Longshot Stables LLC

05/27/2024

Lottie has been wanting to ride Sailor for some time now. He is a much “bigger” welsh type mover than Tobin and it took some adjustment, but he was very good with the bobbles.

05/26/2024

Does anyone need a wonderful little pony?!

This little guy is ready for his own people. Guppy (aka Flounder) is riding independently walk/trot and just started cantering! Safe for all Littles to lead, groom, handle, and learn the basics with. He’s happy to leadline at shows or go out for trail rides around the farm. He is a nice little gelding that is healthy, up to date on everything, and does not have a history of founder (but like most ponies needs someone to help manage his weight!). Guppy loves to play with his friends and currently lives on a drylot. He is a very stocky Shetland type pony. He has also been ground-driven and just today was hooked up for the first time.

12 years, 32”, 320lbs
3️⃣✋👌👌

05/25/2024

First official hitch for Guppy, first time driving in a big outdoor arena for Kristoff, and continued ground driving for young Marbles.

05/25/2024

We only have a few tickets left for the June 8th Pony Preschool classes!

Pony preschool

05/25/2024

Why we have quiet ponies…

05/24/2024

These 6 year olds are getting SO independent. This group has been together for a long while now and more recently began leasing or riding 2-3x weekly. The past couple of lessons they have been “losing” their stirrups while trotting, picking them up, and finishing with a half lap of canter. Afterward they have been excited to do a “no adults allowed” cool down trail ride back to the barn. 🤩

05/23/2024

Panda has come along sooo well since October!
He’s gotten quieter and steadier.

05/21/2024

The hay is so high we’re losing the Shetlands in it! We mowed a trail through the hay for a hacking path… hope they find their way home!

05/21/2024

Barely broke Sailor is soooo stinkin’ cute! Saturday he went along to Trails End Farm hunter show and did one flat class. Today we had a long walk in the fields, then some long canter stretches where he stayed nice and quiet. Love this little guy and his great brain!

05/20/2024

Good show day for all!

Lylah and Abby tackled some bigger courses in Jumpers- moving up to 2’3. Dizzy was SO MUCH more confident and they were a whizzy pair- it’s fun to watch! Tango was super brave and honest for his first show with Abby. The girls tied for Reserve.

Fig snagged Champion in 2’6 jumpers. It was fun- but back to dressage for us now. 😉

On the hunter side everyone came home with a mix of ribbons- some blues and reds- in big classes and improvements all around. Avery is putting in more consistent courses with Panda. Scotch and Lolo stayed steadier and are starting to look like they belong in the hunter ring! Elsa was super with Bella in the 18” and won a 2nd/11 in the hack- little pony can move!

05/20/2024

🍯 Honey LOVED the balance pads tonight.

Last night when I introduced them she wasn’t so sure… and only spent a minute on them with a lot of swaying in the front.

After being away for 11 hours today at a show, I only intended to see if she wanted to stand for a minute on them… but it ended up being TEN minutes that she stood and swayed with the pads under her front feet.

She’s quite crooked in her withers/shoulders as well as her SI/pelvis- possibly from an old injury and I think she must be finding some relief here. Chiropractic is scheduled for the end of next week.

Meanwhile she’s been walking over 5 raised poles (40 to 80 sets daily), walking hills, and lots of stretching of her hind legs. She’s already gained more mobility in just 4 days, and allowed me to clean the hind feet and do stretches tonight without needing a rope to help.

05/19/2024

Good day showing! Lottie did her first canter classes. Kamryn had her first ever show. Mikayla made some improvements on Maverick and is super happy to bring home a red ribbon. Sailor went along for one class with Bella after she rode Elsa as well.

Then after a show today we stopped at Tractor Supply in Lititz for dewormer, and the checkout lady said it would’ve made her day if we had brought one of the horses in with us…. I needed to return the cart, so Tobin hopped off the trailer to go inside with us!

05/19/2024

Honey made some big progress today and seemed to have a breakthrough with her hind legs. I was able to trim the back feet which haven’t been done in a very long time. We spent a lot of time stretching and on the balance pads first. We moved on to bridling. She wouldn’t take a bit for the owner- she doesn’t want her mouth touched and is quick to fling away. Within ten minutes she was self bridling with a low head and letting her ears be rubbed.

05/17/2024

Fig is happy with himself!

05/17/2024

Avery and Panda worked over two groups of poles on opposite sides. One was a set of five spaced close enough for a regular walk, and the other a set of three spaced for a lengthened walk. They progressed from walking to trotting the sets, with the goal of changing the step length/elevation to suit the poles. Finally we added canter transitions after both sets, then returning to the size of trot needed for the poles again.

05/16/2024

Big Fig hasn’t jumped in several months (March maybe?) so we trotted over 2’6 a few times and he felt great… bumped to cantering 3’ and he felt great… ended nice and easy still over a couple 3’6. What a good boy!
😅

05/16/2024

I’m excited to help this mare over the next 30 days!

