Springbank Equestrian

Merry Christmas from our farm to yours! May the season bring you love, happiness and joy.

As winter settles in for the next few months, it will become harder for some people to function. Myself included as I try to battle wanting to hibernate versus visiting my equine therapists. Winter can be a great time to work on bonding with your horse and just having fun instead of all the schooling and focusing on getting ready for the next show.

What do you do with your horse to beat the winter blues?

I picked out all 4 hooves!!! While this may seem like a minor achievement to most, I'd like to note that this feat has taken me 3 months to accomplish.

July of this year I decided to take on another mule. This one however has a traumatic past. Mules are often very misunderstood and to often people get them thinking they're just like horses. Let me be very clear on this though, mules ARE NOT like horses. They're stubborn, insanely smart, stubborn, opinionated, selective on who their people are, stubborn, loyal to their human, loath to forgive mistreatment and one of the sweetest animals going if you treat them appropriately.

Three months in, and she'll stand in cross ties; let me brush her all over (except her belly); has mostly stopped ripping her tail out; and allows others to halter her. Yet while I can pick her feet out, forget trimming them. Her front feet are in horrific shape but gaining her trust and teaching her that humans are okay are far more important to me than just drugging her and man handling her into allowing a farrier underneath her. Not only that but I value my farrier and man can this mule kick. Her back foot can come forward toward your head faster than you can blink.

Slowly but surely she's learning to trust. Slowly but surely she's releasing her trauma. Slowly but surely she's letting us see that there's a sweet molly mule in there.

Three months in and I can pick out all four hooves and that for me is enough. ❤️

After much consideration and discussion with the rest of my show team and Mother Nature, I've made the decision to postpone this weekend's horse show. As with many other events, we just can't catch a break with this weather.

Currently for Renfrew, and I suspect much of the Valley, the Weather Network has issued a Special Weather Statement calling for amounts of 40 - 80 mm of rain.

With safety of both our competitors and horses first and foremost we will be moving the horse show to August 31st. The registration link will remain open so there will be no need to register again.

My apologies, but let's face it, as riders, coaches and judges, it's no fun showing in rainy, muddy weather and first and foremost, I want this show to be a fun, safe showing experience for all.

I look forward to seeing you all on the 31st!!

Look at these adorable little creations made by one of our generous horse show sponsors Little Red Crochet . You can never have enough ponies to snuggle or bonnets for your real life ponies so reach out to them for any of your custom orders!d

14 more days to go before the 2nd show of the summer here at Springbank Equestrian. Entries are open at https://form.jotform.com/242167205887261 . Make sure you get them in by August 14th.

August Dressage/Jumper Show Please click the link to complete this form.