Capstone Farm

Riding Instruction & Boarding in a safe, fun, and positive environment.
(11)

08/30/2024

Scenes from MHJ Short Stirrup Finals. Julia & The Artist
Photo By Jess Windhurst Photography

08/26/2024

I am SO proud of our MHJ riders today, all the of whom were competing in their first ever equitation final! I told them before they went into the ring that I was proud of them no matter what happens in the ring, because sometimes showing up is the hardest part.

💜 Lora & KBC Rock N Acre finished 11th overall in the MHJ Children’s Pony Medal with a solid round over fences and a lovely flat class.

💜 Cassidy & Nashville had a beautiful round the Short Stirrup Medal that checked off many goals!

💜 Julia & The Artist cruised around the Short Stirrup Medal with some lovely jumps!

To see how much these riders have grown over just the course of this show season is incredible, and a testament to the hard work they put in. Great job riding girls, and great job cheering them on, families!
The biggest thanks you to the incomparable .a.shupe and supergroom and early riser .h_eq - you made it happen today!!!

08/26/2024

Well when you say it like that…. (Let go with your knees 😜)

08/25/2024

🔥🤩 Sadie & Fernhill Inspiration 🤩🔥
Fieldstone 2024
Photo by
.h_eq

08/24/2024

Need I say more? Message me for details. Come join our awesome team!!

08/24/2024

We had a great week at Fieldstone!

💜 Kristen and her own Unlock The Magic showed just how far they’ve come by stepping into the 2’ ring and showing over fences for the very first time. They improved from one round to the next, and their best under saddle yet yielded a 5th in good company!

💜 Sadie and her own Fernhill Inspiration got to check off some pretty big goals from their list. They bumped up to the 2’3”, and brought home ribbons in every class a huge division!!

💜Lora & KBC Rock N Acre were on fire with their most consistent show to date. They had top ribbons in the Large Children’s Hunter Ponies, finishing with a pair of 2nds over fences today, a very hard earned 3rd in the under saddle, 4ths in every jumping round yesterday…

I am so proud of all of our riders this week! They work so hard at home, and it’s always such a good feeling when the ribbons match the riding.

And I can’t say thank you enough to Marcy for helping with the truck situation!!!

.a.shupe .h_eq

08/22/2024

We made it!! After my truck was sidelined Monday afternoon in the face of a nationwide factory back order on the part needed to keep it running, the real superheros were Marcy Foss for sharing her truck and it’s gooseneck hitch with me, and my Dad (not on social media) for spending a day hunting down and procuring the part, getting it to the truck and ensuring it got installed.
I am humbled by the outpouring of support by the horse community. Thank you for making this show week possible for our incredibly hard working and deserving riders. 🙏

08/20/2024

Congratulations to Caitlin on your lease of The Artist! We know that he will teach you so much, and we are so excited to have front row seats!

08/20/2024

UPDATE: I’m overwhelmed by the response from this amazing community. Thank you everyone who has reached out. I think I am all set with everything, and now have so many more wonderful connections. THANK YOU!!

I’m in a bit of a pickle and hoping someone can help…
My truck is suddenly out of commission and we have a full Fieldstone week this week.
We were planning on day shipping:
2 horses Weds AM
1 pony Thu midday
1 pony Fri midday
3 horses for MHJ on Sunday

So, I am looking for any combination of the following:
- help shipping (paid, obviously)
- a truck with a gooseneck to rent (I have a 2+1 gooseneck trailer)
- a truck and trailer to rent that can accommodate us

And if anyone has a NOx Sensor for a 2017 GMC Sierra 2500, or could point me in the direction of one that is currently available, that would also be amazing.

08/18/2024

I can say without a doubt that Nancy Thomas changed my viewpoint that the horse needs to be more afraid of you than the thing it’s scared of. She taught me how to build a horse’s confidence through understanding and kindness, and in the years since, that school of thought has never led me wrong. Now when a pony gets looky at the new pile of poles in the corner, we gently stop, pat, let them look, softly lead them over, give more pats, and let them take a breath. Her mentorship changed my trajectory, and I’m forever greatful for it.

