Willow Ridge Farm Of Woodstock, LLC

08/30/2024

08/29/2024

We are having a great time at the 2024 edition of The Jubilee Regional horse show !!!!

08/13/2024

Headed To Jubilee!!! Can’t wait to put these and other teams in the Springfield arena!!!

07/25/2024

Day 2 of beginner riding camp and oooh boy are they showing us some talent! Crafts, saddle time, and chores. Everyone is learning!

07/23/2024

Our Beginner riding camp kicked off today!

07/03/2024

Registration is closing soon!!! Contact Meredithe Bodnar to reserve your spot in this horse camp just for beginners!!!

06/13/2024

We love this beautiful liver c**t by After Hours!!! Henry is enjoying the sunshine here on the Ridge!!

06/04/2024

Willow Ridge celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Prairie State Classic Horse Show!!!!

Akira Derringer GCH took the final pass in the Open Park Harness with Sylvia Peterson on the lines for Red River Valley!

Sardes Swagger and Brenna McCracken took home the blue in the Morgan English Pleasure open class for Kendra Sylvester.

Kacie Sylvester took the reins and made a beautiful show to earn the championship in the 12 and under walk and trot division after earning a second place in their qualifier!!! This elegant pair made their full bridle and suit debut and we are so excited for the rest of the season.

FCM Prince of Rock N Roll GCH and his game rider Kirsi Kula took home tri color honors in the junior exhibitor/ amateur English pleasure championship. They were dynamic in their qualifier for a reserve finish.

HS Northern Gem is getting better with age, taking home the blue and tri color in the Classic Pleasure driving division with owner/driver Linda Church. Just a four year old, Gemma is steady and expressive!

Evie Peterson had a fantastic time in the Junior exhibitor hunter divisor with reigning reserve world champion Saralin Rex Harrison GCH, as they claimed both the blue and tricolor! This team is like a fine wine, getting better with age!!
Evie was also beautiful and poised to win the hunt equitation qualifier and take reserve honors in the championship aboard SBK Sasha’s Navarre. We are so thrilled to see “Bentley” back in the ring!!

After a 30 year hiatus, Debbie Compall took the reins of GGG Untouchable to earn top ribbons in the open breed pleasure driving division!!! Welcome back to the show ring Debbie!!!

Brenna McCracken put on a dynamic performance with Merriehill Justify CH to take the blue ribbon in the open park saddle class.

Briley Vasquez picked up where she left off in October- winning the Morgan Pleasure Driving qualifier and championship with Playmor’s Andretti!! We love watching her drive a spunky Morgan!!! She also piloted him to personal bests in the academy classes! Thank you Briley for being the first person to show Mario in academy!!!

Sylwia Bilek partnered with Cherished Angel to take home the reserve championship in the walk and trot equitation for academy riders 10 and under!

Addie Peterson had three solid performances on Cherished Angel to be in the ribbons in deep academy WTC classes! We are so happy to see Addie in the ring!!!

Thank you to the Prairie State show officials and committee for putting on one of our favorite shows of the year!!! Also thank you to Amy Weiler and the crew at Beyond Stables for giving us a fabulous venue to show in!!!

On to Morgan Masterpiece!!!!!

06/03/2024

Picking up right where they left off in October; the winner’s circle!! This handsome stallion stands to the public throwing athletic and personable individuals!! Contact Meredithe Bodnar (815) 451 - 6418 for breeding information!!!

05/14/2024

Noteworthy’s Nobel Heir
8/11/1990 - 5/13/2024

Yesterday after breakfast Louie the Legend decided his time with us was over. At Willow Ridge we never knew his as the World and Grand National champion he was, but just the best Morgan Ambassador we had. He loved to be brushed on by his long time owner Erin Martinez-Suarez, and was beloved by all the lesson riders at Willow Ridge.

A West Coast Celebrity, Louie was inducted into the Morgan Medallion Hal of Fame. After Erin made her move to IL, Louie came along too.

For the past ten years he’s enjoyed the sunny pastures of either Merriehill or Willow Ridge and even at 34 would still animate his walk and drag you out to the pastures on the cool mornings.

Always the gentlemen, Louie loved everyone - two legged and four.

Louie - it was an honor to have such a wonderful friend here at Willow Ridge, a resident since our doors opened. We will miss you sweet boy.

Trot high through that open in-gate in the sky.

05/14/2024

Home and rested from a very productive FASH Horse Show!!! First off, we’d like to thank the F.A.S.H Horse Show committee for always being tops in hospitality and entertainment!!! We all had a great time!!!!

