Southern Breeze Equestrian

Going to start posting updates here again for our 2026 season! We were out at Deep Run Horse Trials this past weekend, thanks to Deep Run Pony Club and Va Eventing for putting on a great show!

Jen and Jocelyn had good rounds in the novice, and Hannah had a great first show in the bn with her new partner. We also had Alexandra, Rebecca and Jen again in the starter, congrats to Rebecca who had a great confidence building round for her mare and ended up with the win!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DS5nUrcj2nV/?igsh=dTY3dm5yb2l5aXZt

As we close this old year, I know I have been awful about updating this page. But I do want to say thank you to all my students, for the support you’ve given me over the years, and looking forward to the progress going to be made and the goals going to be reached in the upcoming year. ❤️

When a ride doesn’t go well, trainers don’t just move on—we replay it, question ourselves, and think about how to help you feel more confident next time. Your progress, your confidence, and your long-term partnership with your horse matter so much to your trainer. #ThePlaidHorse #BarnLife #TrainerPerspective #HorsePeople #Horsemanship #EquestrianCommunity #BehindTheScenes #HorseShowLife #RiderTrainerRelationship #hunterjumper #horsebackriding

Hay-Rite Hay-Rite produces and distributes Alfalfa Cubes from the source in Milford, Utah and from the Hay-Rite of Texas Weatherford Warehouse to dealers and customers across the USA

"Roman Attitude"
Looking for the ultimate fancy low level packer? Here’s your guy- a beautiful 10 year old 16.2h TB gelding, who’s competed through modified eventing and third level dressage successfully. Recently received high score for third level at a recognized competition. Roman is a lovely horse in and out of the barn with an in your pocket personality. He is a laid back guy who will happily go in the ring and perform then go out for a trail ride. A fun horse to have around, no vices! Suitable for young rider or adult amateur. Would do well in the hunter ring as well, has also done hunter paces. video available. Mid five figures starting with a 3. Located near Richmond, Virginia. Please PM for more information!

9 Facts About Perfectionism: A mindset that must be unlearned or will ultimately bring your riding down 🧠

1. Every rider makes mistakes, even the best of the best.
It’s an unavoidable, universal experience and all a part of the sport.

2. Mistakes are learning opportunities.
You can grow from them and become better because of them.

3. Hyper-focusing on mistakes helps them happen.
They both become a self-fulfilling prophecy and take your focus away from your ride.

4. Mistakes mean you’re on the right track.
You can’t improve, learn, overcome challenges, and level up without them.

5. It’s not what happened but how you move forward from it that matters the most.
Moving on from the mistake matters more than the mistake itself.

6. Mistakes are temporary.
Work to fix and put them in the past instead of dwelling and allowing them to stick around.

7. Mistakes don’t define you.
You may have had a bad ride, but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad rider.

8. Social media only shows highlights.
Everyone is struggling whether they post about it or not.

9. Perfect doesn’t exist.
It’s impossible to meet unattainable expectations.

A perfectionist mindset and a lack of an ability to accept mistakes will do much more harm than good for an athlete’s mental performance. Mistakes are a normal part of sport and life. Everyone makes mistakes no matter how talented of an athlete they may be. Since perfect doesn’t exist, holding yourself to an unrealistic standard will only set you up for disappointment every ride. Instead, give yourself permission to make mistakes, using them to your advantage by viewing them as valuable feedback and learning opportunities. Refer to this post whenever you begin to feel hard on yourself, and remember that you are not alone! 🏇🏽💭✨
www.mindalignperformance.com

Congrats to Emma on her team winning the 21 and under at the USDF Region 1 Youth Team Championships this weekend. And although I wasn’t able to be there, proud of Kat running around the novice and Dee, who got around her first horse trial with her young horse this weekend, at Loudoun Horse Trials!

I have been horrible about posting updates after shows this year so far. But yesterday, some of the team went to Keystone Acres, which it was great to see them hosting schooling shows again. Overall a great day, and we enjoyed getting out and jumping some of their xc course as well!

No, You're Not Ready To Move Up - Heels Down Mag Are eventers moving up the levels too fast? One veteran Olympian thinks so. Coaches should play a bigger role in riders' ability, he says.

First show of the year started at Southern Pines in NC this past weekend. Despite some cold rain on Sunday, everyone did really well! Rebecca ended 9th in a competitive Modified division, Kat was 4th in the Novice, Kathy was 2nd in the beginner novice and Elin was 3rd in the starter division. Proud of how everyone started their year and as always, a great venue to be at for the weekend!

It is going to be an obnoxiously buggy year. We have not had anywhere near the normal level of freezing weather this winter, which means that the bugs are going to be OUTRAGEOUS. (We are expecting to see lots of hives....) Be prepared to step up your bug prevention game as a result. Here are our top ten tips:

1) Remove manure several times a day from stalls and paddocks, and set the manure pile as far away from the barn as is practical. Cover it with a plastic tarp.
2) Consider fly predators, fly traps, and feed through fly control even if you never have before
3) Wash and pushbroom down concrete barn aisles with a mixture of pine sol and water daily. It really does seem to help! Then, use large fans to dry completely with no standing water remaining. Those big powerful fans also help to keep flies at bay!
4) Keep water buckets empty, clean, and upside down every day or night while horses are turned out, and scrub out your water troughs with bleach and water at least every 3 days.
5) Work from the inside out: Increase your use of omega 3 supplements to improve the quality and resilience of your horse's skin. Corn oil is the least expensive, followed by rice bran oil. just a few ounces a day. It's calorie dense, so if your horse is also a hard keeper, you can slowly move up to 1 cup total daily. You can also implement feed-through fly control, which has a definite impact on the fly population.
6) Don't bathe your horse with detergents, shampoos or whiteners so often that you deplete the oils in his skin. Remember - dirt is a natural barrier, too.
7) Keep garbage cans tightly lidded, and wash them at each emptying. Trash cans are one of the worst fly contaminants in the barn.
8) Move your round bales, and scrape up the wet, messy area where the bale was.
9) Make whatever changes you can to avoid water accumulation/puddling/ponding on ground surfaces
10) Use strong fans, fly boots, sheets and masks as well as fly sprays on your horses.

For more tips and for a deeper understanding of our fly population, check out this excellent article on fly control by the American Association of Equine Practitioners. https://aaep.org/horsehealth/importance-fly-control