Letting the horse look at the jump, sniff it, stand near it, these are all things that decades ago, when I first started jumping I was told to never allow.

The idea back then was that a horse had to “just deal.” And if the horse quit at the jump, the horse was “being bad,” and needed to get a good smack with a crop.

But most of the time---not all, but in many cases---the reason that a horse quits is because of some sort of insecurity or fear or spookiness, and instead of punishing the horse, a better strategy is to try to get the horse to not be afraid, If a horse refuses out of fear, does whacking the horse, which adds fear to already existing fear, make a lot of sense?

Now, sure, sometimes a horse needs to be told to go, but generally a better first way is to try to let the horse have a “no big deal” attitude about what it’s being asked to do. Going back to that “old” way, I was also told this: “You have to make that horse more afraid of you than the thing he’s scared of.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard some version of that over the decades.

And while a horse does have to be taught to stay in front of the aids, the first step is to create confidence about that, and there are lots of ways to do this that work better than fear of being punished if he doesn’t, one of which is tons of trail riding with a brave and steady horse as a leader, so the younger or greener horse learns that it all that stuff it sees out in the wide world is not something to be afraid of.

So, generally, if a fence looks different, let him have a look first. If he stops, maybe let him look some more, or follow a braver horse. Some horses seem to be brave right from the beginning, and if so, lucky you.

But others are more spooky, and these usually need many more baby steps. Letting them have baby steps is often smart training, not a weakness or a surrender, and that’s something I had to learn as I unlearned what I’d originally been taught.

08/13/2024

Our riders had a great day at August Farm on Sunday!
🖤 Allie & All Dolled Up 🥇 Won two long stirrup classes, and jumped around beautifully!
🪩 Julia & Mr. Sparkles 🥇 Won the MHJ Short Stirrup to qualify for MHJ finals! They also brought home a few 2nds & 4ths in the short stirrup.
💜 Abby & Batteries Not Included were consistent in the WTC, earning 🥈 in every class.
🎨 Leighton & The Artist were Reserve Champion in the WTC!
💜 Ari & Batteries Not Included checked off lots of goals, and Ari did his very horse show first poles course! He proudly hung his 3rd, 5th, & 6th ribbons on the ribbon rack.
🎨 Caroline & The Artist we’re 2nd, 3rd, & 4th in the walk trot and showed great improvement from their first horse show!
.c.cronin

08/11/2024

Show prep in full swing on this beautiful day!

08/09/2024

Today marks a huge step in Phantom’s recovery from colic surgery back in April… he got to spend 10 mins back out in the big paddock with his best buddy, Cass, eating grass! After the initial “welcome back” squeals it was pretty anticlimactic and the both seemed so happy to see each other again. We will gradually increase the time Phantom can spend out there, but for now this is a welcome indication of progress.

08/08/2024

Truly fascinating science 🧬🦠🧫

Study of racehorses' poo predicts future track success

Scientists found gut microbes in a young foal directly correlate to long-term health and performance.

08/06/2024

I’m back to reality after a magical week with my family in London. The biggest thank yous to .a.shupe and for holding down the fort at home and keeping everything running like a well oiled machine. I appreciate you and all you do!!! And thank you to our wonderful faRmily for letting me unplug and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend my with family. I got to relaxed unwind, and truly be present, in the moment. That was a gift for@which I am so grateful!

07/24/2024

We got to see BONNIE today 💜🥰🐶🥰💜!!! And that can only mean one thing… checked all of our saddles and our ponies are so happy! We are already counting down until the next visit.

07/18/2024

We have NO fun! Todays activities included paint-a-pony , ba****ck, and proper leading practice, among other things.

07/16/2024

With Pony Finals around the corner, we thought it would be fun to have a modeling clinic today! These kiddos learned about conformation, it’s importance, how to stand up and model their pony, and how to jog. They did a great job!

