Irish Hills

05/04/2025

Great job today Avery and Mischief Managed aka Wizard😊

05/04/2025

I think this applies to all riding

Dressage doesn't demand perfection. It demands perseverance.

This sport will humble you. Confuse you. Occasionally betray you. You’ll ride one day like a future team rider, and the next like someone who just discovered horses exist.

But here’s the thing: the ones who make it aren’t the flashiest or the most naturally gifted. They’re the ones who keep showing up. Who ride through the mental spirals, the sticky transitions, the “why do I do this to myself” days.

The quiet, gritty ones? They’re the real ones.
Because dressage doesn’t w**d out the weak, it builds the strong.

Keep going. You’re probably doing better than you think.

13/03/2025

So great to see the horses relaxed and enjoying the weather!

03/02/2025

First show of the season had some ups and downs, but I’m proud of how these ladies understand that the needs of their horses come first 🍀

25/01/2025

Prerequisites for your horse before utilizing “Inside Leg to Outside Rein” connection!

(In no particular order and guys this is just a Facebook post- not a 1000 page
Riding manual. Please adjust expectations accordingly!)

1.) A hindquarter yield. If you can’t get the horse to move the b***y over, there’s absolutely no way you’re going to get inside leg to outside rein connection.
2.) Lateral poll flexion. If you cannot get the horse to bend both directions through the poll joint, consider in hand work.
3.) Responsiveness!  You can’t get your horse to move correctly if you can’t get your horse to move.
4.) A rudimentary leg yield.  This one might be confusing because you need good inside leg to outside rein connection to get a proper leg yield. But you need a rudimentary “move over” before you can get inside leg to outside rein. To get students started I will often have them bend towards the wall and leg yield down the rail nose out, tail in. As they start to get the idea, we do it a few meters away from the wall. 
5.) Two reins!!! Lol. What I mean by this is that you should be able to have a little connection in both hands traveling both directions. It’s very common for horses to completely avoid contact on one side.  You might feel like if you engage your outside rein at all, that you lose all bend to the inside, and/or that your horse completely shrinks their neck all up, affectively training you to not use that rein! 
6.) “Bend” (axial rotation) through the rib cage both directions.  Again, this becomes a chicken or egg conversation!  Many will say that inside leg to outside rein is how you get bend through the body, But if it’s a concept you are already sketchy on, and your horse is totally locked in his torso, you’re going to have to work on this ingredient by itself before you are going to be able to orchestrate multiple things happening together. That said your hind quarter yield and rudimentary leg yield will already be helping with this. But it’s important, so I’m also listing it separately.
I teach students to sit to the inside of the bend to help the horse swing through the rib cage. You should be able to step down into your inside stirrup and get the horse to swing the rib cage to the outside, which appears like bend through the torso.

08/11/2024

Happy horses😊

01/11/2024

Happy Halloween and a Happy Birthday to Avery Havlik

17/10/2024

I’ve always taken Macgyver to be who he is, a little hot, little edgy, but so athletic and fun. Outside has always been a little “special” but ever since we’ve moved he’s been a different horse. Such a good feeling to see him relaxed on a loose rein and comfortable outside.

30/08/2024

Little late with pics but couldn’t be prouder of these girls who recognized their improvements. First time out for Rue/ Sydney and second time out for Mousse/ Brooke & Wizard/ Avery
Well done everyone!!

30/07/2024

Everyone had a great weekend at ledges! First time there for 3 out of the 4 and I was super happy with how they performed.

27/07/2024

Today was a great day of schooling, looking forward to this weekend! Good luck tomorrow to all the riders

12/07/2024

Congratulations Melissa Murphy on your new horse! So happy for you! Can’t wait to hear what name you choose😉😂

04/07/2024

Brooke/ mousse and Avery/ wizard added a touch of 4th of July to their lesson yesterday

25/06/2024

I think he’s looking better than ever. So happy with how he looks/ feels🥰

31/05/2024

Great way to finish off lessons for the day with a little trip around the track

15/05/2024

Congratulations Avery on your purchase of Wizard!
So excited to watch you guys grow as a team!

14/05/2024

Definitely need to check the truck before I leave the barn😂😂

12/05/2024

Congratulations Chloe! I can’t wait to see what you guys accomplish