JAQ Etc Stables

03/03/2024

After the longest trip to Orlando ever, we are making another stop…..

01/01/2024

This is so true. Unfortunately I do get hurt.

For my fellow barn owners/ trainers out there!

Lessons learned long and hard in the horse business as a professional..

1. It's easy to fall in love with your customers. They become a family who you spend a lot of time with. However, in the end they will do what's best for themselves. And, for you and them, those paths may not be the same. Prepare to get your heart broken. Keep business and personal relationships separate.

2. People will not always trust in your experience and will second guess you. They will think they know better because they read it in a book, or saw it online. Don't try to be all things to all people. Do what you are good at. Run your barn in a way that you can sleep at night knowing that you did right in your mind by them and their horses. The clients opinion of that may be different than your beliefs, but you have to live with choices that leave you at peace. That may mean confrontation, hard conversations and even asking people to move on for your own peace.

3. Horses are easy 99% of the time. It's the people who come with them that make things complicated.

4. Remember that horses need to be horses.

5. People will always judge you, and have opinions. The better you are, the more haters will have opinions.

6. Success isn't measured by ribbons and show placings. It's measured in happy animals and the quality of their lives.

7. There is always an exception or quirk that doesn't " follow the rules" in horse care. Do what works, not what the books say works.

8. When you get annoyed by seeing somebody's car pull in to the barn, it's time to let that person move on. Your barn should be a happy place. It literally only takes one bad sour apple to ruin the whole atmosphere and dynamic in a barn.

9. Let it go.... if someone moves on don't be upset by it. Ignore what they say. Don't take it personally. Every barn is not a good fit for every person.

10. This is a business. If a person or horse isn't working for you, or the compensation isn't offsetting your cost, it's time for them to go. The exception to this is your retired horses, see #11.

11. Horses only have so many jumps, so many runs, so many rides. Don’t waste your horses. Teach your students they aren’t machines. You owe it to your retired horses to have a safe, comfortable and dignified end. Your schoolies worked for you. When the time comes they can no longer do that, either give them a pleasant retirement, or put them in the ground where you know they are safe. Do not dump them at auctions or onto other people where you are not 100% sure that they will be cared for.

12. There is no shame in euthanasia for a horse owner. Always better a week too early then a second too late. Do not judge anyone for their reasons for doing this.

13. Most clients fall Into two categories. Those who are "high maintenance", open in their opinions and will confront situations head on. The second is the quiet type who will not say a word and will not openly talk with you about their expectations or issues. You have no idea they have a problem until it's too late. The people in between these two are the clients you want. They will be long term and make life easy.

14. Know your worth. KNOW YOUR WORTH. Your time and experience has a monetary value. Don't do things for free, even if you like the person. Every bit of time or effort you give to clients has value. So when you don't value your effort, neither will a client. They will come to expect "freebies", which always leads to resentment from someone.

15. Be honest. It's not always easy. But in this business it takes forever to build reputation and seconds to destroy it.

16. Remember horses are dangerous. Always use your best judgment and air on the side of caution when working with horses and students. Their lives and your own life can change in an instant.

17. Get paid up front. Keep good records. People don't go to the grocery store and ask for food they will pay for next week. Good business practices keep everyone honest and sets boundaries for clients.

18. Normalize passing on price increases. Service industries, especially ones like ours always "feel guilty " when raising prices. You are not there to subsidize someone else's horse habit. Prices have been going up on costs, so should your fees.

19. The buck stops with you. Your employees mistakes fall back to your responsibility. Always verify and check on important care aspects of daily activities.

20. Make time for family and rest. Too many of us get burnt out from the stress of expectations in this industry. In the end, boarders and students come and go. Your family is who you will have left.

Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope it can help support some of you feeling burnt out, and maybe help some people who are starting out in their journey into this industry.

Written by Rhea Distefano

10/16/2023

Ok some days I feel like this with the horses and the kids.

75.8K likes, 661 comments. “ with is anyone else's days like this?! 😅”

06/19/2023

So proud of the girls today in judging. I don’t care where they place. What I love is that they went out and tried it!