07/15/2024

Today has been a long time coming, and definitely was a big deal. Scotty did his first real lesson back after colic surgery at the end of March, and Phantom had his first tack walk after colic surgery in mid April, 13 days after Scotty’s surgery. We have all miss having them in our lineup, as they are both incredible teachers. There’s still a ways to go as they build fitness and strength, but today made me smile. Thanks to all of you who have supported them and us through this, and have had our backs. Thank you - it means the world.

07/15/2024

What a day!! 11 riders and 8 horses all had a super successful day at South Coast!
🖤 Allie returned to the show ring for the first time in many years aboard Capstone Farm’s All Dolled Up. The highlight of their day was winning a class in the pleasure division, and seeing how this young mare got better and better throughout the day!
🔋Abby & Capstone Farm’s Batteries Not Included had their most consistent day yet and went home with an armload of ribbons and a smile!
💜 Ari & Batteries Not Included tackled the walk trot ring for the second time with much progress and lots of fun! They were 2nd, 4th, & 5th in a good size group of riders.
🎵Caroline made her horse show debut with Capstone Farm’s Nashville! The pair were Reserve Champion of the Senior Walk Trot division!
🎶 Cassidy and Nashville had a great outing in the short stirrup! They brought home good ribbons in the hunter over fences and Eq on the flat!
🎆Julia moved up to the short stirrup with Quiet Rein Farm’s Mr. Sparkles. Each round was better than the last and with a win in the Eq flat, they ended up Reserve Champion in the Shoet Stirruo Eq!
🌙 Jill moved up to the Long Stirrup and jumped her first verticals at a show with Rebecca Favrovek’s Over the Moon. The brought home ribbons in every over fences class, and made the hard stuff look easy!
🎨Leighton rocked her first ever horse show with Capstone Farm’s The Artist! She showed him off in the hunter pleasure division and got ribbons in ever class!
🍀Sadie and her own Fernhill Inspiration pushed themselves and conquered some tougher courses today! Her hard work paid off with a pair of 🥈 in the flat and under saddle, and Reserve Champion!
🖼️ Sienna won a class in the novice flat division with Capstone Farm’s The Artist, and ended up Reserve Champion! It was a nice improvement in her riding from her last (and first) show!
🌮 Lora and Rocco have been hard at work at home since the last show, and it paid off with some of their most smooth, soft, and consistent rounds to date!
Great job EVERYONE, and a tremendous THANK YOU to .a.shupe .h_eq for all your help today!

07/14/2024

Introducing…. 🥁🥁🥁
ALL DOLLED UP
“Dahlia”
🖤💜🖤💜🖤

We are so excited to have this pretty girl in our program! It’s hard not to fall in or with her!

07/11/2024

She finally has a barn name! Introducing….. DAHLIA
She’s a Clyde/QH cross, and sweet as honey 💜
Now we just need a show name…. And GO!
(Black Dahlia is not an option 😬)

07/11/2024

We snuck out of the ring today 🌲🪻🌻☀️

07/03/2024

All. The. Feels.

07/03/2024

Family portrait 📸🖼️ Scotty’s first ride since colic surgery on March 29th 💜💜💜 we still have a ways to go before he’s back to his full time job, but this is a huge first step. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who contributed to his GoFundMe, reached out, continue to check in, send kind words and good vibes!!! I cannot put into words how much it all means to me.

07/02/2024

This is a great, easy to read explanation of judging in the hunter ring.

BY DAPHNE THORNTON OF TWO BIT TRAINING We are pretty committed to client education at Two Bit Training. Our unmounted lesson topics range from leg wrapping to taking a temperature and pulse to walking a course to explaining hunter judging. We’re big on writing our thoughts down and sending them ho...

07/01/2024

06/27/2024

Trail riding and Slip ‘N Sliding!! Not a bad way to spend the day!

