Willow Farm

We love our barn family!

Showing Love to the Barns That Built Us - The Plaid Horse Magazine By Jessica Shannon Our barns, whether on our own property or a bit of a drive away, are a second home. They are where we found confidence, built resiliency, and learned how to ride, groom, and treat an abscessed hoof. We found lifelong friends and a sport we will make countless sacrifices to ensure....

First of all, I adore all of our boarders and lesson students. You all rock and we are on this wonderful adventure together!

I get texts every time it rains to ask if there will still be a lesson. Yes, there will be a lesson. It may not be in the saddle but these days are just as important. Horses do not understand the bad weather. They still need fed, groomed and exercised.

What will this teach you or your child?

Working with horses is a commitment regardless of the conditions. We as trainers, grooms and professional horseman
do not get to take a bad weather day. This is an all weather job.

There will always be something to do with your horse. You can clean their legs, trim their mane, doctor some cuts, or just give them much needed attention.

You want to teach your child responsibility? There is nothing greater than teaching them about something that depends on you for their quality of life.

This evening, I saw so many valuable lessons taught to children during the storm. We were safely in the barn. One horse was cleaned and treated for fungus and another for a cut. Valuable lessons in applying leg wraps and boots, doing a medicated wash on a leg, as well as grooming tips and tricks. These are the things you cannot learn in the saddle but they are essential. These are the experiences that set apart someone who can ride from all around good horseman and horsewoman. I’ll take the title of the latter any day!

Ashlyn Hayworth and Natalie Allport, I’m so proud of you both for teaching this next generation. You are truly special people and incredible horsewomen. I love to see you both pass down your knowledge and continue your learning.

Pic of Levi for attention and pure cuteness! 🥰

Join us for an unforgettable Summer Camp experience! We still have a couple spots left for next week's adventure, where your children can discover the joy of horses. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity!

$525 per week or $500 per week when signing up for multiple weeks or siblings.

Take Your Riding Skills to the Next Level with Willow Farm's Professional Eventers at Our Summer Horseback Riding Camps!

Congratulations to May’s Rider of the Month, Jessica Revels! Jessica and her cute mare Luna joined Willow Farm in October 2022. Jessica not only became a boarder and student but she picked up chore shifts and extra work around the barn. This eventually led to her assisting in our lesson program. Jessica has worked really hard over the last year to compete in her very first recognized Horse Trial at Texas Rose Horse Park in April.
Jessica is always finding ways to help around the barn and property, going to audit lessons and clinics and photographing riders with their horses both on our property and at shows.
If you see Jessica around, make sure to congratulate her on being our May Rider of the Month!

Happy 17th Birthday to All American Boy, aka Jäger, and the one that inspired Willow Farm. Jäger is Sara’s personal horse and the main greeter at Willow Farm! Jäger is currently competing in recognized dressage and still having some fun jumping!

We have received many registrations. Get yours in before all the spots are filled!

Please congratulate our own trainer, Natalie Allport, on🥇with her horse Caramel Macchiato at the Meadowcreek Horse Trials! This is a great accomplishment for Natalie and we are so incredibly proud of her!!!

Willow Farm in Heath is hosting fun Summer horseback riding day camps! Camps are for ages 6-16 and open to all levels from beginners to experienced riders. Space will be limited so we can focus on each camper and help them make the most of their experience.

Our dates are as follows:
June 3-7
June 17-21
July 15-19
July 29-August 2

We also offer weekly lessons for all ages and levels in Hunters, Jumpers, Eventing and Dressage.

Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about our camps and/or our lesson program!

Cost is $525 per week and $25 discount for multiple weeks. Hours are 9-3 with extended hours available.

