Great Scot Riding & Training

06/07/2026

Two posts in one day ! Ha ha
We went and tried a new show to us this weekend to get my littles out to strut their stuff. I am always nervous taking my horses and students and quite frankly myself to new venues, never know what you're going to get. But I was pleasantly surprised that when we got there, there was someone to direct us to parking !! That never happens out here 😂 the office gal Julie was SO FRIENDLY and welcoming so that was also 👍👍 the unicorns were perfect, the kids were machines and I could not have been more proud of my wee ones.

06/07/2026

Learning how to redirect goals and expectations this year. We have no "show season" as a team this year and that has been tough on my students who enjoy the show environment and the goal setting. I'm learning my standards are not everyone's standards and that's OK. But I always need a takeaway. What can I do to redirect my students who need that show to get them motivated? Or that ribbon to say they did a good job ? We put in the work at home to put it to practice at a show so that we can see how we stack up amongst other equestrians or how a judge "sees it". But what I'm learning by staying home is this.... The horse can tell me all that. The horse will tell me if my ride was good by the quite canter departure, the soft five stride with the auto change at the corner , right ? Don't get me wrong I enjoy a good show and good competition. I love the buzz of a good horse show and the barn aisles chat and the shared conversations of trainers who love this sport as much as I do. But this season we will stay home, pop over to one or two just to get out and we will enjoy the gift of our horses. I took a couple of my students to Upperville this week and soaked up the buzz at the warm up ring over in jumper land. I stood at the rail and watched McLain Ward warm up, I watched him pat his horse, I watched him be kind and respectful to his fellow competitors. I watched Archibald Cox III stop what he was doing to take a picture with a young rider. I've always watched, ever since I was a kid. I watch because we can all do better. I want to be better and so do my students.

06/04/2026

Please share!

06/04/2026

05/31/2026

Great Scot field trip !!! Extending an invite to come out and enjoy the sport of Polo. It's very exciting to watch. We will be there with an EZ up and chairs if anyone wants to come watch with us. Sunday July 5th in Crozet , Virginia at Kings Family Vineyard , Gates open at 10 am

05/24/2026

Had a great morning at a clinic with the legendary Jimmy Lee. As a younger trainer in my earlier years I would watch him judge and he was just so spot on. He didn't disappoint as I watched my own boy and a couple of my students doing their THANG 👏 it was a really cool forum as he taught with two other Virginia trainers, Paul Matthews and Steve Rivetts. They each complemented each other and gave each rider so much good information. As for the overall experience I give it an A+, from the moment we signed up to when we drove in, every detail was organized and well communicated. Nydrie Stud was such a rich historical piece of Virginia horse country. It was so cool to walk through the barn and through the fields. I am a major equine geek when it comes to history and it was really such a great experience to be there where many many champions were born. The new owner River Run Farms LLC has done a phenomenal job. Hope to see more events here in the future.

05/18/2026

The Great Scot Team finally got out to a show this year !! First one is always the toughest one because adrenaline is high, nerves are all over the place, the venue is new to us so trying to navigate different arenas and warm up areas and stalling areas. It all factors in to the overall vibe and focus of my riders and horses. Some didn't bat an eye and a couple of my horses thought the jumper arena right on the busy road was very challenging to focus in 😵‍💫😵‍💫 we take it all in stride and change the focus to a teaching moment, no longer a class to win. And that's horse showing folks !! You go in with thoughts to be competitive and end up being humbled by these great animals we love so much. They still get a pat and a mint and we go home with new things to work on. Throughout the weekend we made sure to have fun where we could, drank lots of water and found the shade. I had two newbies who'd never shown with me before and they did fantastic, Ainsley winning her class in leadline and Shannon Jackson in pleasure in the top five in good company ! Abby stepped into the 2' hunters this season and rode confidently in a very big group pulled a ribbon each day. Bryleigh decided to try her hand in the jumper ring and came home with champion and reserve along with our Katelynn Elizabeth on her perfect girl Charm picked up champion on Sunday. My two boys Tango and Fash walked away with homework! But their riders made me proud with how they handled the rowdy 🤠🤠 the others I will tag in pics . Send me pics if I didn't get any

05/14/2026

Sharing from this gals page Blue Thunder. Such a beautiful write up on not losing the joy in the journey and the climb. This is not just for kids, it's for anyone that chooses to be a student and that have a passion to succeed.

In a world pushing kids to specialize earlier, win faster, and carry the weight of adult expectations before they’ve even had the chance to fully grow up… we have to protect the joy.

The truth is greatness is never built only in the bright lights and victory laps. It’s built in the missed manuevers, the hard practices, the long drives home, the tears, the setbacks, the rebuilding seasons, and the quiet moments nobody else sees. Those moments matter just as much as the wins. Maybe even more.

One of the greatest gifts we can give kids is not pressure… it’s perspective. Teaching them an attitude of gratitude through every high and low will take them farther in life than talent ever could. Grateful for the horse. Grateful for the lesson. Grateful for the opportunity. Grateful for the growth. Grateful even when things don’t go their way.

Because when kids learn their worth is not attached to a paycheck, buckle, title, trophy, or social media highlight reel… they become unshakable. They learn to compete from a place of purpose instead of fear.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you...” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

God created each child for such a time as this. Not to be crushed by comparison or consumed by pressure, but to grow, learn, inspire, and become exactly who He designed them to be.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10

The goal isn’t just raising great competitors. It’s raising good humans with grateful hearts who still love the journey long after the applause fades.

Somewhere along the way, the horse world, and honestly the world in general, forgot that kids are supposed to have fun too. Blue Thunder has taught Savannah that the magic was never only in the big moments. It was in every step it took to get there together.

05/10/2026

Happy mother's Day to the Great Scot barn family ! So many momma's that share this passion with their kiddos. I get to share with my boy and my own mom adores animals and the horses as well. We honor you and your sacrifice 🙏❤️

04/29/2026

We need rain !! This spring so far is not behaving. No April showers to give us May flowers.... But maybe tonight we will get some 🤞🤞 watch this video from late March when we got a 15 min down pour. Listen with sound up 😲😲