Bit by Bit Equestrian Center

09/25/2023

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.
Kimberly Reynolds’s

*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!

06/15/2023

🌟 BIT BY BIT SUMMER CAMPS 🌟

Bit by Bit provides a safe place for your child to make memories, meet new friends and be exposed to a healthy sport that develops physical fitness, balance, coordination, and confidence.

Our summer horse camp is more than a way to fill a summer day; it's a chance for a horse-crazy student to spend the day with horses.

Along with a daily riding lesson, students learn horsemanship, feeding, horse care, grooming, saddling, medical care and much morel During the week the new students will learn to walk, trot and steer their horses. More advanced students will work on continuing forward from the level they are at. All students will learn to ride through fun games, activities and obstacle courses. Weather is never a problem since we have both indoor & outdoor arena.

Students need to bring their own Lunch, long pants, riding helmet and boots.

🌟 Sign up for camps is open for everyone! 🌟
Camp dates : June 21-23, July 19-21 and July 26-28
Time : 9 am to 3 pm

02/01/2023

MY LITTLE FARM ❤
“Farm work doesn’t make you stronger. It doesn’t make you anything. It reveals you.
There’s gym strong and then there’s farm strong. They’re mutually exclusive. The toughest women you’ll ever meet spend their days on a farm.
There are more uses for twine than you can possibly imagine. You can tie up a hole in a slow feeder, fashion a tail strap for a horse’s blanket, mend a broken fence and use it as a belt.
“Well that certainly didn’t go as planned,” is one thing you’ll say quite a bit.
Control is a mere illusion. The thought that you have any, at any given time, is utterly false.
Sometimes sleep is a luxury. So are lunch and dinner. And brushing your hair.
If you’ve never felt your obliques contract, then you’ve never tried stopping an overly full wheelbarrow of horse manure from tipping over sideways. Trust me, you’ll find muscles that you never knew existed on the human skeleton to prevent this from happening.
When one of the animals is ill, you’ll go to heroic lengths to minimize their discomfort.
Their needs come first. In summer heat and coldest winter days. Clean water, clean bed, and plenty of feed. Before you have your first meal, they all eat.
When you lose one of them, even though you know that day is inevitable, you still feel sadness, angst and emotional pain from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. And it’s a heaviness that lingers even though you must regroup and press on.
You’ll cry a lot. But you’ll never live more fully. You’ll remain present no matter what because you must. There is no other option.
You’ll ask for so many miracles and hold out hope until the very last.
You will, at least once, face-plant in the manure pile. You’ll find yourself saying things like, “we have maybe twenty minutes of daylight left to git ‘er done” whilst gazing up at a nonspecific place in the sky.
You’ll become weirdly obsessive about the weather.
You’ll go out in public wearing filthy clothes and smelling of dirt, sweat and p**p. People will look at you sideways and krinkle their noses but you won’t care.
Your entire day can derail within ten seconds of the rising sun.
You can wash your coveralls. They won’t look any cleaner, but they will smell much nicer.
Farm work is difficult in its simplicity.
You’ll always notice just how beautiful sunrises and sunsets really are.
Should you ever have the opportunity to work on a farm, take the chance! You will never do anything more satisfying in your entire life.”

11/22/2022

Where you LOOK and what you SEE matters...

I worked out that "looking up and riding somewhere" can positively influence a horse's confidence when you ride. I believe this is because it gives them clear direction and intention they can follow. When you don't actively ride somewhere and instead stare at the back of the horse's head or are full of "what ifs" the horse can become disconnected and lost. As a result the horse can become hypervigilant and reactive to the surroundings.

This photo is of Michelle Hall, an amazing horsewoman I met in South Australia.

Michelle only has 10% of her vision. When it comes to riding she HAS to look up and ride somewhere! She cannot get away with peripheral vision, she has to focus the limited vision she has.

At my clinic when I was talking about the idea of "looking up and riding somewhere" Michelle told the coolest story - because the power of "looking up and riding somewhere" was nothing new to her.

When riding with a group of 4 riders in the arena one afternoon, the other 3 horses started shying and running off and refusing to go to one side of the arena. Her young horse, Sully, just kept happily plodding along.

