Read the March Newsletter HERE

I’m sure my students have heard me talk about encouraging their horses to lift their back and wither— but what if you’re having a princess and the pea scenario? From saddle fit to incorrect padding the list of pea suspects goes on and on! Why wonder when you could cross those issues off the list? I always trust my T3 & Matrix Saddle Pads and Voltaire Design USA & Canada. This duo can only be described as a chef’s kiss! 👌My T3 Matrix Ergonomic Half Pad gives my horses (especially the young ones) the space and comfort to lift themselves (and my beautiful Adelaide Dressage Saddle
Hurry up and order your own Matrix pad today! If you’re running out to your local retailer DM me for a coupon, or use the code KWILLIAMS15 for 15% off and free shipping.

As a coach you have some very proud moments indeed. Some of the best are seeing students really pull themselves up and go do what is outside of their comfort zone; something that they know they are ready for but still have some worry or concern because they have never done it before. The success that comes from hours and hours of hard work and from the leap of faith that it will “all be okay because you are ready” is so rewarding! Congratulations to Emerson on her very successful first recognized outing at the training level. It was a resounding success!! 🎉🥳

4/1-2 Morven Park Horse Trials (Leesburg, VA)
✨ Emerson Kasley with Global Venture: 7th in Jr. Training Rider

We were all quite lucky to have Peter Gray with us this last weekend teaching 2 full days of dressage and jump lessons. My notes (and my brain!) are overflowing with thoughts and ideas to apply to my horses and my teaching.

If there is one way to sum up Peter’s message I think it would be the words often heard this weekend… ”Relax your horse.”

There are so many tricks and exercises we can work on but no matter what our goals are they are best met with a happy and willing partner who knows we willl give them the time, space and necessary information to accomplish the task of the day with confidence!

Thank you Peter, thank you for all your hard work organizing it and thank you to everyone who attended, I hope you each got something great out of it!

Four Oaks Farm Products No Thush will change the way you treat thrush. We use is every single day in our barn, especially during those wet fall and spring months. It could not be easier to apply and is so much less mess than any other product you might use. I also like the idea that the product is 100% natural and safe. Over and over again is has helped horses with thrushy soles/frogs and sore center heel sulcuses. A light dusting when you pick out feet can help with the prevention of thrush on horses that are prone to it as well.

Extra special congratulations this week to Emerson Kasley in her very successful move up to Training level!! Top-10 finish and podium for Brittany! Well done! Thanks Erin Gilmore for the beautiful feature photo, and be sure to watch her lovely show jumping round below (or on our socials!)

3/25-26: MDHT Starter Horse Trials #1 (Adamstown, MD)

Emerson Kasley with Global Venture: 7th in Training-A

Brittany Packard with Cayanne Pepper: 2nd in Beginner Novice-B

#eventinglife #showjumping #eventing #teamwork

Here’s an exercise to warm your horse up AND work on your accuracy and confidence over skinny jumps at the same time! This can be used for babies and beginners on up to more advanced combinations.

All lines should be done at the walk on as long of a rein as possible with the LAST line attempted being the straight line connecting the two obstacles (pink) set at 18′ between the poles. Feel free to use lots of walk halt transitions, either before or after the obstacle just to give your horse time to stand still, look at it, and relax! ➡️ Relaxation is everything in this exercise!

Then you can do all lines in the same order at the trot. Starting levels should have just a rail on the ground. If the horse is not very green or has already done this with the rail on the ground then the rail should be slightly raised. When trotting through the horse may land at the trot or canter. It just needs to be a straight line and a steady rhythm on the departure.

Once the horse can do all of the lines walking and trotting then you can raise the poles further to encourage the horse to jump. Once they can trot the blue and green lines and land in good balance then you can trot in to the pink line. They should trot in, land, and take one stride and hop out over the second obstacle landing in good balance. If anything goes wrong go back to the blue and green lines using transitions as needed before or after the jumps to work on balance. Once the horse is confident in balance with the blue and green lines then you can trot in to the pink line again.
Let us know if you try this exercise at home!

We are so pleased to announce our newest sponsorship with Purina Horse Feed and Bowman’s Feed & Pet. We have been feeding our horses Purina grain for many years now and have seen horses from 2 years old to 32 years old absolutely thrive on this diet. Purina offers choices in nutrition that allows us to really customize what we feed to suit each horse’s needs. With the help of Purina’s local Animal Nutrition Specialist Reese Marshall we can be sure we have everyone happy and well feed! All of this on top of the absolute pleasure of doing business with Bowman’s Feed and Pet is just such a wonderful opportunity. Bowman’s is a family run business that really defines the way small, local businesses can serve their community better than any large chain can. If you have not met them, do yourself a favor and stop in or give them a call to see how they can help you with all of your farm and pet needs!

What better way to beat the chill in these early spring mornings than with my super cozy Irideon Riding Wear Fjord Fleece hoodie from Toklat Originals. The fabrics that Irideon has been using are really amazing! Soft, stretchy and seem to really resist barn grunge!!
Find your local Irideon Riding Wear retailer at Toklat.com and send us a DM for a coupon to use in-store. Or shop online with KWILLIAMS15 for 15% off & free shipping!!

Lessons have started here with @peterscottgray! @carlin.eventing is up first with her two horses, then we continue with dressage until 2:30pm before heading over to @cbf.woodbine for an afternoon of jumping.

Still want to audit? Come on over! Audit passes are $15/day or $20/weekend. Cash and Venmo accepted when you get here.