Desert Bloom Horse Training

12/14/2024

Young Jackson had a very difficult morning.

We only brought 3 other horses in from pasture with him today, we put him in a different stall that isn't his normal one, and it had timothy hay instead of alfalfa.

Needless to say, given these horrifically stressful events.. which, each on their own would be a triumph to overcome, but together.. well, there was just not going to be any lasting relaxation inside of the tight 45 minutes we had together today.

The sweet buddy hung in there with me though, and even though we didn't take any real deep breaths together, he was still willing to be my brilliant partner jumping little stuff in nice form.

12/14/2024

Endlessly generous red mares 💎

12/14/2024

When you're introducing horses to brand new things, their response is a wide open question.

I guess that -anything-can-happen is part of the thrill for those of us who love beginning development of horses.

I've trotted little cross rails and logs on cross country.. but never asked him to jump a 2'8" jump, ever, let alone from a trot. Been cantering .70s to get a feel for this job.

As you can see, Miles the Hancock, trotted right up to the base so nonchalantly, I figured we might plow through this new, scopier, question. To my hearts smile, the kid found an enthusiastic level of springs.

I love Miles, he keeps showing me new layers of reasons to love him. 💕

12/10/2024

Omg Archie's Pizza too! Good job HITS!

12/03/2024

This could be you on this handsome steed.

I feel like most of our young horses are like 5 going on 3 or 4 going on 2 😄 with the exception of Miles who is 7 going on 13!

12/03/2024

Joels 3yo AQHA gelding Chaw. Ranch raised on outside country.

This strong little cow pony is made for work and performance. He's an athletic dude lightly started this fall. Chaw is for an experienced hand to make into a super star rope, cutting, reining cowhorse etc. Has worked the flag and can turn and stop on a dime. He's totally green, just been backed and loped around a bit.

Chaw's natural talent & smooth quality makes him fun for a trainer to develop.

12/02/2024

We have a dozen young horses we love, housed full-time at the lovely Sweet Dixie South in Reddick, FL. Five of these horses we would like to find their person. Dressage, Hunter-Jumper, Trail & Working Cow horses. Some of the Quarter Horses could be super all-around youth and rodeo mounts. The Warmbloods and Andalusian are well-bred for sport.
Budget from 20k - 150k

These horses have been a part of our program and family for the majority or all of their lives and are huge-hearted, healthy, quality critters whom we care a great deal for. Because of our emotional investment in them, the idea of the normal sales route of advertising and trials with strangers feels icky.

We've come up with a non-traditional idea to joyfully match our horses with their dream people.

Lesson on them, lease them, get to know them in the environment of our program with no commitment required!

Share with us what you're seeking and your budget. If one of our horses could be a nice fit.. come lesson on it for a while, get to know every detail and in and out of what they're like so that everyone feels confident about the match.

If you aren't in love at the end of the day, no sweat! You just got to enjoy an absolutely gorgeous 180 acre facility with incredible arena, maintained XC course, water complexes, and hills for riding, dressage courts all while enjoying lovely horses who like to work & love people... we think this is a win all around!

Contact me to discuss.

11/27/2024

Our kids keep growing, along with their intake of resources! To accomodate our little humans, we're offering a few of our deeply treasured, super well-dispositioned, personal horses over the next months... If one catches your eye, please inquire.

Miles is Joel's big 7yo AQHA beefcake. His life experience is as a rough-country cow horse. Only in the past couple months (let's call it weeks for the sake of emphasizing how new he is to anything related to arena and sport) has he been introduced to life beyond being a solider of a work horse. Miles is smart and easy to train, making it look like he's been doing this longer.

Miles has been in our family the past six years. We're happy to continue his development. He's a joy to work with: easy, tolerant, genuine, consistent. The same good guy all his life.

We wont sell any of our horses to beginners. Must be least intermediate level and assertive. No timid riders for any horse we are offering.