Congratulations to all of our Willow Farm riders on a great show yesterday! We had four horses and four riders competing at the Dallas Dressage Club Spring has Sprung show.
Zoe Skinner successfully got her mare, Poppy, into the arena, earning a 61.5 and a 2nd place ribbon. We are so proud of her and her confidence, taking her horse into an arena that can be spooky for horses.
Kathlyn Sauer competed her lease horse, Zeke, in two classes, earning a 1st and 3rd place. She was also a reserve champion with a score of 68!
Our trainer Ashlyn Hayworth was an absolute trooper, riding three horses in this event. On Spinning Pegasus, owned by Nell Reitinger, she placed 1st on both tests, with a solid 67.8% in Training 3. This horse will be one to watch and will be available for in-barn lease or possible sale to the right person in the near future. She placed with two 2nd ribbons on Zoe Skinner’s Poppy, working through some of her anxiety in the arena. Ashlyn also took 1st place and an amazing score of 75% on Zeke, owned by Ella Dickinson and leased by Kathlyn Sauer!
Sara Dickinson, with her own All American Boy, have been working hard at competing in First Level Test 3. Yesterday they broke the 60s with two 1st place ribbons and the First Level Champion!

Every horse that competed yesterday was a thoroughbred and three of them are off the track! It’s so amazing to see these horses thriving post track and the owner dedication that goes into keeping them in the best competition shape.

Our IEA season is fast approaching! If you have a child entering the 4th through 12th grade next school year, they can apply to our team.
IEA does not require the child to have a horse to create opportunities for all. If you are currently in the Willow Farm lesson program, talk to one of the trainers about your interest. If you are not in the program, sign up to start lessons soon before we have tryouts in August! Competition classes start at Walk/Trot through 2’6” hunters.

IEA - Interscholastic Equestrian Association IEA provides competitions, educational programs, and scholarships for youth riders in grades 4-12.

Congratulations to April’s rider of the month, Kathlyn Sauer! After taking a brief hiatus from riding, Kathlyn joined the Willow Farm team last year, with the goal to get on an equestrian team in college. She has taken that ambition and not only worked hard under saddle but also on the ground being part of the barn staff! Kathlyn is currently leasing Sara and Ella’s horse Zechariah and competing him on the local dressage and HJ circuit. She will be attending the University of Kentucky in the Fall working towards being a vet!

Some of you may have seen a new face around the barn this week!

Meet Ashlyn! Ashlyn grew up in Texas, but has spent the last 10 years working and learning from a multitude of 4* and 5* level event riders all across the US. They include Kadi Eykamp, Phillip Dutton, Rebecca Brown, and Tik Maynard. Ashlyn has competed up to the Intermediate/2* level, and is currently producing her mare "Sparkle" up the ranks, recently moving her up to Modified successfully. Ashlyn enjoys competing, but her true passion is in horsemanship, grooming, and instilling well-rounded education in both horses and humans.

Ashlyn has joined Willow Farm full time so say hello when you are here!

The March Rider of the Month is Sophia Bruguier! Sophia started her horseback riding career with us three years ago and has come incredibly far along in her riding skills and horsemanship! She never gives up and is always game to ride every lesson horse! Sophia did her first show in February and killed it! We are so proud of Sophia and love having her as part of our barn. Congratulations Sophia!

Congratulations to Jessica Revels on a job well done at the Quail Run CT this past weekend! She finished 6th on her dressage score in the Beginner Novice class! She and Luna are great partners and they continue to work hard as we have our eyes set on Texas Rose later this month!

Spring Break Camp!

Willow Farm is hosting Spring Break Camp March 11th-13th from 9-1 daily. Activities will include a daily private riding lesson, learning and fun activities around horses, and trail rides (weather permitting). There will be a mid-morning snack provided and end of day treat. Ages 4-14 are all welcome!

The camp will be $200 for three days and $75/day. Campers doing all three days will have priority. We have only a couple spaces left.

Many of our Willow Farm riders were featured in the recap for the ETHJC show last weekend. We love this venue and the opportunity that it gives the riders in the ring!

We have a time slot from 4-6 tomorrow that just opened up for anyone interested in doing an initial lesson. Please reach out if interested!

Looking for a way to get fit it back in the saddle in the New Year?

Willow Farm in Heath offers lessons to all ages and levels in the English disciplines of dressage, hunters, jumpers and low level eventing on our beautiful property. We have some great lesson horses if you don’t have your own! If you are a horse crazy person or have always wanted to try it, this is a great way to start riding!

Looking for a way to get fit it back in the saddle in the New Year?

Willow Farm in Heath offers lessons to all ages and levels in the English disciplines of dressage, hunters, jumpers and low level eventing on our beautiful property. We have some great lesson horses if you don’t have your own! If you are a horse crazy person or have always wanted to try it, this is a great way to start riding!