One of the ladies in the group piped up and asked why Sully wasn't upset by the cement mixer by the fence?! Michelle replied - "what cement mixer?!"

Michelle hadn't SEEN the cement mixer due to her tunnel vision and therefore had paid no attention to it and as a result, it had NO impact on her body, thoughts or emotions and NO transfer to Sully through her riding!

She also has a horse that she rides that would duck out the gate on its owner when it rode past, something the horse NEVER did with her. Michelle helped the owner with this problem by teaching her to "look up and ride forward". People think "forward" has to do with speed, but it means with intention in the direction of travel.

This story is significant for two reasons. Firstly, it shows the impact of where you look, what you see and how that changes you physically, mentally and emotionally and how this can be transferred to the horse...but it also shows that disabilities are not weaknesses, sometimes they are strengths.

11/18/2022

Unfortunately we have to cancel this event for tomorrow, but we WILL be rescheduling for the new year!

Please join us November 19th for our Kingsley Boot Trunk Show! Kingsley sells one of a kind, custom riding boots and much more! Check out their website kingsleyriding.com and comment, PM, or text to RSVP! We hope to see you there!!

11/10/2022

Please join us November 19th for our Kingsley Boot Trunk Show! Kingsley sells one of a kind, custom riding boots and much more! Check out their website kingsleyriding.com and comment, PM, or text to RSVP! We hope to see you there!!

10/22/2022

You can't expect to be "on" 365 days of the year. Motivation is elusive and the key to moving forward is understanding this.

I heard this saying from an Olympic triathlon trainer and this was the third, third and third rule.

Basically saying that one third of your workouts will be amazing! One third we will average and the other third will be rubbish.

The key is to show up for all of them! This applies to workouts and riding. Plus any other goals you may have set yourself.

It is the consistency of showing up that will create the awesome days, it is the consistency of showing up that will create the confidence and skills.

And it is the consistency of showing up that will develop you mentally and physically.

So don’t be put off by bad days.

Be grateful for the awesome workouts or rides.

Expect the average and bad days and know they are all part of the journey, making you more resilient and mentally fit.

And most of all just keep showing up, even when motivation isn’t there.

08/01/2022

07/30/2022

Stefan Wolff talks about Contact:“You can interfere as much as you want with the leg, but not with the rein. The rein should be boring. The hands should be constant on either side of the neck so the neck can stabilise. The leg should tighten the rein. Work on the leg producing contact. That’s the whole point of it; riding from behind to the bit. The hand is just the counterpart to the leg. It doesn’t produce anything.” Read the story
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2022/07/top-tips-from-stefan-wolff-on-contact/

06/14/2022

This past weekend was as perfect as they come! Beautiful weather, an amazing group of girls, fun, laughter, and huge success!! These girls have all worked so hard and it showed! Thank you Wyn Farm LLC for hosting a wonderful dressage schooling show! We will see you again in July!

06/14/2022

July 20-22 camp is now full! There are still a couple spots open in the other three camps 😊

06/06/2022

Bit by Bit Equestrian Center is thrilled to announce we are hosting FOUR camps this summer!!!

Bit by Bit provides a safe place for your child to make memories, meet new friends and be exposed to a healthy sport that develops physical fitness, balance, coordination, and confidence.
Our summer horse camp is more than a way to fill a summer day; it's a chance for a horse-crazy student to spend the day with horses.
Along with a daily riding lesson, students learn horsemanship, feeding, horse care, grooming, saddling, medical care and much morel During the week the new students will learn to walk, trot and steer their horses. More advanced students will work on continuing forward from the level they are at. All students will learn to ride through fun games, activities and obstacle
courses.
Weather is never a problem since we have both indoor & outdoor arena.
Students need to bring their own Lunch, long pants, riding helmet and boots.
Sign up for camps is open for everyone ages 6&up!!
For further information and to register please send us a private message!