Located in Reddick, FL

11/25/2024

The first Local Champions Tour at Diasti Stables was fabulous... they always put on a great show. Mark has a gift for course designs one can trust.. the venue is absolutely beautiful with a big warm up ring. Fun to spend the weekend with horses, family and friends Cheers 🍻

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11/24/2024

🔥 Laura & Concerto RC

Hot hot hot 🔥

11/24/2024

Joels 7yo rough country cowhorse Miles wins Best brain award!! So smart, Most Improved award of the weekend for sure.

He just started being ridden in an arena... never saw one in his past cow horse life. All he's used to is dragging bovines around and climbing rocks. He juuust started learning anything about English sport in September. and he had never seen any show or ribbon before this weekend.. let alone a full course of jumps! He learned about canter leads last month.

This guy came out, and the only class he wasn't Top 3 in, was the very first class of the show when I asked to be allowed to skip the first jump and be eliminated on paper but allow us to jump the whole rest of the course. Because Local Champions Tour is an Amazing group who exists to support what horses and riders need.. they obliged my request (first jump was an oxer.. I did not feel he was ready to enter the show ring to an oxer for his first ever experience - he's never even schooled or seen the ring before! I know I made the right choice cus Jump 3 was an oxer and was a hover-craft experience the first round ;)).

Long story short, I love him. Good boy Miles, thanks for being you buddy.

11/23/2024

Jackson apparently can't help but be a winner wherever he goes even when I purposefully intend not to win 😘

Our aim this first show (he's only been back to work since Sept) was to go slow over a little course and give him a confidence building happy experience. If he was tense I was just going to trot jumps to maintain rideability. He was tight when we started warming up so I took off my spurs and pet him a lot. I've never jumped him without spurs but it felt like the right thing today.

This young horse is the best, I love him, he was so easy and brave to canter around and even win us a beautiful saddle pad... we went pretty slow, we just did every inside turn & didn't waste time with wide tracks.. because he's so smooth.

Your jump, your trot, your heart makes me smile. xoXoxo

11/17/2024

We found her!!!! 🙌 will be delivering this cutie to her new kid on Thanksgiving. Thanks y'all.

ISO: Mini Horse Baby-Sitter

Looking for an older, very kind & slow-paced mini horse to be brushed, handwalked and leadlined around for a not yet 2yo little boy... and to remain with this family for their future kids to come as well. Top notch home with acres of pastures, nice stalls, and loving care - she'll be body clipped, all regular maintenance, and more love than she can handle.

A mini proven to be non reactive around children and baby-sitter-like is required. Photo of the family looking.

Please PM me videos & information if all the above attributes are fulfilled.

11/14/2024

Trot into Friday like Jackson !

11/09/2024

How many show horses do you know who will ground-tie upon arrival at a new place next to the main entry road reliably like this champion?

11/09/2024

The girls did good today!

Astrea & Ruby

The best part of these shows, besides good people and nice ponies, is getting feedback from the horses, judges & our wonderful coach to fine tune our game - time to level up!!

This was Ruby's first ever dressage show. She earned scores of 72.639% & 71.389%. Love her consistency and that there's still a lot untapped within her for me to find expression with.

Thanks team for all the support +

11/06/2024

Raffle ends this week!! Win cool stuff, support great cause!
Link below.

Tucson Fall Shows 2024 Raffle:

Proceeds support Steady Strides Riding Center programs, services, and efforts to organize and produce the Tucson Fall Festival & Classic Horse Shows in collaboration with Tucson's highly regarded Freedom Run Shows.

Three great items to be won: an original 24 x 30 oil painting by Rachel Maloney, a set of two wicker patio chairs (retail over $700), and 2 two-night stays at the Marriott AC Hotel Downtown Tucson. Good luck!

Click Link to purchase tickets 🎟 ✨️

Thank you for participating in the Tucson Fall Horse Shows 2024 Raffle supporting Steady Strides Riding Center. Proceeds from the raffle support Steady Strides Riding Center’s programs, services, and efforts to organize and produce the Tucson Fall Festival & Classic Horses Shows in collaborati...