Eudora Equine

09/11/2026

What should a horse’s first ride look like?

For me, this is exactly what I’m looking for: quiet, relaxed, soft, and willing.

This mare has only been here a short time, and today was her first ride with me. She was a little sticky about moving forward, which is completely understandable. A horse carrying a rider for the first time is processing a lot of new information — the weight of the rider, the feel of the saddle, rein contact, leg pressure, balance, and learning how all of those things work together.

My goal on a first ride is not to make a horse perform. It’s to introduce the idea of carrying a rider and give them a positive, understandable experience.

That means I want them moving forward, changing direction, and experiencing all three gaits when appropriate. I also want them comfortable traveling both directions. These early rides are where we begin establishing the basics that everything else will eventually build on.

I know some people may question using a bit on a first ride. I believe the important part is how the bit was introduced beforehand. This mare had already been worked in the bit on the ground, including flexing, backing, and learning to respond softly to pressure. Because of that preparation, the transition to carrying the bit under saddle was not a brand-new experience for her.

I typically start young or inexperienced horses in a lightly weighted copper snaffle with O-rings. The copper encourages salivation, while the small amount of weight helps the bit settle consistently in the horse’s mouth. I’ve found that many young horses carry this type of bit comfortably and quietly.

And this is why I put so much emphasis on groundwork.

The first ride should not be where you start teaching the horse. It should be where you begin putting together things they already understand.

When the foundation is there, you don’t have to fight the horse, overwhelm them, or create unnecessary drama just to say you got on.

You go back to the horse.

You listen to what they’re telling you.

You give them time to understand.

And most importantly, you build their confidence one ride at a time.

Good first rides aren’t about how much you can accomplish. They’re about how much you can prepare the horse to understand. 🐴

09/09/2026

New training horse in! 🐴❤️ She’s been here almost a week, and today was the first time stepping up on the side of her.

Today was all about getting comfortable with the weight, staying soft in the flexion, and—most importantly—getting her comfortable disengaging her hind end.

If your groundwork is done correctly, that softness and responsiveness should carry over into the ride.

As much as I know I probably could’ve thrown my leg over her today and more than likely been just fine, I always try to go back to the horse. My biggest goal in the beginning is building confidence.

Today was a lot for a young mind. So why push it and risk taking away some of that confidence when there’s always tomorrow?

That’s not me saying you should never push a young horse. There’s absolutely a time to ask more of them. But in the beginning, I believe it’s so important not to overwhelm them with an hour-long session just because you can.

I want my horses ready to come back tomorrow. I want them eager to work. I want them to enjoy their job—not be ready to have their legs ran off the second they see me coming. 😂

So follow along for this little mare’s 90 days here… because she’s a red Hancock-bred mare, and I have a feeling it might get interesting. 😂🔥

Let’s see what we can build. ❤️🐴

09/06/2026

🍂 FALL IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! 🍂

We are SO excited to finally put out our first piece of Eudora Equine merchandise! 🤎 I’ve been dying to do some vests, and I think these are going to be perfect for fall!

🖤 Black lightweight vest with white embroidery
✨ Our Eudora Equine logo embroidered on the front & back
✨ Your name embroidered on the front
✨ Perfect for our lesson kiddos, parents, or anyone in our community who wants to support our small business!

These will be great for chilly mornings at the barn, lessons, trail rides, horse shows, or just showing off your love for Eudora Equine wherever you go! 🐴

$50 each

📅 Orders accepted through October 5th
👩 Women’s XS–XXL
👨 Men’s S–XXL
🚫 NO YOUTH SIZES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

We are hoping to have these completed late October/early November, just in time for the cooler weather! 🍁

If you’d like to be included in our first merchandise order, send us a message with your size and the name you’d like embroidered!

Thank you all for continuing to support Eudora Equine and our small business. We can’t wait to see these around the barn! 🤎🐴

08/18/2026

Due to heat NO LESSONS Tuesday or Wednesday 8/18-8/19

Everyone stay safe and cool during theses hot temperatures. It’s not fair nor am I going to risk my horses health in this heat. We hope everyone understands 🩷

08/16/2026

🥵NO LESSONS MONDAY 8/17🥵

Due to the extreme heat conditions expected tomorrow, we have made the decision now to cancel all lessons for Monday, August 17th.

The safety of our riders, families, and especially our horses always comes first. ❤️🐴 As we all know, extreme heat can be dangerous, especially during physical activity, and heat-related issues can sneak up quickly.

We are hoping to resume normal lessons Tuesday, depending on the weather and conditions.

In the meantime, everyone stay cool, drink plenty of water, and take care of yourselves! ☀️💧

Thank you for understanding and helping us keep everyone safe! ❤️

08/13/2026

We ONLY have TWO spaces available!! Be sure to message our page to register before all spaces are gone!!

🤠 Adult Cowboy Class Registration is NOW OPEN! 🤠

Our 3-Day Adult Cowboy Clinic is coming up November 20–22, from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM each day!

📍 New location this year!

