Breezy Bluff Riding Academy

05/12/2022

Lessons today YES!
AZUL helping Annabel

05/11/2022

Too hot today for riding.... evening lessons cancelled

Lessons from 10-3 will take place!

05/06/2022

"How much for a lesson and what is included in that cost?"

How many trainers, stables, owners hear this question? We give a simple price and simple answer of $35 per 60 minutes for an open lesson.

But what we really should be saying is you get all of this:

You get the years of knowledge and experience that a breeder put into breeding a quality animal that will be rideable.

You get the years of experience that it took to be able to properly select a horse safe enough for a lesson for your child.

You get the years of time spent by trainers and instructors putting education and mileage on the lesson horse to know how to do its job.

You get to use my tack that I spent hours searching for at the right price and fit, the saddle, bridle, martingales, bit, saddle pad, girth, half-pad. The halter and lead rope that brings it from the field. The hoof pick, curry comb, brushes, shampoo, hoses, buckets that we purchased to properly groom and bathe the lesson horse to keep them healthy for your lesson. You get the hay, grain, water, fly spray, wormer, vet bills, farrier and medicine, supplements, shavings, stall mats, barn, fencing, electricity, insurance, clippers, combs, rain sheets, winter blankets, towels, brooms, feed bins, water troughs, muck rakes, manure spreaders, washer, dryer, grooming boxes, saddle racks and horse trailer, tires, brakes and maintenance on the trailer and truck that hauls that is needed when the horse needs to go to the vet.

You get the labor that goes into cleaning and feeding. The time and labor of the person who has to walk a horse thru the night that might be colicing. You get to put wear and tear on my farm, on the footing in my ring, my jumps and fields. You get the cost of my tractor and ring drag and their maintenance.

You get to let me put my lesson horse's health at risk when you ride them and hope for $35 they don't end up permanently lame.

There is a reason "we require a commitment to regular lessons" and I don't allow my lesson horses to jump 5 days a week, that they will only jump 2 ft to hopefully stay healthy and sound.

But, maybe people expect more for their lesson costs?

05/06/2022

School Horses Grant more wishes than fairy godmothers

School Horses Grant more wishes than fairy godmothers

Digital print on high quality art paper.

04/25/2022

Large girl scout group enjoyed pony painting and riding!

03/29/2022

Liberty was sent here a year ago....

03/23/2022

03/20/2022

03/05/2022

Saturday morning smiles at the barn

02/26/2022

Weekly lessons start 3/3
We are not having lessons tomorrow, Saturday.

02/20/2022

Monday 2/21

02/18/2022

Saturday CANCELED Still spots open Monday. Temperature is to be in 40's 👍

Saturday Feb 19

CANCELLED 🥶
TOO COLD ❄️🥶

can reschedule for Monday
President Day call us !!

02/12/2022

TOO ICY AT FARM..ALL LESSONS ARE CANCELED TODAY !

02/11/2022

Are you ready for our summer English clinic? June 24&25 pms
This tho applies no matter which discipline

02/07/2022

There will be lessons this Saturday 2/12 and next 2/19

02/06/2022

Barn fire in Ellsworth kills 12 horses, one survives

Sad, so very very sad Kristy Doyle please put her in your prayers. Go fund me in article.

ELLSWORTH, Ill. (WMBD) — A barn fire in Ellsworth killed 12 horses on Saturday, Feb. 5, around 10:30 p.m. Christopher Moody, the owner of the barn, said he got a knock on their door from a ne…

02/06/2022

Our sympathy and support go out to my x4Her whose barn East of Bloomington burnt to the ground last night. 10 horses were lost at the site, 2 more were later euthanized, only 1 is now being treated. @Kristy Doyle is a self made horsewoman who has had success on the national level with her home born, raised and trained paint horses, we are praying for you.

02/04/2022

Temperature is canceling this Saturday lessons. We will reschedule for 2/12

01/31/2022

Spring Classes are now open for enrollment
we will begin this schedule March 5,
You tell us what week you would like to begin
what 3 times work for you and if you can shift 1/2 hr
you want open, semi private, or private
M-Th 10-6:30
F 10 or 11
Sa 8:30-1:30
Su CLOSED

01/25/2022

June 24-25th. ENGLISH RIDING CLINIC FRIDAY 6-9pm on the flat
SATURDAY 3-6pm Cross Poles
limit 10
$200.
Clinician Stefanie Wimp Texas A&M equine science graduate. Horse show judge, past instructor, quality assurance team leader for SmartPak horse supplement/ equipment supplier, horse owner. Stefanie began her horse adventure at Breezy Bluff, she did an internship here, and was a past instructor for us.

01/24/2022

Yep!

01/17/2022

Fun for a school holiday. Great job Anna Schultz

01/15/2022

New offering -- "Summer Experience"
June through July each Tuesday 9-12. Ride , drive, groom, ground work, help with lessons. $650 total. Each week will be different. Limited enrollment. age 12+ ASK for an enrollment form

01/09/2022

DAY CAMP SCH 2022
Camp Schedule for 2022

MLK Monday Jan 17 2-4:30 $80

HomeSchool Class April 7-28 Thursdays $150

Weekly Lessons M-F 9-7 +Sat 9:00-2 $35/hr

Spring Break March 23 12:30-3:30 $85

PONY CAMP June 15-16 /11-12pm $60 one day/$90 both days

Summer Experience Camp June-July Tuesdays 9:00-12 $650

Summer I June 20-23 11:30-3:30 $400 -one day $125

Summer II July 11-13 11:30-3:30 $300 - one day $125

01/09/2022

When we think of the issues in the Equine world, though there are many, I find myself coming back over and over again to the fact we are at a Rider Deficit in America.

