Oakwood Farm

30/08/2024

Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity.  This week...

24/08/2024

19/08/2024

✨ WE ARE HIRING ✨
Riding instructor position (Immediate opening)

Our team is growing and we need one more individual to join our program. This could be great for someone currently in school! We are willing to train the right person.

The ideal candidate…
- Experience through 1st level dressage (minimum) OR can confidently school through 2’6
- Enjoys working with kids
- Good time management skills
- Timely, polite, and someone who loves this job

We are looking for a team player and someone who will mesh with our current staff well. No drama, fun group who just loves horses, and wants to share the same passion with students.

Your clientele will be matched with your experience. Someone who is capable of working with new to riding adults through those looking to show would be ideal. We have a waiting list and a current array of students to get on your schedule *immediately*

If you are interested, DM for more information. Please expect to email us a resume as well as prepare for a phone interview.

16/08/2024

And that’s a wrap on summer camp at Oakwood Farm 2024! It was a blast, but now - it’s back to school! 🌞🐴

12/08/2024

This is why your turn does not come from pulling on the rein. Note the riders hand and leg position and hip angle in each sketch. Note the development of the horses muscles in each sketch. Note the shape of the horse in each sketch. A truly supple, truly bent horse is working through their entire body. It is OUR job as the rider to guide the horse to become soft, supple, and through in all movements.

Rider one is pulling the nose around, and trying to push the haunches in, with a following outside rein offering the horse no balance, and a hardly supportive inside leg to wrap around. This has created a rigid, stiff horse that will surely be back sore, weak in the hind end, with front end bulk in all the wrong places. This horse has every opportunity, and will likely be so uncomfortable that it will try every time, to run out of his right shoulder.

Rider two is pushing the horse from his inside leg to his outside rein. The outside rein is providing a balance point for the horse, allowing him to be both comfortable and willing to carry himself. Because the riders rein is supportive and blocking the shoulder, the horse can not blow out the shoulder, and can only become truly bent along the entire length of the spine.

In order to build the athlete you want, and to allow your horse the opportunity to have a long, successful, and most importantly SOUND career, it is important to understand how we ride, even in seemingly simple tasks such as the walk or trotting circles, is effecting each muscle in your horses body. Not all muscle is good muscle!

- Ali Hamann / South Coast Sport Horses

08/08/2024

Our new members of the farm’s mouse patrol, Gar & Suki 😻

📸 PC: Rhianne

05/08/2024

30/07/2024

Meet Lara Liedekerke-Meier, the first Belgian 5-Star eventing winner: on a horse she bred...
People always say, ‘oh you can’t breed eventers.'
’“I think we can, I think we just need to trust the brood mares, and the mare I think is the most important, because the foals grow up in the fields with them. I try to leave them outside for as long as possible, let them gallop in the mud. You have to know from the beginning if they have the will to do the sport, that’s important, then let them learn nicely.”
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2024/07/eventers-breeding-eventers

30/07/2024

Thursday morning lesson! How to fix bent wrists. No adult wants to spill their morning mimosa 😂

29/07/2024

FOR SALE
Hunter - Eventing prospect

Nick is a 7yo, 15.3hh OTTB gelding. Sensible, flashy prospect, junior/AA friendly in a program. Cute mover that could step right into the hunter ring, scopey and brave over fences. Has been loving to jump and could easily go the eventing route as well. Started on lateral work and flying changes. Hacks out on the buckle around the farm, alone or with others. Nick has a total puppy dog personality, with extremely polite and quiet ground manners. Stands tied, clips, bathes etc. Nick wears front shoes and has no maintenance, no vices.

Located Apex, NC. High 4 figs. PPE welcome, no leases or offsite trials.

TO INQUIRE FURTHER | Contact us by email [email protected] or call/text our sales manager, Rhianne directly at 602-802-7521

24/07/2024

20/07/2024

19/07/2024

We had a fun time at Sedgefield this past weekend with everyone playing in the jumper ring!

🌟 Highlights 🌟

Sophia and Kiki showed Saturday and scored two 2nd places in the 2’ hopeful jumpers, and came away with 7th in the competitive combined 2’-2’9” classic. This pair had a blast for their first time in the jumper ring and can’t wait to clean up for future shows. They also did an equitation O/F and came out with a 4th!

