WB Equestrian Alumni Page

08/16/2024

Last night Tasha went on to greener pastures. She was 30. She lived a super happy retired life at home for the past two decades. For those of you that rode her, this once again proves Billy Joel right that only the good die young 💚💙💚💙

Video Laura took about two years ago

08/09/2024

This is a super sweet, kind, talented young mare

Lovely, Ammie friendly TB mare
Tis Tea Time aka ‘Chai’

Chai is a 2020, 16.1+h TB mare with the best in your pocket personality that only ‘chestnut mare dreams are made of’. Chai loves attention, loves to be doted on and belly scratches are the highlight of her day. Chai made her way to me in April 2024 and has packed on the pounds and has really started to shine undersaddle. She’s been very easy and straightforward to bring along - she’s willing, smart and proven to be quite athletic while remaining very ammie friendly. Chai is currently WTC and coursing small fences with changes. Chai attended her first horse show and was an absolute dream - zero prep, no funny business, she just went to work and answered all of the questions asked of her. She jumps a ‘10’ every time with not much peek to fences or fill. I could see this mare cleaning it up in the children’s/throughbred hunters with more miles. Her photos do not do her justice with how lovely she is. Currently barefoot. No vices. No unsoundnesses. Chai was slated to head to RRP 2024 but with life heading a different direction, I have opted to find her a new person. Located in Brandywine MD.

ALL info at libertyridgestables.com

Flat:

https://youtu.be/L8GP4F_Xrp0?si=s_gW4hOmibcT-Z4x

First/Second show course:

https://youtu.be/-jXGs0o3zbw?si=vm8nIUc5e4Fescio

https://youtu.be/IdvBaEyZIJY?si=5Okld_kjUiY__SP2

08/05/2024

Ali and Apple had a super weekend at BEST!

07/26/2024

Another Olympics, another horse abuse video. Equestrians need to understand social licence to operate. I believe we’re in the orange (see below) and that our industry needs to wake up. Right or wrong (and in many cases it’s both) it’s no longer just about what the horse community thinks but about what the general public thinks. This has obvious pros and cons.

As for the recent video personally she lost me once she grabbed the whip with two hands and when she’s hitting from the hind end and the front end - at that point it’s no longer a training technique (whether or not it’s a good one is also very up for debate).

The truth is now days anything you do could end up in a video online - it’s the world we live in. Act accordingly.

07/22/2024

6 retired horses with 4 big stalls. So obviously 3 in one stall, 2 in another, 1 got her own, and one empty stall.

07/14/2024

Soldier looking sleek after a mid summer clip job. Thank you Jessi Stong for letting me borrow a working set of clippers!

07/07/2024

HAPPY SHARK WEEK!!!

06/25/2024

It’s camp season! (So happy to not be out there in the heat!). For many riders camp jump started their riding journey. To give us all a giggle share some of your oldest camp photos. Here’s me at Loftmar Stables in 1987. I’m in the middle on Lucky.
-Emily 💚💙

06/22/2024

06/19/2024

This is a super mare. If I had a few less horses I would scoop her up!

🦄A GEM OF A TOP PROSPECT! FANCY AND SANE!!🦄

Anoria aka Nora
2021, 16.1+ TB mare
Located in Brandywine Md
RRP eligible

Nora is a gem! Nora has all the pieces in the making to be the a super competitive mount in the jumper, eventing or dressage world. She is built extremely uphill with 3 comfortable and adjustable gaits. She has a fantastic jump with changes and is incredibly brave to the fences. She’s very fancy and has plenty of scope! Great mover!

Given her age, her education has been slow and steady with a solid flat foundation. She is a bit more whoa than go however she maintains her motor with minimal encouragement.

She has been to two horse shows - she requires very minimal prep (a hack before ‘game time) and is brave and willing to the fences. She’s easy to load, easy to stable and easy to handle off property.

She is currently slated for RRP2024 but due to owner going into a different direction she is offered (reluctantly) for sale. No unsoundnesses. No vices - although she did stall walk at the track however we do not see that here. Nora is best suited for a solid intermediate rider working with a trainer.

