Circle M Acres, Ellsworth

27/08/2024

We are bummed! But flash floods and hail are nothing to mess with!

Fall/Winter dates will be coming soon!

26/08/2024

We loved having this photo shoot at the Tuscola County Fair!

16/08/2024

Let’s go girls!!

30/07/2024

There is so much more to learn from failure than there is from success. When we see both as a blessing is when we are the most ripe to grow.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅...
We all have that image in our heads. The new winner wraps their arms around a sweaty horse with gratitude as they catch their breath. The dust from the winning shot still lingers in the air while the crowd cheers and photographers rush to capture the flood of happy emotions.
What we don’t often see captured in the photos is 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲. What we don’t often see in the photos is 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁. What we don’t often see in the photos is 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. We all know it, and we know it well. Whether it's team roping, another discipline, a business, whatever, failure, if you're doing anything is, at some point, inevitable. Why? Because as Billie Jack Saebens stated, “You're going to lose way more than you win. We all think about the winners when they win," he reflected. "We don't think about the losers when we win.”
Billie Jack had six runs in the highest paying Rope Horse Futurity in history on Saturday, and he didn’t catch one steer. Not one. He was mounted on some of the best heel horses in the country. He was prepared. His horses were prepared. Yet, he didn't get one score. This is a guy who works sun up to sun down. A guy who ropes nearly every day. This is a guy whose word matters. A guy that does right by his customers and right by their horses. A guy who recently ranked in the top 10 on ARHFA’s list of Top Riders for 2024. But on this particular day, he just could not get it together. He, by definition, failed.
So what goes through someone’s head after a day like that? For Billie Jack, failing is fuel.
“I have to get better. It’s that simple. I need to work harder," he said the morning following the event. "Yes, I’ll go back and watch the videos and try to see what happened and where I can improve, but for me it comes down to work. I’ll work harder. It’s easy to beat yourself up, and I’ll do my fair share of it. I have an 18-hour drive home to think about what I did wrong. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s ok. My horses were good. They felt as good as they ever have going into this deal. It just didn’t work out.”

Something else that wasn’t captured in a photo that day, something else that won't go into a database with a chart value or dollar sign on an ad was a valuable memory.
“I was walking Bigs back to his stall, and this kid came up to me and asked for my autograph," Billie Jack recalled. "He said, ‘I’m sorry you didn’t have a good day.’ His dad said they were thinking about breeding to Bigs next year, and we visited for a minute. It was pretty cool. Things like that will remind you real quick what’s important.”
We felt it was important to share this and give people an insight not just to the wins, but also the losses. It isn't the losses or the failures that define us. It's the comeback and it's the lessons we learn along the way that shape us.🖤
📷 EC Equine Marketing

16/07/2024

Had a blast today at camp! So many cool kiddos learning about horses, growing in their confidence, and making friends!

Happy for a quiet evening with my old lady!

07/07/2024

Send a us a message if you want to haul in! He will be here late afternoon/evening.

05/07/2024

More items for sale! Check out yesterday’s post for English saddles and western girths.

03/07/2024

We’ve got some tack to purge! Check out the comments for what we’ve got! PayPal or cash, preferred not to ship, but traveling to most parts of the state in the next month. (Traverse City, Ludington, Caro, Sandusky, and even the UP)

24/06/2024

This weekend was one for the scrapbooks! (If I printed pictures and had time for that anymore!) Congratulations to everyone that did so well showing, and even bigger congratulations to those who overcame challenges, improved mindsets, and found joy in being together this weekend. I never remember to take a ton of pics (of the show), but here is some of the fun we had!

18/06/2024

Due to heat there will be no Pony Tale Pals today.

16/06/2024

The industry needs to work hard hard to not only make good horse people, but to make good all around people.

Sure, it’s easy to pass the buck, put the burden on trainers, social media, other kids, you name it—but sportsmanship starts with parents. As a mom, it’s my responsibility to guide my young riders and hold them accountable. 

13/06/2024

11/06/2024

Looking for something unique to do with the little humans in your life? Check us out! Weekday and weekend dates available.

10/06/2024

Looking for a way to keep your kid active and off the couch this summer? We have a couple of lesson spots available!

02/06/2024

What a great Jr MIHA meet! Proud of all my Elk Rapids riders for doing the work and bringing home the win! Big wins in DEEP classes some with as many as 27. Congrats ladies!

29/05/2024

Registration link is LIVE!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfprkbDdUARf_QoahHxrNFRMvUP0_ZazWI-rbqwJElM1x1DXA/viewform

17/05/2024

4 Season Equine Association exhibitors if you are still looking for banding, check this out! Alexis Klockziem

16/05/2024

Register today at www.equinemyofascialrelease.com

26/04/2024

There are a few spots remaining! Contact NE Indiana Equine Sports Massage & Rehab Therapy LLC. To register.

22/04/2024

Schedule hot off the presses!! Registration will open May 1st. Feel free to message the page with questions!

16/04/2024

Communication is key! Listening to your intuition and building relationships and confidence are all part of your journey with horses!

Trust Yourself, Talk to Your Trainer

When taking lessons, there’s an unspoken rule that you should always listen to everything your trainer tells you to do, no matter what.

The horse world is filled with little inside phrases like, “Shut up and ride” or “I’m the trainer, that’s why.” or “You should have listened to your trainer in the first place.”

But what if you feel something going on within yourself (or your horse), and your trainer isn’t picking up on it?

It could be something as minor as preventing you from progressing that day or as major as avoiding an accident. Yet, your trainer is pushing you or brushing off how you’re feeling, or…

You’re just not feeling brave enough (or can’t find the right words) to express what that something is. What then?

The following words are said with great love and respect to all the hard working and incredibly gifted trainers out there, as I am also one who aspires to inspire my clients.