Mia and Margot and had some great schooling moments all weekend. Mia has been working hard at home and putting the pieces together at shows has been a challenge but her efforts have been showing

Mia also showed Kiki on Sunday, and ribboned 2nd and 1st in her 2’ hopeful classes! She was the only one to make it clear and to the jump off, and with both girls’ top placings, Kiki came out weekend champion in the hopeful division! 💙❤️💛

Blair and Camdyn shared Ellie for a spin around the 2’6” jumper ring, both eating up the competition to end reserve weekend champion! ❤️💛🤍
Camdyn rode Saturday and ribboned 3rd and 2nd out of a big combined 2’6”/2’9” Pre Child/Adult division. This was Camdyn’s first ever show and she did a great job with Ellie!

Blair piloted Ellie around on Sunday to take 2nd out of 11 in both her 2’6”/2’9” Pre Child/Adult classes. She also did the combined 12-17 equitation with Ellie, taking 6th in both flat classes and a 2nd over fences, with neither of them having ever schooled a single jump in the big ring!

Gabby and Charlotte also showed Lonna in the 2’6” jumpers. Charlotte was 4th with her in her first class Saturday, but unfortunately threw a shoe before her other classes. Gabby had some great trips Sunday going quick and clear but just out of the ribbons in a big combined division.

17/07/2024

The importance of the warm up with Ingrid Klimke:
“I always make sure I do a proper warm up. I make sure my horses are really properly stretching and giving their back, and coming from behind. When you trot over the cavalletti, the hind end is active, they are over the back and soft and swinging. Then they give and stretch into your hand, then you can take them up, have them in front, and have good contact, because the whole body of the horse is loosened up.”
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/08/a-warm-up-session-with-ingrid-klimke/

15/07/2024

We have been busy showing almost back to back every weekend. While we were at Sedgefield this weekend, we did get a chance to pop by the 4H show to see Brooke show her pony, Lucky Ladybug. Always so proud of Brooke for working so hard with her own ponies, and never giving up on the challenge. 💜

15/07/2024

Another successful show weekend for at (Missing Sophia/Kiki and Charlotte/Lonna who both took good ribbons home in the jumper ring). Great job everyone 👏

14/07/2024

“Balance before the turn will help you perfect every corner”

A half halt before the corner should help the horse to stay upright, so it can bend without leaning!

13/07/2024

The problem with softening the horse too much in the bridle before stabilizing the hind end is not only a biomechanics problem but a safety problem.

I just got done riding a new horse for the first time. Based on the weak hind end and bulging in the neck in the wrong spots, I had a good feeling he would break behind the vertical quite frequently.

When the horse breaks behind the vertical, it drops the back and negates correct use of the hind end. Over time, the horse becomes weak and wobbly while simultaneously developing painful arthritis and fusions.

So, that's the basics of the biomechanics problem.

The safety aspect is that a horse that is too light in the bridle and breaks behind upon first contact does not have the correct relationship with the contact. I believe the reins should connect to the feet and aid in correct flexion and bend.

When the horse evades the bit, you've got nothing. Sorry pal- this ain't a safe place to be.

This is why often horses that are taught this require a lot of holding together by riders that are used to riding in such a way.

And if you want to improve the horses relationship with contact, then be prepared for a long haul of conditioning and riding with little rein.

It can be done, but it should be done with knowledgeable riding with no time constraints. It's a whole thang.

Edit to add:
This photo is NOT mine. I'm grateful it was created and my favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because of how freely forward the horse is 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==

11/07/2024

Sunset at the farm before the storms rolled through tonight
📸: .equestriann

09/07/2024

Lake Ridge Sterling Reign (“Ollie”) this past weekend at War Horse with rider Sutton. He is a jack of all trades (disciplines in this case). Ollie is amazing 🩵 And for sale! Contact us for more information.

06/07/2024

Another year, another summer camp. Still looking for a summer activity? Take the chance now to sign up with $125 off any week of camp booked through next week (final day 7/12). ONE WEEK ONLY!

Steps how to sign up available on the website -
https://www.oakwoodfarmsnc.com/summer-camp

05/07/2024

Another Summer full of riding 💚

24/06/2024

24/06/2024

The farm welcoming committee; Romeo & Margot 🧡

22/06/2024

Good morning showing at with Willa Jane riding Indi (bringing home a reserve champion, and Sophia riding Kiki. Good job girls 👏 (And their coach .equestriann )

21/06/2024

Summer camp 2024 is in full swing. Email the farm to sign up for upcoming weeks [email protected]

Summer will be over before you know it so what better way to spend it than with horses! Your child will love it.