Willow Run Stables

07/16/2024

The Willow Run crew had a great time at Ledges this weekend! Kate even got out the big rig for us!!

06/02/2024

The Willow Run crew did an amazing job at Ledges this weekend! Congratulations to all!!

06/02/2024

The Willow Run crew is having a great horse show this weekend at Ledges!!

04/21/2024

Ring Around the Rosie 🎠🎠🎠

04/20/2024

Pretty happy and secure ponies here….

04/01/2024

Everyone has been working very hard this winter.....AND having fun (trainers included)!! So proud of everyone's dedication and looking forward to spring and summer seasons!

03/19/2024

Sorry for the delay,but we would like to welcome Allyson May and her warmblood mare Nellie. Excited to have you both at Willow Run!

03/17/2024

Still looking!!

We are looking to add a few people to our crew at Willow Run Stables! We need help with both am and/or pm chores, shifts are fairly short, and chores are all done as a team, so it is efficient, well managed, and a great part time job. Clients and horses are all a very wonderful group! We are looking for applicants with some horse handling experience, who are reliable with attention to detail.

Please message with questions or if you are interested!

02/26/2024

We have had some horses sell and graduate from full training, so we now have a couple stalls open. We have spots available for full training, sales horses, or clients looking to be in a program! We can tailor our program to fit you and your horses needs, and have opportunities to attend local and rated horse shows.

Message us to learn more or set up a tour! We also have a few in house 1/2 leases available.

02/22/2024

Kerry and Chase enjoying the outdoor on this spring-like February day

02/22/2024

Happy cat 💕

02/02/2024

Happy riders, happy ponies, happy trainers ❤️

01/24/2024

Chase and Sparrow having a ball 🤣 💚

01/19/2024

Liz and Chase looking great ❤️

01/18/2024

A little delayed, Congratulations and welcome to the Tetzlaff family and their new addition Denali!

01/18/2024

Another fun Wednesday pole lesson ❤️ everyone was worried about their horses ears and Kelly was just having a good time 🤣

12/23/2023

Snuggles in the warm lounge 💜

12/21/2023

Happy Wednesday!! Oh Stevie 🤪

12/20/2023

Fun group pole lesson on Wednesday 🦄

11/19/2023

We have several stalls available for boarding, full training, and sales. This is a rare opening at our facility. We have three trainers on site and a great group of people who love their horses. Indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a jump field, and access to trails. Specializing in hunter/jumpers and dressage. Contact us to schedule a tour of the facility!

04/09/2023

The equipment that horses “need “is generally more of a statement of what they’re rider, environment more current training program requires. Or, all of the above.

I firmly believe that no horse comes out of the womb meeting, inherently harsher equipment, no matter what, for the rest of their life.

I think this is something that humans project based off of what they feel is necessary, but that is more of a statement of the person’s current skill level and the tools they’ve been taught to use, not what the horse actually needs.

I grew up believing that some horses were inherently more difficult and could never be handled with more gentle equipment no matter the circumstance, because this is what I was taught by trainers.

But, the more I’ve learned about behaviour modification and prioritizing creating a relaxed horse over trying to accomplish specific skills on a specific time frame, I’ve realized how many “difficult” horses become easier and more reliable when you soften what you do.

I’ve yet to encounter a single horse that I haven’t been able to bit down or eventually ride bridleless.

Some horses require way more work and time, yes, but with the right changes in their daily care practices and training, I believe this is possible for any horse.

Labelling horses who can go in softer equipment as inherently easier, quieter and better listeners is a cop out that serves to downplay the level of work involved in creating a soft and responsive horse who is well adapted to the environments they perform in.

It serves to view use of harsh equipment as a badge of honour that means you must just be on a more complex and difficult horse, rather than viewing it as a choice the rider has made for that horse.

The environments we create and how they impact the horse are the biggest part of why humans may believe that their horse will never be able to be safely handled without a gag bit, lip chain, draw reins etc.

I think that as horse caretakers, we need to take ownership for this because we are the ones choosing the tools we use, not the horse.

Blaming the horse for our choices creates a helpless attitude that views positive change as an impossibility and seeks to use harsher equipment choice as a crutch that cannot be removed.

08/03/2022

Twinning on Tuesday!!!

02/11/2022

https://www.facebook.com/317988105623316/posts/1111451856276933/

I want to thank all those who contributed to our Winter Care Drive at Lakeshore Psychology Services, coordinated by Psychologist, Dr Laura Kaae (left), to help foster children in Ozaukee County to receive needed new pajamas and books for their first night of care. We specifically want to highlight community member Kate Oldenburg (middle in the picture) and her clients at Willow Run Stables who heard about our Care Drive and made a major contribution to this charitable effort.

12/24/2021

The level of dedication and determination Clark has for dunking his hay is remarkable.

10/28/2021

I think we can all agree on this one ✨✨

10/15/2021

Saw a familiar face hanging on the wall today at a local coffee shop ❤️ Karol Rehm

10/14/2021

A Perfectly placed helmet bag makes for the best bed 🐱

10/12/2021

08/02/2021

We got the big rig out this week to safely transport our precious cargo🦄 to the horse show!

07/28/2021

Early bird gets the worm 🦄