Stick with me, as this piece can truly help you and your clients enjoy your lessons even more. This is written for trainers as well, I promise.

I want to speak to the rider who strives to do their best. They feel the insatiable need to please their trainer. While this characteristic in the big picture will often improve their riding and their horse’s well-being, there’s a nuance to examine that needs to be addressed and brought into the light:

Your intuition.

When you trust your intuition, you are literally picking up the reins of your life and creating a gorgeous, harmonious connection for the best possible outcomes.

You will know how to graciously and gracefully pivot your lessons.

You will know how to explain to your trainer that something needs to change.

You will feel confident about deciding when to back off or when to push through.

You will know if you’re just a tiny bit nervous, perhaps even excited or if you’re just not able to push through in the least. (And that’s always good to note, since you need to be fully present for your horse).

Some riders already have highly developed skills when it comes to understanding what their intuition is guiding them towards. Others might get little stomach flips right before they’re about to do something outside of their comfort zone.

The latter usually notice that their body feels weird for a split second, but then do their best to move on quickly to get back to the task at hand. The former group will often take a few more moments to check in with how they’re truly feeling, as well as have a greater sense of what their horse needs from them.

If you’re not experienced with checking in with your intuition, you usually get the sense that something doesn’t feel quite right, but you can’t put your finger on it.

Your riding can often become tense and turn into a spiral of thoughts and feelings that aren’t conducive to you or your horse.

If this is you, believe me when I say, you have the power within to develop this skill. It could be one of the most important tools you acquire in your tack box for your riding - and in life.

So how do you develop your intuition and use it with your lessons to be sure you and your horse are safe, and in turn feel comfortable enough to express what you need to your trainer?

You start with the basics, like anything else in riding. You learn how to work from the ground up. Before we move on, I want to give you this one phrase that you can use in lessons with your trainer, (even if you’re not sure what your intuition is telling you).

I need some help processing something.

If your trainer doesn’t immediately take a breath and help you sort out what you need, then it’s either time to find a new trainer or it’s time to take him or her out to lunch and have a heart-to-heart with them.

When they hear this phrase, they should be able to understand that something needs to be addressed for you and your horse to feel completely comfortable. Remember, they are there to help you!

As you practice fine tuning your intuitive skills, keep an open mind and an open heart. Your horse will absolutely notice the difference within you, as you begin to dial in what feels just right for you both.

The following guide is a form of muscle testing, to ask your body, your inner wisdom, how it feels when you say certain phrases. This will help you with decision making!

Here are some examples of true statements that you can say out loud:

My name is ______
I love my horse.
My favorite food is _________

When you say the truth out loud, notice what's happening in your body. You might not notice
something until after you say the false statements out loud, so let's move on to those.

You can say out loud:

My name is (not your name)
I don't love my horse.
My favorite food is (something you dislike)

Now what do you notice? Was there any tension, tightness, holding of your breath?

Think of three more true statements and three more false statements.

Go back and forth, saying them out loud. Write down what you noticed about the two different types of statements. Once you have this dialed in, you're well on your way to trusting your intuition for your horse time!

Once you know your horse is ready and willing, you can say things like:

I'm ready to ride right now.
I'm ready to trot.
I'm ready to canter.
I'm ready to go out on the trail.

Notice how you feel. If any of those statements come up as a false feeling in your body, then you'll know to take a step back and get curious about what you need to do (or not do) to get to the true feeling.

When you trust your intuition, you can feel confident that you’re making the right choices for yourself and your horse. You’ll know how to speak up for yourself and for your horse, even when your first instinct was to please your trainer.

I believe that you’re capable of making the shift towards advocating for yourself and your horse first. The “people pleasing” feelings can exit the arena. You’ve got this!

~~~~~

Beth Lauren Parrish is a CHA Certified Level 3 Instructor in both English and Western disciplines as well as a Level 1 Equestrian Tai Chi Instructor. She has recently become certified as an RTT® Practitioner, so she can enhance her clients' transformations rapidly and profoundly.

She has taught thousands of lessons for the past 24 years and started riding in 1986. With her business, Inspired Riding®, Beth has created courses, meditations, the Focus app, and the Companion Journal for Inspired Riders.

All of the above help equestrians become more confident and connected with their horses.

Beth teaches you to trust your intuition and how to connect with your horse on deeper levels. This sets you and your horse up to have the best co-creative dances possible.

𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨. 💕🐎
-Beth Lauren Parrish 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠®

15/04/2024

Thank you to everyone who came out to pony tale pals today! I was too busy enjoying the sunshine to take any pictures, but Betsy and Barry were the best for their little riders today!

14/04/2024

We had a wonderful day with our awesome clinician Kaity Arthur! Our riders not only got personalized instruction riding and in showmanship, but they also learned important details for showing some straight from the rulebook. We were so busy that I forgot to take any pictures! Shout out to the Elk Rapids Jr. Equestrian team for coming out in full force to the clinic! (Pictures are from some recent lessons since I forgot to take any today!)

09/04/2024

Happy happy birthday to Nick Michalek! The best tractor driving, horse feeding, golf course managing, date night dude, and girl dad I could ask for!!! Here’s to many more years with your 2 clingy girls and all of our crazy dreams! Happy birthday!

03/04/2024

Looking for a fun local opportunity? Contact NE Indians Equine Sports Massage to register.

We offer live and Home Study Equine Massage classes in Indiana. Indiana Equine Massage Therapy Courses are hosted throughout the United States as well.

28/03/2024

Equine myofascial release class to happen at the farm this fall! Check out this link for pricing and to register! https://equinemyofascialrelease.com/seminars/

26/03/2024

First peek at spring programs! A lovely time for your littles! We hike around the farm, feed treats, read a story, groom, and go for pony rides! Space is limited!