Vale Edge Equestrian, LLC

02/23/2025

Riding, trail running…and then some more riding for some of the Vale Edge ladies today. We had so much fun at the Saw Wee Trail trail race this afternoon! ❤️🐎🏃‍♀️

02/20/2025

Sparrow playing in the arena yesterday as we approach what we hope is the end of this very, very, cold weather. Nonetheless, the forced change in routine provides an opportunity to connect with our horses in other ways, and I hope many of you have been able to do so ❤️

02/17/2025

I am STILL in amazement at the snowman made by one of our Saturday groups! It’s taller than I am. Very creative! ⛄️⛄️ Meanwhile the riders in our Saturday grid jumping class rode well and had fun. Panda and Dante, both in the early stages of their jumping education and new to grid, popped through the fences easily.
And our parents/new-to-horses adult class was a success with thoughtful participation by all! It really is fun to see people curious about the full spectrum of horsemanship. With horses there really is so much to enjoy and learn - both in and out of the saddle.

02/14/2025

PARENTS CLASS / INTRODUCTION TO HORSES FOR ADULTS 🐎🐎
Tomorrow (Sarurday 2/15) at 11:30 am. One spot remaining for tomorrow’s session! Class runs for three consecutive Saturdays.

Low pressure class to introduce adults to horses, horse farms, and horsemanship. Ground handling instruction and basic riding, with emphasis on confidence and safety. Participants who would prefer to focus on groundwork, and not ride, are also welcome.

02/10/2025

Introduction to Horsemanship for Adults: Saturday 2/15, 2/22, and 3/1.
Call for details. 630-740-1847

01/23/2025

Exciting news! The winter/spring series of GRID JUMPING classes for boarders and leasers is about to start back up! This is an important educational activity for riders and horses alike, and good prep for the show season.

As last year, we will start with simpler exercises and build from there. There will be classes most weeks for the next couple of months. This year there will be just one jump grid per class. As not every grid will suit every horse/rider combination, once I know who plans on attending I will add options for all who would like to participate.

I will be sending out a boarder/leaser group text with more details so that I can start putting the schedule together.

🐎🌹🌸🌼🐎

12/30/2024

We have had some super weather for outdoor riding and have been schooling jump grids in the outdoor arena this weekend. Some pics below from the recent snow and yesterday’s rides, plus a general outline for our upcoming boarder/leaser formation riding focus - starting in January and February.
We have a couple of spots open for new lesson students/leasers - call for details.

12/22/2024

So much fun at the Santa Hat Formation Ride yesterday! The boarder/leaser and riding school teams really rose to the occasion! It was fabulous to see our younger riders increasing their independence and putting together such great team rides. This has been a busy couple of weeks of learning and team practice. All participants earned the annual medal, and congratulations to the team members who received their year-3 team member plaque.

Thanks so much to the parents and participants that pitched in to help Molly with the photo backdrop and awards table set up, with a special mention for Sarah and Susan ❤️ Monica baked delicious cookies…and none are left 😬. Thanks to Monica and Sharon for organizing helmet covers, and to Sarah for Panda’s fabulous headgear ❤️

With the growing interest in formation riding, starting in January one of the boarder/leaser weekly classes will be designated as a “special focus” class so that we can spend a couple of months exploring the historical and modern examples of formation riding and practicing exercises and related drills. A text will go out in due course confirming the day of the week selected.

Thanks for coming everyone!

12/21/2024

🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄🤶🎄

12/19/2024

It’s beginning to look a lot like….🎄🤶🎄

11/29/2024

This is such a fabulous idea. And, as of this year, I am delighted to realize that we have a wonderful partnership in the barn that would qualify!

How inspiring is this, 70 year old lady riding dressage on her 30 year old horse together they are 100 years old! Just beautiful!

'A friend of mine started talking about something cal
led a Century Club Ride that could be done at the Michigan State University Dressage Club Fall Schooling Show. Since Jack is now 30 and
I am 70, we qualified. I braided, clipped, and made Jack presentable for competition. It was my great pleasure to once again enter at A, halt at X, and share with him this last dressage test. We won Training Level Test 1 with a score of 70%. We concluded our show careers with the judge's kind words - "A pleasure to watch. Thank you." I consider our Century Club ride a gift from Jack. Through the years he has given me so much. He has taken me places I never thought I would go, literally and figuratively. We have made many wonderful memories and friends in our 24 years together.'

11/28/2024

SANTA HAT RIDE 2024!!!!

Save the date for our MOST fun annual tradition - the Santa Hat team performances - Saturday 12/21, in the morning. This is open to EVERYONE in our program, from the most beginner riders to the most advanced, and to our riders of all ages.

We group teams according to age and experience. It is NOT a competition. It IS a really fun time!

Riders perform a synchronized pattern for parents and family and we decorate the horses, who all wear Santa hats. Festive sweaters, etc, are optional for the riders. The boarders and leasers usually coordinate some type of matching attire.

All participants receive the annual Santa Hat Ride medal 🥇🥇

As last year there will be a couple of team practice classes ahead of the day for riders to learn their routines and practice needed skills.

I am a little later than usual putting this together this year 🐎🎈🎉, so I will be looking for numbers in the next few days so I can order this year’s medals. Full details with prices and class schedules to follow!

11/26/2024

A playful Panda with Sparrow today 💜💕

11/25/2024

Schooling horses Sunday afternoon. What a fun day we had!
The “jump specials” (special-focus course jumping classes) are back running most weekends and will continue outdoors until the ground freezes. We are also looking forward to our holiday/winter seaon special classes and activities, including the Santa Hat Ride and the Equitation challenge.
🐎🌲🌲🌲🐎

11/24/2024

Some of the Vale Edge riders at the Rudolph Run 5K in Yorkville yesterday! This is such a fun, festive race and we had a blast! ❤️ We enjoyed awesome gear, a yummy hot chocolate bar (sponsored by the Stephen Alan Salon) and a decorative area for pics. And we love the 4 pm start time - Molly and I were able to finish lessons and training rides for the day, change shoes, and still make it to the start line 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️. Thanks to Yorkville Parks and Recreation for a fun event!

11/23/2024

Changing it up a little last weekend: Team penning with Meave and Panda ❤️
This was a fun opportunity for the horses to practice their flatwork in a different context and to gain some off-property experience. We learned new things and had a great time!

11/20/2024

Congratulations to Monica and Cailin on the purchase of their lovely new horse! Welcome to the farm, Stanley! ❤️
Thank you Emily and the THS team.

11/17/2024

Some of the horses and riders in the 8 a.m. lesson on Saturday morning. So nice to be outdoors!