Bella Rose Farm

This year we ran summer camp a bit differently than in the past! Our campers worked hard learning some new skills and knowledge at the barn. We ran it more like an EAP program, and all the girls seemed to love it. They were able to learn about medications, first aid, taking vital signs, walking lines and setting courses, wrapping legs, and much more. They listened well, took notes and were quizzed the following day. There was even a written test they were able to take in teams. Throughout the couple of days each camper was scored on different tests and worked together as a team. Bella Rose is proud to continue helping our riders become true horseman and learn skill sets in and out of the saddle. Great job ladies!!

BRF went to Kentucky a couple weeks ago, and we had a blast!! Every single rider and horse combination placed well in their competitive divisions and made us so proud. It was such an enjoyable week seeing all our friends at the horse park. Looking forward to A finals at Ledges and Derby Days to wrap up our season!

Always. 🫶🏻

Some horse shows are more memorable than others, but Summertime III at Lamplight will be remembered forever! Even with the show being shut down for two days due to smoke from the Canadian wild fires on top of the heat, we had a wonderful week!

I love watching the riders become true horsemen by putting their horses first and understanding the situation. Talk about go with the flow! Our horses had the best care possible by Victoria Panasiuk and Julia Schaumann, and each rider stepped up to help with handwalks and extra help. Times like this remind us that this is not a sport but rather a lifestyle!

All hands were on deck to get the horses prepared (again) for their riders on Saturday and Sunday, and I am very proud to say that we had nothing but success all weekend!

We were lucky enough to have a couple riders from our sister barn Littlewood Farm join us and new friendships were made. Thank you to all the help we had both back at home and at the horse show to keep things running smoothly. We are so blessed to do this fun and crazy sport ❤️

Really challenging but fun course set this week! New flamingo jump fillers too!

For those interested, here is the schedule for the 30th anniversary celebration!

New course set! Excited to have better temps this week

If you can be anything, be this! 🙌🥰 it starts with YOU…

Well said

There was a time when I boarded my horse and got heated, Jamie Sindell writes. I’m talking full-blown righteous fury over what I saw as egregious examples of poor care. Mistakes that made me seethe with rage. But now? I own my own farm. I’ve spent almost three years caring for my own horses. And I can say, with absolute certainty, that most of the time when I threw an inner-temper tantrum, I needed to relax.

Caring for horses is hard work. Caring for horses is not a perfect science. If I could go back in time, I’d tell Past Me to chill. Because now I understand things like…

Horses drink water.
I would show up to the barn, see an empty bucket, and my inner alarm bell screamed: NEGLECT. What I know now is it’s not like horses say, “Hey, I’m extra thirsty today, lady. I’m going to drain my bucket the minute you turn your back.” Odds are your horse went on a little water bender, and the staff just hasn’t been back around to top it off. He’s not dying of dehydration. He just drank a lot.

Horses hurt themselves.
I used to find a scratch or bump and immediately stew over it: Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Maybe it’s because no one saw it? Your horse could’ve done it in the privacy of his own stall, or while playing in turnout, when it didn’t look like much. Just because you see it now doesn’t mean it was obvious earlier. So maybe don’t go full psycho until you get the scoop.

Sometimes it’s best to skip turnout.
Back then, I was always complaining that my horse didn’t get enough turnout. If he was especially spicy, I’d blame it on that. Now? I’ve seen my ponies wipe out on the flattest, driest paddocks because they were acting like drunk frat boys. Add mud, ice, or sketchy weather, and the risk goes way up. Sometimes, a shorter turnout or zero turnout means your horse stays in one piece. So, ask yourself: do you want a fresh horse… or a broken one?

Horses don’t require a hay buffet.
If your horse maintains a healthy weight, most likely he’s getting enough food. I used to sneak my horse extra flakes to ensure he was “living his best life.” In hindsight, that was inconsiderate and unnecessary. Hay is expensive, and horses love to p*e all over the extra. Also, my horse didn’t need to be a porker to be happy–he needed not to founder.

Horses p**p. A lot.
I remember walking into a stall and thinking: Why is this so gross today? But some days, horses p**p more than others. And if they were kept in due to weather, it’s going to look (and smell) nastier. A bad stall day here or there doesn’t automatically equal poor care.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/05/15/confessions-of-a-reformed-boarder-karen/
📸 Photo © Jamie Sindell