Dutch Acres

Lets continue our interview with Februarys horse of the month Archie. Hosted by rider Abigail you'll find out what Archie loves, and what he doesn't like at all! Archie has been such a fantastic lesson horse. He is patient with benginners, easy for the little riders to steer, and is trustworthy enough to teach first trot and first canter. A horse like Archie is priceless. Archie took a sebatical from lessons in 2024 due to an eye condition. We are so thankful for everyone who pitched in to his vet bill to help with some advanced treatment for him. He is doing well and we are so glad to have him back in the lessons in 2025!

This Milestone Monday is for Blake Leigh G! Blake Leigh recently cantered for the first time!! So much hard work has gone into her accomplishment and we are so proud of her!

February's horse of the month is the one and only Archie!!! Archie came to Dutch Acres in 2019 as a rescue and has become beloved by all during his tenure here. Watch as rider Abigail interviews Archie and find all about Archie aka Hot Tamale as he is known in the show ring.

This Milestone Monday we celebrate rider Kaitlyn Laney in her first independent trot in the big arena. A lot of work goes into getting ready to take that first independent trot. Riders have to focus on their balance, getting the correct posting rhythm, what their hands/legs/feet are doing all while steering. Congratulations on your hard work Kaitlyn!

Do you know the safest way to hold your horses lead rope? Rider Scarlett explains that and more in our last safety post to wrap up our January safety series!

Safe treat feeding

Today's safety post is done by rider Penny B showing us the safest way to feed a treat to our horse!

Do you know the safest way to get from one side of your horse to another while grooming? Rider Scarlett goes over that and more in this installment of our January safety series.

What's going on at the barn this month

It has been COLD here at the barn! This video shows rider Cate G helping to break the ice from the water troughs. Several of our troughs have electric warmers to keep ice from forming. But for any trough without a warmer the ice has to be broken the old fashioned way! This happens several times a day when the temperatures stay below freezing all day.

Approaching a horse safely

January is safety month at Dutch Acres! In this video rider Camila shows us one aspect of how to approach a horse safely. Did you know that horses have two main blind spots? Right in front of them and right behind them. That means that the safest place to approach your horse is at the shoulder.

Want to host the most talked about birthday party on the block!! Book your birthday party with us and up to 20 of your besties!!! More Dutch Acres Party info here: https://www.dutchacresfarm.net/birthday

Keep Your Eyes Forward for Better Riding! Did you know that looking down while riding can throw off your center of gravity and make it harder to control your horse? Plus, you won’t see where you’re going! Here’s a fun fact: Horses are incredibly sensitive and can feel even the smallest movements. When you look in the direction you want to go, your weight shifts—and they follow! In fact, horses often respond more to your weight shifting than they do to rein and leg pressure. So remember, the next time you're riding at Dutch Acres, look ahead and trust that your horse is listening to your body!

Building Riding Skills at Dutch Acres! One of the first off-lead exercises we teach our students is designed to build steering and balance—key skills for confident riding! We set up cones to give our riders a visual guide, helping them focus on where they’re going and improving their turns. This exercise is also a fantastic confidence booster, allowing students to practice starting and stopping in a controlled environment. To make things interesting, we can adjust the difficulty by moving the cones closer together or farther apart. Whether you're just starting or looking to sharpen your skills, this activity is a fun way to grow as a rider!