Little Wood Acres

06/04/2024

We also have a few openings for our teen summer camp as well 😁

06/04/2024

Hello everybody! We have a few spots open in our kids camp for this summer, ages 6-12. Pm is if you are interested 😁

05/21/2024

We are very sad to say Hotrod left us to join our other horses in Heaven yesterday. Hotrod you will be missed by many.

03/06/2024

I had to share this. 🤣🤣

12/21/2023

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.

12/08/2023

Merry Christmas

12/06/2023

10/27/2023

Let your child have a bad ride.
I know you want to protect them from the hardships of this world.
I know you want to give them success and good experiences.
I know you don't want to see them get hurt. To see them fall. To see them fail.
But, hear me out, let your child have a bad ride.

Let them cry the tears of frustration.
Let them shake the sand out from the inside of their riding pants.
Let them face the fear building inside of them.
Let them step back on again.

Yes, let your child have a bad ride.
Let them hate the horse that challenges them.
Let them learn what fight and passion and ambition mean.
Let them realize that when they refuse to quit the horse will take the time to listen.

Grant them the joy of realizing that they are connecting with another living being.
Grant them the joy of realizing that they, although they are small, can be powerful.
Grant them the joy of seeing their hard work pay off, through the days of tears can come a love unspeakable.

Yes, let your child have a bad ride.
Afterall, life will grant us plenty of them.

*not my words, but I loved them so much I just had to share.* written by Sarah Crouse!

08/02/2023

Horses can change our mood in an instant.

04/30/2023

04/30/2023

Happy birthday Blaze!

Happy 19th birthday Blaze!! We are so lucky to have this wonderful boy as a part of our lesson program. He's helped so many kids find their love of horses. Thank you Crystal for sharing him with us. Not many people get the pleasure of knowing a horse as sweet and kind as Blaze ❤️

04/30/2023

Welcome to the herd Freddie! This sweet boy is the newest addition to our lesson program. I can tell he's going to fit right in.

04/30/2023

Happy 19th birthday Blaze!! We are so lucky to have this wonderful boy as a part of our lesson program. He's helped so many kids find their love of horses. Thank you Crystal for sharing him with us. Not many people get the pleasure of knowing a horse as sweet and kind as Blaze ❤️

04/06/2023

Recipe for raising a “horse girl”…….
You bring them home from the hospital and instead of keeping them home you let them breathe in the smell of horses every chance you get….
Then at a few months old you prop them up in the saddle and hold them there to just sit in the saddle….
When they are 3 they say they can’t pick up the horse’s hoof …you help them but then tell them they need to finish themselves…..
You let them lead the 23 yr old faithful gelding because leading the big horse makes them feel so proud….
At 4 yrs old you teach them that the horse depends on them for water, hay, grain….Dinner might be almost ready in the house, but ponies eat first …..
At 5 years old, when she falls off for the first time, you check to make sure nothings broken, wipe her tears, then you give her a leg up and tell her to get it done, because you KNOW she’s a great rider…..
At 10 years old when she doesn’t place in her class at the horse show and she’s falling apart, you ask her if her horse worked hard for her, and then you tell her that to her horse she is #1, and to keep riding, because her horse depends on her……
At 12 years old she comes home from school and tells you another kid said something mean at school to someone she knows. She then tells you she told that kid to shut their mouth and keep it to themselves…. Then she walked off with the kid that was being made fun of……
At 13 years old her friends at the barn are as close as siblings……they support her in her wins and her falls…..the barn has created relationships that are thicker than blood….
At 15 years old her first “boyfriend” breaks up with her ….. you can tell she is upset so you both head to the barn. She wraps her arms around her horse’s neck, breathes him in, and the tears flow. But you can see that resolve emerge when she’s cantering around the ring…. She tells you her horse is better than that boy any day.
You heard others say over the years…..
“Horses are too expensive!”
“She’s going to get sick from all the germs.”
“She’s going to fall off and get hurt.”
“She spends too much time at the barn.”
When she is a young woman and leaves your home, off on her next adventure, you head out to the barn. You thank her horses, you breathe them in, you wrap your arms around them because ….
Horses helped you to create a confident, self-assured, responsible, kind, nurturing, outdoors-loving, tough as nails, throws her shoulders back and stands tall, strong woman.
To all the parents raising “horse girls” keep going, you are giving them more than just riding lessons…..
Written by Kara LaBrie❤️

02/04/2023

Copied from a friend.

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces l, it strengthen your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horse feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

10/10/2022

Another one of our amazing students passed her red level last week! We're so proud of you Airabelle 😁

10/08/2022

Update

Bear is still in need of a home. If interested please fill out an application at dawghous.com

One of the sadest things we deal with in rescue is not the abuse and neglect, the psychological and physical injuries, the torture, or deaths. It is when we save an animal from death, work tirelessly to get it healthy and then can’t find it a home.

Poor Bear has been waiting 5 years for a forever home. A wonderful retired couple came to meet him yesterday and he was so excited to get in the car to FINALLY go to a home and just as we were leaving they texted that they changed their mind. Bringing him back to the kennel where he lays in the corner depressed day after day was beyond heartbreaking.

Our wish is always that every animal has a home were they are loved. We are so sorry you were passed up again Bear. We keep praying your day will be soon!

10/05/2022

We're so proud of Birdie for passing her red level! She's been putting in so much work and it paid off. Congratulations Birdie! Our students love our new levels program to track their progress 😁

09/13/2022

08/01/2022

Here's our newest addition to the Little Wood Acres, Jasper! She has not started giving lessons yet, but hopefully she will soon. We can't wait to see what this little lady has to offer 😊

08/01/2022

We would like to introduce you all to one of our new lesson horses Misty! She has be a great addition to our program so far. She's very patient and laid back with our students. She's our resident unicorn now 🦄

07/24/2022

We had a great time at our horseless club yesterday! We worked on balance, horse markings, and did some steering games. This is a great class for kids who want to learn more about horses and horsemanship outside of our normal riding lessons. Our next club meeting will be August 6th, if you're interested sign up here!

https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=26344768

05/23/2022

Happy belated Birthday to Pac! He may be getting older but he's still young at heart ❤️ He has been our steady eddie that we start most of our students on. They don't come any safer or more trustworthy than Pac Man. He's helped so many kids develop a love of riding that will hopefully last a life time. Pac is one in a million, and our program wouldn't be where it is without him

05/07/2022

Congratulations to one of our amazing students, Ellie! She's worked hard in her lessons and finally has a horse of her own! We are so proud of her and can't wait to see what her and Lucky accomplish together 😊

05/01/2022

Happy Birthday Blaze! Yesterday Blaze turned 18. We couldn't ask for a sweeter or more paitent horse. Thank you Crystal for sharing your special boy with us. He has helped so many kids find their love of riding and gain confidence.

03/07/2022

Spring is coming.