Rhapsody Hill Farm

24/05/2024

23/05/2024

With two lady friends.

23/05/2024

These beauties are in the back yard.

14/01/2024

Three beautiful cardinals in the lilac. Mates are on the feeders.

04/11/2023

Another good article on no stirrups!

No stirrups November is the perfect time to improve your position by developing a strong lower leg and secure seat.

16/04/2023

15/04/2023

Awesome advice!

On the ground or in the saddle, the one thing that we CAN’T do around horses is relax. Here are some things we CAN do.

29/03/2023

A good reminder!

No matter what event you do, good leg positioning with your horse is a must-have. It is the key to a positive connection between you and your mount.

In the saddle, this means that a straight line can be drawn from your ear to your shoulder, to your hip to the back of your heel. The leg is hanging underneath you. If you are the kind to shorten your stirrups prior to a horsemanship or equitation class, if you do not have a strong leg with a strong position, your legs can be pulled back behind you.

Hear from experts Clint Ainsworth, Pierre Briere, and Alan and Julie Schmidt in this enlightening EC article by Megan Arszman:
http://www.equinechronicle.com/the-importance-of-proper-leg-positioning/

18/03/2023

I repeat.

My new three-year-old Dutch Warmblood True cross-ties well in the barn and likes to be groomed. But even after a few weeks, he’s still nervous about his position.

07/03/2023

This is why we do the first two exercises. We will try the third!

Add these three drills to your riding routine to get a perfect and stronger lower leg for the horsemanship.

06/03/2023

This is a good explanation for winter riding constraints.

How to consider the weather and your horse’s health, according to a veterinarian By Dr. Heather Beach, DVM For equestrians in the northern states who do not migrate south for the winter season, Daylight Savings in late fall signals the beginning of  the long, dark, COLD time.  People leave their...

15/09/2022

For the competitor, the creator, the horsewomen and all women in the western industry, we honor and share a passion and spirit that will continue for generations. Happy National Day of the Cowgirl!

📸 Grace Ann Peeles

25/08/2022

BY PEARL RUNNING DEER Don’t worry—I won’t start off this article with, When I was a kid, we did… Don’t expect this generation to have the same love like we did. I refuse to believe statements like that. I go to stables with working kids. They love to hang out at the barn all day, […]

13/08/2022

Silky dog wants to nap with David!!

04/03/2022

Lovely!

Most of you have probably heard of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and the beautiful Lipizzaner horses. But did you know that you can also see them in South Africa? The Lipizzaners of South Africa - The Lipizzaners of South Africa

13/02/2022

Rhapsody Hill Farm has some openings for our summer horsemanship program and April vacation program. Details are on the calendar page of www.rhapsodyhillfarm.com.

Rhapsody Hill Farm, located in Upton, Massachusetts is a family-run farm owned by Jane Rizzitano, M.Ed., M.A. and David Thakar. Rhapsody Hill Farm takes great pride in maintaining a professional, yet fun atmosphere, teaching horsemanship, sportsmanship, and safe riding skills. Students ride for plea...

07/02/2022

Jane and Brooklyn both win their buckles at the NEPtHA year-end banquet!

04/02/2022

Rhapsody Hill Farm has April vacation and summer horsemanship program out. Check www.rhapsodyhillfarm.com for details. Slots are filling up.

Rhapsody Hill Farm, located in Upton, Massachusetts is a family-run farm owned by Jane Rizzitano, M.Ed., M.A. and David Thakar. Rhapsody Hill Farm takes great pride in maintaining a professional, yet fun atmosphere, teaching horsemanship, sportsmanship, and safe riding skills. Students ride for plea...

27/01/2022

SO MA certified riding instructor 1-2 afternoons/week who knows how to ride AQHA and APHA Pleasure horses and weekend barn help - 7 stalls and night time set up. Possibly pick paddocks. Competitive rates. Please message or call the farm for more information.

23/12/2021

Truth!

If you give your child a pony, they will want to ride. You’ll buy them the best pony you can find, followed by a helmet, boots and all other things pony.
You look for a local barn to ride at. And then life as you know it, will end.
Before you know it, they want to show so you find a circuit …..There will be no more lazy weekends watching tv. You will see more sunrises than you ever thought possible.
Every spare minute of your time will be spent hauling horse trailers and horses and enduring a crazy addiction to practice for the next show.
Your house may be a mess, and your car will be dirty. All because you gave your child a pony. Your weekends will be spent freezing or burning to death on a fold up chair. And their weekends will be spent gaining confidence and friends, learning new skills and having fun and getting dirty!!!!
You will be there the day he or she takes the first few steps of canter, the first taste of a jump, first ribbon, first championship. And they will make you SO proud. And right before your eyes, your little boy/girl will be transformed from the baby who bounced around on their rocking horse into an exceptional young horse enthusiast on the hunt for the next pony finals or maybe even the Olympics!
When you give your child a pony , you give them more than just something to ride. You give them a sport, a talent, hope and dreams. Friends, a new family, a place to learn about life, room to grow as a person where they can push their limits, and bravery, and courage, and memories.
Then one day, many years from today…they will be in their room and a certain trophy will catch their eye. And they will pick it up and realize instantly that when you gave your child a pony, you also gave them a childhood that they would never forget, at this point, you realize that everything you gave up along the way and sacrificed was totally worth it…..
All because you gave your child a pony.
Copied from a friend. Powerful

07/06/2021

Attention Riding Instructors:We have created an EASY TO USE online database of riding lesson plans and summer camp curriculum for you! We have THOUSANDS of different exercises for you for riders for ALL levels and all disciplines. We even have pre-made lesson plans available too. Subscribe Now New ...

23/03/2021

Good news yesterday! I am able to wear a shoe part of the day and walk. Woohoo!! I'll be back in the barn in the next couple of weeks. Looking forward to working with my clients again!

19/03/2021

Rhapsody Hill Farm has quail eggs available. Let me know if you want them for pick up. PM for price. Thanks.

15/03/2021

Hi Everybody,
Let me know if you need quail eggs this week. I just need a day advance notice and I'll have them here by tomorrow or Wednesday.