Symphony Equestrian, LLC

Want to learn about fun ways to stay fit in the off season? Come to our unmounted workshop on Saturday, January 10 from 10:30-12:30. Topics will include basics of equine bodywork, stretches to help your equine partner limber up, as well as targeted exercises for riders to improve their strength and body awareness. Space is limited, so text Jess or message the page to sign up! All are welcome.

Happy New Year! I could make a long post about my pride in our horses and riders; the confidence growth and the accomplishments; the move ups and the ribbons. But if I’ve taken anything away from this year, it’s that the camaraderie, community, and true friendships that our team has built is the most valuable thing I could ask for. Please enjoy these photos of some of my favorite 2025 memories, and I look forward to a happy and healthy 2026 with all of you!

📸Topeka Custom Design & Photo, SDH Photography, Jessica Duffy, Elizabeth Jaufmann, and my own sketchy cell phone shots

Thanks to Woodge Fulton FMF Equestrian for coming in to teach today! We had a great time and everyone came away with some good homework for the off season. Can’t wait to do it again!

📸 paparazzi from the incredible Topeka Custom Design & Photo/ Elizabeth Jaufmann

Symphony students had a great time today at the last A Jump Above show for the year! Emily D and Winnie finished strong with great rounds in the novice and training ahead of their last horse trial next weekend. Reanna and Flip moved up to novice, and are looking forward to one more show before some down time and fine tuning over the winter. Emily P rode three horses, with a much improved novice round on Tali, an easy warm-up in the 2’3” on Tiki, and a very quiet 18” round on Sailor. Finally, Kelly and Khan jumped their way around the 2’ and 2’3” in the little ring, and are looking forward to making their big ring debut next season!

We are so grateful for this wonderful show series and what they offer to our students, green and seasoned pairs alike. We are also incredibly impressed by our photo sponsor, Topeka Custom Design & Photo, who not only provides us with stunningly beautiful photos, but provides them so quickly that we hardly have time to unpack the trailer before enjoying them! Thanks for a great year, and we can’t wait for next season!

I love simple grids for their versatility. We worked 7 horses through this simple exercise of four fences with one stride between each one, and everyone- from green to experienced- found something to work on.

Gigi was riding a borrowed horse and Emma is getting to know her new lease, so they were able to get a feel for their horses’ jumping style while working on making adjustments within a combination. Beth is just bringing Mac back into jumping, so this grid helped regulate his enthusiasm while allowing her to stay soft. Kelly was able to allow her horse to find a good canter stride over fences without getting short, and 4 year old Tempo was able to work on regulating his stride length. Finally, Reanna and Emily worked without hands through the grid, necessitating riding off the leg and not relying on their horses’ necks. Great learning for all!

We enjoyed the incredible weather on Labor Day at A Jump Above! Peppy and Toree had some great rounds in the 18” and 2’, with Peppy continuing to gain confidence and Toree becoming a stronger partner for this game but green horse. Emma and Mo had a fun skip around the 2’, and Rachael and Hank had some educational rounds in the 2’ and 2’3”. Kelly and Khan have bee working hard and had their quietest and most confident rounds to date in the 2’3”! Emily and Marv had a great time in the 2’3” and are looking like a move up to the big ring may be in their future!

Down the hill in the big ring, Reanna and Flip had two solid rounds in the BN, and even commented that the jumps looked small- maybe that means novice is in the horizon? I took Emily’s mare Tali around the novice and got some more good insight on how to help them both- and had fun, too! Finally, Emily and Winnie had a little off-course sojourn in the novice, but got another solid clean training round under their belts to finish off their summer adventures.

Big thanks to Emily and Ashley for hauling the horses and their help, and to Gigi for coming along to assist. We are always stunned by the beautiful images Topeka Custom Design & Photo provides us to remember these great days!

I’m late on this one, but we had a great outing at Hunt Club Farms at the end of July. Emily P and Emily D did their first recognized novices, and had great finishes. Reanna conquered both her first recognized and her first full horse trial, and Gigi conquered her demons from last time to finish on her dressage score. Kelly is missing from our photos, but came away with some good lessons and good homework, and Tempo overcame some acrobatics in warm up to put in a good performance. We are looking forward to more outings in hopefully cooler weather!

