B.N. Spired Horsemanship

10/08/2024

This. 💯

Tonight, we watched the Olympics and heard Gabby Thomas’s comments about winning the gold medal and she said, “so many many hours behind the scenes that no one sees…” (my paraphrase)

Isn’t that the truth about life? We see the big deals, we see the amazing moments and we forget all of that work and all of those decisions behind the scenes.

The hours no one sees.
The decisions to try no one sees.
The courage to step out of our comfort zone no one sees.
The faith in the future no one sees.

Success isn’t just the giant moment.

It is, as Gabby so eloquently reminded us all, the hours no one sees.

Yeah, success might not be the Olympics, but success can be in healing a relationship, starting the job, finishing school, running the 5k, working on your mental health, buying your first home, fixing your credit, meeting new people, writing the book, taking care of your health, putting in the hours - the places no one sees that really matter. and make a life difference.

So keep going. Keep trying. Keep having faith. Keep believing. Keep putting in the hours. Keep fighting for your dreams.

Those hours add up.

Even if no one sees.

It adds up.

Thanks, Gabby, for reminding us of that truth. Congrats on your Gold Medal and inspiring and reminding us that success is often found in the micro decisions that so often no one sees.

-Rachel

04/08/2024

We love ❤️ the Care and dedication our horses get from Danielle Circle T Equine Massage, LLC

04/08/2024

We are proud of the care our horses and boarders receive at our "hands on" boutique barn, especially when the weather is extreme!

This week temps have been high, but we have managed our husbandry accordingly and horses have enjoyed:
1. Abbreviated/Adjusted work schedules
2. Late evening turnout once temps are reasonable.
3. Midday checks with hose downs, freshly refilled water, Replenimash and electrolytes, and vital checks.
4. Individual fans AND aisle fans to keep air moving inside barn.
5. Frozen fruit cocktails to increase water intake when over 100* index.
6 An extra daily fly spraying to keep pests and stress at bay during heat as well!

We also send daily updates to our clients to keep them informed on barn going ons during times of extreme weather, so they can relax knowing horses are happy and healthy!

31/07/2024

💯 love what Amy is sharing!

Riding schools for children -

I used to teach children riding lessons a lot. It was really fun and rewarding to instill in young people care and respect for the horse, and good riding skills. I found chikdren far more receptive and empathetic than many adults, because they hadn’t been taught to ignore horses expressions to get something done.

The pressure from parents to accelerate the kids skills to more fun stuff, or to prevent the child’s boredom, was a steady presence in teaching- along with maintaining the school horses soundness and mental well-being from being ridden by beginners. Keeping lessons good for both horse and rider was a job of creativity and constant adjustment. I believe it can be done, but the culture at large doesn’t typically make it profitable, as many parents struggle to want to pay for lessons on sound husbandry and good riding basics. The kids want to canter, by God!

I have some firm beliefs about good riding stables, and I realize the expense and strain and adjustment is an ever pressing reality, I stand by these beliefs:

-children should learn good riding fundamentals first, and not progress to trotting, cantering, jumping until they have a good understanding of a balanced seat and can demonstrate it

-children should learn care of and respect for the horse comes before their entertainment. Grooming, tacking, warming up and cooling down, quitting an activity or adjusting if the horse is stressed, learning groundwork, etc, should be a non negotiable

-children should learn to feel a balanced horse to the extent possible. A beginner horse should not simply be a lame horse that tolerates them, but one to teach th em how to ride- children should not be set up for a future of kicking and pulling to get a horse to do something, but learn to feel how to direct a horse with their body, and to feel movement that is balanced, setting them up for a lifetime of being able to balance future horses.

- children should learn to read accurately equine expression and well-being. Children should not be taught to describe horses as lazy, stubborn, etc- these are taught by adults and children learn to adapt these views. The adults are responsible for setting the culture and views of horses and their handling.

Many riders struggle with normalizing tight, crooked, and unhappy horses because this is what they learn to ride on. The instructor is responsible for setting the culture of what their program entails, and I believe this means setting firm boundaries on what the purchasing client can expect, instead of catering to unreasonable demands to keep business. That is a whole can of worms in itself, but one worth opening.

