KJ Sport Horse

07/09/2023

Super proud of Sophia and Ava bringing their all to Huntington today.
Couldn’t ask for more dedicated students!

12/29/2022

Always.
After have had two competition horses who depended on this for their wellbeing I made this my practice.

Copy this---Put it where you will see it every time you get on a horse. Then give your horse a fighting chance to stay sound by actually giving the horse a thorough warmup, rather than getting on, walking for a couple of minutes, picking up the reins, and getting right to business.

It isn't just the tendons you will be helping, either. It will color your entire attitude about schooling if you slow down and take time. And it will sooth your horse, once it knows it isn't going to be instantly rammed and jammed into some "shape."

Klaus Balkenhol talked about this same thing at a clinic I attended, He said most people are in way too big of a hurry, and tend to skip over a decent warm-up time.

12/24/2022

It is that time of year to reflect on what we are thankful for.

Today I thankful I am to have my ponies with me at Oyster River Equestrian Center in Warren!!!

With over 30 years of experience teaching riders I understand the need to create a solid foundation. A riders position and balance are key no matter what discipline you choose to ride. That solid foundation is what allows a rider to flourish when learning to ride for pleasure or the show ring. When a child begins learning to ride it is important they have an appropriate mount to learn on.

Shire, standing at 11.2 hands, came to me 10 years ago last September. He was a leadline pony for my youngest son Xavier, who was 2 years old. When your mother has a lesson program your pony has two purposes:
1. Take care of the trainers kid
2. Teach lessons
Shire excelled at both as that steady leadline pony. His steering when ridden independently was tricky and he did not canter or jump. Even the stray trot pole was an object to avoid when possible.
Xavier learned to tack up, ride independently, ride ba****ck, ride tackless, trot poles and show walk/trot. Next came learning to canter. The older kids couldn’t canter Shire so it was time to find Xavier the pony to teach him what he was ready to learn.

Chester, standing at 12.2 hands, was advertised having eventing experience and was a super cute jumper. This sounded like the perfect next pony! He also had been used in a lesson program so he was an excellent fit and 7 years ago in November I purchased Chester. Xavier at 5 years old didn’t want to ride Chester so he became a lesson pony. He has taught many children how to walk, trot, canter and jump. He eats up jump courses and does so with style.

Back to that trainers kid… what is the one thing as a trainer you tell parents most often? “Do not get your child a green pony to learn on.” When Xavier told me he did not want to learn to canter and jump on Chester but instead would teach Shire to do it the trainer in me immediately said this is a bad idea. Meanwhile the rider and mom in me said you got this! He did too. Xavier ate dirt often, learned to canter on more of a green pony gallop and to launch jumps in one mighty bound. The lessons Shire taught my child are innumerable. Xavier learned to do everything including jumping 3’ fences on Shire. Shire learned to carry a good canter, jump courses and take care of his rider while doing it.

In 2019 just after Xavier and Shire competed at their first beginner novice event Shire was injured. This meant Chester would be Xavier’s competition pony for the season. It was Chester’s turn to double as the trainer’s kid’s pony and lesson pony. He did just that. While teaching children to post, canter and jump he spent weekends loading up and heading to horse shows with Xavier collecting ribbons.

Together these incredible ponies have taken care of my kid while teaching countless others who want to ride for pleasure and those who want to compete here in the midcoast. I am thankful they are able to continue to do what they do so well.

Horses are our teachers.
Well in this case ponies are!

12/12/2022

12/11/2022

I have been waiting to hear more on this after being skeptical of the article being shared regarding the safety rating from Virginia Tech.

The Stockholm, Sweden-based company welcomes new testing effort but warns that the university lab tests may fall short.

11/15/2022

Eleven and a half years ago I decided to start my own business and rent a facility so I could teach on a lager scale, the first person to call was Amariah’s mother. She told me about her 8 year old horse loving child and asked to schedule a lesson as soon as I was available. Amariah had ridden before and had some familiarity with horses. She was quiet and introverted. It took a couple years before Amariah was spending her time as a working student. She spent her Saturdays covered in water lugging half full buckets to each stall. It took 10 times longer for the water to get done but she tried harder than most.