Camp Dates 2022:

June 22- 24
June 29 - 01

July 20 - 22
July 27 - 29

Time: 9:30-3:00pm

06/05/2022

Some beautiful tail makeovers for show season, done by our wonderful Amanda DeTone 💙😊

03/16/2022

Shared from a friend

What Your Trainer/Barn Owner Wants You to Know:

- We have spent a lifetime in the service of horses. It is our passion - it’s in our blood. We do this because we love it. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t suffer emotionally, mentally, physically and financially. Sometimes it’s all of those things in the same day.

- We get burned out. We don’t get vacations very often if at all. You get to go on vacations because we’re here taking care of your horse every day so you don’t have to worry about it. So while you get to enjoy laying on a beach or getting together with your family - we’re still here taking care of your horse.
- Speaking of family, we don’t get to see our cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents or parents as often as we would like because we are working so hard at the stable. We miss weddings, funerals, and birthdays. And getting together with friends on a consistent basis? It’s pretty unlikely. And sometimes friendships are lost because of that.

- When we say we know as much as, if not more about your horse as you do - it’s the truth. We are with them day in and day out. We feed them and turn them out in the morning. We adjust their halters and their blankets as naturally as we put on our own socks. Oftentimes we change their blankets depending on the whims of the weather. We feel their breath, feel the softness of their hair, and feel their heartbeats. We bring them in at night, we feed them and we talk to them. We have longer conversations with them than we do with most other humans. We check on them at night, we tell them that we love them and that we’ll see them in the morning.

- We invest in them and our students. We have a vested interest in you succeeding not just because of our own reputation, but because every step of the way we want to mold you into a team - a partnership. We want you to know how special that is.

- It frustrates us SO much when you don’t put in the work and effort. It frustrates us when you expect your horse to go out and do well at shows when you haven’t taken the time to ride your horse and practice. It’s unfair to your horse most of all. Your horse isn’t a machine.

- It kills us when you’re willing to spend your money on fancy coats, saddlepads, and boots but you won’t bother to buy your horse properly fitting equipment. We hate seeing saddles and bridles and halters that are poorly fitted or cause discomfort but seeing you getting excited about a new pair of boots or coat. Your priority - your only priority - should be the comfort and health of your horse. Period.

- Please don’t go to shows unless you have done the work - the hard stuff. And make sure your horse is fit! Otherwise it’s so unfair to your partner.

In the last couple of weeks I have purchased a new halter for a clients horse because theirs was too small. I have replaced a browband that was pinching a horse with one of my own. I have spent countless hours trying to make the footing perfect for my clients. I have removed blankets, put them back on, and repaired the dozens of things that get broken. Those snaps and hooks that seem so inexpensive? They add up. This week I will spend hours and hours holding horses for the farrier and vet. That’s time I could be training my own horses or teaching.

Last night I was informed of the tragic death of a family member. I couldn’t take the time to grieve. I couldn’t take the time to absorb it because 20 minutes later I had to teach a lesson and that’s part of how I earn a living. And it’s also another funeral that I can’t share in with my family because I have a farm to take care of.

I wouldn’t trade what I do for the world - I love it. I love the horses and the people. I love seeing the partnerships grow. But sometimes I feel the need to remind everyone just what it is that we do.

02/12/2022

To increase your horse’s elasticity ...

Imagine his topline as a giant accordion, breathing in and out. Play with mild increases and decreases in his pace, letting his body move quietly through its spectrum.—Jeremy Steinberg

Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

01/13/2022

We shall see each other again, Blue. Until then, enjoy roaming endless pastures of green grass with your old buddies and doing it pain free.

Thank you for all your hard work over the years, we are blessed to have had so much time with you. You will forever be missed. We love you 💙

01/12/2022

To develop a forward, in-front-of-the-leg feeling in your horse...

Imagine his hind leg as a spring. Half halts and downward transitions compress the spring to make your horse better balanced and more able to go forward. Remember, you can only achieve this spring-loading effect if your horse is thinking forward as he comes back.—Jennifer Baumert

Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

12/28/2021

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas 🎄❤️

12/21/2021

Somewhere in the world, the 2028 Olympic champion is a foal out in a field. He’s ewe-necked, sickle-hocked, downhill and shaggy, with a club foot and a chunk of mane missing, because his buddy chewed it off.

