Diamond N Rough Horsemanship

01/29/2025

Student Kenzee had a great session with Jubilee today! Jubilee is a fun mare come meet her and make her yours!

01/27/2025

This amazing mare is still available looking for new pasture! These videos are from tonight windy and cold and Jubilee listens so well! Come meet her you will be happy you did!

01/27/2025

Such a beautiful mare!

01/14/2025

Often I think people don't want a foal because they believe you can't do anything with them until they are 3 years old. However, here at Diamond N Rough Horsemanship we don't believe in letting your foals just sit until they are ready to ride.

Owen in this video is working Liberty with his 2024 filly. They are building important communication for their future ride. He is teaching Echo to follow his body and listen to his cues. This makes the first ride so much more enjoyable for Echo and for Owen. In this clip Owen works on Echo staying at his shoulder and finishes with a recall. Yes! A recall just like you would your dog! You can see Echo is very eager to join Owen again!

They are building a great relationship together and you can with your foal as well.

Many people who have purchased Serene Tyme Morgans foals have learned how enjoyable it is to work with their foals and the unique relationship that is built by getting one so young. This is just a small video clip of what you can do with a foal. Stay tuned for another video in a couple of days of more fun things you can teach your foal as they learn emotional control and responsibilities.

01/12/2025

Lessons learned long and hard in the horse business as a barn owner..

1. It's easy to fall in love with your customers. They become a family who you spend a lot of time with. However, in the end they will do what's best for themselves. And, for you and them, those paths may not be the same. Prepare to get your heart broken. Keep business and personal relationships separate.

2. People will not always trust in your experience and will second guess you. They will think they know better because they read it in a book, or saw it online. Don't try to be all things to all people. Do what you are good at. Run your barn in a way that you can sleep at night knowing that you did right in your mind by them and their horses. The clients opinion of that may be different than your beliefs, but you have to live with choices that leave you at peace. That may mean confrontation, hard conversations and even asking people to move on for your own peace.

3. Horses are easy 99% of the time. It's the people who come with them that make things complicated.

4. Remember that horses need to be horses.

5. People will always judge you, and have opinions. The better you are, the more haters will have opinions.

6. Success isn't measured by ribbons and show placings. It's measured in happy animals and the quality of their lives.

7. There is always an exception or quirk that doesn't " follow the rules" in horse care. Do what works, not what the books say works.

8. When you get annoyed by seeing somebody's car pull in to the barn, it's time to let that person move on. Your barn should be a happy place. It literally only takes one bad sour apple to ruin the whole atmosphere and dynamic in a barn.

9. Let it go.... if someone moves on don't be upset by it. Ignore what they say. Don't take it personally. Every barn is not a good fit for every person.

10. This is a business. If a person or horse isn't working for you, or the compensation isn't offsetting your cost, it's time for them to go. The exception to this is your retired horses, see #11.

11. Horses only have so many jumps, so many runs, so many rides. Don’t waste your horses. Teach your students they aren’t machines. You owe it to your retired horses to have a safe, comfortable and dignified end. Your schoolies worked for you. When the time comes they can no longer do that, either give them a pleasant retirement, or put them in the ground where you know they are safe. Do not dump them at auctions or onto other people where you are not 100% sure that they will be cared for.

12. There is no shame in euthanasia for a horse owner. Always better a week too early then a second too late. Do not judge anyone for their reasons for doing this.

13. Most clients fall Into two categories. Those who are "high maintenance", open in their opinions and will confront situations head on. The second is the quiet type who will not say a word and will not openly talk with you about their expectations or issues. You have no idea they have a problem until it's too late. The people in between these two are the clients you want. They will be long term and make life easy.

14. Know your worth. KNOW YOUR WORTH. Your time and experience has a monetary value. Don't do things for free, even if you like the person. Every bit of time or effort you give to clients has value. So when you don't value your effort, neither will a client. They will come to expect "freebies", which always leads to resentment from someone.

15. Be honest. It's not always easy. But in this business it takes forever to build reputation and seconds to destroy it.

16. Remember horses are dangerous. Always use your best judgment and air on the side of caution when working with horses and students. Their lives and your own life can change in an instant.

17. Get paid up front. Keep good records. People don't go to the grocery store and ask for food they will pay for next week. Good business practices keep everyone honest and sets boundaries for clients.

18. Normalize passing on price increases. Service industries, especially ones like ours always "feel guilty " when raising prices. You are not there to subsidize someone else's horse habit. Prices have been going up on costs, so should your fees.

19. The buck stops with you. Your employees mistakes fall back to your responsibility. Always verify and check on important care aspects of daily activities.