Amariah reminded me there are the riders that get it done and there are the riders that are soft, gentle and that horses like that. She was the latter. As she grew I watched Amariah try. She pushed herself past her comfort level and learned to canter and jump. Ruby became her teacher. Eventually Amariah realized her love for Dressage. It takes a brave person, when all your peers want to jump, to decide you were in fact a dressage rider. I could see this was the case long before she came to the realization but this was her decision to make. I simply had to allow her the space to make it. This decision took us on a journey together to seek opportunities for a motivated passionate kid to explore the dressage world.

I was excited to share my love for dressage with a student who was just as passionate. We dug in with lessons on position, contact, suppleness and rhythm. We traveled New England learning and competing.

After a long weekend competing Ruby, it was her first time at Dressage 4 Kids in Saugerties NY, she stood with a tenth place ribbon in hand. She saw the second place winner received a helmet and the first place winner received a D4K jacket. Amariah said, “I want that helmet.” I responded, “No Amariah, you want the jacket.” We went home and she dug in again. The following year she got the jacket. Her commitment and drive made her unstoppable.

It became time to start to think about that next horse. Her mom was always window shopping for horses and I told her at some point you are going to find one I will want you to buy. That day came. Amariah was about to turn 13 and Lacey a coming 3 year old Friesian/Welsh filly was on her way from Pennsylvania to Maine as her future horse. There was something in this horses eye that told me she was the one. We took our time as Amariah continued to compete Ruby allowing Lacey to grow.

Amariah’s commitment and trust in the process allowed her to create a solid foundation. In 2019 she walked away from D4K with her third jacket on her own horse.

Unfortunately Amariah had to halt competing Lacey due to an injury. During the rehabilitation process Amariah has completed another life goal. She adopted and competed a mustang in the Massachusetts Mustang Makeover. It isn’t easy but as Amariah has proven she is committed and driven to finish what she starts. She took home third place. She currently is looking for an appropriate home for her mustang to be reassigned to. She would like to give this once wild horse an opportunity to continue flourish and make room to continue her goals with Lacey.

Horses are our teachers.
They allow us to grow.
They allow us to become humble.
They allow us to find our strength.
I will let you in on a secret.
As a trainer I learned early on.
Students are your teachers too.

10/20/2022

Ava began riding with me 9 years ago. She wouldn’t speak. If I asked her a question she would look at me eyes wide and either nod her head or shake it to respond yes or no. It was a long time, felt like years and honestly may have been, before she opened up.

She was always a bold rider with a unwavering trust in the horse she sat on even after breaking her arm from a fall at 6. If she was apprehensive she wasn’t going to relay that to me or the horse.

The one thing Ava knew is she wanted to jump, more specifically event. The bigger the better. When we worked on counting strides she was focused and worked at it until she could count 10 even 12 strides out without fail.

There have been so many ponies and horses that have helped to shape the rider she is today. From riding Leo the laziest of lazy quarter horses that required her to become “Crazy Ava” (as I called her) whose legs didn’t come past the saddle to “Bucky Ducky” who taught her how to be sticky.

Ava has developed a deep love for the Cleveland Bay Sport Horse and in the spring of 2021 purchased Waffles. Ava and I worked together to start Waffles under saddle. Her size is impressive, being the bold and sticky rider she is, Ava confidently followed the process of developing a solid foundation on her new horse.

Waffles is a mare and quite the character which suites Ava well. She is a lovely horse who is always noticed when entering the arena. Ava has learned how to ride her cross country questions even if her horse is unsure. Her courage carrying her forward. This year they completed their first Beginner Novice USEA event at Hitching Post. Ava has taken this 17.3 hand mare from unbroke to eating up the courses!

They have so much to learn together. Ava continues to bring that boldness and trust to each ride and it allows them to keep learning together.

Horses are our teachers and I am grateful to be at Ava’s side as she moves forward with her passion.

10/18/2022

Noora began riding with me when she was 6. She was exposed to dressage from the start. When she came to me she wanted to jump and she began her journey as all of my students do focusing on the basics. She began eventing with her friends while continuing to build her dressage foundation.

Noora competed at dressage shows including D4K in Saugerties NY, two phases and events state wide. In 2020 we began looking for her next partner. This search lead us to Moose, a training level KWPN event horse. He had everything Noora needed to continue competing in eventing. In the fall of 2021 Noora won the beginner novice division at the USEA event, UNH.

Noora spends her winter months in Florida and this past year she began competing in the jumpers. When you are at a barn with your friends who all focus on dressage and eventing it is hard to admit you have found a different passion but Noora did! She decided her focus was the jumpers. Moose was game since he is all about heading to those jumps! We began digging in working on the adjustability of her horse. With a solid dressage foundation this proved beneficial in turning this hot event horse into a jumper! This season Noora and Moose have qualified for multiple divisions in the NEJA Championships!

