Timber Creek Stables

10/02/2025

First rides in the new footing last night!! Wooo hoooo 🥳
So much fun!!

10/01/2025

Isn’t she lovely!?!
Hello beautiful new footing!! Two days worth of hard work spreading and leveling by hand, but she’s done. Now to enjoy a fun night of lessons and get ready to head to OKC!

10/01/2025

We had a busy day today. Got some much needed new footing for the arena and hand spread and leveled the first truckload. One more load to be delivered tomorrow morning and it will be nice and spongy again.

09/30/2025

I’m excited to let you know, we now have barn perks from SmartPak!
Just use the following link to start saving today!

https://share.smartpakequine.com/ahc22!0fb66e1ea5!a

09/29/2025

Stop by Wild Pony Boutique for some fun merch!!

Take a peek at some of the Logo Shops that are available for shopping at Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show! Stop by to grab some gear! If you’d like logo merch but haven’t set up a Logo Shop yet, shoot me a message and a digital file of your logo. We can custom design something at the show!

09/26/2025

Yes!! Practice makes progress, make it count each ride.

Pressure isn’t something to avoid in practice, it’s something to use. ⚡️

When you ride at home, don’t just cruise. Expect more of yourself. Nail the clean transition, focus on collection and balance, ride the strategic pass…and hold yourself to getting it right the first time. That’s positive pressure. 🐴

Horse shows don’t hand out endless do-overs. If you’ve trained under focus and accountability at home, the show ring won’t feel like a shock, it’ll feel like something you’ve already mastered. 🌟

💡 Practice isn’t for comfort. It’s where you sharpen your skills, build trust in yourself, and prepare to deliver when it matters most. 🎯

09/26/2025

💝💝💝

🩷 Let Them Have a Horse...

Let them have a horse, let them ride,
Let them learn with dirt stained pride.
Give them reins and room to grow,
Show them truths only horses know.

Let them feel the morning chill,
Boots in stirrups, heart be still.
Let them fight for what they earn,
Through every fall, let them return.

Let them brush and braid and mend,
Make the barn their second home.
Let them whisper, laugh, and cry,
Beneath the endless, open sky.

Let them know the work is tough,
That love alone is only one part.
That feed needs hauling, stalls need cleaned...
That dreams are earned by hands that work.

Let them feel the wind in their hair,
And the freedom only horses share.
For horses teach what words cannot...
Strength, respect, and all they’ve got.

So when they ask, don’t think twice,
The price is high, but so’s the gain.
Because without a horse, they’ll never know, the kind of love that helps them grow.

❤️ Michelle | Born In The Barn

09/24/2025

In this sport and in life, criticism is everywhere. 🗣️

Barn aisles, the rail, the stands, social media… there’s always someone ready to pick apart what you did or didn’t do.

When I first started showing higher-profile horses, I used to feel a pang of nausea before going through the gate (and if I’m being honest, sometimes I still do). 🤢

Most of the time it was not because I doubted I could do it, but because I knew the opinions would follow. The truth is, they almost never came from people who were also in the arena. Those who have stepped up and competed at that level are usually the most supportive. The loudest criticism usually comes from the ones who never put themselves on the line.

If I wanted to avoid being criticized, I’d probably never enter the show ring. 🎯 But I didn’t sign up for this to play it safe.

Here’s what I figured out: the people talking the most are usually the ones doing the least. 📣

They’re not in the arena with their knees shaking. They’re not riding under the lights, putting themselves on the line. 💡

However, sometimes, what feels like unwarranted criticism from an unlikely source can actually make you better. 🔑 So don’t take every hater to heart, but stay open-minded enough to learn from anywhere.

👉 Takeaways you can use anywhere:
• 🛑 Criticism is constant. Decide which voices count and tune out the rest.
• 💪 Nerves are part of the process. Deliver anyway.
• 🚀 Playing it safe avoids judgment, but it also avoids growth.
• 👀 Be open to feedback, even from unexpected places.

Every time you ride through that gate or step up in life, you prove you belong. 🐴🔥

Champions don’t avoid nerves or criticism. They face both head-on, because that’s where progress and greatness live. 🏆

09/21/2025

Love this!

📣 TOMORROW: Main Character Monday kicks off
But first… let’s talk about what that actually means. 👀

You’ve probably heard the phrase “main character energy” floating around online. In today’s world, it’s not about being dramatic or self-absorbed. It’s about showing up like you belong in the spotlight. 🎬 Owning your presence. Turning heads. Taking up space in the best way.

Don’t confuse this concept with arrogance. 🙅‍♀️
Main character energy in the show ring means riding like you’re the one to watch, not just because you want to be, but because you’ve trained for it. 💪🔥

It’s how you command an arena the same way someone confident commands a boardroom, a stage, a dinner party… or their own damn life. 👑 You’re calm, focused, and undeniable.

Some people may naturally have that magnetism. But it has to be taught to others. And the show ring is the perfect classroom. 🎓🐴

🌟 Some horses trot in and own the arena without lifting a hoof.
Others have to learn it.
Same goes for riders.

Here’s the deal:
If your horse doesn’t naturally command the ring, you better be the main character.
And if you’re not, then you better hope your horse is.

✅ Best case? It’s a team effort.
You make up for each other’s gaps.
You double down on each other’s strengths.
You make it look effortless, even if it took blood, sweat, and 500 practice rides to get there. 🏆

Main character energy isn’t theatrical. It’s strategic.
You ride like the judge should be watching you… because you’re giving them a reason to. 👁️💫

👊 TOMORROW we launch Main Character Monday
Every week, I’ll post a thought-provoking question to help you think like a next-level competitor.

📘 Inspired by my upcoming book How to NOT Annoy the Judge

⚡️ You’ve got main character energy. You just need to tap into it.
Let’s go.

09/19/2025

A great example of how to close your fingers on the reins

Close your FINGERS/ NOT your hands!!!!
If you just close your fingers on the reins, it limits the tension to your forearm, but if you close your entire hand, it braces your biceps and triceps- which pretty much locks your whole arm!
It’s hard to have soft supple connection if your arms are locked, but you also do need some grip on the reins.  Closing your fingers while keeping the rest of the hand soft is how you achieve both.

09/18/2025

NF Bling by Bugatti

Growing up nicely!! Excited for the 2026 show season!

09/17/2025

Congratulations on a great show season Tessa and Delaney!!
Proud of you both!!
Here’s to a fun 2026!! 🎉🎉🎉