Anchor Way Farm

04/10/2026

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03/05/2026

02/03/2026

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Let’s Talk About Trainer Rides.

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and it feels like an important conversation: Trainer rides.

Somewhere along the way, I feel like trainer rides have started to feel optional, like a luxury, or something only needed when things go really wrong. But I believe they are one of the most important parts of keeping horses happy, confident, and reliable in their jobs.

Especially the good ones! The steady school horses. The saintly kids horses. The show horses packing their riders around week after week. Those horses don’t stay that way by accident. They stay that way because someone with experience is checking in with them from the saddle.

Horses are athletes, but they’re also thinkers and feelers. Over time they develop habits, compensations, and questions, just like riders do. A horse gets a little crooked or starts dulling to the leg. They lose confidence in a certain question or quietly start carrying more than their fair share. These things can show up as the ride feeling harder, less smooth, less fun… until suddenly both horse and rider are frustrated. Or they start to voice their frustration and they get labelled as having “bad behavior”.

That’s where a trainer ride isn’t a luxury, it’s part of the care. A professional ride helps to clarify the aids, rebuild confidence on the flat and over fences, and supports them physically and mentally in the job we ask them to do. Then that carries over into the owner’s ride. And the rider gets to build their relationship on a solid, supported foundation instead of constantly trying to fix things themselves.

It’s also about fairness.

Our horses work hard. They try, they tolerate mistakes, they take care of their riders. It’s only fair that we give them rides where the aids are clear, the balance is correct, and they get help doing the job well. Those rides keep them happier in their work and help prevent the slow mental burnout we sometimes see in over-generous horses.
That’s not taking something away from the rider, it’s supporting the partnership.

When horse, rider, and trainer all play their roles, the whole system works better. Horses stay more reliable. Riders progress with less frustration. And the relationship between them gets stronger, not more strained.

At the end of the day, trainer rides aren’t about control. They’re about responsibility.



Photo Credit: Wild Griffin Photography

12/25/2025

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Anchor Way!! ⚓️🎄🎁

12/03/2025

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Riders often assume that the surest path to progress is fixing their attention on results. They imagine that if they think enough about winning, consistency, or perfect rounds, they will somehow ride better. But in Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation, Teall explains that this mindset leads many riders further away from the very outcomes they want. Obsessing about results creates pressure, tension, and unrealistic expectations—not improvement. When riders learn to focus instead on what they are doing right now, their performance becomes clearer, more confident, and more successful.

One of Teall’s strongest cautions is simple: “Beware of focusing only on results.” He has seen countless riders set themselves back by becoming fixated on where they want to finish rather than how they are riding. Their attention shifts away from the horse and onto an imagined standard they feel they must meet. The problem, he explains, is that this approach “doesn’t work.” When riders concentrate intensely on achieving a particular outcome, they often “completely destroy their chances of achieving it.”

Teall describes this pattern in an older student he has taught for more than twelve years. Her persistent goal was always the same: I just want to be consistent. According to Teall, there was nothing wrong with her desire, but her method worked against her. “The more she worries about being consistent, doing well, and winning, the worse she performs.” This isn’t because she lacks ability; it’s because thinking about consistency pulls her away from the ride unfolding underneath her.

Teall’s message is clear: riders cannot think their way into the results they want. They must ride their way into them.

Riders who focus on results often fall into a cycle of trying harder and harder, believing that more pressure will produce better riding. But Teall notes that this only increases the likelihood of setback. One missed distance or small mistake can “derail their master plan,” leaving them even more discouraged than before. In some cases, riders never recover their momentum because the mistake feels like proof that they will never reach their goal.

This dynamic blinds riders to the reality that progress is built over time. Setbacks are normal, expected, and even useful. But riders who chase results often interpret those setbacks as failures rather than part of the learning process.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/11/30/why-riders-sabotage-themselves-by-focusing-on-results-instead-of-riding-the-moment/📸 © The Plaid Horse

11/06/2025

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Rule Change Reminder for December 1, 2025: Soundness: Trotting a circle at the end of a round to demonstrate soundness is now required for Equitation, Adult Amateur, Low Adult Amateur, Children’s Hunter, Low Children's Hunter, Low Children’s Hunter Pony, and USHJA Hunter Sections.

Judges may ask you to return to the ring to trot a circle if you forget or if they don't see enough of your trot!

10/18/2025

❤️ this

When a round goes poorly, it’s tempting for riders to shrug and say, “I’m just not talented enough.” The idea that natural ability separates the great riders from everyone else has been around forever. But Geoff Teall argues that this belief is not only false—it’s dangerous.

Most riders have fallen back on the excuse of lacking talent at one point or another. It’s an easy way to relieve pressure when things aren’t going well. As Teall puts it, “Lack of talent is a great stress reliever. It allows you to say things like, ‘I didn’t do that right. It’s not because I’m not trying hard, it’s because I’m not talented.’”

The problem with this mindset is that it creates a false barrier to improvement. If talent is all that matters, then there’s no point in trying harder or practicing longer. You either have it, or you don’t. Teall dismisses this as a “ridiculous excuse.”

