Valkyrie Ranch

01/07/2025

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12/31/2024

12/30/2024

A hard to handle reality is that in order to become highly proficient in many pursuits, someone has to put in the hours of practice, and horses are not available to most people.

Want to get good at playing the violin? You start by getting hold of a violin, which is expensive, perhaps, but nothing like as expensive as getting a horse, and once you have the violin, you don’t have constant work and expense to maintain it, you don’t have a $250 vet bill for a simple routine visit, nor bills to pay for food and care.

Which means that becoming a good rider is not in the cards for anyone who, FOR ANY REASON, can’t be in a place where he/she has access to enough horses to put in the necessary practice hours.

How many great downhill ski racers live in Florida?

So, no, horses are not for most. They just aren’t.

A person has to be in the right place, and that is either because of circumstance, like living down the street from a boarding barn, or from birth, or because, if the circumstances are such that no horses exist nearby, the person can somehow move to a place where they are. And for most, that isn’t possible.

But NONE OF THIS changes the reality that in order to become a good rider, a person must spend many hours riding a horse.

When truths are hard, that doesn’t make them less true.

12/16/2024

Sadly the time had come to help Fortnite cross over peacefully. Those of you who have been frequenting the ranch already knew that our overly friendly barn cat/ welcome committee/barn mascot had been going down hill recently; but he really took a turn for the worse last week and we knew it was time to help him escape his discomfort & pain. He has been a permanently underfoot fixture here for over 5 years, at least since we've been open for business here in Virginia.
I started back at the very beginning of my phone camera reel hoping to find just a couple pictures of him but was pleasantly surprised to find so many. It shows just how much he was intertwined in all the activities here at the ranch.
Feel free to share any other pictures or stories if you like. I am planning on having a little memorial plaque made to put out by the barn or tack room.

12/04/2024

https://mailchi.mp/2cf47c74103b/horses-for-sale-lease-upcoming-events
Horses for Sale & Lease, Upcoming Events....

12/03/2024

"Hickory" 2023 Arabian X Welsh Pony C**t
Black base turning grey. Go with the flow personality makes him a pleasure to work with. Has had plenty of handling & ground work for his age- goes through an obstacle course, ponies on trail, ties, loads in a trailer, etc.
Sire is 14.3 and is competitive in endurance, western dressage & sport horse. Dam is 13.2 and work in our lesson program as a kids hunter/jumper pony. We expect Hickory to stay small, closer to his moms size.
We are expecting our first human baby in a couple months so are looking to downsize the herd and lighten my load going into winter.
Located in central Virginia
https://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?horse_id=2251935

12/03/2024

BY DAPHNE THORNTON OF TWO BIT TRAINING When it comes to riding lessons, I understand that riding is the overwhelming desire, as well as the underlying principle, guiding most participants. However, sometimes riding is not possible, or even advisable. On those days, I am a fan of unmounted lessons.....

11/26/2024

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🤷‍♀️ 💯 🎯

11/26/2024

⭐️Stella⭐️ 2 1/2 year old Arabian X Welsh Pony. Expected to mature at 14hands, jumping, eventing, endurance, hunter, all around sport prospect! Located in Central Virginia.
https://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?horse_id=2235185

11/26/2024

No lessons this week for Thanksgiving Break!
December 14th we'll be having our annual Reindeer Games fun day! Prior experience not necessary. Register at www.vagaro.com/valkyrieranchllc

11/19/2024

11/17/2024

Come check out the Bit & Bridle Club booth at the Silver Star Farm LLC tack sale today! 11/17 10am-2pm. We have a little bit of everything and there's plenty more booths here to look through.

11/14/2024

❄️ For some, it is rug season again! ❄️

Whilst there may be differing opinions on if/when is the right time to rug horses, there is one thing that we can all agree on, the importance of SAFETY and fastening rugs correctly. Here are some key guidelines that are all to often overlooked. Using the correct way to fasten rugs should help avoid accidents such as getting attached to hay nets and getting legs stuck in straps. 🐴💙

👉 Face hooks inward. Always position clips towards your horse’s body to prevent them from getting snagged on fences, hay nets, or anything else. Outward-facing clips can get caught or come undone, risking injury if your horse panics.

👉 Cross those straps! Belly straps should always be crossed (some rugs do have a different arrangement now, i.e. 3 straight straps, follow the manufactures intentions) to prevent twisting. A twisted rug can cause rubbing, discomfort, injury, or even panic if your horse feels trapped or gets a leg caught in poorly fitted straps.
Leg straps must also be crossed in a loop, this prevents rubbing on the inside of the hind legs and keeps the rug level, it also stops the straps hanging to low and risking a leg getting caught as the horse gets up or down.

The image shows visual examples of correct and incorrect strap and fastening placements.