Now they did have some placings
In Jr division
Congratulations to Karson Rackley 8th
Congratulations to Savannah Roddy 3rd

In jr high division
Congratulations to Megan Whitt 9th place
Congratulations to HK porterfield 3rd place
Congratulations to Josie Lewis 2nd place

In Sr high division
Congratulations to Abby Rhodes 5th place
Congratulations to a Yasmen Powell 2nd place

So proud of Rhea County!!!!!

Pictures will be uploaded soon

05/06/2023

Shedding season is here in full bloom. It gets everywhere’s.

01/01/2023

Lol

New challenge try not to laugh and do this!

11/30/2022

UPDATE - Sorry for any confusion - the Date for Saddle Pals Christmas Party has been corrected.
We still hope to see you during the celebration of these events during the holidays!

11/23/2022

11/14/2022

This year several of my students tried something new JUMPING! With that they all did great but a few have won some awards at the Smokey Mountain Horse Show Series. Congratulations girls.

Congratulations to all of our Year End High Point Winners! We are so proud to have been a part of watching you grow as riders!
Awards Ceremony will mid-day on Saturday.
OPEN HUNTER 18"
Champion- Alahna Powell
Reserve-Alyssa Goad
OPEN HUNTER 2'
Champion-Alahna Powell
Reserve- Skylan Nelson
OPEN HUNTER 2'3-2'6
Champion-Savannah Rose
Reserve-Brinkley Bennett
OPEN JUMPER 18
Champion- Ava Nessell
Reserve- Isabella Baez
OPEN JUMPER 2'
Champion- Ava Nessell
Reserve- Brinkley Bennett
Open Jumper 2'3-2'6
Champion- Brinkley Bennett
Reserve- Hannah Whaley
CROSSRAILS
Champion- Merritt Beckler
Reserve- Caroline Arthur
GROUNDPOLES
Champion- Wren Riddle
Reserve- Bella Bingham
HALTER HORSE
Champion- Megan Whitt
Reserve- Kathryn Akulic
1st YEAR SHOWING
Champion- Karson Rackley
Reserve- Savannah Roddy
YOUTH ENGLISH
Champion- Laini Eckstrom
Reserve-Wren Riddle
JUNIOR ENGLISH
Champion- Alahna Powell
Reserve- Savannah Rose
OPEN ENGLISH
Champion- Merritt Beckler
Reserve- Naomi Manthey

09/11/2022

No lesson today, September 11th, 2022 due to rain. Please contact Wendy to reschedule.

09/04/2022

No lessons today, September 4th, 2022, due to rain. Contact us to reschedule.

08/22/2022

There’s nothing better ❤️🐴❤️

06/19/2022

05/07/2022

We are set up and ready to this morning. Come join us at JAQ for a large yard sale to help raise money for our riding programs. Lots of different things have been donated. We have something for everyone.

04/20/2022

Journey's first big adventure! We can't wait to watch Journey grow and learn to be the best she can be! We hope you enjoy this view of her first trip to the front pasture! (The first video didn't have the music - hopefully this one does)

04/14/2022

Today, Journey tried to figure out what was in the feed bucket that was so interesting to Mom! She finally made her way up to the scary black whole and mouthed around the bottom of the bucket! She is so fun watching as she explores the world around her! Let's make sure that her experiences are safe and positive! Good job, Journey!

04/14/2022

Each day Journey is getting exposed to more and more experiences, and learning that we can be friends! She is so full of life and a joy to have as the newest member of our farm horse family! On her birthday she learned that being touched wasn't so bad, On her second day she was able to learn that brushes weren't as scary as they seemed. Oh, and she loves to be scratched. Being a baby is so hard.....

04/13/2022

As we begin to watch our little Journey grow - remember she is still "new". Just because she will seem like a sturdy horse doesn't mean that she is. Let's keep people to viewing times that Wendy sets up - and we won't be in the stall with her for a few more days. Thank you everyone for loving our Journey as much as we do. Thanks to Mystic for producing such a lovely baby girl!

04/12/2022

Good morning! We have a baby! The waiting is over and we are so excited to bring to you - Bojangles Rainbo's Journey! Journey is beautiful, healthy and strong! We can't wait to see what she does in the future! Join us in celebrating our new journey with Journey!