29/07/2024

So super duper proud of these 2 today (and everyday!)
Rori Knight and Vino placed 3rd in the INHJA Mini Medal Finals and had a wonderful day of sportsmanship and positive riding. Excited for them to continue onwards and upwards as they finish out this show year strong in the 2'6" and dabbling with our 2'9" debut.
Coming so far since Vino's rehab last fall on his feet and a winter of solid foundation work.
Great to stay go see and cheer on many of our friends I the INHJA Medal later on and awesome for many of Rori's barn friends to come down/watch and celebrate with her and Vino today!
Loved getting to say hi to friends including the always sweet and loveable Lewey!

25/07/2024

Try your best daily to offer kindness. Sometimes it is hard for any one of us to keep 💯 , but do your best each day!

22/07/2024

Such a great weekend Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center, LLC a great schooling show series- great atmosphere, lovely organization, and super supportive people/riders!

Everyone did well and placed high- Champs, Reserves, etc BUT more importantly- horse and riders showed great horsemanship, team spirit, and positive sportsmanship!

Highlights:
Addy and Ronan having a great show with no major issues and competing in their 1st successful jumping class (placing 1st was a bonus!)
Rori and Vino worked in 4 rings successfully showing dressage, jumpers, hunters, and equitation- proving there is nothing this duo can't do!
Lizzy took Ducky for his 1st off property trip and he was awesome! No major issues, hauled and stalled like a Champ, and even made it into the show ring in a few flat classes on Sunday!
Jada and Marty had their 1st show of the year as a riding duo and were cantering their courses like pros! Came home more confident and happy with their teamwork!!
As a bonus, our trainer Lela and her horsemanship partner Zeus forayed back into the show ring for 1st time in years and completed 2 western dressage tests successfully.
Thanks you to all our parents and teammates (Addax and Elizabeth) and barn friends who cheered us on!
Weekends like this are what learning, teaching, training, and being prepared to participate in an outside the farm event successfully are all about!
So, so proud of everyone ❤️

17/07/2024

Always exciting to get to see horses at top of the sport compete!

Mark your calendars. Set your alarms. 🗓️⏰

Paris 2024 |

15/07/2024

Cool letter in online magazine promoting horsemanship!

Thank you Buck Brannaman for fixing a “people problem” and for the experience of a lifetime for this horseman.

05/07/2024

The July 4th week is often a time of stress and concern for those with livestock and animals who become stressed. We have safely navigated this week (*so far*) with no issues- both for our lesson barn and our home herd.

Planning in advance, being prepared, and taking precautions can help alleviate some of the worry during this time each year!

We hope you all had a safe and happy 4th as well!

03/07/2024

We had a wonderful clinic Sunday with our students and the Rowe + Meadow Equestrian gang!
Groundwork
Ridden Work
Jump Gymnastics @ end!
Also, positive fellowship and building strong binds with our horses always makes for an amazing day!

29/06/2024

Looking for a schooling show groom for 2 days @ Maffitt. July 19 and 20th! PM if interested or have a recommendation. 16 yrs and up-
It's my interns only weekend requested off this summer ☀️!
Duties to assist:
- pack up trailer Fri
- bathe horses Fri
- help set up stalls/show tack room
- schooling rides if needed
- help kids prep for warm up/show ring day of.
- help with show grounds chores Sat. AM/PM
- General good attitude and helpful manner

Pay dependent on what qualified and hrs able to help do things!

29/06/2024

Read it. Read it again. and understand that all instructors do it for the ❤️ of teaching and of horses and meeting us (and your horse) part of the way down the road to success- every time you show up at the barn- is essential.

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

📝 Kimberley Reynolds

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

27/06/2024

So proud of all our riders at MidStates but this was such a great moment for Rori and her horse Vino after a long road back from hoof issues that tanked their show season in 2023!

Summer Low Ch/Ad Handy Challenge WIN - Soul Vacation and Rorianna Knight

17/06/2024

We came, we showed, we "slayed" as the kiddos say!
Survived and (mostly) thrived at our 1st rated show as a new barn team!
Spent time with our other barn friends, supported each other, and had a great time making memories and new friends too!
Highlights of weekend:
Rori and Vino had 1st rated show success after a 14 mth hiatus and won their 1st Handy Hunter Challenge ever! (🥹) -they also took 2nd in the INHJA mini medal for 2nd weekend in a row and at the 2'6" height! They solidified they are ready for 2'6" regularly and also 2'9" is easily in their wheelhouse this year!

