Captivate Farms LLC

05/17/2022

To get a feel for the aids that ask your horse to bend…

Imagine walking up a spiral staircase. To negotiate the stairs in balance, you must turn your shoulders on the precise path of the stairs and your seat and leg must be in the correct, stable position to ask for bend.—Corinne Foxley

Foxley was an assistant trainer to Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel at Maryland’s First Choice Farm for more than seven years. She also spent time with Uta Gräf in Germany and has earned her USDF bronze medal.

Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

05/16/2022

What a beautiful day to head out to our first show of the season! Lamplight Spring Spectacular II, here we come ☀️

05/08/2022

We’re getting so excited for our first show of the season! The horses got clipped and enjoyed some baths. What’s your favorite part of all the preparation that takes place before you even get to the show?

02/28/2022

We think function is more important than form! What do you think?

is a collaboration between Horse Network and NOELLEFLOYD.com to empower equestrians. Every Monday we’ll bring you a new lesson from a leading trainer to help you troubleshoot your training, master your mindset and up your game. This month’s featured rider: Karl Cook teaches st...

02/14/2022

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Kiss your heart horse today❤️❤️❤️⁣
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02/04/2022

New post on the blog!

“Behind every successful rider is a vast network of experiences and people who make it all possible. Strengthening every link in this chain is a surefire way to reach your goals! At the end of the day, though, who is calling the shots? Which link is the most important?”

https://www.captivatefarms.com/post/who-is-responsible-for-your-riding-success

Behind every successful rider is a vast network of experiences and people who make it all possible. Strengthening every link in this chain is a surefire way to reach your goals! At the end of the day, though, who is calling the shots? Which link is the most important? It’s not your trainer. Your t...

01/30/2022

We hope everyone is staying nice and bundled up in this cold weather—like Mackenzie’s little rescued baby, Charlie!!! Isn’t he the cutest?!? ⁣
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01/28/2022

Content of the most perfect baby chestnut mare to offset some playful anti-mare propaganda 🤣⁣
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Still growing like a w**d and already perfect at the mounting block 😭 can’t believe JJ isn’t technically even four years old yet!⁣
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01/27/2022

When the most vitamin D you get is the sun shining into the indoor 😭😂☀️⁣
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🎥 All-black-everything, making videos with our little Irish jumper pony, Bobby!!! 😎⁣
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01/22/2022

Research and development never tasted so good 😏 ⁣⁣
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We have so many exciting new projects in the works for captivatefarms.com and . Including our own freshly-baked, low-sugar-friendly treats 🍬🐴⁣⁣
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What’s your horse’s favorite treat???⁣⁣
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01/21/2022

If you’re looking for a SAFE beginner-friendly, babysitter-type, Ben is your guy!

Ben is a 15 year-old Appendix Quarter Horse standing just shy of 16hh. He was bought for a (tall) young boy who was just learning to ride, who has since decided to go in a different direction.

Ben has proven himself again and again to be one of the saintliest horses we’ve ever seen, so we are hoping to find him a great home where he can receive all the love and pampering he deserves.

This video shows how he comes out of his stall at the coldest point of winter. We also have video of his automatic lead changes and his first few jumps in a solid year (please dm for that, as facebook has upload restrictions on business accounts).

Ben is truly the unicorn first horse for a beginner kid or a timid adult. We are asking in the mid-fives.

Comment here or send a direct message if you would like to set up a time to come meet Ben!

01/19/2022

How can you tell your horse loves their job?!?⁣
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There are so many ways—and a game face like Linus’ is definitely one of them 😎 ⁣
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01/16/2022

Fellow ammys: WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS 🤣⁣
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01/15/2022

On the blog: How to Improve Your Riding at Home 🏠 ⁣
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Check out the very first post on our new blog! ⁣
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Our dream for this space is for it to act as a resource and digital community committed not only to becoming better riders, but also better horse people. ⁣
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This blog is part of a series of projects we’re working on to center horsemanship at the heart of everything we do. ⁣
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What are some of your favorite equestrian resources?!? ⁣
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https://www.captivatefarms.com/post/how-to-improve-your-riding-at-home

We all know there’s no better way to practice riding than...riding! Nowadays, we are all stuck at home a little more than we would prefer. Though nothing can compare to the real thing, there are plenty of ways you can improve as a rider and as a horse person from the safety of your own space. Yout...

