Willow Rock Farm

To help maintain a long leg that is grounded to the earth... "Imagine there are magnets on the soles of your boots that are attracted to the earth. The strength... of this vertical line of positive tension gives the horse a place from which to balance." Beth Baumert Click here to read more articles with Beth Baumert https://dressagetoday.com/tag/articles-with-beth-baumert Illustration by Sandy Rabinowitz

What a beautiful morning to ride!

Lucy and Missy at the Hunter pace

We need that hot walker

Most horses pass from one human to another - some horsemen and women are patient and forgiving, others are rigorous and demanding, others are cruel, others are ...ignorant. Horses have to learn how to, at the minimum, walk, trot, canter, gallop, go on trails and maybe jump, to be treated by the vet, all with sense and good manners. Talented Thoroughbreds must learn how to win races, and if they can't do that, they must learn how to negotiate courses and jump over strange obstacles without touching them, or do complicated dance like movements or control cattle or accommodate severely handicapped children and adults in therapy work. Many horses learn all of these things in the course of a single lifetime. Besides this, they learn to understand and fit into the successive social systems of other horses they meet along the way. A horse's life is rather like twenty years in foster care, or in and out of prison, while at the same time changing schools over and over and discovering that not only do the other students already have their own social groups, but that what you learned at the old school hasn't much application at the new one. We do not require as much of any other species, including humans. That horses frequently excel, that they exceed the expectations of their owners and trainers in such circumstances, is as much a testament to their intelligence and adaptability as to their relationship skills or their natural generosity or their inborn nature. That they sometimes manifest the same symptoms as abandoned orphans - distress, strange behaviors, anger, fear - is less surprising than that they usually don't. No one expects a child, or even a dog to develop its intellectual capacities living in a box 23 hours a day and then doing controlled exercises the remaining one. Mammal minds develop through social interaction and stimulation. A horse that seems "stupid", "slow", "stubborn", etc. might just have not gotten the chance to learn! Take care of your horses and treasure them. Written by Jane Smiley Happy Adventurous trails Lisa

I’ll be doing holiday photo shoots soon. I’ll possibly be at Willow Rock as well. You can have me go to your barn. I Don’t have dates set yet but if you are at ...Willow Rock and are interested or know someone that might be, or want to schedule me at another barn, get in touch with me! Prices are very reasonable! The basic package will start at $60. I have tons of props and if you have anything special of your own we can use it! See more

Idag slutade första ridlägret på Taffsnäs

This is Lia!! Willow Rock Farms future trainer

Our newest employee at Willow Rock Farm is very helpful. She feeds, rides, and helps lead horses! Good girl Ruthie! Even though you may only be 4lbs right now you are one strong little girl!

So true! :D credits: Dana's Doodles

How cute is this little girl!?