Grand Slam Equestrian, LLC.- Nina M. Shaffer

09/13/2026

A hill I will die on. Dead of winter? Fly mask. 100 degrees, yep, still wearing a fly mask.

𝙁𝙡𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜

A simple tip that not everyone may be aware of: put a fly mask on your horse every single time you haul them.

Hauling down the road at 65+ mph (or 55 if you’re in CA), there is going to be a LOT of air moving through those drop-down windows. That air can fling shavings and hay around, and one little piece can end up poking your horse right in the eye.

Your horse can also bump its eye on a hay bag, catch it on something inside the trailer, or have a rock or other debris from the road fly in and hit them just right.

And let me tell you… eye injuries are THE WORST. They aren’t easily fixed, they can become a major deal very quickly, and they’re one of those things that are so much easier to prevent than deal with afterward.

A fly mask is a simple layer of protection for something that is incredibly important and incredibly vulnerable.

So put the fly mask on while you haul. It takes two seconds and could potentially save you a whole lot of trouble.

And for all things holy, keep the bars on your trailer up and your screens intact. Do not allow your horse to have its entire neck hanging out of the window while hauling down the interstate.

There are plenty of things we can’t control when we’re hauling our horses down the road.

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣.

09/11/2026

09/08/2026

A significant change is coming to lower-level eventing in 2027.

USEA and USEF announced that they will transition current Endorsed levels to USEF Lite, covering Starter through Training.

The new structure is designed to reduce competition costs.

Riders at Lite levels don't need USEF Competing Membership, and competitors don't pay a drugs and medications fee.

Read the story—link in comments.

📸 Sarah Welk Baynum

09/06/2026

If they can’t walk and steer, they can’t trot and steer.
If they can’t balance at the trot, they aren’t ready to canter.
If they can’t go catch their own horse, groom it, tack it up and take responsibility for it, how are they supposed to lead that horse from the saddle?

Going faster does not equal getting better. Strapping your kid to a horse and sending them into the arena isn’t making them better, it’s setting them up to get hurt.

You might think watching your kid walk circles isn’t exciting. You might think they should be cantering, jumping “doing more.”

But sometimes they’re simply not ready.

And respectfully — that’s why you hired an instructor. Because knowing how and when to progress a rider is our job.

We aren’t holding your kid back. We’re building the foundation that keeps them safe and makes them GOOD.

- Author Unknown

09/03/2026

Our horses favorite treats!

09/01/2026

There is something I deeply admire about my adult amateur ladies. 💙💜💙

They have careers. They have children. They have spouses, homes, endless responsibilities, and calendars that make my head spin.

And somehow… they still make room for the horses.

They squeeze in the barn before work. They come straight from the office. They rearrange schedules, find childcare, drive in after long days, and sometimes (often!) ride when they are already completely exhausted.

Not because they have unlimited time.

Because this matters to them.

This photo is one of my favorite reminders of that. A doctor, a full-time professional, a mom of two toddlers — and a horsewoman — carving out a little piece of the evening to do something that fills her cup. Just her, her horse, and a sunset.

Here’s to the women who have a million things on their plates — and still make time for their horses. 🥂🐴✨