Crown Meadow Equestrian Center

09/09/2024

Skipp and Teddy playing together on their day off ❤️

09/08/2024

Here are photos from some of our recent lessons. ❤️

07/21/2024

Another beautiful day spent at the barn. ❤️

07/09/2024

"HOT" TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER RIDING

As you enjoy some fun in the sun with your favorite equine, make sure you understand how the combination of heat and humidity can take the fun part out the equation — and potentially even turn into a dangerous situation for your horse.

When riding in hot weather, remember to take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and for signs of heat exhaustion, as the situation can quickly escalate into heat stroke. If your horse looks hot and tired, it's time for a drink, a cold bath and a break in the shade.

Consult your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about the signs of heat stroke on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke
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07/09/2024

We’ve been busy with Summer lessons and haven’t been able to post many updates. So here’s a couple fun photos of this past couple weeks lessons. 🐴☀️

05/07/2024

Happy 10th birthday Klyde! You are full of so much personality and we love you. ❤️

04/30/2024

Hailey trying ba****ck for the first time today, she loved it! ❤️

04/16/2024

FUN FACT FRIDAY! Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice, good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

03/28/2024

Easter fun this week. Egg hunt on horseback and we played egg and spoon! 🐣🪺

03/14/2024

We had lot’s of fun this week doing a St. Patrick’s Day obstacle course! 🍀

03/03/2024

One of my biggest frustrations in this industry is the lack of understanding and consideration for the role that lesson horses play. So often, I see riders complaining about lesson horses for a huge variety of reasons: for their perceived lack of quality or value, for having to ride one they don’t like, for not getting to ride the one they do like, for their trainer not having enough lesson horses, or for the lesson horses not being available at their convenience when their personal horse is out of commission. I’ve dealt with all of the above and I know I’ll continue to do so, but I think it’s important that people understand the reality of lesson horses, and that’s that they aren’t here for your kid to ride forever and climb the levels with your one or two lesson a week commitment. They’re here to get you started, safely and productively, while you decide just how far you want to take this.

Lesson horses are incredibly special creatures. They have to be easily caught by beginners who don’t know how to properly approach a prey animal. They have to stand like statues on the crossties while tiny kids take the better part of an hour to get them clean. They have to hold their head still while beginners jam the bit into their teeth for the fiftieth time in a row to put the bridle on. They have to stand still at the mounting block while someone stands for too long with all their weight in the left stirrup and then slams down on their back with no consideration for their comfort. They tolerantly teach riders who are unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unclear, who catch their mouths and bounce on their backs and kick at their sides, and every single time, they are expected to just come again without so much as a swish of their tail or pinning of their ears. And any time one of these horses has a moment where they act like a regular horse or force the rider to really ride, they’re labeled annoying or rude or bad or lazy or whatever.

Lesson horses are not intended to take you up the levels and jump big jumps and win all the classes. If these horses were this beginner-friendly and this tolerant AND the hack winner with an auto lead change, you couldn’t afford them! That’s not to say these horses can’t be winners if you ride them well and pull your weight, but their ability to win in the show ring is not where their real value lies. Lesson horses exist to bring new riders into the sport. To teach them the ropes and get them started, lay a foundation and prepare them to make a bigger commitment to the sport by leasing or purchasing the next step horse. Lesson horses are not responsible for chasing your Olympic dreams for you. They’re responsible for getting them started in the first place. For riders to act like a lesson horse isn’t valuable because he isn’t the winner in any company is ignorant and unfair.

Every horse you ride has something to teach you. Whether it’s the crotchety old school pony who likes to root when you’re not paying attention, or the younger lesson horse who will only pick up the right lead if you ask *just right*, or the ultra reliable skip-change king, they all will add to your toolkit that you can one day apply to the fancier model you get to take you to the next level. Don’t forget about all the lessons you learn along the way and remember that without lesson horses, you wouldn’t be riding at all!

**Thank you so much for all of the shares!! The fact that this took off the way it did shows that people love and appreciate their lesson horses, as they should!! If you wish to share my words with your own photo, I would really appreciate being given author credit. Thank you!**

02/16/2024

🚨🐴RIDING LESSON OPENINGS🐴🚨

We now have beginner hunt/english riding lesson openings for ages 6-18. Lessons last approximately 1 hour and cost $75 each. Availability on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Good horsemanship includes much more than showing up to ride an already tacked-up horse for an hour. A one-hour lesson includes grabbing your horse from their stall, grooming, tacking, riding, untacking, and more! This will help set you up for success if you choose to one day lease or own a horse.

Riding lessons will teach you lifelong skills such as patience, self-discipline, and accountability. Crown Meadow is a safe, friendly, fun environment to enjoy horses and make friends who share the same passion.

Please message us if you are interested in joining or learning more about our lesson program! 🐴

📸 Carmel Huppert

12/25/2023

Klyde says “Merry Christmas!” 🎄🎁

12/11/2023

We had an awesome time at North Run Farm’s ugly sweater show this past weekend!🎄
Lucy and Klyde did an amazing job together. Congratulations!

07/08/2023

Congratulations to Lacey and Charlotte on a fantastic show at North Run Farm! So proud of you both!! 😊

05/30/2023

Here are some photos from this past couple week’s lessons. So proud of everyone and their accomplishments! 🎉
Just a reminder that all of our lesson spots are booked/full. If you are still interested in signing up for lessons, please contact us and we will put you on our waiting list! Contact us via Facebook or at [email protected]
Happy Summer!☀️

05/16/2023

Congratulations to Lucy and Charlotte on a successful first show.
You both did amazing!

12/25/2022

Rosie says “Merry Christmas everyone!”

05/24/2022

Klyde was so good in his first lesson last night! He never disappoints with his amazing mind and disposition. (Way to go Charlotte on doing amazing riding a brand new horse!)

Just a quick reminder, there are still Lesson spots open! Scoop one up when you can! They won’t be here forever!

03/02/2022