Highlights include:
VDM Intense
Park Saddle Jackpot Grand Champion with Brenna McCracken

FCM Prince of Rock N Roll GCH and Kirsi Kula
Amateur/ junior exhibitor English pleasure Grand Champion
Amateur/ Junior Exhibitor Morgan English Pleasure reserve

Dragonsmeade Indochine and Brenna McCracken
Open Morgan English Pleasure Reserve Grand Champion and Reserve

Merriehill Justify CH and Meredithe Bodnar
Open Park saddle reserve champion
Park Harness Jackpot Grand Champion

HS Northern Gem and Linda Church
Classic Pleasure Driving Reserve grand champion and reserve

Wirh Brenna McCracken
Morgan English pleasure junior / novice champion

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Prairie State Classic

04/20/2024

Willow Ridge had the privilege of hosting equitation World and National champion, Elsa Heinke the last two days for a riding clinic. Elsa was helping all of our riders to perfect their skills in the saddle. Elsa, thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to spend with us! We are so thankful and can’t wait to take your teachings into the show ring!!

02/20/2024

Congratulations Kirsi and Charley! In addition to taking multiple lessons per week and showing, Kirsi is often found helping around the barn wherever she can. We love seeing our riders crush goals both in and out of the show ring. Check out the many programs the American Morgan Horse Association offers for our youth to learn all about the Morgan horse.

Congratulations to Kirsi Kula for completing Level 1 of the AMHA My Morgan & Me program! That's 75 total hours Kirsi has earned in the saddle with her favorite lesson horse, Cherished Angel, aka "Charley", at Willow Ridge Farm.

Kirsi's hours have mostly been earned during the multiple riding lessons she takes each week, but she also loves to grab a brush and groom some of the retired show horses as well as to lend a hand to any chores that may need to be done!

Way to go Kirsi! 🎉

02/10/2024

The addition is done! We were so excited to move in this week.

01/30/2024

Willow Ridge is proud to announce the addition of Brenna McCracken as Assistant Trainer / instructor!!!

Brenna brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience! We are excited for her return to the Morgan World under the Willow Ridge Banner!!!

01/30/2024

We are SO VERY excited to welcome Sarde's Swagger to the Sylvester family!! This lovable guy is going to be Kacie Sylvester's Equitation partner! Cannot wait to start this journey!

01/28/2024

Kicking the new year off right by opening our ever popular welcome to willow ridge groupon back up! Beginners welcome! This is the package for you! 30 minutes hands-on horse experience and 30 minutes of saddle time with some of the best instructors in the area !! Come to Willow Ridge and fall in love with the Morgan horse!!!

Professional instructors teach students the fundamentals of horseback riding as well as basic knowledge of horsemanship.

01/17/2024

Do you DARE??? After an almost undefeated season in harness and under saddle, with a sweep of the Youth Park division at Oklahoma, run don’t walk to breed to this outstanding citizen!!! His best get are yet to come!!!

Awesome work ethic, quality and that show horse presence!!! Contact Willow Ridge and DARE to make your dreams of roses a reality !!!

01/08/2024

Congratulations to Kacie Sylvester on being the 2023 Willow Ridge Riding Academy High Point Champion !!!! Kacie took numerous reserve and championship victory passes in Academy Equitation to score the highest points! Her name will be added to the Perpetual Trophy!

01/08/2024

We Had a Holly Jolly Time at the Willow Ridge Christmas party!

01/01/2024

Looking back on a memorable 2023!!!

Bring on 2024!

Check out M Bodnar's post.

12/21/2023

Ladies and gentleman we have a roof!!!

12/15/2023

The future is looking bright !!! (And a little muddy!!!) this morning on The Ridge!

12/06/2023

Congratulations Merriehill Shooting Star CH on being named the 2023 UPHA horse of the year in the junior exhibitor classic pleasure driving division!!! Shown in 2023 by Briley Vasquez, owned by Sue Powers, Queensbury Farm.

12/01/2023

Don’t mind our dust!!!! Our blanket room getting a much needed overhaul for a more Ergonomic organization!!! Way to rock it Jerome !!

11/29/2023

With our growing barn family, our barn has to grow a little too!!! We are excited about breaking ground on an eight stall extension !!!

11/27/2023

Always a contender and almost undefeated in junior exhibitor classic pleasure driving, we ask the Active members of the UPHA for their vote for Merriehill Shooting Star CH for horse of the year honors.

11/22/2023

In our efforts to Preserve the Past and Pursue the Future, we are so excited to congratulate Sue Powers, Queensbury Farm on her winning bid in the Superior Stallion Service Auction to the Ridge's own WC Akira Derringer GCH!

We cannot wait to see what her 2 time Grand National Champion Merriehill Shooting Star CH, who is by After Hours, will give us in 2025!!! The future is bright!

11/22/2023

We are delighted to congratulate the Kula Family on their selection of the Akira Derringer Son VVE Crimsom King! Willow Ridge was the agent for both parties and we couldn't be happier that "King" is going to stay on the Ridge to be a part of the Kula's Royal line up!