Address

240 Franklin Street
Mansfield, MA
02048

Telephone

+19145232692

Website

http://www.ridecapstonefarm.com/

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Videos

Happy Tears 🥲

Crying happy tears over here, watching the videos of Scotty rejoining his herd for the first time since he had colic surgery at the end of March. It’s been 12 very long weeks of layup, and holding our collective breath to get to this point. Thank you @kristen.a.shupe for the videos and supervising, and to all who have supported Scotty through his surgery and recovery. We cannot wait to get him back into our lineup!! #glynhafanbiscotti #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #colicsurgerysurvivor #welshpony #pony #poniesofinstagram #gofundme #thankyou #gratitude #grateful #happytears #ridecapstonefarm

Unlock the Magic

Now that’s what I’m talking about 👏🥳👏!!! When Galli showed up here 2 years ago, Kristen had big goals for him. The key to successfully training any horse is to dig through our rider tool bag and find the tools that work for and resonate with each individual horse. With the long term goal of doing the 3’ hunters, Galli needs to be able to be straight, go forward, come back, have smooth upright transitions, be soft and supple and accepting of the contact, and have confidence in himself and his pilot. With a focus on transitions as the best tool for suppling him, and thus opening to the door to all of the other pieces that make up the big picture, Galli is learning to sit and drive from behind. Today was a huge milestone- jumping a course (including some gates and boxes), completely relaxed and responsive. After each jump he came back, and reset to the right canter, and jumped around with confidence. In training horses, just like when a rider is first learning, the lessons can be tedious and slow. But that time taken to build an impenetrable foundation, piece by piece, pay dividends. Amazing job Kristen Shupe Your hard work was definitely rewarded today!! #unlockthemagic #babyhorse #painthorse #warmblood #futurehunter #thefutureisbright #horse #paintwarmblood #jump #lightbulbmoment #keepthelighton #ridecapstonefarm

Practice makes progress and if you improve 1% every ride, by 100 rides you will have improved 💯%!! Cassidy rocked her lesson today with Nash! #Nashville #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #jump #practicemakesprogress #pony #buckskin #poniesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm Charlotte DeLuca Woodley

Jill & Willie are on a roll!! They have come such a long way and it’s so much fun to watch them go! #overthemoon #unicornscomeinchestnuttoo #jump #onaroll #youmustbebutter #horse #warmblood #horsesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm Jillian Sommer

Clinic with Jerry Schurink

More videos on our Instagram! What a great day of learning! It was so exiting to welcome Jerry Schurink for a clinic, whose depth of knowledge is deeper than the ocean. Jerry gave everyone the perfect blend of theory and practice, and our riders all rode beautifully, and learned so much! And it was wonderful to see so many of our riders come to audit - there’s much to be learned by watching and listening. Just a few snippets of our pairs today. Great job, everyone! #clinic #neverstoplearning #education #lightbulbmoment #phantomoftheopera #fernhillinspiration #kbcrocknacre #unlockthemagic #overthemoon #canter #jump #serpentine #grateful #proudtrainer #ridecapstonefarm @kristen.a.shupe @slimdog1030 @sadie.h_eq @jeniferhharrison @allie_fogarty

Casper’s Learn to Canter Magic

Learning to canter is one of the most magical experiences for any rider. And there’s no better teacher than Casper 💜🦄💜 This magical unicorn will be for lease to the perfect situation in April. #casperthefriendlypony #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #canter #thebestteacher #kisstocanter #zoomzoom #pony #poniesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm

He’s on a roll! Ari went 2 full laps around in the canter for the first time ever today, and was grinning ear-to-ear. He announced at dinner tonight that he wants to start riding more days a week. My heart is full. And also, Buzz is a saint. #trainerskid #proudmama #proudtrainermoment #batteriesnotincluded #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #poa #appypony #canter #lookathimgo #pony #poniesofinstagram #practicemakesprogress #ridecapstonefarm

