VanOosten Show Horses

09/08/2024

A good coach plays multiple crucial roles that directly impact the growth and success of their riders. Some of these key roles include:

Mentor – Beyond just sport, a coach helps riders grow personally, sharing valuable advice and wisdom from their own experiences.
Motivator – They inspire and push riders to reach their full potential, fostering a mindset of positivity and determination to meet their goals.
Teacher – Coaches educate riders on techniques, strategies, and the rules of the sport, enhancing both their skills and understanding.
Strategist – Developing effective game plans, coaches leverage riders’ strengths while working on areas of improvement.
Communicator – Clear and effective communication is vital. A coach provides clear instructions, feedback, and support, ensuring riders fully understand their roles.
Disciplinarian – By enforcing rules and maintaining high standards, they promote discipline, respect, and structure within the team.
Supporter – Coaches offer emotional and moral support, helping riders handle pressure, setbacks, and success with resilience.
Evaluator – Regularly assessing riders’ performances, they set goals for improvement and help riders recognize areas for growth.
Role Model – Coaches lead by example, demonstrating sportsmanship, integrity, and a strong work ethic, shaping the attitudes and behavior of their riders.
Team Builder – By fostering camaraderie and teamwork, coaches create an environment where riders feel connected, valued, and supported.
Each of these roles plays an essential part in shaping athletes both in sport and in life.

However, one of the most critical traits of a great coach is the ability to handle the unexpected. Things rarely go as planned, and managing unforeseen challenges in a calm, efficient manner—especially around horses—is, in my view, the most vital quality a coach can possess

09/08/2024

Do you want a pony at your daughter/son birthday party for pony rides? Deva can come to your birthday party for pony rides.
Additional mileage charge for more than 20+ miles.

Holly:616-299-0227

09/04/2024

HORSE RIDING LESSON OPENINGS!!!!
We do have two open lesson spots on Wednesday and one on Thursdays and Fridays if anyone is interested in joining the fun. We promote a very fun,laid back, yet safe and family friendly atmosphere. Get the kids (heck even yourself) away from electronics and come spend time with our fun group.

08/30/2024

We were just so excited We never did a Region 14 day four!

Huge Congratulations Nevaeh Pohl on Concho Kitty placed in the Top Five w/t equitation out of 10!!! This is Nevaeh’s first Regionals ever!!! Welcome to the addiction of showing Arabian horses 😂
Congratulations to Mecah VanOosten and Young Money going Reserve Champion in your PB English JTR class. This was their best ride to date. So proud of how far this team has come.

08/18/2024

Neveah and kit will be showing in class 557, just a couple classes away

08/18/2024

08/17/2024

Day Two was a good one but a tough one.

Holly VanOosten and Manhattan Aflame DCR went Top Five in HA Country Ladies and gentlemen

Neveah and Concho Kitty competed in their first regional class against 10 horses and did amazing!! She also won a hood for kit, she looks less then amused

Ashtyn and Manhattan Aflame DCR are playing with the big kids now in 14 & under

Mecah VanOosten and Young Money went in their second ever costume class against 12 and did amazing.

Saturday is all about Ashtyn and Fiona, good luck!

08/16/2024

Congratulations Mecah and Young Money on their Region 14 Top Five, this was their first ever real park class and it was a tough one.

Tomorrow is a busy day with all three girls showing, we kick it off strong with costume in the morning!

08/15/2024

For all our friends and family at home here’s the link for the horse show
Mecah and Young Money show tonight in class #459 PB Arabian Park ATR

08/15/2024

Off to a great start at Region 14 Pre Show

Mecah and Young Money made their Native Costume debut and their Park debut

Neveah and Concho Kitty got fourth and fifth at their first ever regionals

Ashtyn and Manhattan Aflame DCR made their 14 & under debut and took first place

Thursday is all about Mecah and Money showing in the PB Arabian Park ATR, last class of the night!

07/24/2024

Looking for extra barn help Aug 12-18th. Please call if interested.
Must have horse experience!
616-299-0227

07/13/2024

Do you want a pony at your daughter/son birthday party for pony rides? $300 for Miss Deva to come to your birthday party for pony rides.
Additional mileage charge for more than 20+ miles.

Holly:616-299-0227

07/09/2024

>>> Summer Horse Camp

06/17/2024

Couldn’t agree more Misty!

To replace a good horse!
The best horses are built over years of hauling, hard work, tough times, good times, bad times, big spooks, little spooks, their mistakes, our mistakes and continual love and care.

No, your breaker can not turn your young prospect into your old faithful in 30, 60, 90, or even 365 days. It takes years.