Horses are our teachers. Just as it is important for a horse to do what they love it is equally important for the rider to do so. It is my pleasure to support Noora as she continues to kill it in the jumper ring.

10/07/2022

Sophia is a student who has been riding with me for 10 years. Many ponies and horses could help paint the portrait of this rider over the years. So many valuable lessons learned. Those lessons are what led us to this horse and partnership.

During the pandemic I had many students looking for that next partner. These students learned what they could from their previous horse and it was time to move forward. With prices skyrocketing of anything broke my students bought horses that were young and unbroke or had just began the process. When I find a horse who has been started I generally begin again. I do this to ensure there are no holes in the training. Sophia was one of those riders and Willow was one of those horses.

Sophia and I began the process together to break out Willow. I have broke out many horses in my career but that also means I have hit the ground too many times. I knew Sophia was a capable rider and was ready to start Willow, her Dutch harness horse and Clydesdale cross mare.

Sophia dug in and took this spicy mare who thought Sophia should double as a lawn dart to one that has immense try. Sophia’s passion is eventing and Willow is the perfect partner. While Willow is bold to the jumps and has beautiful form she struggled in the dressage, carrying tension down the centerline. The horse is lovely, learning self carriage and relaxation at home but in the dressage test at the events she was tense and resistant. I suggested focusing on dressage and competing at a dressage show so they could learn to carry what they do at home down that centerline and Sophia was game.

It took one show.
Sophia rode through her dressage tests and it allowed her to know what her horse needed in warm up as well as how to support her in the arena.

Two weeks later we were off to UNH for the fall event. Sophia took what she learned and produced a lovely test landing 4th after dressage in Beginner Novice! Jumping clear as they do they ended in 2nd place.

To get to this place with a young unbroke horse takes focus, dedication and trust in the process. Sophia possesses all of those. She is aware of and listens to her horses needs. I am excited to see how far this combination goes and with a jump like that… it seems limitless.

Horses are our teachers. Sophia is looking at a bright future as an event rider with a special horse and I am thankful I am able to be a part of their story.

10/05/2022

Tara is a student I have had the pleasure to teach for 9 years. She was a timid rider who loved horses so she constantly stepped outside her comfort zone to do what she loves, ride. She is a rider who has learned to value any lesson the horses have to teach. This has allowed her to become a competent and confident rider. She is probably the most patient horsewoman I have ever known.

In July we found Finn a gorgeous Dutch Warmblood. He has the movement and ability to take Tara up the levels in dressage, her passion. Finn was a horse being sold as a re training project. The story goes (as many do) he wasn’t happy with dressage. Luckily that is something I have navigated throughout my career, retraining a damaged horse. We brought Finn home knowing he could need hacking and in hand work to keep him happy and engaged. Tara was up for the challenge.

Here we are 3 months later and Tara is riding Finn consistently in the arena working through his tension and lack of confidence. Tara’s patience has offered her a deep understanding and ability to listen to her horses needs. This dedication to the basics and the individual horse is what will enable her to trot down that centerline in the spring and SLAY it.

Horses are our teachers. I am thankful I can continue to stand beside Tara, as her trainer, while she further develops as a dressage rider.

10/04/2022

From wild to mild as they say.

In 2019 we adopted a mustang through the Bureau Of Land Management (BLM). I was thrilled my son wanted to participate in the 2019 Massachusetts Mustang Makeover and looked at it as furthering my education as a trainer. I have broke out and trained countless horses over my lifetime here in midcoast Maine so this new challenge was exciting. I approached it similarly to how I break out other horses through the natural language of a horse. Over the last three years both Xavier and I researched, watched and learned. We desensitized and exposed Loki to as much as we could during a pandemic.

This spring Xavier broke out Loki with me on the sidelines to help guide him. Through hard work, trust and respect they went from that first ride in May to completing 3 MECTA events this season. Finishing this past weekend in second place at Peppergrass Farm.

The old saying horses are our teachers couldn’t be more true in this case. Loki allowed me to jump into the world of Mustangs and TIP challenges which is incredibly fulfilling. She has given my son the opportunity to learn countless lessons as a first horse to start.

10/04/2022

Here’s our smallest cheerleader. “Go Merritt!!” A wonderful day at Peppergrass yesterday.