Twin Oaks Riding

01/01/2024

22/12/2023

Scenes from our Christmas game day today 😂

14/12/2023

National Day of the Horse- these equines steal our hearts every day!

07/12/2023

Join us this Saturday for our Young Rider Camp! We have plenty of spots available this weekend. The forecast shows rain, but we have a spacious barn any plenty to do in it without getting too wet!

Camp is 2:30-4:30 on Saturday December 9th, for ages 5-12. This is appropriate for kids with little or no horse experience to get a feel of what it's like to be around the barn and take care of horses! Kids will groom, ride, feed, and help care for our wonderful school horses.

Registration at https://www.twinoaksriding.com/horse-camps/ . You can email [email protected] with any questions!

25/11/2023

ISO: quiet safe horse for sale or lease!

Looking for a horse or large pony to add to our barn in Lovettsville, VA. Our program has a number of seasoned show horses who are in their "step down" jobs. We are fine with maintenance and upkeep often associated with older horses.

Less experienced horses okay, too! PM me or text 703-459-8216.

23/11/2023

Today we said goodbye to everyone's favorite camp pony, Captain. He was over 30 years old and had been with us for 8 years. Captain came to me after I went to look at a prospective lesson horse in WV that didn't end up being what I was looking for. The next day, the seller called me back and suggested I look at another pony she had. I didn't feel like making the drive again and told her "no thanks". A few weeks later I was still wondering if that pony she described would work out, so I went back tried out the little ranch pony with an unknown brand on his hip that she picked up at an auction.

Captain immediately fit into the the lesson program and shortly began teaching my littlest riders to walk, trot and canter. He wouldn't pick up the right lead and awkwardly hopped over jumps, but that didn't really matter for his job description. Early on, a rider was struggling to get him to canter (which wasn't very hard, but you know, kids) so as he trotted by I reached out to wave him on or give him a tap with my hand for encouragement. In the split second it took for me to do that, I had the thought that I barely know this pony and giving him a little whack as he trotted by *might* not end well, but he quietly picked up the canter and went on with the lesson. That's pretty much how he handled any situation- a little reluctant, but ultimately willing.

One of the only things that Captain made difficult was catching him. He didn't play games or run off from you, but he would warily eye the approaching human and keep just enough distance to avoid capture. Grain was a little helpful, but the best tactic I found was to keep my eyes on the ground and walk sideways to him, slowly, as if to show I wasn't too much of a threat.

One of my favorite memories of him was a morning that Beau offered to turn out horses when Claudio wasn't available, and I needed to get a long run in. I came down the driveway as Beau was finishing up, and saw him speedwalking after a loose Captain, 10 feet ahead of him. Captain was walking briskly, Beau was walking briskly, but he couldn't catch up and they just kept circling the barn until I could help him (after I finished laughing).

While he was the easiest of keepers, Captain had a very significant heart murmur that made every vet gasp when they listened. I was told to use caution any time he had a nick or cut, that he would be more prone to infection due to his heart condition. He never actually got *any* nicks or cuts in 8 years, so I never had to worry about that. He kept the tidiest stall in the barn and never wore a set of shoes in his life. He was gentle to the humans and the boss to the other horses in his paddock. We will miss him dearly but are happy to have given him a peaceful ending when his heart was giving up.

21/11/2023

Catch-up post from Virginia Horse Center Eventing! Apparently it's taken me 2 weeks to recover.

We had five fabulous horses at our final show of the season. Miriam had a successful Novice move up, including their most confident xc run to date. Kinsale is just the best! Kelley and Moe made easy work in the junior novice, placing 5th. Mackenzie and Mr. McGoey had some trouble out on XC , but ultimately worked through it and had a great show otherwise. We know what we'll be schooling for next season. 😉 Mackenzie also rode Tina (owned by Nora Robinson) and had three confident phases, placing 3rd in a tight Open Novice division. Jaden unfortunately had some rails in stadium that ended their weekend, but will be back at it next time. HUGE thanks to our girls who came to groom for us- Avery, little Caroline, Nora, and big Caroline. 😁

It was a packed weekend, but everything ran so smoothly thanks to our responsible riders and attentive groom friends.