I’m plagued with the problem of trying to impress on people how long it truly takes to build that dream partner. There’s not a smooth paved path. Your green horse will embarrass you, frustrate you, and maybe even hurt you. For some of you, buying a $20,000-$30,000 horse is going to be worth it and SAVE you money. Even that more finished horse will take a year or more to sync up with.

Cheap rate for horse training is $1,000 a month.
1 year of training: $12,000
2 years of training: $24,000

Many of you won’t believe this but your dream horse is on the other side of two years of training. In reality, it’s likely around two years of training and two years of seasoning (hauling them to town). Will that horse still make mistakes? Yes, they all make mistakes until the day they die. But that horses mistakes probably won’t put you in serious danger and that horse will probably pack your grandkids around.

If you’re trying to decide between a $3,500 prospect or a $15,000 proven horse. My advice is to do an internal inventory and figure out what you want. Buying that prospect is like the first roll on the Jumanji board. You’re entered up, get ready for a journey of ups and downs (possibly quite literally!) If you’re buying that finished horse decide what you really want, get ready for a lot of shopping and painfully overpriced sh💩tters. Take a friend or a trainer on this journey with you and try to double your budget (that’s right, 30k). Be smart and buy something OVER 8 years old. Don’t buy that pretty 5 year old they only want 20k for. He isn’t old enough to be proven for you. Lots of horse traders are trying to flip horses, anything under 8 is likely twice as green as he looks in the video. Maturity, both mental and physical will be key when looking for a safe horse.

If you want a project and a challenge I’m not hating, that’s what I want in a horse too, so I buy young ones. If you need a safe one, bring lots of money and quit thinking you need a 6 year old. You probably don’t have what it takes to mentally support that 6 year old through new situations.

The biggest reason I bring this up is because as folks retire their old faithful they are so far removed from when that horse was green and did dumb stuff. They forgot how tough those two years were back when he was 4-6. They only remember the amazing horse he was when he matured. The 3 year old they just bought is YEARS from filling that horses shoes when it comes to training level and safety level. I see people hate on trainers because the trainer couldn’t make their young horse, “finished” in 90 days. It’s honestly the biggest reason I like taking colts for 30 or 60 days. The expectation is shockingly lower than when I take one for 90 days. It’s weird what people expect from a 90 day start. Most people should commit to sending their young horse out for a full year. Two years would be even better.

Green horses do green horse things, don’t blame others for the challenge you bought yourself. Accept the challenge or pay the price for one further along. No matter which path you choose with horses, it’s going to cost you.

(I didn’t write this one I’m not sure who did, however every word of it rings true)

06/09/2024

In todays world, it takes so much more than just practice....

05/08/2024

"How much for a lesson and what is included in that cost?"

Copied and Modified

How many trainers, stables, owners hear this question? We give a simple price and simple answer.

But what we really should be saying is you get all of this:

You get the years of knowledge and experience that a breeder put into breeding a quality animal that will be rideable.

You get the years of experience that it took to be able to properly select a horse safe enough for a lesson for your child.

You get the years of time spent by trainers and instructors putting education and mileage on the lesson horse to know how to do its job.

You get to use my tack that I spent hours searching for at the right price and fit, the saddle, bridle, martingales, bit, saddle pad, girth, half-pad. The halter and lead rope that brings it from the field. The hoof pick, curry comb, brushes, shampoo, hoses, buckets that we purchased to properly groom and bathe the lesson horse to keep them healthy for your lesson. You get the hay, grain, water, fly spray, wormer, vet bills, farrier and medicine, supplements, shavings, stall mats, barn, fencing, electricity, insurance, clippers, combs, rain sheets, winter blankets, towels, brooms, feed bins, water troughs, muck rakes, manure spreaders, washer, dryer, grooming boxes, saddle racks and horse trailer, tires, brakes and maintenance on the trailer and truck that hauls that is needed when the horse needs to go to the vet. You get the coggins, vaccines, dental.

You get the labor that goes into cleaning and feeding. The time and labor of the person who has to walk a horse thru the night that might be colicing. You get to put wear and tear on my farm, on the footing in my ring, my jumps and fields. You get the cost of my tractor and ring drag and their maintenance.

You get to let me put my lesson horse's health at risk when you ride them and hope they don't end up permanently lame.

There is a reason "we require a commitment to regular lessons" and I don't allow my lesson horses to jump 5 days a week, that they will only jump 2 ft to hopefully stay healthy and sound.

I will add here we keep our lesson horses after they no longer give lessons ❤️🐴 they deserve to live out their life pampered & spoiled!!

05/04/2024

VSH people!!! No lessons today due to road being closed for repair.

03/07/2024

💕💕💕💕🏇🏇🏇Bill Steinkraus ... Words of the Legend:

No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 9. If the horse can't learn to accept what you're doing, it isn't any good.

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get.