Windy Willow Equestrian

This, this and more of this.

Watching the cold front come in.

And what a great week we’ve had here at Windy Willow Equestrian! I’m so very proud of all of our students (even if not pictured!). Horses are enjoying the cooler 🍂 Autumn weather and we’ve really gotten a lot of traction in lessons this week. We have a lot of new students learning to jump and working on new skills. BRAVO!

Thursday was all about Rosen Royale. He was a resounding rock star ⭐️ for the farrier and stood like a saint for his first set of shoes. Next came a lesson in putting on bell boots- oh my gosh…drama! Apparently bell boots are scary but only for about 10 minutes until he decided they were delicious and chewed one off while I wasn’t watching him 🥱😂😩. If I’ve learned one trick with youngsters over the years, coat it with Vaseline and cayenne pepper 🌶 and VOILA, problem solved! We even got a bit of work in to top off the day and Royale nailed his canter strides over poles. Tomorrow we work on bell boots staying on- ahhhhh- challenges.

This….

God Save the Queen! A lifelong horsewoman who will be remembered for her legacy, loyalty to nation and her family.

Who doesn’t love a wee pony that loves humans and took 5 minutes to back?!?! Thank you Sabrina Squires for the great work you continue to do with Tonka and for the cutest darn 18” mohair HANDMADE cinch. You nailed it the first time and it fit him perfectly! The quality and beauty of this cinch is just incredible. I’m so pleased to be able to saddle this little guy up now. And Tonka was nothing short of adorable strutting his stuff around. He even joined us for lunch!

Western rider friends….if you want a beautiful, custom mohair or alpaca cinch, visit Sabrina’s Etsy Store!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SleepyCreekCrafts?fbclid=IwAR3pUjHxM30t7wojhn7hIYwqaFE4I874Qbio1FvcOYquecCyiKUhyfzyQGA

Cash went on a little field trip today to Clare Sokolsky’s beautiful farm. A huge thank you to Clare for letting him camp out in your paddock and crash your farrier party today! A big thank you to Chris Carter for figuring out how to get him happy on his feet again. I’m happy to report that he’s no longer ear-pinning or nipping small children anymore. Oh Cash, we do love you!

August camp is a wrap! Record high heat & humidity didn’t stop us from having fun. Thank goodness for having a nice, shady place to ride during the afternoons. These girls were rock 🌟’s- pitching in with grooming not only their horses but others in the barn that needed a good groom, bathing horses, learning horsemanship skills and keeping the horses hydrated with tasty fruit and electrolytes in their meals. Swimming was a HUGE hit….who doesn’t love cooling off on a super sticky day? Even Skittle the mini came to the pool with the children!

Early morning hack on this youngster before the heat rolled in. Worked the hills, got some springs next to the fence line we shared with a young deer, and finally had some nice trots and canters when I asked. Love this one!

Types of Sarcoids in Horses

Very useful information in identifying different types of equine sarcoids. A good save for horse owners.

https://equinesarcoid.co.uk/types?mibextid=FrZHod&fs=e&s=cl

Types of Sarcoids in Horses There are 4 main types of sarcoid: Occult ; Verrucose ; Nodular ; Fibroblastic

Moonlight & Fireflies Trail Ride | Glenmore Hunt

Any of my barn peeps interested in going? Tailgate picnic then trail ride in the moonlight with glow sticks? 🐴 🌙

https://www.glenmorehunt.org/moonlight-trail-ride?fbclid=IwAR1o_BEwHFgmui-MqFpOGFsmLSKA9N2suZikT5rAaxT2s1uulCjkYgRqceE&mibextid=FrZHod&fs=e&s=cl

Moonlight & Fireflies Trail Ride | Glenmore Hunt Gates open at 6 pm so you can arrive and tailgate with friends.  Ride out early at 6:30 and return at sunset or ride out later at 7:30, return in the dark and enjoy our well lit trail. .

Welcome Solar to Windy Willow Equestrian. This sporty little filly has so much talent in a young little package. We’re still letting her get used to her new surroundings but her first ride was nothing short of fabulous. Lyla piloted her beautifully.

Happy 20th Birthday Cash! You are truly the best boy. A barn favorite, you are loved by all who have met you and had the pleasure of riding you. You have so many sweet, endearing ways about you….my most favorite is finding me in the arena and nudging me with your wet nose. Today was no different, you found me when I treated you to apples, carrots and treats….nudging me for “just one more mom”.

Little Rosen Royale

Camp day 4 a day late!! 🥱🥱🥱

Camp Day 3 was a blast! These young ladies are impressing me so much. 🙌🙌. The first part of the day was all about mounted games. Thank you Lyla Stotler and June Stotler of Fox Bug Farm for hosting us for a Mounted Games presentation. Lyla taught the girls a few games and everyone did so well!