In Teall’s philosophy, “talent is so unimportant when compared to interest, when compared to desire, and when compared to hard work.” A disciplined rider with modest natural ability will almost always surpass a gifted rider who lacks focus and consistency.

This is because riding, at its core, is about repetition, discipline, and refinement. Correct position, independent hands, balance, and feel aren’t bestowed at birth. They are developed through hours of practice. Riders who commit themselves to mastering the basics methodically are the ones who end up achieving the most.

Discipline, in Teall’s view, is the great equalizer. It’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t make for dramatic breakthroughs overnight. But it’s what keeps riders drilling the fundamentals, fixing bad habits, and returning to the saddle day after day, even when progress feels slow.

Discipline also shows up in the rider’s mindset. A disciplined rider doesn’t let frustration boil over in the schooling ring. They don’t look for shortcuts or gimmicks. They know that equitation isn’t about doing flashy things, but about doing the simple things, like keeping a steady pace or following softly with the hands, better than anyone else.

Teall emphasizes that “drive and determination are enormously leveling factors.” This is particularly encouraging for the average rider who may not fit the ideal body type, have limitless financial backing, or possess the innate “feel” that others seem to show.

A rider who truly wants to improve—is willing to put in the work—will often outpace a peer who relies only on raw ability. The sport rewards persistence. Every hour spent practicing correct position, every lesson spent refining basics, builds toward the rider’s long-term success.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/10/15/talent-vs-hard-work-what-really-creates-great-riders/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

09/05/2025

In riding, we’re often quick to replay our mistakes and slow to recognize our achievements. Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach says that celebrating your wins, especially the small ones, can change your riding for the better.

On a recent episode of The Plaidcast, Johnston shared why recognizing your progress isn’t just feel-good fluff. It’s a habit that builds confidence, motivation, and resilience

When you acknowledge a success, no matter how small, you trigger your brain’s reward system and reinforce the behaviors that led to the win. Over time, your mind starts looking for more opportunities to repeat those behaviors.

“It’s so important for motivation,” Johnston explained. “It helps you remember the things you did well so you can do them again.”

The opposite is also true. When you focus on mistakes, you reinforce the habit of self-criticism. The more you practice negative self-talk, the better your brain gets at it and the harder it becomes to stay confident in the ring.

Johnston encourages riders to broaden their definition of a win. Maybe your horse stayed relaxed in the corner where he usually spooks. Maybe you remembered to breathe down the last line. Maybe you finally got your lead change on the first try.

Wins can happen at any stage of your ride—at home, in the schooling ring, or in the show ring.

“They don’t have to be huge. They don’t have to be a ribbon,” Johnston said. “A win is anything that moves you forward in your riding.”

🔗 Continue reading the article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/08/27/how-to-celebrate-your-riding-wins-even-the-small-ones/
📸 Photo © Carly Nasznic

07/23/2025

39 likes, 7 comments. “If being overly self-critical worked, it would have worked by now. 😉 Instead of breaking yourself down with criticism, stay solution-oriented and support your growth and confidence. How can you improve? Where are the opportunities to uplevel your skills or preparation? St...

07/15/2025

ANCHOR WAY FARM SALES & LEASES

Please contact Ashley Bailey-Odom (203-430-5711)

Electron Du Houssoit- 2010 imported Belgian Warmblood gelding right at 16.2h. He is the WINNER! Looking for his next competitive junior or amateur partner to continue to be successful with. He is a forward but manageable ride, likes to take you to the fences. Electron had a successful career in Europe up to 1.30 and has continued his winning ways in the states. 2024 Horse of the Year Zone 4 1.0 Amateur champion, tri colored at every horse show this year 1.0-1.10, multiple wins up to 1.15 with a pro and schools up to 1.30 at home. Available for sale right in the middle fives. Would possibly consider a lease

Poetic- Poet is a 12 year old 13.2h Dutch Riding Pony by So Driven. Sweet as can be with the best attitude. Poet is forward thinking and carries his own motor. He can easily walk the lines, models well, cute mover and has his changes when asked. No naughty behavior ever, but would be best suited for an experienced Division/ Children's Pony rider who can manage a rhythm. He is incredibly brave and eager to learn- would continue to thrive in a training program. Recently competed at PF 2024 with consistent results in the Medium Greens. Poet would also make a fantastic pony jumper as he would be the winner in the turns. Could also see him excelling in Eventing/Pony Club. Available for sale in the lower fives.

Duvall 2011 16.2 Selle Francais gelding. Not enough wonderful things to say about this one. Imported in 2022, shown and ridden by amateurs and juniors- jack of all trades. Excels in the equitation and jumper rings. Has been to NHS finals twice for the Adult Taylor Harris and many tri color ribbons throughout the years. One every trainer wants in their barn! Extremely well broke on the flat with an excellent jump. Priced appropriately in the high fives.

Multiple videos available upon request. Horses are all located in Bluff City, TN- 14 minutes from Tri-Cities Regional Airport and just 2 hours up the mountain from Tryon International.

07/15/2025

SOLD

Congratulations to the new owners of Disaronno! We cannot wait to see all the success Charleston and his new mom have together in Canada