SAFER Horsemanship

02/09/2025

01/24/2025

Only 5 spots remain open! Our Spring Break Pony Camp sells out FAST.
Save your child’s spot today!
Call 845-260-0962
.

01/19/2025

🌟💕 VALENTINE'S DAY KID PONY CAMP! 💕🌟

Looking for a fun and unique way for your kids to spend Valentine's Day weekend? Look no further! Join us at JL Performance Horses for an unforgettable Pony Camp experience! 🐴❤️

📅 Dates: Friday, February 14, Saturday, February 15 and Monday, February 17, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
🌟 Open to all ages and skill levels — no prior experience needed!

📣 Special Valentine's Pricing:
💸 Just $150 for all three days!
🎉 That’s 50% off our regular camp price!

✨ Activities Include:
🐎 Hands-on pony care and grooming
🎯 Fun riding tailored to your child's experience
💖 Valentine's Day surprise to take home!

Early drop-off available (space is limited).

📞 Save your child’s spot today! Call us at 845-260-0962 or visit www.DutchessCountyHorses.com for more details.

Spaces are limited—don’t wait! 💕🐴 Celebrate Valentine’s Day with ponies and smiles at JL Performance Horses! 🌟

12/13/2024

Happy National Day of the Horse 🐴

11/25/2024

🌟 Gratitude Week with the PonyUp4Kids Foundation Inc 🌟

This week, we celebrate Gratitude—a time to honor the incredible connections between humans and horses while giving back to the programs that bring joy and growth to kids everywhere. 🐴💖👧👦

At PonyUp4Kids, we are endlessly thankful for:
✨ The horses that change lives and teach us valuable lessons every day.
✨ The children who have found confidence, joy, and unforgettable experiences through our programs.
✨ YOU—our supporters, donors, and friends—who make all of this possible.

During Gratitude Week, we invite you to join us in two special initiatives:
🌟 Sponsor a Horse Drive: Help give back to the horses who give us so much by contributing to their care and well-being. www.ponyup4kids.com/sponsor-a-horse

🌟 Opportunity Fund Donations: Your support ensures every child has access to the life-changing magic of equine experiences. www.ponyup4kids.com/opportunities-for-kids

📅 Join Us for a Gratitude Zoom!
When: Tomorrow night
How to Join: Sign up now to receive your exclusive link.
👉 Gratitude Week or www.ponyup4kids.com/contact

Your kindness fuels our mission and creates opportunities that shape lives. From all of us at PonyUp4Kids, thank you for being part of our story. 💕

11/14/2024

Be sure to Follow PonyUp4Kids Foundation Inc and support their incredible mission.

🌟 Make a Difference Today – Empower a Child Through PonyUp4Kids! 🌟

We invite you to join us in making a powerful impact in the lives of children through the PonyUp4Kids Foundation. At PonyUp4Kids, we’re dedicated to empowering children from diverse backgrounds by offering unique, hands-on experiences with horses that build confidence, resilience, and compassion.

By donating today, you can play a crucial role in helping these children grow and thrive through the magic of equine-assisted programs. Each dollar you give directly supports our mission to provide educational and therapeutic equine experiences—especially to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

Horses have a remarkable ability to unlock potential in ways traditional settings sometimes can't. Through our programs, the children we work with gain invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and self-confidence—all while forming meaningful, healing bonds with our gentle horses.

As a donor, you’re not just supporting their immediate experience—you’re investing in their future. Studies show that equine-assisted activities positively impact mental health, social skills, and self-esteem, benefits that extend far beyond their time with us.

💖 Make a lasting impact today by visiting www.PonyUp4Kids.com to donate and help us continue providing these life-changing opportunities. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of children, one horse at a time.

Let’s empower the next generation to grow, learn, and thrive—because every child deserves the chance to shine! ✨

04/04/2024

Recipe for raising a “horse girl”…….

You bring them home from the hospital and instead of keeping them home you let them breathe in the smell of horses every chance you get….

Then at a few months old you prop them up in the saddle and hold them there to just sit in the saddle….

When they are 3 they say they can’t pick up the horse’s hoof …you help them but then tell them they need to finish themselves…..

You let them lead the 23 yr old faithful gelding because leading the big horse makes them feel so proud….

At 4 yrs old you teach them that the horse depends on them for water, hay, grain….Dinner might be almost ready in the house, but ponies eat first …..