20. Make time for family and rest. Too many of us get burnt out from the stress of expectations in this industry. In the end, boarders and students come and go. Your family is who you will have left.

Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope it can help support some of you feeling burnt out, and maybe help some people who are starting out in their journey into this industry.

Written by Rhea Distefano

01/09/2025

Can Occur is a lovely 18 year old mare standing 15'2H who has been a fabulous horse and this hurts to offer her up to a new home.

Ember has been with me since she was 5 years old. She was never raced and unhandled until I got her. She was the easiest horse to train and is so quiet and loving to be around. She is not marish and has a need to please you personality. I sold Ember to an older gal about 3 years ago and just purchased her back in hopes I would have a student to lease her. Unfortunately being a Morgan breeder my students are riding the morgans and Ember doesn't have her own special person since I am training Ember's daughter and my Morgans.

So with that said if you are looking for a horse with Novice Level Eventing show experience Ember has had some years off (having foals and being a trail horse) but she is ready to start jumping again or ready to hit the Dressage rings! Ember is a bit rusty for the show pen but she is ready to be back!

Ember is super fun on the trails! One time we got lost out and Ember took a short cut and brought us to the trailers! She has taught some of my students to jump and been to the fair once with another student.

She is not a beginner's horse she has to big of a stride and a lot of buttons!

Ember is super sensitive to her rider's leg and moves off leg and seat very well, she hauls great, baths, etc. Ember has great feet she never needed shoes and super easy in the pasture zero drama. She is currently being my babysitter for my foals. She is so so sweet, I wish I could be selfish and keep Ember just to watch my foals but she is consistently calling to me wanting more attention and she wants her own rider.

I have always been picky where my horses go, but this mare is so special to me, I really want the exceptional home.
Emmy Lou is located in Hastings Michigan
**Nationwide Hauling Assistance Available**
8️⃣5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

01/07/2025

Gun Fight (Jubilee) is lovely 2017 Thoroughbred mare who stands 16H!

Jubilee is an elegant mare who is so sweet. She has a kind heart and awesome personality to boot. Jubilee was trained on the track However she never raced.

After leaving the track Jubilee was purchased by a family and has been a fun horse for a young teen to use during her 4H year and was shown and hauled to 4h events.

Now that Jubilee's rider has grown and moved to a other state Jubilee is looking for her perfect new owner to take Jubilee to her fullest potential!

Jubilee arrived here end of December so we are just starting to get to know each other but I am impressed with her.

Jubilee will excel as a jumper, dressage or Eventer. Jubilee has a bold personality and is curious.

Jubilee has really nice gaits to ride and takes both leads well. She is a clean slate and ready for you!

Jubilee does have front shoes on as she has thin soles. She needs work with confidence with the farrier (she picks her feet up fine but can get a little dancy) and Jubilee learned to pull back when tied and needs to be tied with a rope halter. She has learned she can't get away with it here but it is a habit.
She has nice clean legs and a beautiful built mare!

Hastings Michigan
**Nationwide Hauling Assistance Available**
5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

*Video:
https://youtu.be/50aLJPbdw4c?feature=shared

12/26/2024

This beautiful young lady is coming to Diamond N Rough Horsemanship tomorrow to look for her new special rider. She sounds like a lovely Thoroughbred and I am excited to work with her and help find her new home! Stay tune for her ad coming soon!

12/21/2024

Kit found her wonderful new home in Wisconsin! I absolutely love selling horses when I get to meet such incredible people. Julie and AJ are the cutest couple I have had the pleasure meeting. We talked and laughed and had similar views on life and what a great time in the short amount of time we had together. Julie and Kit are going to make a fabulous team they worked so well together and I am super excited for their adventures together. Congratulations Julie!

12/08/2024

Aikanes Burning In Flames is a beautiful dark liver Chestnut Morgan mare wearing 3 white socks that will be sure to get you noticed in the show pen!

Kit is a lovely 2019 model standing at a true 15'2H. Kit has a great foundation to be a wonderful dressage horse. Her gaits are easy to ride, with a natural push with soft strides and nice shoulder movement.
Her canter is a nice rolling canter and takes her leads easily.

Kit has lovely leg yields and listens to her rider's legs and seat well. She has a great whoa and is super soft in the bridle.

Kit is in training until she finds her new partner, and while in training, she is furthering her education. Kit is a sensitive and sensible mare. She takes her work seriously and will thrive with a rider who is quiet yet is a leader. Kit is a kind and gentle mare with a huge heart of gold.

