AN Equestrian

06/16/2023

Baby horse things ❤️

Had a lot of fun going back to my roots and piloting 's Levi around some baby jumps last week. Did you know I spent over 5 years riding at breeding farms, breaking and training young horses?

Thanks to the whole team at for all your support and for helping me manage this crazy schedule.

Life sure doesn't look how it did the last time I was in the ring, and I'm so so thankful for these incredible opportunities.

Now if someone could tell me to stop making ridiculous faces while I ride, that would be great 🤪

Photos by

01/04/2023

How does your own body affect your horse's soundness?

Could not load dynamic part 'OGDescription'

09/26/2022

Excited for what will be my 9th full season coaching the University of Guelph IHSA English Equestrian Team!

We are excited to introduce our 2022-2023 season roster!
-
Brooke Gillyatt
Dana Wilkes
Cheyenne Toutant
Amanda Lynch
Elizabeth Hendricks
Emilie Maxwell
Abby Pullen
Cameron Yach
Quinn Rogers
Ava Neumann
Meghan Darlington
Emma Metzger
Alyssa Schiller
-
Thank you all for your patience and applications, we had so many wonderful candidates this year! Stay tuned for more announcements ❤️🖤💛

04/08/2022

Gosh, another year over and done with.

This was my 8th year coaching the and while it still posed many challenges, it felt like the end result was worth the uncertainty and frustration of the past two years.

This team killed it at their last weekend of horse shows. I'm so proud of every single one of you. High point team, high point riders, champions of divisions, best trips ever, y'all really nailed it.

And I'm so so thankful to .eq for letting us compete and all the teams on the North Zone for welcoming us.

Winning is always fun. Going out there and doing your best is even better. But for me, seeing this team come together and support one another was my favourite part.

The genuine desire each team member had to help other members on the team, to lift them up, give them confidence when they needed it, to find the silver lining in any situation, was something I had never quite witnessed before. For that alone, I am so proud.

Special thanks to .mccullough, our captain, fearless leader, and overall wonderful person. And to , assistant captain and perhaps assistant to the captain 😅 you both made my job so easy!

Thank you to who graciously hosted our team lessons for a second year - you are appreciated more than you could ever know!

When I first started coaching the , I noted to another university equestrian coach how much fun I was having and how I thought it would never be the same with different people on the team.

This wise coach said no, it won't be the same, but new people will come along, and you'll have new favourites and new amazing experiences and memories. And he was right.

Thanks for another memorable, heartwarming year ❤️🥰

01/27/2022

😂😂 Anyone else dealing with the winter sillies these days?!

Hilarious 😂
Thank you Paige for the laugh !

12/27/2021

😂😂 IFYKYK

😬🎄

11/23/2021

It's been a very long 21 months (!!) since has been able to show, and since I've been able to accompany them as coach.

We are so thankful to .eq for allowing us to join in this year, and to the North Zone for accepting us!

We all had So. Much. Fun.

The OCEA is different than IHSA shows, and it was really fun to do something new.

For almost everyone, it was their first collegiate catch riding experience and I'm so proud ❤️

Some highlights include high point riders in Novice and Entry, Reserve High Point Rider in Intermediate, overall High Point Rider, and Reserve High Point Team!!!

Thank you to Foothill Farms and Laurentian for hosting, and congrats to Trent on the win!

08/10/2021

Excited for the year ahead!

❤️🖤💛F21/W22 ENGLISH IHSA TRYOUTS ARE HERE!💛🖤❤️
-
Due to the current guidelines set by the University and local public health units, we feel confident in having a safe and fun 2021/2022 season. We will still be implementing safety protocols to ensure the safety of our teammates, coach, and host barn (VQ Equestrian), but look forward to in person invitational tryouts, meetings, and lessons.
-
To try out for the team this year, please follow these steps:
-
1: Create a video of you riding at a level you are most comfortable: this will ideally include walk/trot/canter flatwork as well as sitting trot, sitting canter and flatwork without stirrups. If you intend to apply for a position on the team that involves jumping, please include footage of you jumping at a height you are comfortable with. It is a bonus to show your ability riding various horses! If you do not have all of these qualifications please still send us any experience you have, as we have spots available on the team for all levels of riders. Videos should only be a few minutes in length and highlight your strengths as a rider.
-
2: Post the video on to a platform such as YouTube (you may make the video private if you wish, just make sure we have access to it!) Please do not email the video directly as the file size will most likely be too large.
-
3: Go to our website and fill out the level placement form by clicking on “Joining the team” and scrolling down to the “Level Placement Form” icon under “Tryouts”. Include this form in your email. Link is in our bio!
-
4: After September 5th, 2021 we will contact a select number of applicants to attend an in-person tryout session where you will be able to meet other members and experience the team’s atmosphere!
-
Please do not hesitate to check out our website for details:
https://uogihsa.wixsite.com/website/joining-the-team
or email us at [email protected]
-
We hope to see you all this fall! ❤️💛🖤

06/10/2021

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Photo: Abi Kelley gives her horse, Ishana III an appreciative hug after a great round in the Low Junior Jumpers. By Kirstie Dobbs and Hailey Johns What’s the first question that you ask a young rider when they return home from a horse show? Is it, “How did you ride?” Or, is it, “How did […...

05/24/2021

Surreal - the first horse I ever got to break 100 percent on my own terms, and for myself. Funny enough, also the easiest breaking experience I've ever had 🤔.

We talk about breaking horses, life choices and a lot more on today's episode of the Springen Equestrian Podcast Springen Equestrian

I noticed I didn't talk much about riding/training horses as I did about teaching, but I think it's because I see them similarly.

Just as you can see a student's lightbulb go off when they make a connection, you can feel it in the horses.

And I'm honestly not sure which one is better.

Hope you guys have the chance to give the podcast a listen.

It's a long one but wow, did it ever feel refreshing, and motivating to get together with a bunch of fellow young professionals and have an honest conversation. We need more of that in this industry.

Let Jess know if you liked it, and if it sparked more questions!

Photo: Ringside Media

05/01/2021

Throwing it back on a Saturday - caption from last year and photo from 2012 😅

Im bringing back some training tips from Lockdown Number 1!

Daily Tip Day 1: If you can't go straight, go sideways.

Weird, right? But if you're struggling with keeping your horse straight, it might be because they either don't understand or don't respect lateral cues.

Teaching your horse lateral movements gives you the ability to place your horse's shoulders, ribs and hind end where you want it.

Patience is key, especially if lateral work is new to your horse. Start with a simple leg yield at the walk. If your horse really doesnt understand, you can even start on the ground by moving them around in a turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches.

When they understand that your leg and hand cues can mean something other than forward or back, then you'll have a much better shot at being able to place them and travel straight.

And it's not just about traveling straight, but keeping their body straight. When they learn that inside leg pressing at the girth means move the ribs over, you've also installed a "bending" button.

To be truly straight, their body needs to be straight, nose to tail. Chin in the centre of the chest. Again, lateral work teaches them to listen to you when you ask them to place their body.

Questions? Lemme know below! ⬇️