Cornerstone Farm South

01/28/2025

Tomorrow is the LAST day to register for our FREE Equine Nutritional seminar - open to parents, students, instructors or any horse enthusiast who wants to learn!

We DO require an RSVP by text 239-595-7618 or email [email protected] so that we can plan adequate space and goodies for you❤️🦄

01/28/2025

If you are an instructor or farm owner please complete this simple survey that is working to gather info to start an insurance company (group) to help provide better coverage and lessen the extreme costs

Please Click on the brief SURVEY link and complete the survey!
https://forms.gle/pxNXgDGisSNNR58JA

I was 29 when I scraped together enough money for a down payment on my first farm. The horse and barn were run down, pastures were overgrown, and the fencing was a joke. The mortgage required that I have insurance on the house and even that was a burden. Insurance is expensive and getting more so. If you don't have it, you are self insured, meaning anything that goes wrong, you pay.

My journey from buying my first farm to having a complete facility caused me to think now about how I might help people like me who are coming up and growing their horse life dream. I thought about how local shows are dying out because of insurance costs. I remember buying a new tractor and worrying that if it got destroyed, the payments would keep coming. I was super careful how I stacked my hay so I wouldn't have a barn fire and was I careful where I parked my tractor and horse trailer so a tree wouldn't fall on them in a storm.

A few months ago, I wrote a post about horse related insurance concerns and one of my readers, Cat, contacted me to tell me her husband was in the insurance business. It turned out he is a lot more than a local insurance salesman. He is a global expert with a team that creates big solutions. For the last several months I have been working with this team to find a way to make insurance for what we do and what we have with our horses more affordable.

These insurance experts have come up with an insurance program where we all, in a way, share these risks together by purchasing our individual insurance coverages from a program that as the group grows, our costs would be reduced. This program wouldn't be a huge insurance company that has to pay their stockholders dividends. It would be a lean and mean program that over time could create meaningful savings.

We are at a point now where we need to understand what everybody sees as their risks and what insurance they need to cover those risks. I am putting up a link to a survey below and I hope you all will complete it. It's not long. It asks about individual and business needs related to horses, horse properties, horse farm equipment and insurance for horse illness and accident vet costs.

We need thousands of horse people to complete this survey to get a proper reading of our collective needs. Please complete the survey and be sure to share the survey post on your page so we can reach other horse people. This survey, and the potential group insurance program that I hope will come out of it, will be the horse community doing something together to help make having a horse more affordable. Let's do this together.

https://forms.gle/pxNXgDGisSNNR58JA

01/25/2025

Bob might be a prickly pear sometimes …but there is wisdom and a WHOLE lot of truth in what he has to say

Read and consider how you REALLY feel about this …we have to do better and educate anyone about how to push for our horses AND riders welfare

The horse world's competitions need to change. The pictures are of the US Olympic dressage horse Jane and her rider Marcus Orlob. They were eliminated from the Paris Olympics due to a written rule that automatically eliminates any horse with blood on it. You can see the tiny patch of blood on the right hind sock from a small scratch. Rules based governance is void of investigation or judgement.

Before rules based governance there were human beings called Stewards who made the necessary judgements along with Vets regarding whether or not a horse was fit to compete. Stewards were experienced horsemen with sufficient power to make decisions regarding horses' and riders' safety and the well being.

What changed was lawyers, accounts and bureaucrats started running our US equestrian organizations that govern equestrian competitions. Starting with the USEF, an organization with a $37.2million annual budget, and their affiliates, the community of experienced horsemen and women, who kept horse shows and other competitions safe, were pushed aside to build the hugely profitable current horse industry.

The results of the industry's rise include the fact that horses are now routinely drugged so inadequate riders can win show ribbons. A young teen was killed in an equitation class when her horse stumbled and fell on her. No blood was taken from the horse by the governing association, a Vet or the police, that we know of. It was deemed a "freak accident" and forgotten. A freak accident is when a meteorite falls on you. When horses fall on a rider in flat groomed footing, there is a cause.

