot in the Eagle foothills. I'm...
10/28/2025

So, last weekend I participated in my first LD (limited distance) ride at the Trick or Trot in the Eagle foothills. I'm behind on just about everything, not to mention pretty darn tired but I wanted to let you know the basic outcome: two LD rides of 25 miles-2 first places, 2 best condition awards.

I want to write more about my experience, because it was and EXPERIENCE for a lifetime show gal and her show horse.

Suffice to say, a HACKNEY HORSE can indeed TRT4EVR. Or at least enough to finish in good time with good vet checks!

I COULD NOT have done this without coaching/training rides/a listening ear/fortitude from Layne Bownds Lewis and crew help/guidance/appropriate clothing/encouragement from Sally Brogan Tarbet!

Not to mention, there would have been no ride without all the wonderful organizers and volunteers!

I will likely be out of regular communication range this weekend as I'm giving a go at my first limited-distance enduran...
10/24/2025

I will likely be out of regular communication range this weekend as I'm giving a go at my first limited-distance endurance ride. Lida (Willow Grove Kaleidoscope), a critically endangered Hackney Horse, and I will be at the Trick or Trot in the 25 miler.

Hackney Horses were traveling horses from the 14th century onward. Let's see how she does with some "open road" (read, trail) in front of her this weekend!

Big thanks to Layne for helping me prepare and have a bit of a clue what the heck I'm doing!

Equine professionals are all vying for your attention. Posting posting posting posting. I have to work to pay the bills...
10/23/2025

Equine professionals are all vying for your attention. Posting posting posting posting. I have to work to pay the bills and actually move the education of each horse and rider forward.

As I grab a cup of tea on a cold morning, here is my deep thought for the day: Knowledge is not power with horses. Knowledge lights the path. What comes next? Why? Why is this a better choice than that in this moment in time? Knowledge from book learning, working with mentors, lessons, clinics, and a crap ton of experience is the knowledge that illuminates.

Because you learn how. How to create a consistent language of requests that you and your horse understand.

Because you know why. If you know why, you can repeat it. If you know the next logical step, you can prepare for it. Do you know what that means?

Knowledge is freedom. Freedom to enjoy the learning and growing process without overwhelming doubt, frustration, and finding yourself on a poor path altogether.

Knowledge is quiet confidence. The next answer will follow the next question. It's going to work because it's based on education and experience concerning how horses learn, function, and feel, not what everyone says or what everyone's doing.

Knowledge answers the why, the how, and the what for. It's not flashy or fancy. But it is effective and kind.

Knowledge is the better path.

Always worth the read. Such great work!
10/23/2025

Always worth the read. Such great work!

These don't come along every day! Wonderful mare! Trail riding, trail sports, ranch riding...done those things! She's...
10/22/2025

These don't come along every day! Wonderful mare! Trail riding, trail sports, ranch riding...done those things! She's been involved in the Willow Grove program and more! Contact me for more info!

Video in comments! Watch to the end!

Great work with Highland Ponies! And beautiful scenery!
10/17/2025

Great work with Highland Ponies! And beautiful scenery!

Highland Ponies doing what Highland ponies do!
10/17/2025

Highland Ponies doing what Highland ponies do!

Shelby Anderson doing a great job with Tux and owner Mikki Mays Gratton! Smiles, laughter, and a super pony make for a ...
10/16/2025

Shelby Anderson doing a great job with Tux and owner Mikki Mays Gratton! Smiles, laughter, and a super pony make for a great time!

Learning should be safe and fun!

It was a tragically sad day when I lost my Hackney Horse broodmare CMS Gypsy Queen with a beautiful c**t at her side. W...
10/15/2025

It was a tragically sad day when I lost my Hackney Horse broodmare CMS Gypsy Queen with a beautiful c**t at her side. With a lot of help, we raised him as an orphan with great socialization, nutrition, and groundwork. Out of this tragedy, a lovely c**t has gone to a wonderful future.

Jamey Robbins now has her future driving partner, a stunning guy with personality plus and movement to swoon over. I'm confident she will soar with him and him with her!

"ʀᴏᴡ ᴏɴ, ʀᴏᴡ ᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴍᴀʏ ꜱʜɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʟɪɢʜᴛ,
ᴘʟʏ ᴘʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴀʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ'ꜱ ᴅᴀᴡɴ ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ."
-ɢ.ᴘ.ʀ. ᴊᴀᴍᴇꜱ, ᴇꜱQ. ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴇᴍ, 1844

Show horses can learn new tricks! Riders too. Thanks Layne Bownds Lewis for all your guidiance so I can participate in ...
10/13/2025

Show horses can learn new tricks! Riders too. Thanks Layne Bownds Lewis for all your guidiance so I can participate in my first limited-distance endurance ride in a couple of weeks and do it taking care of my horse and knowing what to do!

Address

3403 Little Rock Road
Emmett, ID
83617

Telephone

(208) 365-2939

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Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones is a Licensed Instructor In Philippe Karl's Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness www.philippe-karl.com). Based in the works of the Masters from the 16th-19th centuries, Legerete places the welfare of the horse as central to all schooling. Legerete is applicable to all kinds of horses and disciplines helping horses grow in flexibility, mobility, balance and collection.

Willow Grove is also the home to the critically endangered Hackney Horse. We breed both purebred and crossbred Hackney Horses.