Professional pictures coming at some point! Already looking forward to next season.

07/11/2023

We had two riders participate in the Waredaca 3 Day at Novice and Beginner Novice! This Classic format is a throwback to the way Eventing was years ago at the upper levels, complete with roads and tracks and steeplechase. Nikki and Caroline conditioned and prepared their horses for months and had fantastic experiences. Waredaca Farm, the volunteers, the veterinary team, and everybody involved made a really special effort to help the riders have the best experience. They had clinics, course walks, demonstrations, and upper level riders checking in on them all weekend. I know we will be back again next year!

01/11/2023

Every year I can't get over how great the costumes are!
1. Captain as a bumblebee and his insect/flower buddies
2. Moe the western horse (the hair extensions 💀)
3. Barbies and Ken!
4. Cat and the Hat Indigo
5. Tater the alien MIB

25/10/2023

"Shedding Layers"
A study in still life

16/10/2023

Every weekend we get to introduce kids to the basics of horsemanship through our camps and Girl Scout programs! Tater is basking in the limelight from his adoring fans.

12/10/2023

Another show weekend wrap up? We've had a busy month! Team Twin Oaks had a successful weekend at Area II Championships/Maryland Horse Trials. Kelley and Moe placed 5th in the Junior Novice Championship division. Moe looks good in pink 🩷. Miriam and Kinsale laid down a best ever dressage score of 25 (!) putting them in 2nd in the Junior BN Championship division. Unfortunately a missed jump on XC resulted in a TE. Huge bummer, but Miriam is ready for the next one! Mr. McGoey and Mackenzie had a fantastic go around at Modified, double clear and placing 12th in a large Open division. Last but definitely not least, Tiny Tina (owned by Nora Robinson) had a lovely day winning the Open Novice B division from start to finish. 🏆Not a bad show when all your horses finish on their dressage scores!! We are super pumped for the last few shows of the season!

04/10/2023

More highlights from our weekend at Old Tavern! Nikki and Calypso WON the Beginner Novice Rider division, but more importantly it was the smoothest they've put together all 3 phases. 🏆 Caroline and Biggie confidently went around at Novice with an unfortunate rail keeping them out of top placing, but nicely ridden overall!

02/10/2023

The biggest of congratulations to Jaden S, moving up to Training level with the best boy Arbor this weekend! These two have worked very hard for the past year and it has been coming together.

Their stadium round was especially eventful after a bobble at the one stride resulted in the complete loss of the left stirrup. Jaden gets extra points for completing most of the course a little lopsided! With the stirrup leather back in place they went on to have a double clear xc round on a tougher track!

Some no stirrup November motivation for sure!

25/09/2023

Ears pricked and jumping into the week ahead!

At the beginning of each week, I plan out a daily schedule for each horse in training. What do they need to be working on? At what fitness level do they need to be for their next show? I write down their training rides in my planner (anyone else prefer to handwrite things out?? 🙋‍♀️) and stick to it!

16/09/2023

Very proud of for qualifying for and competing in the American Eventing Championships! Moe has done a lot in his career, but the AECs were a first for him, too! They finished on their dressage score for 20th in the Junior Beginner Novice division among the best in the country. Way to go Kelley and Moe!

09/09/2023

Not a very well documented weekend 🙈 but we had a busy 3 days of showing! At Seneca Valley horse trials, Mickey finished 2nd in the Open Modified on a 29. Huge thanks to Martha for giving him a confident ride! Jaden and Arbor had a very smooth run around Novice adding just one rail to their dressage score of 29 for 4th place. Miriam and Kinsale also came in 4th, after a solid dressage test and no penalties. On Monday we headed to Loch Moy's pick your time/test with Heather, Alison, Claudia and Katie W. Everyone appreciated the judge's in depth feedback and produced confident tests!

