by Syd | I am officially switching barns. My trainer is moving and a couple riding friends and I are going to use this summer (what we have left of it after vacations) to find a new barn. So this ‘blogfest’ blog is going to be about all my funny and interesting stories I’ve had at Gold-Creek. My trainer always joked about how my lessons were exciting and terrifying and there will probably be lots of stories to tell about me, so I’m here to tell a few…

by Syd | Have you ever been riding on a moderate temperature day and in the middle of your ride had to take off your jacket because you got too hot? Do your legs wobble and feel weak after a ride because you haven’t ridden in a while? Do you tire easily on long rides? Do you get angry when people sneer at equestrians and say, “Riding a horse is so easy — the horse does all the work!” If you answered yes to any of these questions then you know that riding is a lot of work…

by Syd | Finding the right barn can be hard. When searching for a new barn, the most important general things you should look for (or ask about) are…

by Syd | We’ve all seen, heard, or read about them. The racers who never lift a hoof, jumpers who never leave the ground and ropers who never come close to catching a calf. So what becomes of them?

Syd, age 12
You’ve read part one and part two, so now it’s time for the final part! This will be all about what to do after you have survived your first horse show!
The first thing you should do after every show and every class (aside from taking care of your horse) is review your performance. [...]

by Syd, age 12
Okay, so you’ve read part one, an introduction to the different types of shows. Now you’re ready for part two! You’ve chosen your show discipline and what kinds of classes you’re geared toward. Now it’s time to get prepared for the big day!
The first and definitely most important thing you will do [...]

by Syd, age 12
So you’ve been riding for a while and you’ve watched all the major shows and competitions on television for years. You know which pro riders are your favorites and root for them every time they compete. Maybe you’ve even been to a few shows to watch. And finally you’ve decided you want [...]

by Syd, age 12
Aw yes, the first official day of winter was December 21st but for many of us we started getting winter weather around a few weeks ago. Maybe even a little snow! Well what are we supposed to do about our equine companions in this weather? Lucky for you I’m here to tell [...]

by Syd, age 12
At age 1 - All the other babies wanted a blanket with rainbows and flowers. You wanted one with horses.
At age 2 - All the other little girls smiled when they got to play with mommy’s phone. You just wanted to pet mommy’s horse.
At age 3 - All the other toddler girls [...]

by Syd, age 12
At age 1 - All the other babies wanted a blanket with rainbows and flowers. You wanted one with horses.
At age 2 - All the other little girls smiled when they got to play with mommy’s phone. You just wanted to pet mommy’s horse.
At age 3 - All the other toddler girls [...]