01/13/2022

This is the face of a very good boy who deserves his own person!⁣
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Ben is a 15 year-old, 15.3hh-16hh, appendix gelding who is truly the dream first horse. He was originally purchased as a short-stirrup mount for a (tall) kid in our lesson program, who has since moved and gone in a different direction. ⁣
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Ben is absolutely bomb-proof—if only we had a video of all the whacky, weird things we did to try to get his ears pricked forward while we were taking his confirmation photos (then again…we’re glad we don’t 🤣) though he has not shown with us, he has shown in the past and has automatic lead changes. ⁣
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If you think you know of a good fit for Ben, please contact us with serious inquiries at [email protected]. Now is your chance before his ad is officially out in the world!!!

01/11/2022

Oh, snow falling off the roof? *Looks straight into camera* time for a total meltdown 🙃⁣
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01/10/2022

⭐️2021 HIGHLIGHTS⭐️⁣
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We’re celebrating our favorite moments from 2021!⁣
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~Carbon Copy~⁣
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Let’s be real...when is Carbo NOT a highlight?!?! Setting unrealistic beauty standards every time!⁣
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01/05/2022

⭐️2021 HIGHLIGHTS⭐️⁣
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We’re celebrating our favorite moments from 2021!⁣
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~Katana~⁣
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We’ve had this lovely mare in our barn since she was a filly, and we are blown away by the progress she made with Mackenzie this year. She is by the inimitable stallion, Emilion—sire to our late, great Grand Prix horse, Milo.⁣
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We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Katana now that Mackenzie Crookston has her in a solid program. Her whole body has absolutely transformed under her care.⁣
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01/01/2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 🎆 ⁣
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Nothing epitomizes “new year, new me” quite like Falco’s transformation arc over the last year. We’re looking forward to starting a fresh one! ⁣
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Buh bye, 2021! 😝⁣
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#2022

12/26/2021

⭐️2021 HIGHLIGHTS⭐️⁣
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For the holidays, we’re celebrating our favorite moments from 2021 🏆 ⁣
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Marike’s mare, Sirena! ⁣
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Sirena went to her first horse shows this past summer, and we were absolutely blown away by her progress and her attitude. She made it very clear how much fun she was having and took her job very seriously! ⁣
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Despite being a new partnership, Mackenzie piloted Sirena to a reserve champion in the baby green hunter division at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival—among some of the best company in the world 💯⁣
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There’s nothing quite as magical as seeing a horse fall in love with their job and relish what they do. We think it’s a very underrated aspect of training great horses.⁣
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12/25/2021

Merry Christmas, everyone!!! 😉

😬🎄

12/24/2021

⭐️ 2021 HIGHLIGHTS ⭐️ ⁣⁣
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For the holidays, we’re celebrating our favorite moments from 2021!⁣⁣
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First up: JJ ❤️ ⁣⁣
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2021 brought us this lovely mare who blew us away with her thoughtfulness and impulsive canter. She breaks every chestnut mare stereotype. Can you believe she’s a solid-color paint?!? ⁣⁣
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At only three years old with such an amazing head on her shoulders, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her here at Captivate Farms. ⁣⁣
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12/15/2021

We’re dreaming of sunny weather and floaty hunter trots by the bay! ⁣
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We’re working our butts off this winter, like most equestrian professionals we know. We will officially be back to social media soon with so much to share ❤️⁣
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11/02/2021

Develop your horse’s balance, confidence, timing and more.

09/25/2021

FALL IS HERE!⁣
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It’s one of the best seasons to be at the barn 🍁🍂🥧🧣☕️ 🐴⁣
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09/04/2021

We’re sending out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Taylor on her new partnership with Patton!⁣
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Taylor’s search for the perfect horse was a tricky one in this market, but she stayed hopeful and kept improving her riding skills in the meantime.⁣
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Well, doesn’t love just sneak up and tap you on the shoulder sometimes? We bought Patton for our program at Captivate, but he and Taylor had an instant, unmistakable connection. ⁣
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Seeing these two together is a reminder of why we do what we do. We are so excited to see what the future holds for Taylor and Patton!!!⁣
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08/30/2021

We are HIRING! ⁣
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Do you want to hone your groom skills and barn-hand knowledge set at a beautiful facility with the best horses in the whole world?!? ⁣
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Send a resumè to [email protected] or call the barn at 269-679-3561 to apply. ⁣
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08/13/2021

We simply could not be more proud of Kennedy for taking Daisy to her very first horse shows this summer! That is no small feat, and she has done it with such bravery and grit. Shoutout to Taylor for bringing the Captivate camaraderie this weekend ❤️❤️❤️

08/09/2021

⭐️GLEF IV and V Highlights⭐️⁣
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Morgan and Captivate’s own “Victory” (Buzzy) laid down some beautiful hunter rounds, and even took second place in a very competitive under saddle! They have been working hard on their partnership and turned out such a polished result.⁣
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