We are excited to announce that we’ve partnered with CWS Farms and will be hosting this year’s clinic at their beautiful facility while utilizing their cattle. We couldn’t be more excited to work together and offer everyone an even better experience!

Whether you’re a complete beginner, an experienced rider looking to expand your skills, or an English rider wanting to step into the western world, this clinic is for you!

Over the three days we’ll be introducing you to:
🤠 Cow work
🐂 Cattle handling
🏇 Barrel racing
🤠 Roping
🌿 Trail riding
❤️ General horsemanship (our biggest focus!)

Our goal is to help you build confidence, improve your horsemanship, and have a great time learning in a supportive and encouraging environment.

💲 Cost: $450 per participant

Your registration includes:
✔️ A horse from Eudora Equine carefully matched to your experience level for the entire clinic
✔️ All tack and equipment
✔️ Four hours of instruction each day

Have your own horse? You’re more than welcome to haul in and ride your own each day!

Meet Your Instructor

Shelby Nisbet is the owner and founder of Eudora Equine. She spent much of her youth competing in show jumping at venues including WEC, Tryon, and the Kentucky Horse Park. After college, she transitioned into the western industry, working for two years with Home Place Cutting Horses and spending summers in Wyoming on guest ranches, learning ranch work and ranch roping. Today, she competes in barrel racing, is bringing along her rope horses, and enjoys sharing her passion for western riding through lessons and clinics.

Shelby is excited to welcome everyone into the western world in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment!

📩 Spaces are limited and will fill quickly!

Message us today to reserve your spot and come experience all the cowboy fun with us! 🤠🐴

08/01/2026

🤠 Adult Cowboy Class Registration is NOW OPEN! 🤠

Our 3-Day Adult Cowboy Clinic is coming up November 20–22, from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM each day!

📍 New location this year!

We are excited to announce that we’ve partnered with CWS Farms and will be hosting this year’s clinic at their beautiful facility while utilizing their cattle. We couldn’t be more excited to work together and offer everyone an even better experience!

Whether you’re a complete beginner, an experienced rider looking to expand your skills, or an English rider wanting to step into the western world, this clinic is for you!

Over the three days we’ll be introducing you to:
🤠 Cow work
🐂 Cattle handling
🏇 Barrel racing
🤠 Roping
🌿 Trail riding
❤️ General horsemanship (our biggest focus!)

Our goal is to help you build confidence, improve your horsemanship, and have a great time learning in a supportive and encouraging environment.

💲 Cost: $450 per participant

Your registration includes:
✔️ A horse from Eudora Equine carefully matched to your experience level for the entire clinic
✔️ All tack and equipment
✔️ Four hours of instruction each day

Have your own horse? You’re more than welcome to haul in and ride your own each day!

Meet Your Instructor

Shelby Nisbet is the owner and founder of Eudora Equine. She spent much of her youth competing in show jumping at venues including WEC, Tryon, and the Kentucky Horse Park. After college, she transitioned into the western industry, working for two years with Home Place Cutting Horses and spending summers in Wyoming on guest ranches, learning ranch work and ranch roping. Today, she competes in barrel racing, is bringing along her rope horses, and enjoys sharing her passion for western riding through lessons and clinics.

Shelby is excited to welcome everyone into the western world in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment!

📩 Spaces are limited and will fill quickly!

Message us today to reserve your spot and come experience all the cowboy fun with us! 🤠🐴

07/29/2026

The Lesson Horse 🤍

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the lesson horse and the incredible role they play.

The lesson horse may not be the fanciest. They may not have all the buttons. They may not be the prettiest, the fastest, or excel in every discipline. But what they are is honest. They are patient. They are teachers. Most importantly, they are the horse your trainer trusts to help keep you or your child safe while learning.

A lesson horse leaves an impression that lasts a lifetime.

They may not be a finished barrel horse, rope horse, jumper, or western pleasure horse. Horses at that level not only cost a significant amount to purchase, but they also require an incredible investment in training, maintenance, and care—just like any professional athlete.

The lesson horse has a different job. Their purpose is to build the strongest foundation possible. For many of them, their competitive years are behind them, and now they spend their days teaching riders confidence, balance, patience, and feel. They aren’t meant to compete with elite performance horses because that’s simply not their purpose anymore.

So don’t take your lesson horse for granted. Understand that they can only take you so far. When you’ve reached the point where your lesson horse has taught you everything they can, it may be time to consider purchasing a horse that matches your next set of goals—not expecting your trainer to provide a high-caliber performance horse for lessons.

Performance horses need to stay mentally and physically prepared for their own jobs, just as lesson horses have theirs.

Most of all, remember what your lesson horse quietly puts up with every single ride. They forgive your late timing. They forgive unsteady hands. They patiently carry you while you learn to post, find your rhythm, steer, stop, and communicate. They allow mistakes that many horses never would.

A horse that forgiving is truly one of a kind.

That is the lesson horse.

We love every one of ours and are beyond grateful for what they do each day. They create safe riders, strong foundations, and memories that last a lifetime.

So next time you finish a lesson, give your lesson horse an extra pat and a heartfelt “thank you.” They have earned it. ❤️