At 5 years old, when she falls off for the first time, you check to make sure nothings broken, wipe her tears, then you give her a leg up and tell her to get it done, because you KNOW she’s a great rider…..

At 10 years old when she doesn’t place in her class at the horse show and she’s falling apart, you ask her if her horse worked hard for her, and then you tell her that to her horse she is #1, and to keep riding, because her horse depends on her……

At 12 years old she comes home from school and tells you another kid said something mean at school to someone she knows. She then tells you she told that kid to shut their mouth and keep it to themselves…. Then she walked off with the kid that was being made fun of……

At 13 years old her friends at the barn are as close as siblings……they support her in her wins and her falls…..the barn has created relationships that are thicker than blood….

At 15 years old her first “boyfriend” breaks up with her ….. you can tell she is upset so you both head to the barn. She wraps her arms around her horse’s neck, breathes him in, and the tears flow. But you can see that resolve emerge when she’s cantering around the ring…. She tells you her horse is better than that boy any day.

You heard others say over the years…..

“Horses are too expensive!”
“She’s going to get sick from all the germs.”
“She’s going to fall off and get hurt.”
“She spends too much time at the barn.”

When she is a young woman and leaves your home, off on her next adventure, you head out to the barn. You thank her horses, you breathe them in, you wrap your arms around them because ….

Horses helped you to create a confident, self-assured, responsible, kind, nurturing, outdoors-loving, tough as nails, throws her shoulders back and stands tall, strong woman.

To all the parents raising “horse girls” keep going, you are giving them more than just riding lessons…..

www.DutchessCountyHorses.com

Written by Kara LaBrie❤️

03/25/2024

🌟 Attention all horse lovers! 🌟

Let's give a standing ovation to Leah Struzzieri, a true icon in the equestrian world! 🐎 With over 40 years of dedicated experience, Leah's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From her beginnings as a competitor, trainer, and instructor to her groundbreaking The Ponysitters program at JL Performance Horses, Leah's impact is unparalleled.

Did you know Leah is not only an APHA Professional Horsemen and Ambassador but also a lifetime certified equine appraiser? As East Coast Partner to Sterling Equine Appraisals, she's your go-to expert for horse valuation! Plus, if you're looking to enhance your horsemanship skills, Leah offers personalized training sessions that will take your riding to the next level.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your horse or elevate your horsemanship skills? Contact Leah today to schedule an a training session! Want to know what your horse is worth, contact Leah.
Call (845) 260-0962 or visit www.NYEquine.com to learn more and embark on an unforgettable equestrian journey with Leah Struzzieri! 🌟🐴

03/21/2024

PSA: Left shoulder to left shoulder is not a relic of the past. Be a good rider and learn some arena etiquette.

03/14/2024

03/06/2024

Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity. This week....

03/02/2024

Safety begins at the farm’s gates. Please be respectful and follow the safety rules. No open toed shoes, flip flop, sandals, crocs, etc. You’re not going to the beach or walking around your living room. Horses & ponies have hooves. They are hard. It hurts to get accidentally stepped on even when wearing proper footwear. Don’t take needless chances.

02/25/2024

Welcoming everyone to the farm is always a joy, but ensuring safety is paramount right from the entrance. Our guidelines explicitly state that footwear like slippers, crocs, sandals, and flip flops are unsafe on the farm. Wearing such shoes not only poses an immediate risk but also increases the likelihood of injury, as some individuals mistakenly believe the rules don't apply to them.

Just as we ask permission to enter someone's home with our shoes on, respecting safety rules on the farm is crucial. It's perplexing why some individuals choose to act disrespectfully, leaving us to address such situations with a less than festive demeanor.

Running a business, especially considering insurance costs, is already a financial challenge. Neglecting safety rules not only jeopardizes the well-being of everyone involved but also exposes the business to potential lawsuits and increased insurance premiums. It's disheartening when enforcement becomes necessary due to someone's disregard for the rules, and it shouldn't be taken personally—it's a matter of mutual respect.

Our commitment to safety extends beyond footwear guidelines; we conduct daily safety checks on horses and the entire property. Security cameras are strategically placed to diligently monitor the premises, including barns, paddocks, and sheds. This proactive approach is not only to minimize risks but also to safeguard against false allegations that disgruntled individuals may attempt to level against us.

In essence, our focus on safety is not only about following rules but creating an environment where everyone can enjoy themselves without compromising well-being.