All info: www.anniesthoroughbreds.com/nora

06/18/2024

Cooling off some of the retired gang

06/16/2024

June Hunter Update: he’s still fabulous

South Breeze at Chaptico Manor

06/10/2024

June news and notes. Let’s start with the fact that Miles just graduated from Dartmouth! The kid who did his first canter on Spunky, first show on Ed, and literally grew at at the barn is a college grad. Do you feel old cause I do? Thanks to everyone who shared photos. Check them out - so many people up to so many cool things. Details in the photos

06/05/2024

I’m going to post an alumni update later this week. Text or email me some photos. Horse riding, showing, life events. Anything works. Here’s some retired guys enjoying the spring grass

05/26/2024

On Friday Buttons (WB’s Don’t Push My Buttons) peacefully and lovingly left us for greener pastures. She was a super fun pony with a ton of personality. She was one of Laura’s favorites to play around with. She did leadline at camp to jumpers - but nothing in between - it was one extreme or the other with her! She retired a few years ago to live at home. Over the winter she found a home with the Nolan family to be a companion to their horse. They gave her a ton of the love at attention that she wanted over her last few months. Like every thing Buttons did her health declined fast. We'll miss her but we know she enjoyed life to the fullest.

05/21/2024

Breakfast in the fog

05/15/2024

Last night we said goodbye to Pedro. He was doing super but had a sudden and severe colic. He was Laura Johnson’s personal horse - mainly because he really didn’t make a good lesson horse. She loved his antics and personality. He was sweet, spooky, and talented. He was also the sexiest horse on the planet. He was 28. Pedro raced 51 times earning $65k in sprint races. His JC name was Little Morning Dew which might be the worst race name ever. Laura showed him as Corona Bay.

We had a lot of fun with Pedro after XX beer did their “most interesting man” alive commercials. So here it is….

Pedro doesn’t always do horse shows but when he does he prefers blue ribbons
When Pedro goes in a frame them put it in the louvre
Pedro’s 1 stride is another horses 3
Pedro doesn’t always jump but when he does he never does it slowly
Pedro was the most sexiest horse alive

💚💙🐎🍻💚💙

05/08/2024

Some photos of what the WB Alums have been up to this spring. Show season has started for many riders. As always share more photos with me or in the comments so we can all keep in touch 💚💙💚💙

05/06/2024

“One margarita, two margaritas…” We had a blast at the National Capital Adult Equitation League year end party. Thank you to CC Forgione for putting it all together (and the whole year) and Clover Luck Stables for hosting.

The league gave at its first Laura Johnson Spirit Award. The throphy itself is perfect (and heavy!) thanks to the design by Stephen and Karen Fulton. I think it’s a wonderful addition to the year end awards - one we hope everyone strives for.

🍹🐴💚💙

04/29/2024

Who do you like in the derby and the oaks? You can picks for yourself or your favorite horse. For example Lemonade is picking Lemon Muffin in the oaks 🍋🐎

04/28/2024

Today at IEA Nationals we sponsored the Future Intermediate Individual Over Fences Finals. In a very cool full circle moment Ali Hammouri Cooper traveled to Tryon to be part of the ribbon presentation. Ali was one of Laura Johnson’s original students when Willowbend started in the 1980s. She’s a hard working lifelong equestrian who now has daughters who ride. It really is about paying it forward.
💙💚💙💚💙💚

04/22/2024

HUNTER UPDATE: he’s still adorable!

04/07/2024

Some of you asked what the retired guys need for the summer - the answer is fly spray! Also wormer. If you want to donate any you can drop it off or ship to me directly. Thank you to everyone who had asked! 💚💙💚💙

There’s a ton of blankets, sheets, and coolers I’m selling so as you pack winter gear away reach out if you need anything.

Photo of Pedro (age 28) eating some spring grass

04/01/2024

Spring updates on some of our alumni - so glad so many humans and horses are doing so so well 💚💙💚💙

03/28/2024

Happy Opening Day from Ed Williams!

⚾️🐴⚾️🐴⚾️🐴

03/26/2024

Hi WB Teenagers - some of you reached out about looking for camp jobs. Days End Farm Horse Rescue is looking for camp counselors. Info is on their page.

03/22/2024

Since we don't get the joy of showing at the March BEST Horse Shows this weekend here's so fun outtakes, bucks, refusals, falls, long spots, chips, rails, near misses.... plus a few shots to just remind us why the March show always just stinks (not all photos are from March's shows but most are.....)

03/14/2024

I wanted to share the wonderful gift the adult team gave me. They covered feed for the retired gang for about a month or so. Plus they helped upgrade my braiding kit. And they wrote thank you cards to all of the retired horses (I’ve skimmed them but know I’ll need some wine and tissues to really read them). You guys rock!

National Capital Adult Equitation League

Thank you Ali, Amy, Debbie, Katie, Julie, orloff, jessi, Liz, Karen, and Allyson 💚💙