A big thank you to all that are working through these conditions with us to ensure our animals are well taken care of!

Here’s to the owners who are outside every couple of hours to monitor their horses’ health in these frigid temps.

Here’s to the owners who are checking waterers for ice. Here’s to the owners who are freezing their fingers to hang up their hose, or bringing hoses inside their house to keep from freezing.

Here’s to the owners switching blankets, double blanketing, or cleaning out shelters for their unblanketed horses. Here’s to the owners who are worried if their horse is staying warm enough with or without their blanket.

Here’s to the owners who are throwing countless flakes of loose hay out while making sure the round bale feeders don’t go empty.

Here’s to the owners praying that equipment starts, and hydraulics work smoothly. Here’s to the owners who figure it out when the equipment fails you.

Here’s to the messy mud room, filled with winter bibs, charged heated vests, boot dryers plugged in, and headlamps charged. Here’s to the countless pairs of gloves you have to swap out each time you venture outside.

Here’s to the rigorous training schedules, riding lessons, and busy barn coming to a halt. Here’s to putting the health of the animal’s first.

Here’s to the part of horse management that isn’t so glamorous. Thank you for all you are doing for the safety and wellbeing of your horses during this time.

Here’s to all of us ❄️🩵

Willow Farm is hiring! We are looking for someone who is responsible and reliable to work at a small show barn, full time or part time, min 20 hours. We have 12 horses maximum on property.

Must have the following:

-Valid drivers license
-Transportation
-Experience with horses
-Experience doing farm chores
-Ability to work early mornings, afternoons and some weekends
-At this time it is not a live in opportunity

Competitive pay! If you have experience training horses and teaching lessons there is potential for additional income. Please message me if interested!
Located in Heath, Texas, outside of Dallas.

FROM A PARENT:
One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kids to ride horses?" Well I have a confession to make, I don't pay for my kids to ride horses.

So, if I am not paying for them to ride, what am I paying for?

- I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit but don't.

- I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are "too tired" to go the barn but go anyway.

- I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined.

- I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body.

- I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates.

- I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that score they'd hoped for, but still have to work hard in the grading.

- I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals.

- I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight.

- I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make life-long friendships.

- I pay so that my kids can be in the arena instead of in front of a screen...
..I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for horse riding, I pay for the opportunities that horse riding provides my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!

-Shared. Author unknown.

On the four weeks till Christmas, Caliber Equine gave to YOUUU… We are running some holiday specials each week leading up to Christmas. Let’s get you on our schedule to take advantage of these savings!

Give us a call or shoot us a message for any further information and scheduling!

This holiday season, give the gift of English horseback riding with our one hour, introductory lesson! Gift certificates are available for purchase.

Horses need horsemen. It's that simple. I get asked the same questions over and over again and nobody gets it. What level rider is this horse suitable for? I'll tell you, the best one she can get, the best horseman that's willing to buy her. The horse will only ever be as good as the rider. It doesn't matter if it's trained to jump hoops of fire, you're gonna bring it down to your level in no time. Your kid doesn't need a $15,000 horse if they haven't already had $15,000 worth of lessons. You can't buy a violin that will gift you the skill of playing. It's the same for horses. There is no magic horse, only a love for the animal, and a commitment to learning.

Most of you are so unfair and demanding of the horse you miss the forest for the trees. "I want a horse that rides out alone!!" well guess what, you better be ready to spend a year developing that relationship, that bond, that trust, she's not a bike, you can't buy trust.

"I want a horse that can sit and be the same after time off" well friend, this is a commitment to a relationship, not a classic car you take out of the garage twice a year. You can't buy what your looking for.

"I want a horse my kids can ride" you better be ready to teach your kids how to be horseman, because if the horse has to do it, you'll likely see the inside of an ambulance, or a morgue.

You can't buy trust, you cannot buy what comes with building a relationship with an animal over years of dedication.

Brittnee Woodward-Whitehead wrote this
📸: Timbavati River with Sara Dickinson of Willow Farm

What could be more satisfying than a fresh, clean stall? 🤤
Only horse people will understand. 🐴🥕

We love to spoil our four legged babies at Willow Farm! All my boys (Zeus not pictured) got their monthly massage treatment. They love when Alex comes to visit!