AA & JR DB Sport Horses LLC

01/14/2025

A couple of our junior riders had a blast this weekend participating in Emily Gill’s Working Equitation Clinic at Hunters Creek Farm ! We can’t wait to do it again soon!

12/25/2024

From our families to yours, Happy Holidays! This holiday season, we are filled with gratitude for equine partners and the community that surrounds them!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

12/22/2024

➡️ Why I Choose Horses for My Kid: Lessons Worth Every Penny

People often ask me, “Why do you spend so much money on horses for your kid? They’re just ‘money pits,’ emotional heart-breakers made of tissue paper that can kick your lights out. Why?”

The answer is simple: because horses teach kids more than any iPad, social media influencer, or textbook ever could.

Yes, you’re right—horses are relentless in every way. They demand your time, energy, and finances. They can test your patience, challenge your emotions, and consume you entirely. But look at what they give in return.

⚡️ Lessons That Last a Lifetime

Horses teach my child skills no technology, trendy outfit, or peer group could ever provide:

• Nonverbal Communication: Learning to “speak” with a 1,200-pound animal without words develops awareness, empathy, and understanding.

• Responsibility: Early mornings, late nights, and putting the needs of another being before their own teach kids accountability.

• Confidence: The triumphs and struggles in the saddle or barn instill self-belief and grit.

• Emotional Intelligence: Handling setbacks, managing fears, and celebrating successes alongside a horse build emotional resilience.

• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: When something goes wrong, as it inevitably does, kids learn to think critically and act swiftly.

• Goal Setting & Consistency: Progress with horses comes through small, consistent efforts—a powerful life lesson. swiftly.

• Value of Networking & Mentorship: The horse industry molds kids to be coachable and open minded to collaboration with their peers. Success in this industry requires a network - they learn that quickly.

Beyond the tangible skills, horses bring kids closer to nature, science, and even spirituality. There’s something deeply humbling and awe-inspiring about working with these magnificent creatures. I know for a fact they bring you closer to God as well.

🔥The Physical and Mental Challenge

Many don’t believe equestrian activities qualify as a sport. To that, I can only say: spend a day in the barn. The physical demands of mucking stalls, lifting hay bales, and conditioning a horse are real. Riding itself is a full-body workout that requires balance, strength, and coordination. These kids spend more time practicing their skills than most athletes on the planet.

But the mental aspect is just as significant. Equestrianism teaches kids how to master pressure, manage performance anxiety, and handle adversity with grace. Those are skills they’ll carry into every aspect of life.

👉 A Priceless Investment

I would rather my child be so consumed by the living, breathing responsibilities of horses than searching for validation on social media, in peer groups, or, worse, through harmful substances.

Horses are an investment—not just in riding lessons, vet bills, and show fees—but in my child’s future. I’d rather spend my money on building her character, teaching her discipline, and giving her life skills than on fleeting trends or technology that will soon be outdated.

Yes, horses are expensive. Yes, they’re challenging. But they’re also one of the greatest gifts I can give my child. Because when I look at her, I don’t just see a rider—I see a confident, capable, compassionate human being. And for that, horses are worth every penny.



Shared from Blue Thunder A Unicorn Story

12/20/2024

We had such a wonderful time at our annual holiday party that we forgot to take photos!

It’s always a joy to see our barn family come together, from our newest tiny riders to our longstanding training clients, and everyone in between.

What a privilege it is to be able to do the job we love surrounded by such a fantastic community! Seeing everyone chatting and the kids playing together like they’ve known each other forever gives us so much hope for the future.

Onwards to 2025! We can’t wait to see what’s in store!

12/13/2024

On National Day of the Horse, we’re especially grateful for our wonderful lesson horses❤️

12/06/2024

Brrr…. It’s been a cold week here in NE Ohio!! as we dig ourselves out from the latest snowstorm, here are some helpful tips to keep our riders nice and warm through the winter season!

This post also highlights one of the many reasons that our riders groom and tack their own horse before their lesson! It gives them time to get their bodies moving and acclimated to the temperature of the barn before they’re on their horse.

