12/11/2025
After being gone for about a month and half, I’m finally back from my event production jobs and lessons are back in full swing. That also means lessons are fully booked.
I didn’t take many photos today, I should have taken more. But sometimes I get so caught up in my lessons and so focused on my students that I simply forget to capture the moment in a picture.
Somehow, I did happen to take two photos that caught those simple and quiet, yet oh so powerful moments between a horse and human.
A horse so big and powerful, yet lowered his head gently to come to his rider’s level. To hear their heart. To have a silent conversation between the two of them. A child being seen by a 1000+ pound animal, and that animal feeling loved back by a simple gesture of gentleness full of kindness and gratitude.
These are the moments that remind me of why I do what I do here at DBR.
We may not be that big flashy show barn (which I love and dream of), we may be simple and small, we may be a little rough around the edges and a little rustic. All of my horses may be a bunch of misfits with big hearts, we may not compete in all the horse events… But we were meant for something different…
We are different… We are here to, yes, teach riding and good horsemanship skills and build a strong foundation that riders can take in any direction with any discipline of riding they end up desiring. So that it just needs tweaked to fit that style. But beyond that, we were meant for more, we are here for more…
My horses, my self and our property are a safe place to learn, to fail, to grow as a human, to learn about yourself, to reach goals, to overcome fears and life’s obstacles, to push beyond the things that limit us, to build confidence, to feel welcome and to be seen. For riding and horses to not just be a sport, but to be something that changes lives beyond the saddle.
This is why I do what I do.
@ Linsey Middleton