Meet Honey, 11 year old paint mare. While she’s as sweet as her name, she needs better manners on handling her feet. She has a plan laid out to help lift her back, build muscle, and address some asymmetries which should make her more comfortable all around.

05/16/2024

Happy 5th Birthday Storm!
05/16/2019

Proof that he IS half Haflinger. 😀
(The bottom baby photo is his full, matchy sister so yes the markings are different.)

05/15/2024

Pony riders!

05/14/2024

Lightning had a laminitis episode. He doesn’t carry any extra weight on his front end, so some weight gain (50-75lbs) snuck up on us a little. While that number itself isn’t huge- it’s still 10% higher than what he should weigh. I couldn’t feel ribs and there was a good deposit around his butt. It’s been a very lush spring. Fortunately it was caught and treated immediately. His owner was all-in on getting what he needed done! He spent several hours a day in ice buckets, went on anti inflammatories and stall rest, and was sound within the week. He then went to start 30 days of camp on the drylot with the small ponies to get that extra off asap. He’s lost 25lbs so far. Once he’s down a little more, and grass is less rich, he can start grass turnout again with a strict muzzle.

He’s never had a problem in the past, but he’s reached maturity and has certainly filled out this year.

Ponies are tricky but horses aren’t immune to laminitis and founder also. If it’s caught and treated fast, and any underlying causes (metabolic, diet/sugars, obesity, etc) are removed, prognosis is very good. If not, it can be chronic, debilitating, and even fatal.

05/14/2024

“Hard standing” areas are multi-use. While these paddocks keep us mud free in the winter, they also serve a big purpose in the summer months. The horses spend HOURS standing in them- even with full access to the fields. They come in for salt and water, then often stay and hang out. They like to spend time grooming each other, playing, and resting. They are able to get away from the flies and gnats in the fields. These paddocks also prevent erosion and compaction that usually happens around high traffic areas. The stone keeps their hooves dry and hardened.

05/13/2024

So true! I LOVE ponies and consider myself fortunate to be small enough to educate them.

https://www.facebook.com/1563895838/posts/10223033652740778/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

After our weekend with all the little children and the one very special tiny equine, I have a few thoughts. It would seem that the majority of people still consider PONY to be a ‘four-letter word’!

Here’s an unpopular notion, however. There ARE good ponies and they ARE among life’s blessings.

One of the reasons for their apparent rarity might be that good and well-educated ponies must be handled, with regularity, by good and well-educated horse people. They’re not somehow born wanting to serve the petty whims of the world’s children. Nor are our horses, if we’re being honest. To be suitable for beginners and children, they, too, have made a lot of quality mileage.

A pony who magically ‘turns out’ has simply had someone very fair and very focused as the main player in his, or her, life. There is no real wizardry about it. Yes, some are easier and some are more complicated, than others. Training excellent ponies has zero difference to training excellent horses, in this regard.

Time plus knowledge usually garners predictable results.

There will always be a certain amount of dedication and passion that goes into creating anything truly worthwhile… and the making of a good pony is one of them.

Shown here, my daughter, Cait and her 13:3 Welsh gelding, Paragon.

Photo: Lee Bascom.

05/13/2024

I grew up attending this camp- then eventually co-ran the horse program as a teen. Lots of great memories! They always did a really good job, good food, and a lot of activities. While it’s not specifically a horse camp, there are opportunities to ride daily. I’m passing it along to everyone if you’re looking locally for more to do for the summer!

Greenview Summer Day Camps are for kids grades Kindergarten through 6th and are packed full of fun and Faith-centered activities | Hours: Mon - Fri 9am-4pm

05/11/2024

While Fig’s test scores can vary wildly from a 2 💣💥 to an 8 🤩, I’m proud of the big guy for moving solidly into First Level and happy overall with his progress. We’ll keep chipping away at gaining more confidence and relaxation with experience and continued field trips. It’s the journey and the learning that’s exciting. The judges comments of “problems” when we airlifted away from her scary table to “Uber talented pair”, made me smile. It was a fun morning. Lucky to have this (ches)nut. ☺️

05/11/2024

What a hunk!
🌟Fig🌟

05/11/2024

Gypsy is loved. Happy 25th!

She had a nice time visiting with people and enjoyed all of the attention. Thank you to Bella who bathed and braided her to make her extra special today. 💗

She’s very sleepy tonight from her big party.
🎉

05/10/2024

Melody is settling into her beautiful new home!

05/10/2024

Fig is only allowed to have one friend in paddocks… and Levi seems to be the only gelding that can tolerate his antics. 🤣

05/10/2024

Six ponies turned out on the biggest paddock and they’re all having a convention in the corner? 🙄