The old Stewardship model worked well until people got obsessed with filing lawsuits. Human common sense and judgement was then removed and replaced with rules in black and white. That scratch on Jane that got her eliminated was nothing. A speck of blood like that would have been determined to be immaterial by any Steward. Nevertheless, after years of preparation for the Olympics and demanding selection, Jane and her rider Marcus Orlob were out without a word.

Rules based governance is not working. A perfectly fit and capable horse got eliminated, a teen rider was killed in an equitation class, horses are commonly competing under the influence of drugs and it's all OK according to the rules.

We, the real horse community, must end rules based governance and replace it with standards based governance. Here is a hypothetical example of the difference: Rule - a horse under seven years old should not be allowed to jump 3 feet (one meter) or more. Standard - Horses must be properly fit in order to jump 3 feet (one meter) or more. The required level of fitness would be determined by a Steward, sometimes with the aid of a Vet. This worked for countless decades, and it could work again. It would do a much better job that we see now.

There will be lawsuits against Stewards and Vets under this system. That is an insurable risk. We could stack the deck against dissenters against a standards based system. All competition entry forms could include an ironclad agreement, that entrants would be required to sign, that riders, owners and parents would agree to accept the judgement of the Stewards and Vets. That entry form agreement could include an agreement to go to binding arbitration and the person filing a complaint would pay for the complaint process. Experienced lawyers could figure this out.

PETA is gaining ground in their effort to "free horses from human slavery" under the current system. They successfully intimidated the FEI Olympic governing body in Paris. Riders and horses are getting injured under today's system when judgment from experienced Stewards with the authority to intervene, could limit injuries and correctly allow fit horses to compete.

01/24/2025

Do you have a mare in foal or a cute baby on the ground?

Come to the FREE equine nutrition seminar FRIDAY Jan 31st to learn more about the unique needs of growing young horses or a mare in foal

At CSF we hope to be a place of education for ANY who want to LEARN!

Please RSVP via TEXT at 239-595-7618 or email at [email protected]

Lots of goodies and great information for ALL horse enthusiasts, riders, instructors

Hope to see you there!

01/18/2025

Friday Jan 31st FREE equine nutrition seminar ….come meet GUS! Gus has been a dependable lesson boy at CSF since he was 8 years old….he is about to turn 25!

As an OTTB we all know TBs burn more calories standing still …come learn WHY! Whether you are new to horses or been around the barn as old as dirt …there is always MORE to learn

We DO ask that you RSVP for this seminar so that we can plan adequate space and take home materials

Bring your 4-H group, horsemanship class or just another horsey friend!

Text us at 239-595-7618 or email [email protected]

Feel free to share the news - we hope to see you there!

01/17/2025

Little day trip for my belated birthday-off to Redfields in Ocala to visit Arturo! He is going to be 2 years old in March …he will be off to the round pen in a few months for a solid proper 90 day start then hopefully HOME to start his career!

Can’t wait to see where he ends up!!

01/17/2025

YES ….your riding should shine …not the bling on your outfit

Classy

A big question in the horse world today is what riding apparel tends to stand out to the judges. Is it a classy look or something a little more flashy? Read about what the judges have to say about what catches their eyes.

01/17/2025

FREE Seminar on Equine Nutrition and learn more about how to change diet as a horse ages…..especially in Florida! Meet Penelope who is about to turn 29! She is still full of s***k and loves her walk trot riders

She has been in our care since she was 6 years old ….

This seminar is open to ANYONE who wants to LEARN!

Text 239-595-7618 or email [email protected] to RSVP so we can plan accordingly

Hope to see you there! Jan 31st 5:30-7:30pm♥️🦄♥️

01/16/2025

Well…today was just another day…but it was my birthday. I am not one who is concerned with age … I am happy to say I am 58 years young and my wrinkles and callouses tell the story of my life …

I realized today I am starting my 40th year as a professional instructor …something that MANY people told me was an impossible dream

Guess I didn’t listen ….and I am thankful I was foolish and stubborn enough to embark on the dream… 1972 I watched Kathy Kusner win the silver medal in the Olympic Games - I didn’t know then that she was one of the FIRST women to race horses or compete internationally for her country. I was 5 years old living in downtown Cleveland …and I told my mother …”I am going to do THAT when I grow up!!” Not a horse in sight …but my grandpa heard me and bought me six weeks of riding lessons an hour outside of the city.