📸the always fabulous SDH Photography

We came, we dressaged, then we got ice cream.

Thanks to CDCTA for providing such a great schooling show! Winnie did a couple of novice tests and improved in several areas to finish first and second with a 66% and a 68%. Still working on the consistency in a slower tempo, but I’m pleased with her progress. Tempo took a crack at the BN tests and was much more focused and rideable than his last outing. Emily had a good outing with her mares as well, improving the relaxation and fine tuning the details to become softer and more competitive. Everyone came away with some good ribbons and great feedback from the judge.

Thanks to my student Bethany for her grooming help, to make it possible for us to get through 8 tests on four horses in just over 2 hours. Not sure what I’m going to do when the last of these kids go back to school on Monday!

📸SDH Photography

Another great day at A Jump Above! Thanks Jessica Duffy and Elizabeth Jaufmann for capturing these great moments for Topeka Custom Design & Photo. Check out our crew below!

Gigi and King moved up to the big ring yesterday, overcoming a couple of memory issues in the first round to have a foot perfect second round. I am incredibly proud of this pair- King has matured tremendously in the past year, and Gigi is doing a fantastic job of bringing him along. The future is bright for them!

Tempo tried his hand at jumping in the big ring as well, and had two very educational rounds. He has a lot to learn but has such a super attitude and I am very pleased with his performance.

Reanna and Flip skipped their usual 2’3” warmup and went straight to the BN, and had some great confidence building rounds. They are learning how to adjust the balance and pace for the bigger jumps and are making great improvements!

Emma had her first show with Sadie, and worked through some communication issues to have some strong rounds in the 18” and 2’. This pony is not an easy ride, and I am proud of how they are learning to communicate with one another and building confidence.

Emily and Tiki just missed the cutoff to jump in the big ring, but had some positive rounds in the 2’3” in the little ring. This pair is headed to RRP this fall and are getting some really good prep.

Finally, Emily and Winnie moved up to the training and had a fantastic clear round to finish 5th. These two have been working very hard this summer and made huge strides in their adjustability and balance, and it’s paying off as they get more confident with the bigger jumps. This has been a goal of theirs for a while, and I’m really proud of them for meeting it in grand style!

Dreaming of tall, dark, and handsome? Look no further! “Buckeyed Bob”, known around the barn as Sabre, is the total package. Sabre is an 8 year old, 16.3hh, flashy TB gelding who puts every thoroughbred stereotype to shame. If you’re looking for the friendly barn favorite who always makes you feel like you really CAN ride- even on your worst days- then this is the horse for you!

Sabre has a solid dressage foundation, proficient at the second level movements and working on third. He has easy lateral work and a fabulously balanced counter canter. Sabre is very simple to ride- he is light in the bridle, half halts off the seat, and is quiet without being a kick ride. My AA students adore him and he would be a fabulous horse for someone who aspires to get their bronze medal. He is very tolerant of his riders, and while he is not for a total beginner due to his size and athleticism, he is well suited for a teen or amateur working with a trainer.

Sabre is green over fences (as in, he’s only jumped a handful of times!) but is totally willing and I can see him being happy to dabble in the low hunters or jumpers. He trail rides on the buckle alone and in company, and isn’t bothered by a busy arena or lots of farm activity. He is easy to do on the ground, happy to live in or out, and is currently living out in a mixed herd and wearing front shoes.

Sabre is very sadly offered only due to his owner retiring from riding. He is very well loved and offered in the low fives beginning with a one, only to the best of homes! His carrots are subject to increase as he stays in full training and competes this summer. Due to his owner’s retirement, his tack and blankets may be included if desired. Sabre is located near Warrenton, VA. PM for video.

We had an incredibly busy day today, working through 18 lessons and training rides (and one horse braided) in 10 hours! Somehow in all the chaos, this is the only photo I managed to snap- Emily taking a quick siesta on Marv, between lessoning on both her mares snd BEMERing every horse/human/dog in the vicinity!