Brier Bank Farm

10/27/2024

Early morning horse show kids!

08/05/2024

I have a couple last minute camp openings this week(Aug. 5-9)! Monday-Friday 9am-2pm, let me know if you would like to join us in horsing around!

08/04/2024

08/04/2024

SLADS Classic 2024 in the books!

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

08/03/2024

Great job girls on day one of your first recognized Dressage show! Thank you SLADS for putting on a great show! And thank you Lily’s Snow Cones for a delicious treat!!

08/01/2024

Everything in moderation.

Pretty bad---

I was recently talking with someone who leases out lots of horses to various riding programs, summer camps, boarding school and college stables, trail strings, whatever.

She told me that they have stopped sending horses to places that teach jumping because, so often, those horses come back sour, sore and generally used up from being over-jumped.

Think about jumping, and how much physical effort it takes, and how “slamming” the landings are, and have some sympathy, empathy and some of that rare commodity, common sense and decent horsemanship, before jumping the holy living snot out of some poor horse.

Sure, it’s “fun” to jump, but before you say something truly stupid like “my horsie LOVES to jump,” consider which one is having more "fun", the one sitting there, or the one doing the work.

Jumping is OK for horses when done carefully, but lots of humans don’t know the difference between careful and too much. Or, worse, they do know, and do too much anyway.

Some riders would jump 7 days a week if you let them, and they never give a thought to what it does to the horse,

07/14/2024

Fun at the Firecracker Show!

Great job to:

Sydney riding Little Red Phox
Audrey riding DaVinci
and
Reagan and James riding Cee Me Star for their first ever Intro A test!

06/30/2024

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

📝 Kimberley Reynolds

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

06/23/2024

Warm weather is here to stay so it's time to remind ourselves how to keep our horses safe in hot weather.

Check out these tips for keeping you horse cool and healthy over the summer.

06/08/2024

Great first week of camp for 2024! Not too hot, good water days, plenty of friends, fun games, homemade horse popscicles, a few crafts, amazing horse time, and lots of laughs!!

05/08/2024

Lessons are cancelled for tonight due to the weather.

04/25/2024

SLADS is looking for class sponsors for their August 3-4 Classic Recognized Dressage Show. The cost is $100 and you get a listing in the digital show program for the class and listed on the SLADS website under sponsors.

Also, SLADS is Looking for donations for the JR/YR thank you bags! Feel free to reach out to our farm to donate or any other SLADS board member.

Thank you!

04/23/2024

Join us at our May 4 & 5 Schooling Show. Dressage and early bird Hunter/Jumper entries due April 27.

04/21/2024

Had a great time at the Icebreaker in Springfield, IL!

Great job to:

- James and Regan riding Cee Me Star
- Sydney riding Iroquoia
- Molly riding Take a Pic
- Audrey riding DaVinci

04/19/2024

All animals safe from the storm and no major damage! Thank you everyone!!

04/03/2024

2024 Summer Camp Registration:

June 3-7
July 8-12
July 29-Aug. 2
Aug. 5-9

03/24/2024

Little Lucky Clover has arrived! Another filly, and on Palm Sunday!

03/03/2024

What a fun day getting to work horses in this beautiful weather!

02/29/2024

Are you interested in a position working in equine media? The Ann Haller Media Internship occurs during the Kentucky Three-Day Event and offers a chance to experience what a career in equine media can be! USPC is now accepting essays (up to 500 words) submitted here: bit.ly/2024-ann-haller-internship-application

02/27/2024

Summer Camps:
Brier Bank Farm will be offering 4 weeks of summer camps this summer! We will be learning how to groom, ride horses, crafts and more! All children are welcome. Spots are limited!

Camps are all $375 unless paid by May 1 and then the cost is $350. Camps fill quickly! Contact Chanda Mills at (618)531-5208 or [email protected] for a registration form.

June 3-7: Open Camp
July 8-12: Brier Bank Riders Camp
July 29-Aug 2: Musical Freestyle Camp w/ show
Aug. 5-9: How to Ride at a Horse Show Camp

02/21/2024

Quiz Rally 2024! Comin’ In Hot!!