Providence Equestrian Center

Happy 4th of July!
🩵🇺🇸❤️

We want to wish everyone a safe & blessed weekend!

Here’s a throw back of Mariah & I (Amanda) in the Bonita Springs 4th of July Parade 🥰

The theme was all the hurricanes we endured the previous year: Charley, Frances, Ivan, & Jeanne🌴 🌧️ 🌀

Circa 2004-2005

💪🏻🐴👧

You drove forty-five minutes each way. You packed the snacks. You wrote the check. And now you are standing at the rail watching your child stare at the horse while simultaneously watching a video on their phone, half present in a place that deserves their full attention, Parker Worthington writes.

Sound familiar?

The barn is one of the last genuinely analog experiences available to a child these days, and that is not an accident… It’s a feature. Horses do not respond to distracted riders. They do not care about follower counts. They demand presence, patience, and the kind of slow, attentive observation that is increasingly rare in the life of a ten-year-old who has been raised in a world of instant feedback and infinite scroll. Here is how you, as the adult in the car, can help make the most of this irreplaceable time.

1. Take the Phone the Moment They Hop Out of the Car

Not later. Not after they check one more thing. The moment the car door opens and the barn smell hits, the phone goes into your bag. Do this cheerfully, consistently, and without negotiation. Replace it with an analog dial watch — a real one, with hands, that they have to actually read — so they can track their lesson time and their chores without being tethered to a screen. The watch is not punishment. It is a tool that teaches them to orient themselves in time without a device doing the thinking for them. It also makes them feel enormously grown-up, which, at ten, is most of the battle.

2. Teach Them to Arrive Early and Walk Around

The thirty minutes before a lesson are not downtime. They are the lesson before the lesson. Teach your child to arrive early, walk through the barn quietly, look at the horses, notice which ones seem energetic and which seem settled, check the water buckets, observe the general atmosphere. This habit builds the kind of ambient awareness that separates a rider from someone who merely sits on a horse.

3. Let Them Carry Things

A ten-year-old can carry a saddle. They can carry a grooming bucket, a water bucket, a hay net, a stack of wraps. Let them. Do not carry things for your child at the barn unless they are genuinely too heavy or there is a safety reason to intervene. The physical experience of caring for a horse, including the weight of the tack and the logistics of the grooming kit, is part of the education. Children who are carried through barn chores grow up to be riders who don’t understand why things take as long as they do.

📎 Read more tips at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/06/21/ten-things-you-can-do-to-actually-help-your-ten-year-old-at-the-barn/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

Our Gravy is a superstar 💫🦃

🚨 BE ON THE LOOKOUT 👀

Gravy (🦃) is already looking forward to our soft opening next month… and if you know Gravy, he plans on being the official welcoming committee.

If you have gently used tack or apparel, (English or Western), from head to hoof, let us know! We’ll help make the process simple and easy. 🙏

We are so appreciative of our community’s support in helping make this happen ☀️

Happy ONE Month to our beloved Pizza Party Puppies! 🍕 🐶

Olive has been an extraordinary mama, especially at such a young age. Watching her care for these babies has been nothing short of amazing.

It’s been so special to watch each puppy grow into their own personality—finding their voices, discovering the joy of play, and keeping us entertained every step of the way. They truly are a treasure. ❤️

If you’re interested in giving one of these special pups—or their sweet mama—a forever home, visit www.teammooserescue.org to learn more about adoption opportunities 🥰

Man oh man, this week flew by! 🤩

I guess that’s what happens when you’re having so much fun at camp! From riding and learning to crafts, games, and making memories with friends (both two-legged and four-legged 🤪), it’s been a week full of smiles, laughter, and adventure.

We’re soaking up every minute and can’t wait to see what next week has in store! ☀️

BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING 🥰

🌟 We’re stepping into WEEK 2 of SUMMER CAMP! 🤩 🌟

Here are a few extra photos from all the fun we had at camp last week! 🐴☀️ From riding and horse care to crafts, games, and making new friends, it was a week full of smiles and memories.

If you’re interested in signing your kiddo up for an upcoming camp session, text 941-677-8606 for more information. We’d love to have them join the fun! 💛

Our first Providence Pipsqueak joined us this week! 🌈🐴

Designed for ages 2–4, Providence Pipsqueaks introduces little ones to horses through hands-on learning, confidence-building activities, and age-appropriate riding experiences.

We are excited to welcome more tiny equestrians this summer! 💕🌟

P.S. Loofah made a new best friend 🥹

‼️NEWS ALERT‼️

Opening THIS SUMMER!

Providence Equestrian Center is excited to expand its services in Bonita Springs by providing a dedicated avenue for riders in SWFL to pass on their gently used gear to fellow equestrians!

Each piece will be carefully curated - only well-maintained, gently used tack and gear will be accepted to uphold our standard of quality.

Have gently used equestrian gear that you'd rather consign than give away? The LOFT is now accepting items for consideration.

Items can be dropped off Monday - Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM at Providence Equestrian Center in the designated area. Please call ahead for Saturday drop-off.

Our opening date will be announced very soon!

We're thrilled to team up with our local equestrian community in this new adventure!