Kent Island Riding by Design

12/08/2024

Bitter Sweet lesson today! These kids are growing up and starting a new chapter. College life in VA begins next week for this wonderful rider.

It was a pleasure to assist her with her flat work education, on two very different types of horses. Her petite, elastic, spicy TB mare and her tall, dark and handsome WB built gentlemen.

Both presented different challenges, which was great. I will miss them both. Good Luck and see you around Christmas.

PS: Photo credit for the Devon photo goes to the amazing Kelly Kostelnik KMK

12/08/2024

Those of you that know me well and have asked me about my (riding) past, might have heard me mention these 2 amazing "neuro scientists".

They were, and still are, invaluable in my education and growth. Psychiatry and riding horses is very closely related.

Riding is that one, unique sport in which you have to first be in full control of your own emotions (and body). So that in return you can attempt to be fully in tune with the emotions (and body) of your horse. It is not an easy feat and the journey will take us a lifetime!

1) Dr Jenny Susser
https://dressagetoday.com/rider-wellness/visualization-techniques-for-the-dressage-rider-26754/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnap1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUPGGT-MQFKxuujXLPXLrobfCvSKCCPgXUkUrUefa6SlEMU_JeyQsrGCVQ_aem_24kswCEz-oouMjqYRsntBA

2) Dr Laura King
https://www.laurakinghypnosis.com/7-tips-to-increasing-your-resilience/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnbP1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSoy9KkDUsBrhwzec6d-S0bG0E-92KasngI63AbP3jQDrglJC6d6WwZA_Q_aem_rFXP4KajxnwO30OFammF1g

11/08/2024

Do you have the passion and commitment? Then maybe horseback riding lessons are for you!

“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

12/07/2024

Things your riding instructor wants you to think about:

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, in between rides too.

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, but it is work too. 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.

11/07/2024

Various used items available!! Make an offer via PM!!!
All funds will go towards the continued care and well- being of our equine friends. I have collected too many consignment items and need the space.

22/06/2024

Be smart. Be fair. Stay healthy.
When you are hot, horses are hotter. They have fur and cannot pant like a dog to cool down.

17/06/2024

Wonderful day for a PVDA Dressage Schooling Show at the prestigious CDI, in Annapolis.

🐎Traffic aside, it was a very good experience for these young riders, ages 8 to 14. The girls didn't have the most perfect rides today, and we had some challenges to work around all week, but we showed up and we did it, right?

🏅Scores were overall in the 60's so not bad at all

🏅Congratulations to everyone but especially our newest rider, who did her first Leadline show today!! Big deal!!

🍀Learning how to ride and learning how to compete, is about the journey, and that includes ups and downs, along the way!!

"Love the horse first, love the sport second"

15/06/2024

Hah! Bragging time for my wonderful Adult Amateur student! 🥇🍀🥈
Another Dressage Schooling Show experience with her young OTTB, in the books. Great scores for great riding on a great horse.
I am so proud of you for learning new "feels" every week and putting the puzzle together, piece by piece. 🧩🔐🧩
Well done also on designing your own Training Level Freestyle with your favorite music: Elvis to the win! 🎙💃🎶

07/06/2024

These two have come a long way together! 🍀💕

"Tops" was a young, skinny TB who showed a lot of tension, physically and emotionally. He also was very green in his education, so he become a fun project for us!

I could tell that underneath all that tension, hiding, there were wonderful gaits. A huge walk and canter, and a very nice trot too.

First and foremost, it was important to spend a lot of time assessing his body and physical state, and do consistent massages and bodywork to re-align and balance him

Next on the list was groundwork , such as moving haunches and shoulder independently from one another , ground poles etc...

Then we tweaked his saddle fit and will continue to do so as his body is changing every few months. He finally gained weight and is changing so much due to the bodywork sessions too!! Exciting!

The last 2 lessons he showed much more relaxation and is starting to think about forward-connection, without going fast, or bracing.

He is already scoring high 60's and 70's at Intro level, without trying too hard. Once he is a bit stronger and as long as he stays relaxed , we will move him up the levels. I cannot wait to see his gaits get "bigger and better" with more carriage.