I definitely had a proud trainer mom moment today, watching my littlest log his longest canter yet - 3/4 of the way around the ring, with the best Buzzy! And when he was done, all I could see was his ear-to-ear grin as he yelled out “my face is frozen like this!” 💜 #batteriesnotincluded #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #poa #appypony #proudtrainermoment #proudmom #canter #smile #pony #ridecapstonefarm

When you always ride ponies but your trainer realizes you’re actually tall enough for the horse 🤯🙈 #dynosaur #unciorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #whendidshegetsotall #stopgrowingitsnotok #imnotokwiththis #horse #painthorse #horsesofinstagram #canter #ridecapstonefarm @laurastberg

Riding out corners + keeping leg on + keeping heels down + stirrups on toes = cantering poles 🥳 #capserthefriendlypony #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #canter #checktheboxes #corners #legon #pony #poniesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm

Wednesday mornings are for the ladies! #overthemoon #unicornscomeinchestnuttoo #jump #trot #horse #horsesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm Jillian Sommer

Wednesday mornings are for the ladies! #austintatious #unicornscomeinchestnuttoo #jump #trot #horse #horsesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm Laura Weinberg

We love finding new ways of thinking about and expressing old ideas! @kristen.a.shupe has started to help the riders think of their pace along a scale, and it has been so helpful! In this case, it helped L & Boston keep a consistent tempo around the course - a first for this pair! Great work!! #bostonstrong #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #jump #horse #reallifeunicorn #canweclonehim #horsesofinstagram #neverstoplearning #ridecapstonefarm Laura Weinberg

Practicing our releases with driving reins continues 😁. #canyoufeelthedifference #kbcrocknacre #jump #unicorn #pony #poniesofinstagram #ifyouimproveonepercenteverydaybyonehundreddaysyouwillhaveimprovedonehundredpercent #winterisforfundamentals #jumpallthethings #ridecapstonefarm Jillian Sommer

Ari’s 1st Canter

He finally did it!! Passed our canter test (2 laps around the indoor with at the sitting trot) and did his first canter (*on purpose)!! His smile was so big afterwards and now all he wants to do is canter 😂. Definitely having a proud mom moment over here. #trainerskid #proudmom #batteriesnotincluded #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #poa #appypony #canter #onpurpose #winterriding #pony #poniesofinstagram #ridecapstonefarm

Oh TobyMojo…. I don’t think I I can adequately put into words what you mean to me… what you have done for me… and what you have done for so many kids, including my own. I always say that our program was built on your back, and it is absolutely true. You have taught countless children to walk, trot, canter, and jump. You have taught them how to groom, tack, lead, pick feet, bathe, and horseshow. But more importantly, your patience, kindness, and overwhelming cuteness have fostered a love of horses for so, so many. And maybe above all else, you were truly my partner. Working with you always felt like a well choreographed dance, where you’d know what I wanted without ever having to ask. I connected with you on a level that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before. You have been telling us for awhile now that you were ready to step away from you post, to do less. Sometimes the best things that we can do for our equine partners are the hardest things for our hearts. Bringing Toby to his retirement lease home today was so bittersweet. It is the home a pony dreams of - a suite sized stall, a lovely run in, a window to hang his head over, a large turnout, fabulous knowledgeable people to care for him, and a pretty new friend. While It feels like a piece of my heart left today with him, I have the joy of knowing that he is in such capable hands, and is so very happy. Thank you, my friend, for so many years of loyalty, joy, and love. Enjoy your much earned retirement. 💜🦄💜 #tobymojo #tinyunicorn #retirement #retirementgoals #livingthedream #mybestfriend #gratitude #welshpony #pony #poniesofinstagram #imissyoualready #theendofanera #ridecapstonefarm

busted out the triangle today, and Kathy killed it in both directions! Our riders of all levels worked in this today - some at the walk and some at the trot, and we even incorporated it into our course work! It’s so great for practicing much needed straightness. #nashville #nashthepony #pony #unicorncollection #wehavethebestschooliesever #triangle #pole #poleexercise #trot #poniesofinstagram #buckskin #buckskinpony Kathy Noyes-Hillebrand