Morgan got a spa day and the kids learned just how much dirt comes off a horse. Swimming was a hit on this hot day and the kids decorated horse shoes. We found shade in the afternoon and had a blast riding. What a great day!

Today is all about mounted games at camp!

Camp Day 2 is a wrap! Morning rides working or trot for one group and canter for another. A much needed dip in the pool after lunch and then fun craft time. Afternoon ride time was all about learning to mount and ride ba****ck. Super job finding balance- wow!!!

Riding Camp Day 1

We were so busy! More photos tomorrow we promise. 👍. Today we started with learning horse safety, how to groom & pick hooves and how to tack up a horse. Everyone did an amazing job grooming their horses! Super proud of these girls for how well they rode their horses and ponies! Everyone set goals for the week!

TODAY WAS FEED ROOM ORGANIZATION DAY! 😎🙌💃

There’s no idle time when you own a horse facility. There’s always something to be done. In the hottest hours of the day when students aren’t here we are still working to make ”your barn” a better place to be.

It could be bathing your favorite horse that rolled in the mud, pulling the shaggy mane, standing with the farrier or vet, conditioning thirsty bridles and saddles, washing saddle pads or a hundred other things that keeps the proverbial well-oil wheel turning.

It’s all done out of love, and for the admiration and appreciation of our amazing horses and clients.

A lot of work gets done in this room. Here, 17 horses get 2 meals prepped that are customized to their nutritional needs. Their medicine cabinet was a cluttered mess- Hey, it gets that way in a busy barn! But now it’s organized so we can find things quickly. Loving this! 🙌🙌

Happy 3rd Birthday Galatoire 🐴 ! You’re my spicy little baby and the clown of the farm. You never fail to impress us with your ability to remove everyone’s fly masks lol. We love your lip-flipping smiles and your goofy attention-getting nips (that need to stop).

It’s time to see what you do under saddle. You’re 3rd year is going to shine bright!

Camp Day 3! We had heat 🥵, we had ☔️, and WE HAD FUN!!! 🐴🙌😊.

So impressed with this group of kiddos! They came right into the barn this morning and knocked out horsemanship like it was nothing- BAM. We were like a well-oiled machine tackling tasks left and right. Then, these rock ⭐️’s got their horses groomed and tacked up so we could find a shady place to beat the heat. Shade trees served as the perfect place to teach steering off the leg, weaving in between trees instead of cavaletti blocks. Then everyone got to practice ditches and banks before setting off on a trail ride.

In the afternoon we learned about nutrition. We experimented with watching beet pulp and Timothy pellets swell up in hot and cold water. The group got to learn a little about equine dental and teeth as well.

Such a great day!

Camp Day 2 wrapped up! 2 hours of riding in the morning, practicing posting and seated trot today. Super proud of these young ladies for improving their position, using leg and staying on their diagonal. Practice, practice, practice!

We had a lesson in tack cleaning tack. Everyone learned the importance of cleaning and conditioning their tack (saddles and bridles look awesome!). Pool time was much needed and then we had a super fun time painting ponies. CJ and Cash loved all the pre-grooming and attention….and the grass treat while the girls adorned them!

Lastly, everyone got to ride Jolene, our almost 2,000# draft horse. I think Addie has a new favorite horse!

First day of summer horseback riding camp and it was a blast! We have the best group of campers this week and had a day filled with riding in the arena and on the trails, learning about horsemanship, sculpting using clay and swimming. The girls even learned how to mount their horses and ride ba****ck. 💕🐴💕

Help Support Alondra’s Family, organized by Anya Stiller

Many of you knew Alondra from the barn. Her father suddenly passed away last week. Alondra is Miguel’s (our Barn Manager) goddaughter as well so this is a devastating loss to Miguel as he lost a dear friend.

Alondra is just 10 years old. She has the biggest heart and aid such a kind child. Our heart breaks for her loss.

Please donate if you can. ❤️

Help Support Alondra’s Family, organized by Anya Stiller Hi, my name is Anya Stiller and I’m Alondra Chavez’s riding instructor. It's with great s… Anya Stiller needs your support for Help Support Alondra’s Family

Early June wouldn’t be complete without an educational field trip with young students to the Upperville C**t & Horse Show. The girls are soaking up the atmosphere and now watching the derby.

A little late in getting these photos posted but so touched that Audrey chose to spend another birthday with us at Windy Willow Equestrian. This has become a bit of a tradition I’m so glad to get to share with her! Happy 11th birthday young lady! This year is extra special as your family trades states to re-join our barn family again! We’ve missed you and all your favorite horses are ready for you to ride them again. 💕🐴💕

Before you plan a ride, look at the temperature AND humidity. Please share!

The baby horses all lined up at the fence tonight.

Goat made a new friend today and the two of them were magic together!

Look who is back in the arena! Cash man- no more cranky zebra🥱🤣🤣. After a month off to have eye surgery and rehab he is happy to have an adoring child on his back again. 💕