I still remember my first lesson - I told my instructor I didn’t need the longe line - I knew what to do …second lesson …she let me go - I think because she hoped I would fall off and learn my lesson. Instead I happily posted the trot away and I never saw the longe line again - it was just natural to me to be on a horse and FREE!

YEP….strong women make good role models …I am thankful for the strong women in my life that helped shape and form my path

I am grateful for all the horses and students I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of their lives …every single one is special to me.

Thank
You all for a great birthday today - I taught lessons, took care of my ponies, and had a yummy cake with my family at the end of a busy but wonderful day

I can’t wait to gallop on to the next challenge ….❤️

01/15/2025

FREE Equine Nutrition Seminar Fri Jan 31st 5:30-7:30pm! This event is open to all ages - whether you are a rider, parent, horse enthusiast or an instructor - come join us to learn more about how to keep our horses healthy in this unique Florida environment

Please rsvp - see flier

01/12/2025

We kicked off the new 2025 season at Stepping Stones with wonderful camaraderie between farms and friends! We also celebrated the year end awards for 2024!

Our goal is to strengthen the local hunter jumper community - through events like this - and it was so MUCH fun getting to see everyone hanging out, laughing and supporting each other

MORE OF THIS ❤️🦄❤️

01/10/2025

This is a great article for anyone who had ever had to work at regaining your confidence ….at some point we all have something in life that will shake our foundation ….when the foundation is shaky it’s time to start back there…and rebuild that confidence bit by bit

Of the many untruths I have to push back against when working with riders, this one is a biggie: the idea that in order to get over your fear of riding after a fall or runaway or crash, you have to push through it.

01/10/2025

Come on out for the FIRST Stepping Stones Show Series of 2025! Sat jan 11th

220x240 all weather ring plus schooling area

Relaxed and FRIENDLY atmosphere!

Geared toward riders or horses just starting out or seasoned competitors tuning up or trying out new divisions

Classes include in hand confirmation, leadline FULL division that is PINNED, thru Marshall & Sterling qualifying classes in hunters jumpers and equitation

Wonderful food provided by Earth Wind and Fryer Food Truck! YUMMY:)

Want more info? TEXT the show office at 239-682-0481 Emily Peterson

01/05/2025

I MADE SURE our farm could host ANY size vehicle!!! I absolutely hate equine facilities that trailers cannot get in and out

LOVE that the huge semi bringing our new Canadian pony friend EASILY came in and turned around with NO trouble! ❤️❤️😎❤️❤️

I leased 6 facilities before I could build my own ….so many barns look
Beautiful and are designed and built by people who like horses BUT have NEVER worked a day in that space!! Trailers can’t get in can’t get out or it’s a scary situation for all:(

Form and FUNCTION… which is why when every contractor said my gate did not need to be that big or my drive way that wide or my lot was too big ….well….I told them it HAD to be that way!!

I just made a VERY tired hauler quite happy as he was in and out in five minutes after a full load of horses drive through bad winter weather to get here ….

People ….plan your space to be FUNCTIONAL and It can still be beautiful

Goodnight little miss Mia! Welcome to CSF!❤️🦄😎

01/04/2025

Great day - USEF judges yet a relaxed atmosphere

Bring your greenies …your students just starting out… or advanced riders wanting to get ready for winter show season

Everything from in hand conformation through hunters jumpers and derby!

2025 is officially in full swing and our January 11th show is quickly approaching! Who plans to ring in the New Year with us at the first show of the season?

🔔 Please note - we are planning to start the show at 9 AM due to some chilly weather. 🔔

Please reserve your stalls and fill out your entry forms ASAP. Contact Emily Terry Peterson at 239 682 0481 or [email protected] with questions.

01/01/2025

Looks like ladybug 🐞 had a little too
Much New Year’s Eve ….

Hmmmm….be safe out there people!

🦄❤️

12/30/2024

Happy birthday Emily

12/30/2024

Happy Birthday Emily! We love you SO much!❤️❤️🦄🦄❤️❤️