MeadowLark Equestrian Center

03/29/2024

Just a reminder that we have NO horses, donkeys or anything else for sale currently at our farm! Please report all scammers to Facebook, and do not send money to anyone!

PLEASE NOTE: Meadowlark does NOT currently have ANY mini donkeys, horses or trailers for sale. Our farm name is being used in a series of scams to try to get people to send money before visiting.
We will be listing a Bison trailer for sale later this week, but it will be listed here as well as on marketplace!

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas and Happy Yule, from Atticus, Yule Cat, and the rest of us here at Meadowlark!

We may not have a blanket of snow, but we do have warm snuggly ponies and kitties to keep our spirits light - and we wish you the same!

10/15/2023

PLEASE NOTE: Meadowlark does NOT currently have ANY mini donkeys, horses or trailers for sale. Our farm name is being used in a series of scams to try to get people to send money before visiting.
We will be listing a Bison trailer for sale later this week, but it will be listed here as well as on marketplace!

09/14/2023

I didn't really have time to do this, this week... But I did it anyway.😜🥸🦄

09/09/2023

Hey all! Just a reminder that today is the last day for “on time” show entries!
Anything turned in after today has a late fee, or may be turned down!

08/31/2023

We are now filling slots for Leah Astrup's fall classes!
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September 24th - Rider Awareness Class Level 1 (pending)
October 8th - Brain Training Level 1
October 22nd - Brain Training Level 2 (level 1 pre-req)
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These classes are open to Meadowlark students, boarders and leasers, but if you are not currently riding at Meadowlark and are interested please contact us and we'll see what we can do!
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Each class is $150, with a 50% non-refundable deposit required upon confirmation of signup. To confirm your spot please comment here or DM Emily Jenkins Bastian.
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More info on individual classes can be found here:

Currently, I offer private sessions and small workshops for both humans and horses. I work with people and horses of all ages and disciplines, both locally and throughout the United States. Contact me for options and pricing. Zoom sessions coming soon.

08/31/2023

ISO for client: Horse trailer with divider, 2 horse, straight or slant, with escape door at minimum. Budget low to mid 4 digits. Step or ramp - either works!

08/27/2023

AT LAST! We finally got the September 16th Show Form updated!
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Please fill out the show form and email back to us ASAP so we can get a feel for how big the show will be.
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We will be looking for volunteers to run the gate, scribe and help with secretary duties upstairs. Please let me know if you can help out!
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Please discuss who is going to be a reader for your tests BEFORE the day of the show. Your Meadowlark instructor may be unavailable to read, as instructors often help with the running of the show. We would hate for you to be scrambling to find a reader at the last second!
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Meadowlark Equestrian Center September Dressage Schooling Show 2023 September 16th, 2023 - 9:00 AM start - 9585 East Joy Road, Plymouth, MI Green Rider Equitation Walk Trot Dressage Equitation Walk Trot Canter Dressage Equitation Introductory Test A Introductory Test B Introductory Test C U...

06/30/2023

It’s been a couple weeks but I just wanted to share this adorable post from Advanced Animal Chiropractic! Mira is in such a goofy stage of growth right now, but Dr. Christina got her sorted in no time!

Mira the Andalusian knows she’s beautiful, and at only 4 years old this mare is just going to get even prettier with time. Her growth spurts left her all uneven and awkward, so it was time to make sure all that crazy development was in top shape. We love working with all the MeadowLark Equestrian Center horses!

06/29/2023

06/28/2023

For those concerned about working their horses today given the unhealthy air quality level, we recommend giving them the day off if you can. If you can not take the day off, please be aware of their exertion level and keep work light.

12/29/2022

“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 are not 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.

“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.
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’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 crinkle 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.”
~author unknown

12/24/2022

Not true, for three of our students!
Christmas ponies are the best ponies! ❤️❤️

11/28/2022

I’ve been called out. A reader has scoffed, saying there is no way a horse can “change its way of going in less than a minute”, as I had claimed in an old post, but that lasting change can only happen slowly over the course of time.

Here’s the thing. Change DOES happen in the blink of an eye!

What we so often fail to do is recognize that one holy moment— and so we do what humans are programmed to do— we stay the course. We ask again! Oh, how many times I've said, "Just once more, with feeling!" and then watched all my good work spiral down into conflict. So yes, change comes within a moment. The slow building work— the body and its conditioning once there is understanding— is what takes time.

Remember, the quick stab of change is different. If we stop when we see this—exactly when we first feel this—our horse will not be body sore tomorrow. She will be ready and willing to start off at the last place she found relief. The good news is that this most always works, provided we’re paying attention. The bad news is, this awareness, this timing and generosity, are entirely on us!

Here's to watching and being open to the littlest change. Here’s to becoming a vessel of hope to those we teach.

11/26/2022

Join us on small business Saturday this year for another amazing local shopping experience! Tell your friends, share and like, all that jazz - and help us make this year’s artisan market even better than last!

10/21/2022

👋 This is a very important memo! 👋 Please make sure you always buckle your blankets and tack into your horse. When they face out they have the risk of getting caught on fences, buckets, and anything else your horse might find.

10/07/2022

Halloween show dressage test ride times are now available! Please let Emily know if you spot any issues. Class lists for the outdoor arena events are included in the comments!

PLEASE NOTE THAT INDOOR EVENTS BEGIN AT 9AM AND OUTDOOR EVENTS BEGIN AT 9:30AM.

For those of you new to showing, only dressage tests have a specific schedule; all other classes (obstacle, equitation, etc) are ridden in the outdoor when possible between dressage tests. Please try to stay aware of dressage test schedules to make sure you don't hold up the indoor arena - especially if you are sharing a horse!

10/01/2022

Today is CLOSING DATE for the Meadowlark October Dressage Show! That means any entries will have late fees from this point on. Ride times will be assigned on Thursday, so late entries are accepted until then.

09/17/2022

October 8th Dressage Show Forms are now available!

Please follow the link below to download the show form, and email the completed form (either a scan or photo) to us at our new show management email address: [email protected]

Meadowlark Equestrian Center October Dressage Schooling Show - 2022 Show Form October 8th, 2022 9:00 AM start - 9585 East Joy Road, Plymouth, MI 48170 *Green Rider Equitation (no diagonals) *Walk Trot Dressage Equitation *Walk Trot Canter Dressage Equitation Introductory Test A Introductory ...