Hidden Creek Equestrian Center, LLC

09/06/2026

😳

08/26/2026

08/24/2026

Cherokee, this morning. ❤️

08/22/2026

THIS!! Child OR adult, sometimes they need to struggle in order to learn, unless it is a safety issue.

Copied and pasted from Abbie Schramm

💛I’m Going to Let Your Child Struggle 💛

When your child comes for lessons with me, I’m going to let them struggle sometimes.

They may have never fastened a buckle on a piece of tack. A saddle might be heavy and awkward. Their lead rope may be a tangled mess. And something that would take me ten seconds might take them five minutes.

I’m not going to immediately step in and do it for them. *Unless its a safety issue.*

Because someday, I want your child to walk into the barn, catch their own horse, tack up, and head out feeling completely confident in their own abilities.

Why?

Because they’re learning that they can do hard things.

So yes, I’ll help when something is beyond a child's physical ability. I’ll encourage, demonstrate, and keep them safe.

But when they *can* do it? I’m going to give them the time to fumble with the buckle. Untangle the rope. Try again. And figure it out.

Parents, I know watching that can be hard. You’ll want to jump in and make it easier.

But sometimes the greatest gift we can give a child is not making the hard thing easier.

It’s standing beside them long enough for them to discover:

“I can do this myself.”

💙 ~Abbie

08/16/2026

😁😃😁

08/11/2026

How you ride depends on who YOU are on that particular day.

How your horse responds depends on who THEY are on that particular day.

A large prey animal being guided by a small predator human. Each their own unique entity, and hardly ever the same, day to day.

Of course it's hard, at times.

Want it to be easier?

Ride a bicycle.

07/22/2026

Mmmmm....

07/21/2026

Teaching the beginner how to safely lead and handle a horse on the ground is best done with the help of a seasoned, well trained, quiet and patient schoolmaster type lesson horse.

However, even the best lesson horse can become distracted; the temptation of something green can catch their eye, and before you know it, they have made a swift nose-dive towards the much desired vegetation.

❤️ Poppy ❤️

07/16/2026

Another sometimes hard lesson to learn. I often remind people, until you can fully control your own emotions, the horse will be reluctant to rely on your guidance and leadership: mounted or in-hand.

I remember, 'back in the day', my instructors telling me that the horse can figure out how I am feeling. In my (very) youthful ignorance I was doubtful, back then. Horses taught me that they were correct.

So much of what is said, below, does not only apply to life with horses, but to life itself, particularly, finding something positive. And don't forget to thank the horses who take care of you, they are priceless.

CONTROLLING EMOTIONS: When you are afraid or angry, your horse doesn't understand the complexities of your emotions. All he knows is that something is wrong and he should be worried. It is your responsibility as a rider to control your emotions so that you are able to support your horse and give him confidence. If you need to, find something - anything - about the horse that is positive, and remind yourself of it over and over. If your horse starts to have an emotional meltdown, don't follow along with him, but keep your own emotions neutral and ride him through it. ~Rambling Thoughts of Another Sagebrush Cowboy - McNabb

07/15/2026

True, since the beginning of time.

Also, one of the most humbling and perhaps difficult to understand concepts for the beginner/novice rider/handler.