❄️🐴 Why It's Essential to Help Your Riders Dress for Cold Weather
….. ‼️ and an easy email template (for you to personalize) to send to your riders! ‼️

There’s nothing worse than a rider who’s cold and uncomfortable. A cold, tense rider simply isn’t in an optimal state for learning or riding.

While you probably know how to dress for the barn in colder temperatures, have you communicated this to your riders and their families?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard riders step out of the car and say, “It’s colder here than it was at home!”

When riders aren’t properly prepared for cold weather, both their physical and emotional states are impacted:

The Physical Toll of Being Cold
Cold muscles are stiff and less responsive, reducing flexibility and coordination. This affects safety and performance in the saddle:
🥶 Numb fingers struggle to feel and hold the reins.
🥶 Rigid hips create bouncing riders with braced legs.
🥶 Stiff shoulders and elbows can cause pulling on the horse’s face.
Additionally, as the body works harder to stay warm, riders tire out more quickly, leading to reduced focus and endurance.

The Emotional Impact of the Cold
When the body is focused on staying warm, it diverts energy away from mental and physical tasks. Riders may struggle with processing, retaining information, and even demonstrating skills they are normally good at. Emotionally, being cold can lead to frustration and irritability. Think about how you feel when you’re chilled to the bone—short-fused and more focused on warming up than anything else.

Preparation Matters
The easiest solution..... Have riders come prepared to the barn for the weather. As an instructor, you should educate your riders (and their families) about how to dress appropriately for winter lessons. It may sound simple, but many people don’t spend as much time outside these days and may not know how to dress for extended exposure to the cold.

So other than having your rider dress for the weather, what things can you do in lessons minimize some of the effects from the cold weather.
☃️ Ride in sunny areas
☃️ Ride in areas out of the wind
☃️ Minimize the idol time in lessons and focus on quality over quantity
☃️ Encourage ways to get their body moving and elevate their heart rate without sweating prior to their lesson.

👇 🥶 If you actually read this, drop a comment below with the lowest temperature you have experienced at your barn !!

‼️ Get Your Free Winter Prep Resources! ‼️
In the comments, you’ll find a signup link. Enter your email, and I’ll send you a PDF of the infographic and a template you can use to quickly email your riders and their families to better prepare them for winter lessons.

Let’s keep everyone warm, focused, and ready to ride this winter!

12/03/2024

Welcome to winter in Northeast Ohio!

Rosiemai retained her spot as World’s Greatest Pony as she carried her kiddo up to the arena in tonight’s snow.

11/28/2024

One of the most incredible things about working in the equine industry is the community that it creates. We are so incredibly grateful for our community this year!

From the barn staff, vets, farriers, chiropractors and more who jump in at all hours when our horses need them,

To our clients and their families who share the same love for our horses as we do,

To the horses we trust to teach us the greatest lessons in life,

And everyone else in between,

It truly takes a village.

From all of us at DB Sport Horses, thank you for all you do!

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/14/2024

Our program is growing! Help us find the perfect addition to continue teaching our young riders!

🦄ISO- our next unicorn! 🦄

Who we are: A small, private dressage lesson program in NE Ohio, looking to expand our herd of quality lesson horses.

What we are looking for:
-Sound, kid SAFE, and sensible WTC
-Between 14-15h
-Under 12 years old
-Dressage potential
-Prefer within 4 hours of NE Ohio, or near Lancaster, PA
-Green is fine, but the right temperament is a MUST.

What we have to offer:
-Training under a USDF Silver and Bronze Medalist
-Quality care including regular chiropractic, BEMER and MagnaWave treatments
-Balanced work load(often 2 days off per week)
-Endless love and attention from our tiny riders!

Budget: 15k🥕

(photo of our much loved lesson pony for attention)

10/30/2024

How cute are our lesson kids?! We just love how much they love our horses!

Thank you again, Mady Wendell for taking such beautiful photos!

