Edgewater Equestrian

01/03/2025

All I Want To Do Is Jump

I ran a fairly large lesson program for almost 20 years. This is a statement I have heard over and over, both in my lesson barn days and from colleagues today.

All I want to do is jump.

There are a few problems with this. Let's start with the horse. I love the old horseman's saying " horses only have so many jumps in them ". Is that 100, 1000 before it becomes lame.... No one knows....but horses certainly weigh a lot and the concussion landing on those small little legs is significant. Horses also get bored, burned out....and let's face it...sour.
Respect for the horse . The riders job is to do the best thing for the horse. Most horses only need jumped a few days a week. That means if a lesson horse works 5 days a week, only 2 of those are jumping days. 3 of those are purely flatwork or hacking.

Riders : most of jumping well has NOTHING to do with jumping. Riders need to work on pace, transitions, straightness, their position, effectiveness of aids, balance, ability to change positions smoothly ( from 2 point to sitting etc ) and so much more.

So if you are one of those students who Just Wants To Jump , please replace that with "I want to be an effective rider and horseman or woman . I want to do what is best for the horse "

And instructors who cave to this plea from students
Only YOU can set the CULTURE of your barn. Talk frequently about horsemanship and doing right by the animals.

12/12/2024

By SUSAN LEGGE I’ve been a hunter rider for over forty years and a hunter judge and a steward for about twenty-five. I sometimes joke that I’ve been in this business so long I’m on my second go round for most trends- I mean exactly how many times can rust breeches come back in style? […]

12/01/2024

11/18/2024

"Advanced training is just the basics done really well." - Ken Ramirez
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"Training often fails because people expect way too much of the animal and way too little of themselves." - Bob Bailey
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"Please just do your homework." - Fred

11/18/2024

🌟 One Stall Available 🌟 - Offering a variety of services including Lessons, Training, Showing, Consignment, & more
🦄 Lessons, share board, & lease opportunities on our lovely school horses are also available
📍 Conveniently located within the beautiful Pingree Oaks Farm in Elgin, IL

At Edgewater Equestrian, we take pride in developing well-rounded horses and horsemen & women while providing a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

Whether you’re a first time rider or seasoned competitor, our lesson and training programs utilize high quality instruction, five-star care, and individualized lesson and training plans to bring out the best in each horse and rider. With an emphasis on correct fundamentals and horsemanship, our program is designed to ensure each rider has fun as they work towards achieving their goals, while keeping the well-being of each horse paramount.

To schedule a tour, lesson, or for more information, contact Sammie at:
Call/Text: 815-508-3650
Email: [email protected]

https://www.edgewater-equestrian.com

10/22/2024

🌟 Multi-Barn Tack & Barn Sale 🌟

Join us this weekend October 26-27 for our Tack & Barn Sale! We have a wide variety of tack, blankets/sheets, rider apparel, stable supplies, home decor, and more! With sizes ranging from Pony & Children’s sizes to Horse/OS & Adult sizes, there’s truly something for everyone - and all is Priced To Sell!

🔹 Saddles starting at $200
🔹 Bridles, Martingales, Bits, Girths, Saddle Pads, Boots & Wraps, Halters, etc. starting at $5
🔹 Turnout & Stable Blankets, Sheets, & Coolers starting at $15
🔹 Schooling and Show Breeches, Shirts, Coats, Outerwear, Footwear, Half Chaps, & Accessories starting at $5
🔹 Tack Racks, Hooks, Grooming Supplies, Buckets, Lead Ropes, & Home Decor starting at $2

🗓 Saturday 10/26 & Sunday 10/27 from 1pm-3pm
📍 39W984 Highland Ave. Elgin, IL inside the beautiful Pingree Oaks Farm
💵 We accept Cash, Check, Venmo, & Zelle
📞 For more info, PM or text Sammie at 815-508-3650

Edgewater Equestrian
Pingree Oaks Farm

07/28/2024

Make time. Ride the horse.

07/10/2024

✨ One training or consignment stall available with Edgewater Equestrian ✨
🦄 Lessons, share board, & lease opportunities on some of our fabulous school horses also available
📍 Conveniently located within the beautiful Pingree Oaks Farm in Elgin, IL

At Edgewater Equestrian, we take pride in developing well-rounded horses and horsemen & women while providing a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

Whether you’re a first time rider or seasoned competitor, our lesson and training programs utilize high quality instruction, five-star care, and individualized lesson and training plans to bring out the best in each horse and rider. With an emphasis on correct fundamentals and horsemanship, our program is designed to ensure each rider has fun as they work towards achieving their goals, while keeping the well-being of each horse paramount.

🦄 Lessons:
- Thoughtful, quality instruction for children & adults of all levels
- Variety of trusted school horses suitable for riders of every level
- Trailer-Ins welcomed

💪🏼Training:
- Customized, flexible lesson & training packages tailored to the specific needs and goals of each horse & rider
- Additional services available from grooming to lunging and everything in between
- Sales & Consignment, Purchasing & Sourcing, and Rehab services available as well

🏇Shareboard & Leasing:
- Flexible options to accommodate the needs of every rider
- Multiple horses available from school horses to show horses
- Flat Rate format to ensure accessibility to riders with strict schedules & budgets

🏆Showing & Clinics:
- Attend shows on multiple circuits including IHJA ‘B’, NIHJA, PTS, & Summer Schooling Series
- Attend off-site clinics
- Show & Clinic opportunities available to lesson students with our weekend show lease options
*While we love to have fun at horse shows, showing is not required in order to join the Edgewater family

To schedule a tour, lesson, or for more information, contact us at:
Text: 815-508-3650
Email: [email protected]

https://www.edgewater-equestrian.com/gallery?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Primary Equine Massage and Rehabilitation
Norfleet Marketing & Photography

03/29/2024

They W-I-L-L N-O-T D-O I-T.

Will not do what? Use active walks for strength training as an. add-on to their regular training schedules. Eventers, show jumpers, dressage riders, whoever could gain benefit from having stronger equine athletes.

What are you talking about?

Well, this---In 1974 Jack LeGoff had a shallow bench of advanced 3-day horses to send to the World Championshipd to be held in September at Burghley. He had six riders and six horses, zero extras if one got hurt. He wanted to maximize their fitness, because cross country day, back then, would be over 17 miles long, and would require one hour and twenty minutes of trotting and galloping.

So he used vigorous long walks three days a week in addition to the normal schools. So say we did 45 minutes of flat work in the morning, which, with warmup and cool down might take an hour, give or take. Then, in the afternoon, say Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he would have us saddle up again after lunch, and go hike around the open hills at Wylie. About one to one and a half hours, as I remember, each walk day.

Walks do not stress horses much. They are highly unlikely to cause injury. They build base strength and create muscular development. They are a win-win.

But virtually NOBODY does this, Most human sports teams now employ strength coaches because when technique starts to fail, raw strength can create that winning edge. Why would human horse trainers not want stronger horses?

But does ANYONE grasp this in 2024? Or, if they do, do they make the effort to actually do it?

There’s a hidden gorilla in the room, actually more of a train than a gorilla, It is called the Excuse Train. Nobody wants to admit being lazy, so they dig up reasons to deflect.

“I don’t have time.” That’s a big one.
“I don’t have a place to do it.”
I don’t have enough help.”

But the real reason is usually more basic, six words. “I don’t want to do it.”

Everyone wants an edge. Strength is an edge. There’s a reasonably safe and straightforward method to add strength, Take Jack’s advice or deny it----.

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