Somewhere in the world, there’s a young horse that everyone says is too short to make it big. In three years, he’ll be jumping the standards, but right now he’s fat and short and no one is paying him any mind.

Somewhere in the world there’s a 7-year-old who can’t turn right, and a 10-year-old who has not shown the ability to put more than two one-tempis together without losing it, and a 14-year-old who hasn’t yet reached his peak, and all of them will be at the next Olympic Games.

Somewhere else in the world, there’s a rider who is thinking of packing it in. Maybe the bills are getting out of control, or she’s killing herself to get enough help in her own riding development because she’s having to spend all her time riding and teaching to make ends meet and change needs to happen, and she’s wondering if it’s worth it. She’s thinking it’s time to just give up and be a local trainer, to shelve her dreams of international competition. And then she’s going to shake off the doubt, double down, and make a team in the next 15 years.

Somewhere in the world, one of the next great team riders is 9 years old and couldn’t tell if she was on the right posting diagonal if her life depended on it.

Somewhere in the world there’s a future team rider who just got told that she’ll never make it because she’s too chubby, because she’s too short, because she’s too late.

There are horses who will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that will never amount to anything, and there are horses who will be touted as the Next Big Thing only to be never seen or heard from again, and there are horses who will fly under the radar until suddenly they’re setting the world on fire.

There are riders who will win Junior and Young Rider competitions only to quit riding completely, riders who will be touted as the Next Big Thing only to get stuck in their comfort zones and never come to fruition, and there are riders who will make their first Olympic team at 50, at 55, at even older than that.

And yes, there are the horses that will be brilliant from day one, and there are the riders for whom success both comes early and stays late. But more often than not, history has shown that the unlikely story, the horse who was passed over in favor of his more expensive stablemate, the rider who no one saw coming, is the more likely path to greatness.

Credit and written by Lauren Sprieser at Chronicle Of The Horse

08/30/2021

A HUGE congrats to our Bit by Bit riders this weekend at Wyn Farms! Their hard work and dedication continues to pay off!

6 Grand Champions, 4 High Point Champions, 4 TIP Champions, 13 Firsts, 4 Seconds and 1 Third!!

01/12/2021

Credit unknown

12/19/2020

12/12/2020

New and exciting things happening at Bit by Bit!!! Thanks to the hard work of Nataly, Amanda and Karyn the horses have brand new hay huts, along with a delivery of fresh, yummy round bales 🤗 🐴💙

12/04/2020

Today's wise words come from Ernst Hoyos. Horses keep us humble, don't they?

Want to read more from Ernst? Check out this article from our archives with Ernst about how to ride and utilize shoulder-in! 👇https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to-ride-and-utilize-shoulder-in-with-ernst-hoyos

11/10/2020

🔹 Tip for No-Stirrups November: Start with Small Increments!

"When starting work without stirrups, it is important, as with any new exercise, that it be done in moderation and introduced in small increments. The best way to condition horses and riders to no-stirrup work is to use intervals of work with and without stirrups. A new exercise program needs to be started slowly for both the rider and the horse.

For example, after a good warm-up of walk, trot and canter to be sure the horse’s back and you, as the rider, are warmed up, take the stirrups away for a few laps or a few minutes, then return to stirrup work. Gradually increase the duration of the no-stirrup work. It is a good idea to alternate the no-stirrups work with rising trot and stretching the horse over his back. This will allow both you and your horse to stretch."

Check out answers from dressage trainer Ann Guptill to some of the most frequently asked questions about no-stirrup work. Plus, try some exercises to help you utilize this tool correctly!

Read it here. 👇
https://dressagetoday.com/instruction/no-stirrups-no-problem

11/09/2020

To achieve the correct connection on the outside rein during a turn…

"Imagine your horse’s shoulders as the handles of a bicycle. Your hands move in relation to one another as you turn the handlebars, maintaining appropriate contact on both sides. The inside hand initiates the bend of the turn and the outside hand yields slightly forward to allow the horse to reach through the outside of his body." —Sven Dapper

🎨 Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

10/28/2020