Maybe we always have been, and in the “Information” age, it is now just entirely too evident, but either way, it is a massive problem. This is an area that is all too connected to the Unwanted Horse issue we face, and it is the area most often overlooked. When folks do address it, the approach seems to be to make the horses we consider intermediate or advanced in type beginner friendly, but I suspect that is entirely the WRONG approach.

While making sure the essentials are imparted to all horses adopted out through rescue, bred or sold is vital and shouldn’t be overlooked, all equine professionals know that much of what is instilled in horses through training only lasts as long as the “new owner” allows it to, so in some ways, we are working backward by trying to create horses with more knowledge instead of creating “riders.”

I cannot number how many times in the decade where I’ve read postings, blogs and heard rescue directors, trainers and those who sell horses as a business comment on how easy it would be to adopt out, place or sell a “Dead Broke Horses.” Enumerable inquiries come in from beginners on the quest for “the horse anyone can be safe on.” While we do not believe the term “dead broke” is particular accurate in regards to any horse, we get what this implies. Dead Broke = A Horse any person lacking the most basic skills could safely sit, and yes, that horse has the very highest chance of finding a home in this market. They also have the best chance of staying in their home if they are able to remain “DEAD BROKE” through mishandling, but even the safest horse usually will not do this (See our blog Making a Beginner Horse Dangerous).

I guess one could suggest that the goal of trainers, rescues and others who work to find homes for horses should be to make more “DEAD BROKE” horses, but it isn’t. This is not a realistic or decent goal, either.

What we need are better riders. We need people who become riders and are able to take horses with a good foundation further; thereby, creating real partnerships, more evenly matched pairs with progress in mind, with a future in mind. We need horseman and horsewomen, not “dead” passengers on the backs of broken, numb horses.
#becomingtherighthorseowner

The equine world must have trainers, rescues and other equine professionals or organizations pushing “HUMAN” instruction and partnership learning, so that the horses we have are actually candidates for more homes.

Buyers, Owners and adopters need to let go of the EGOS that say we know enough, know everything or do not need more knowledge.

Buyers, homes, riders and parents need to open their eyes to see these huge, emotional, volatile and sensitive beings DESERVE Riders. Being a passenger does the horse a disservice and it creates an ocean full of smart, willing horses NO ONE is ever good enough for, and that is a huge part of the “Unwanted Horse” problem we face. Horses are passed around from unskilled barn to unskilled barn, learning more bad habits and becoming less and less apt to ever be a willing partner. They become numb, painful and angry, and we blame them for it.

We have to realize that most horses will never accept unskilled passengers who make a plethora of painful and harmful mistakes each time they lead their horse or sit on the back of their horse and stay safe. Knowing this, the only answer must be to facilitate more people becoming qualified Riders.

The answer to finding a home for every horse is making more homes a possibility to the average horse.

At Heart of Phoenix, while laying down the foundation for each horse, exploring their potential and giving them reasons to wish to be a partner for a person are all huge goals, we see the direction must be to create more RIDERS, and then we will see more horses able to become the #RIGHTHORSE for more homes.

https://heartofphoenix.org/2017/07/24/become-the-right-rider-so-more-horses-can-be-the-righthorse-for-you/

01/08/2022

LoL

12/26/2021

Merry Christmas from: Cooper, Aspen, Toyota,GMC, Tesla, Tommy, Wrangler, Canyon, Ford, Silverado, Solara, Rio, Tacoma, Montana, Dakota, Cruizer, Oprah, Hudson 🎄

12/22/2021

Thank you King Kids great gift! 🎄

12/22/2021

Thanx Bandanas BBQ Bloomington Illinois for helping us thank our associates at the farm with a delicious lunch

12/22/2021

End of the '21 season I must take a moment to thank God for my wonderful instructors and most active helpers! Thanks
Annabel Dennison, Anna Schultz, Sarah Starasta, Dylan Yacucci,
Jayden Sherman

12/17/2021

Blasts from past.... Annabel Dennison , Paige Wallarab, Anna Schultz

12/16/2021

Trainer - What day is it
Student - Wednesday
Trainer - What day is it
Student - The 5th
Trainer - What day is it
Student - 😡
Trainer - I kept asking you the same question and you gave me the right answer, but I didn’t accept it as right. So you changed your answer, got frustrated and confused. This is exactly how your horse can feel if you miss the release.

12/14/2021

😍🏇

12/14/2021

Rio steps up to unicorn status tonight ☺️🦄 response from mom--"Hi there! I just wanted to let you know how great it was to have both of my girls be able to celebrate at your place! Annabel did both parties and she was fantastic!!
Can you send me the info for riding lessons? "

12/13/2021

Merry Christmas from the barn.... (Solara and Khloe 2020)