The best part is all this work is being done by a retired Adult Amateur .... kudos....the journey is the 🍒🍒 on the 🎂🎂

02/06/2024

Highly recommend this book or audio book. Some very good insights about the "why" in horse behaviour. It covers basics and also very advanced scientific research, with new "aha" moments.

"Horsemanship is not a particular technique, or discipline, it is the act of always putting the horses wellbeing first". (Janet Jones PhD.)

It brings me pride and joy to re-affirm, that the very act of always striving to put the horses health, comfort and wellbeing first, has gotten me in "trouble" with clients in the past, who were quick to ignore the horses distress signals and put their own agenda first.

It is never the wrong to do thevright thing, and it requires constant research and education too.

08/05/2024

🏅We are so proud of these young riders, who competed in their 1st P.V.D.A. Dressage Schooling Show, in the rain, this weekend.🏅

They were very nervous, especially since those shows are often at fancier barns, in a more professional setting, and require a higher level of riding and mental composure.

They all showed great teamwork, flexibility and a good sense of humor with it all. To top it off they rode great, looked sharp and got rewarded with nice scores too.

🍀Thank You to all those who made it happen🍀

25/04/2024

Great day yesterday & today for my off-site lessons up and down the State of DE!!

Basics are so fun. It is so nice to see how small pieces click into the bigger picture.
Dressage is a training tool first and a competitive sport second.
Teaching about horse and rider's balance and their need for symmetry, is always a 💡lightbulb💡 moment.
Straightness and steady contact are another fun thing to play with.
I just love how quickly the whole image changes for a more organized and harmonious one.
Good job, I can't wait to see more good moments come together next week!! 😊 🍀

16/04/2024

16/04/2024

By Bill Steinkraus (RIP) USA Show Jumper, from Yale to the Cavalry, to the Olympics!!

“No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get."

~Bill Steinkraus

04/04/2024

Loads of fun was had today at our 4 hour "Vaulting" Workshop: Barrel training and real horse training.
Canter practice on the lunge was successful too.
Our "Egg Scavenger Hunt" was a hoot and the personalized workbooks were a success too.
Well done kids! 🍀🐴🥰

01/04/2024

🤣

25/03/2024

Economic Impact of MD Horse Industry 2023

24/03/2024

🏅What a great day, with lots of new experiences under their belts!
🏅Congratulations to this young crew, ages 8 to 13, competing at a Dressage Schooling Show.

20/03/2024

🦖 How to tame a "lady dragon" 🦖
The make-over was spectacular!
Wow! 🍀 💓

18/03/2024

Hah...Truth!!

01/03/2024

Great creative writing contest for ages 27 and under. Shout out to great students and their great coaches, who can have "life altering" influence on them!!

https://www.theplaidhorse.com/writing/?fbclid=IwAR0iF7ZBNhqtucOGIf6pa2FsW1eLKKg7DYucdNXMCSygBOyJc0N25GwAb4o

2024 Theme: A trainer who has made a significant impact on your life. Please note that the theme is a guide, not a requirement. All well-written articles eligible for award and to win. Rules Prizes All authors who submit an entry will receive a free 1 year subscription to The Plaid Horse. $5,000 Gra...

25/02/2024

🍀🏅We made it! Good Job Girls🏅🍀

Everyone had fun, rode good and improved scores from last month!
Scores ranged from 50's to high 60's. Lauren, Isabella and Quinn rose to their respective new challenges.

Thank you to Marty, as always, for trailering us safely again too.

12/02/2024

🎉CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to my dear friend and student on her success, not just on one horse but two!!
The Journey is not an easy one but success and recognition keeps us focused and also highly entertained. Reserve Champion twice on two horses, as part of the DVCTA group, located in PA!!

So happy for you, Sassy and Topps deserve extra 🍏🥕 today.

12/02/2024

The new 2023 MD Equine impact study is conpleted!! Wow ... Equestrian section is showing growth!! The whole report is 58 pages long.

https://mdhorsecouncil.org/the-maryland-horse-industry-has-grown-38-since-2017/?fbclid=IwAR03YUS3e5LJ_lSTOb8HK-tstA8kEA9RYTmKAc9tX1NHe0Ta6bh1al0PXBc

The results of the American Horse Council’s Economic Impact Study of the Maryland horse industry are out, and it shows that every sector of our industry has grown since 2017. The overall industry grew…