15/08/2023

Thanks for the peaches, ! Great cross country schooling AND a snack. 🍑😋

04/08/2023

Twin Oaks took a clean sweep at the team challenge dressage show yesterday! "The Saddle Club" was the overall winner, followed by "The Bay Boys" and "The EARs". Huge thanks to Beaux Reves for hosting this fun event!! (I'm just realizing that a Twin Oaks team has won 2 years in a row, so we'll be planning our rides carefully for next year!)

28/07/2023

"It's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me"

As riders, we are always looking to better ourselves, our horses, and our program. But really taking a hard look at yourself is.... uncomfortable! I love having my trainer ride my horse. Of course, I would rather be on him than watching him, but I can't deny the things she picks on that I've been apparently letting slide. Oops. But then we can deconstruct what has or hasn't been working in our program and really figure out the best plan forward.

Maybe you see a pattern in the horses you ride. Your rides are always a little "lit up", or tend to have a lot of rails, or rush through their lead changes. Maybe the problem is... the rider? 

We are human, and we like to find other reasons our horses aren't going well. Maybe he needs chiropractic work! Maybe a different bit! What about injections! Yeah, he might need those things. Buuuut maybe we should look inward.

To help my clients overcome this problem, I like to do training rides. I'm thinking the whole time about how I can better teach the rider how to get the same feeling I get when I'm on the horse. What exactly am I doing to produce this, and how can I teach it to the rider? 

Change is hard. Breaking habits is hard. Your horse will thank you, and your trainer too!

22/07/2023

We had a super fun week with our Eventing Camp riders!! We toured the Equine Medical Center, had fabulous dressage lessons with Holly Wilmoth, practiced doing studs, braiding, longeing, walking courses, and more. Huge thanks to for hosting a schooling jumper show and XC schooling, too!

17/07/2023

A little throwback to that time I participated in a ba****ck mimosa relay.

08/07/2023

Battle of the Forelocks. Who wore it best? Blue? 💙 Tina? 💃 Or Redemption? ⭐

01/07/2023

☀️ Summer Camp ☀️ in full force! Just finished two weeks of Young Rider Camp and one week of Equestrian Camp. This week, campers rode every day, helped with barn chores, learned about nutrition, bathing, anatomy, and more!

There's still space in some of the later weeks in the summer- join us!

Huge thanks to our awesome counselors and especially our camp director for keeping things running smoothly!

16/06/2023

How are we so lucky to have the best schoolhorses?? Many of our horses have "stepped down" from show careers to teaching riders in our program. They seem to enjoy the slower paced life with lots of attention from their adoring fans! 🥰

05/06/2023

Fair Hill recap, two weeks late but that's how I roll. Our crew had a great show weekend with lots of long hacks to the arenas, bagpipes (thanks to the Scottish games happening to same weekend), beautiful open xc courses, and an ice cream pit stop. Special shout-out to Miriam who completed her first recognized show and WON the junior BN! Kelley had a successful Novice move up, placing 3rd, Nikki brought Calypso to his return to Eventing after a long hiatus placing 3rd, Mickey and I had a super confident run around the Modified course in 5th, and Caroline and Biggie were able to continue working on their partnership together! Not pictured- Jaden winning the junior Novice at the Loch Moy starter. 😎

Next up: Middleburg, Seneca, and Loudoun horse trials!!

29/05/2023

It's not very often I get to do TWO congratulations posts back to back! Huge congratulations to Avery and the Norton family on their purchase of Roccamo. We're so excited to see Avery and Rocco get to know each other! Thank you to for matching us up!

21/05/2023

Laura and Renee represented us at the NCAEL party! Looks like they brought our ribbon haul home. 😅 Renee ended up being our team high point rider and was Reserve Champion for Division 3!

19/05/2023

So excited to congratulate Nora and family on the purchase of their new girl Tina! These two will be so fun to watch as they grow together. 💜