Lizzy and Marty finished up their swan song of showing together with a Reserve Champ. Friday in the USHJA 2 fts and Lizzy laid down a super competitive 1 course round of Eq. O/F Sunday to place 3rd put of 20 riders! Fitting he and her partnered at her 1st rated show before she starts showing her new horse Ducky later this summer!

Elizabeth came up for a quick 1-day round of 2 ft Outreach Saturday before her long week at camp. She and Marty sailed (literally) thru their courses in 22 mph winds for severals blue ribbon rounds and so proud of her for remembering all her courses and strides! Super excited to these 2 to continue partnering all summer long!

Proud and happy to have such a great team who supports each other and those around them!
We missed our other riders and barn family and our Rowe + Meadow Equestrian cohorts! but we will all gather again next month for the Fantasy Show!

10/06/2024

Such a great start to our official show season! All the riders did wonderful @ Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center, LLC and we loved to energy, atmosphere, and friends from , Rowe + Meadow Equestrian and havenfarms.
Jada, Gracie, and Addy all worked hard over weekend and had good showings in our beginner classes. So loved the good sportsmanship, hard work, and team spirit! Some challenges were met with good horsemanship and ending in a positive place with our horses!
Elizabeth had a great 2 ft debut with Marty. Great job remembering their courses and worked hard to be an independent, thinking rider! So nice to see their team work growing and coming together!
Rori and Vino had a wonderful weekend after a 14 month hiatus from showing due to Vino's feet issues and a long winter of working hard on our flat foundation and communication- they rocked their classes, the bigger arenas and atmosphere, and even won their divisions and took 2nd in their 1st ever Mini Medal Rounds!

So grateful for all the support from our barn family, riding community, and our parents who helped out all weekend and made loading up to come home a breeze!!!

25/05/2024

Absolutely!! 😁😁😁

24/05/2024

16/05/2024

So awesome to have Circle T out! Ducky was amazing yesterday after his massage and canter was so much looser and more balanced! Alice also was less stiff on her weaker right hind!!!
Amazing job Danielle!

04/05/2024

I was there in spirit and also as a floating FaceTime head for most of the Rowe + Meadow Equestrian Snowflake Series Awards Banquet!

So proud of this group of kids and super proud to be surrounded by such great friends and co-equestrians with the R & M gang!!

I was sad to miss out due to family needs in TN, but happy as always when my riders succeed!

29/04/2024

A 330 am arrival last night for our 2 newest residents was super worth it to see the smile on this rider's face as she met her new guy!

We are excited to welcome besties- Ducky and Belle.
Ducky will be Lizzy's ride for the season and Belle tagged along to work in our lesson program. As an OTTB broodmare on her 3rd career- we are excited to see how this sweet girl shines this summer!

26/04/2024

Excited to offer a fun Class for Mom's and their riders!
Class will be combo groundwork, basic horse handling skills and a little riding time!
Spots are limited. Class on 5.5 and if fills will offer another on 5.10!
(1 spot per duo!)
Sign up on our booking page!
(Onsite Services- scroll to bottom!)

B.N. Spired Horsemanship is a multi-platform equine training service- providing positive inspiration on your horsemanship journey. Offering coaching and instruction, both in-person or via virtual lessons. Visit our Services Page for more info on all we have to offer!

25/04/2024

A testimonial for good horsemanship:
Zeus has been pulling a large lesson load at our new barn, while we get our other lesson horses going and working safely. I have been impressed with how well he has taken care of the kiddos- something a few years ago I would never have thought he would do.

I have missed riding him and was concerned he may have slightly regressed in the hackamore due to kids riding in snaffle and *naturally* being less clear with legs and more heavy with hands.

I got to ride him yesterday and it was like we never stopped. He said to me "I am here mom, right where you left me."

So grateful for horsemanship, my mentors, and all it has given me to give back to my horses.

Hoping to get him back in the swing now that we have more lesson horses available and get us into the 2-rein this summer. He is such a great guy.

23/04/2024

Marty loved his birthday cake today! He kindly shared with all his barn friends.