10/22/2024

📣Junior Rider Shoutout!📣

This fall, our riders have been working hard to reach the goals they’ve set for themselves! Through the end of the year, we’ll be sharing some of their achievements.

Learning to canter is a big step for our young riders. This little one has been working so hard to build her skills and confidence to be ready for her first canter. She is a ray of sunshine in the barn, and always up for a challenge in the saddle! We are so proud of her!

10/19/2024

A HUGE thank you to Mady Wendell for bringing her photography expertise at the farm today! She hosted mini photo sessions for several of our young riders and fabulous lesson horses.

It was a flurry of situating kids and horses, and then getting ears up and smiles on before someone fidgeted, but we made it happen!

We can’t wait to see how the photos turned out!

10/16/2024

Four of our young riders participated in a LandSafe - Reducing Rider Risk clinic a few weeks ago. As equestrians, we take the risk of a fall each time we get in the saddle. LandSafe teaches riders how to manage that risk to help reduce the risk of serious injury in a fall, and to increase safety education for riders and their support systems.

The kids were eager participants! They learned the importance of their arm “cage”, and how to roll on gym mats first, then progressed to practicing a few types of falls off of the simulator.

Thank you to Keli and Danny for your patient, focused, yet fun coaching for our young riders! And thank you to Michael Willham Eventing for hosting the clinic at your beautiful facility!

We’re already looking forward to next year! Mark your calendars for mid-late September. The youth clinic is open to riders between the ages of 6-11, and the adult clinic is for ages 12-60. With enough interest, a Senior clinic is also possible.

09/29/2024

Junior rider shoutout!! What do you do when you’re challenged to be your best? You rise to the occasion! That is exactly what our riders did this weekend.

This weekend, two of our junior riders had the privilege of riding at the Dressage4Kids Lendon Gray clinic hosted by Flow Equestrian Center! This was both riders’ first clinic of this type, and they both really pushed themselves to improve in their riding and knowledge.

Dressage4Kids is a unique opportunity, as the young riders stay for two full days at the clinic- riding, auditing other lessons, and attending educational seminars. This weekend, the girls learned so much! In the saddle, Lendon encouraged the girls to think critically and make tangible changes in their riding. On the ground, riders were tested on horse anatomy, made horsemanship and riding goals, and attended several learning opportunities. Guest speakers/ educational opportunities included a presentation from Bits of Balance LLC, a private tour of Meridian Equine Rehabilitation and Wellness, a fabulous vaulting demonstration, a barefoot farrier(Brandy!), and helmet fitting discussion with Sarah Freeman.

It was incredible to see so many talented young riders this weekend. Not only did they display strong riding skills, but the girls supported each other throughout the weekend- helping with braiding, wrapping, and making new friends in between activities. They demonstrated teamwork, responsibility, and a strong work ethic!

Thank you SO very much to Northern Ohio Dressage Association for putting on the clinic, and Tracy Browne for being such a wonderful host!

09/12/2024

Do you recognize this pony? USDF is featuring Welsh Ponies and Cobs for the month of September, and our Rosiemai is featured!

“In the winter of 2021, I began working for a local dressage trainer, who graciously encouraged me to build her youth program. We started small, ‘leasing’ rides on horses in the barn for our initial lessons. In the dressage world, lesson horses are often few- and far-between, and our program was no exception. We were lucky enough to have an FEI schoolmaster, but at 17-hands, he wasn’t a great fit for our youngest riders.

Over the next year, DB Sport Horses’ Junior Program grew beyond our expectations, and it became time for us to find a dedicated kids’ lesson pony. Enter, Rosie Mai!”

In our latest exclusive story, an assistant trainer from USDF Region 2 tells us how she was tasked with building a youth program & eventually filled the pony-sized hole in their operation with a highly decorated and hugely loved Welsh Cob. Read their story: https://yourdressage.org/2024/09/04/rosie-mai-the-super-pony/

This story is part of our celebration of Welsh Ponies and Cobs as our Breed of the Month.