This was a little bit of a quiet weekend for ABBF riders but a smile this big is all we need to remember how lucky we are to get to do what we do everyday!
Huge congrats to Deb Neivert and her Tally (former ABBF sales horse) on their Intro level Reserve Champion status at Woodstock’s PVDA show this past weekend!
Kelly Williams is an amazing 3 day eventing woman.
Kelley is an advanced level eventer whose passion for horses began at young age while taking riding lessons at summer camp. Pat, having loved horses from the time she was a child, saw an opportunity to fulfill her childhood dreams and decided that mother-daughter riding lessons might be fun. And the rest, as they say, is history.
After graduating from St. Mary’s College with a degree in Mathematics, Kelley began working for Dr. Will Engel of Ridgeview Veterinary Practice (large animal veterinarian). Working at the practice has helped fine-tune her horsemanship skills over the years. In addition, Kelley continued with her riding and competing, and soon found a love of retraining young horses off the track and teaching students. That, coupled with her passion for eventing, led to her current career as trainer for A Bit Better Farm.
Listen to the podcast HERE
What a wonderful week we had at the Kentucky Horse Park for the American Eventing Championships! This event is so unique in the opportunity it provides to horses and riders at every level to really experience top-tier competition. I was lucky enough to be on hand to help a few students and friends this week, and I walked away feeling very thankful and so inspired to be involved with helping these riders reach their goals!
I can’t emphasize enough the hard work and dedication that it takes from a rider and their “village” to get here. Among other things, the level of emotional investment and pressure that the riders put on themselves is huge, and that in and of itself is a huge part of learning how to be successful in this sport.
Each of the riders that I was lucky enough to coach this week had their own personal goals to achieve (in addition to looking for that victory gallop around the Rolex Arena, of course 😉). I think the most important achievement for these riders was not the ribbons but that they had the grace to handle the pressures of intense competition, putting their best foot forward but then being prepared to keep moving in the direction of their goals even when things didn’t go according to plan.
Learning to take pride in the accomplishments along the way of that never-ending quest for perfection is one of the major keys to success.
In any case, I am immensely proud of the maturity and growth demonstrated by these lovely humans and their horses this week. Congratulations thoroughly on your wonderful performances! This week has been a testament to your hard work, dedication, and desire to keep learning and improving!!!
Handcrafted with care in Great Britain, Champion Equestrian Wear Helmets boasts a legacy of over 40 years of developing top-notch protective riding hats. Safety is truly their forte, and I can vouch for the fact that their commitment to excellence is unparalleled.
If you’re in the market for a new riding helmet that puts safety at the forefront without sacrificing style. Get 15% off and FREE shipping on your next order by using coupon code KWILLIAMS15, or DM me for a printable coupon to use at your local tack shop!
“I sent Rory to sleep away camp with Kelley Williams at A Bit Better Farm while I was on vacation and had my first ride back this evening. I could really feel [the] results of the time she put into getting Rory to move his body more correctly, especially in his neck. It’s like he had a tune up. The problem with being an amature in horse sports (as opposed to sports where your equipment is not a living creature) is that your horse can really only go as well as you can ride. While you are limited by your horse, to the greater degree, your lack of education and experience really limits the horse. You end up developing a partnership full of miscommunication and misconceptions. It’s just the way it is, but it’s frustrating, nonetheless. Lessons help a tremendous amount but I can now say that training rides might be essential, at least for me. As I’m often reminded, the path of understanding is so damn narrow. I’ll take all the help I can get. Grateful for a generous horse and a team of folks who help me.”
I was recently tagged in this post after Rory’s mom hopped on following Rory’s time with us at A Bit Better Farm. I want to take the time to say thank you to Shane not only for your kind words but truly more importantly, your keen observation of what I wish for my students to gain from any time they allow me to put training into their horses. So much of the time my role as an instructor and horse trainer is to be an interpreter of sorts. Helping riders learn to decipher clues that their horses give them about what they do and don’t understand, about what is hard or easy for them and about what they need most to excel. I try to challenge my students to become better riders by becoming better horse trainers themselves, learning to listen and communicate clearly with their equine partners.
Seeing Shane and Rory taking big steps in this direction really reminds me why I love what I do so much!!!
As a professional equestrian, my schedule is a whirlwind of training, competitions, and caring for the horses. The last thing I have time for is managing the details of keeping my website updated, social media running, and scheduling clinics. That’s where Mythic Landing Enterprises comes to the rescue. With their exceptional services, they take care of all the extras that no one thinks goes into running a barn, allowing me to focus on what I love most – training and riding. We love having Mythic Landing as part of our team!
After a tough ride, finding fast relief is a breeze with Four Oaks Farm Product’s Natural Release Muscle Spray. Just spray it on and let the magic begin, soothing tired muscles and supporting your horse’s recovery process. With this easy-to-use product in your tack trunk, you’ll be ready for anything. Ride on and keep your horses feeling their best!
Teaching in the summer heat has never been more stylish and comfortable than with Irideon sun shirts! These trendy shirts keep me cool and looking chic while I’m out teaching in the summer sun!
If you want to try Irideon, use my code KWILLIAMS15 for 15% off! If you’re shopping locally DM me for a printable coupon.
Shoutout to our very own Kim Keating!!! 🐴
Check out her insightful blog post about the Waredaca Three Day Event. She’s sharing valuable tips for competitors, straight from the heart of the eventing world. Get ready to soak up her wisdom and prep for this awesome event!
Check it out here:
https://bit.ly/3L52RoX
Purina Horse Feed RepleniMash is Big Mama Freyja approved!! Thank you, Bowman’s Feed & Pet, for making sure that it’s always here when we need it!