Kit is a mini me of her sire WVS Flame Burner who has been extremely successful in Western Dressage and Traditional English Dressage winning titles and Championships.
Kit is ready to be your next champion! Feel free to message me and chat about Miss Kit to make her your own special Christmas present!

Hastings Michigan
**Nationwide Hauling Assistance Available**
1️⃣4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

12/03/2024

I am taking applications for leasing a 15'2H 15 year old Thoroughbred mare. The lease can be partial or full.

This is a onsite lease at a drama free barn. The barn has an indoor arena and outdoor arena.

Ember was shown at Novice Level Eventing and 1st level dressage but has been a trail horse for the past 4 years. Ember needs a well educated rider due to her education and she is quick to respond to your aids.

I am looking for a rider who is an intermediate rider and is looking for a barn family to join and have fun with horses. You do not need to show but if you want to show that is welcome as well.

The lease location is in Hastings Michigan. I will look forward to meeting in person and I will introduce you to Ember and have you have a test ride to make sure you are a good fit.

Partial Lease $275 a month
Full Lease $450 a Month

Pictures are of Ember and myself 8ish years ago!

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

11/28/2024

Never even got to post Hayes officially!! Ronalee's trainer reached out when she saw Hayes would be listed soon and it was a great match! I am looking forward to hearing about their adventures together!

11/25/2024

11/20/2024

CLOSED
Coming soon for your consideration!

Hayes is a chunky AQHA gelding standing 15H. He is at the perfect age turning 11 years old next spring. Hayes was purchased by a client 3/4 years ago and has done a little bit of everything on him. His owner has participated in Working Equitation clinics, Western Dressage, Extreme Mountain Trail Obstacles, and has been working hard on her English Dressage. Hayes stands super quiet in the trailers and loads and unloads from the trailer with no hassle, he stands in the barn, he is great for the farrier and vet. He can be pastured with mares or geldings.

Hayes has not been shown yet but don't let that turn you away he has been hauled for lessons regularly and has lovely gaits to ride. He takes both leads, follows your seat well, has a good whoa, neck reins, moves off your legs, side passes, pivots, works gates, and is ready for your ranch pattern, English or Western Dressage.

Hayes is a super neat horse, his owner is heading into a new direction with her Morgan mare so Hayes is looking for a new partnership. He is bred well and built to last. He has a lot of life left in him and requires no maintenance.

11/17/2024

It was a fantastic day hanging out with the barn family! 24 horses and 12 of those are morgans! And 4 of those are young morgans having their first outing! All had a great time, great prizes and lots of laughs! It was the first annual ride rally for my barn family. I am blessed to be able to have such a wonderful group of riders and horses.

11/13/2024

CLOSED
Rowdy Whizzin Wyatt, what a fun and catchy name that people will remember he is the horse to beat!

Wyatt is a 4 year old Registered AQHA gelding standing 15'1H. Wyatt has the desire to give big stops as his reining pedigree suggests he should. Along with the desire to stop, Wyatt has the mind to be bold and fearless. Wyatt has been ridden extensively on trails where he has no issues leading on the trails or following the group. Wyatt has a tender and sensitive heart and is always willing to make his rider happy.

Not only does Wyatt trail ride like a dream, but he is super fun in the arena. Wyatt has taken to bridleless riding very well. He just started jumping courses bridleless and does all his gaits and maneuvers bridleless. Wyatt even trail rides bridleless. This horse is broke! He is sensitive to seat and legs and will happily be guided through your body position. Wyatt has no problem going over or through any obstacle you approach from rolling bridges, teeter totter, water, and many more.

Wyatt also participated on a mock Fox Hunt where he soared over all the jumps and would make an extremely fun Eventing horse.

Wyatt can go in any direction. He is young, sound and ready for you to make your dreams comes true.

Take Wyatt and compete in Ranch, Roping, Reining, Jumping, Eventing, Fox Hunting, or Trails. The sky is the limit with the horse.

Wyatt is also good-natured for a lesson horse. He has a lot to teach any rider. Come check him out in Hastings Michigan
**Nationwide Hauling Assistance Available**
1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

*Bridleless riding Video:
https://youtu.be/3zV8xKRRlRE?si=eXWqS7S3U8F1QtrY

*Bridleless jumping Video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/pum__Mszba4?si=ILQNSR2AL9L0-hRe

*Trail and cow work Video:
https://youtu.be/FePt9ZK69_Q?feature=shared

*Obstacles Video:
https://youtu.be/mtNdQW2r3G4?feature=shared

11/12/2024

Check out this great line up of morgans who will be available in 2025! Don't miss out on some amazing horses!