News

Check out the article in the Northern Virginia Daily about Robin and Shenandoah River Farm!

Student Of The Month and Horse Of The Month

September Student of the Month:  Savannah was chosen because she, on her own, returned to one of her greatest loves, riding.  Savannah has not been on a horse since last July, when she badly thrown and ended up with small gravels still enbedded in her face.  Savannah had stated then that her riding career was over.   However, about two weeks ago, she requested to begin riding again and has been schooling out 2 horses a day for me.  Savannah's equitation and accuracy are as good as ever before, and she is a very positive student trainer to these horses.  Savannah is striving to improve these young horses in their tempo and relaxation under saddle and over small fences.  As her mother and her trainer, and speaking for all the equestrian family at Shenandoah River Farm - Welcome Back Savannah!

September Horse of the Month:  Ty, an 11 year old, beautiful, Farnley Medium Welsh pony gelding was chosen this month.  Ty belonged first to Angela Violette, and then to me for years, performing wonderfully in the hunter and dressage rings with countless children and also as a very steady schoolmaster lesson mount.  Ty has received a multitude of championships in the hunter ring and was a high 60s contender in the dressage arena through 1st level!  His movement is a 10!  Unfortunately, Ty suffered a right hip injury about 2 years ago, and was lame for quite some time.  Through the efforts of massage therapist, Melissa Hall, and the healing power of God, Ty recovered!  The Bowers Family now own him and keep him at their home in Edinburg.  I continue lessons with Ty and his new family at their home and at Shenandoah River Farm.  After 2 years, Ty re-entered the show ring in his normal eye-catching fashion, and performed for his young riders beautifully and willingly.  Ty - you're great and we love you!

August Student and Horse of the Month:  Austin was selected as the Student of the Month, as well as his horse, Strider, who was selected as Horse of the Month.  Austin shares this wonderful and talented paint horse with his sister, Lucy.  Austin was chosen due to his attitude and good sportsmanship at his first over fences show this summer at Lockemeadows Farm in Berryville, VA.  Austin did very well, and received Reserve Champion in the Long Stirrup Division on Strider.  Austin was also selected because he has worked hard to greatly improve his equitation and control of his mount, and is willing to accept new challenges, like cross country schooling.  Austin is always very concerned with the welfare of his and others' horses, and is consistently respectful and kind to his trainer and fellow equestrians.  Go Austin!

Strider, is, simply amazing!  He is forward, athletic, flexible, and capable of several equine disciplines.  Strider enjoys jumping, in the arena, and cross country, and performs very well for Lucy who is a dressage enthusiast and competitor.  Strider adapts to any rider quickly and willingly, and always tries to please.  His movement is smooth and floaty, and he will just keep improving as his dedicated young owners continue their riding educations!  You're awesome Strider!

July's winner was Annie Emswiller , who is 10 years old.  Annie is very willing to work hard in and out of the saddle, and is an excellent student. She listens well, incorporates instruction, practices her lesson "homework" in between lessons, and ALWAYS thanks her instructor for her lesson! Furthermore, Annie has endured many falls from her very talented, but sometimes overly sensitive medium pony, Looked Twice, very befitting for her name! The majority of these events of "leaving the saddle," occurred at Annie's horse shows. Of course, she would be disappointed after practicing so diligently, and then often not being able to fully participate in her division. However, Annie's never give up attitude is finally paying off, and she is riding her pony very well at the farm and at show, with ribbons and a big smile of true accomplishment. Annie and "Little T", her nickname, have an amazing relationship and superb future! Go Annie!!!

July's winner was Ali! Ali is owned by Josie Woodwell, and is a beautiful bay Thoroughbred mare. Ali was having some challenges in cross cantering in the hind. Josie was incredibly persistent AND patient, yet appropriately firm, and has been riding in a progressive, step by step manner to slowly build strength in the horse's hind. Now, Ali is cantering with better balance, tempo, and rarely cross cantering. Ali is happy in her work and very sweet! Go Ali!!!

Shenandoah River Farm.....Almost Heaven,
by Robin T. Hall, published in the Horse Show Times, June 2009

Nestled against the George Washington National Forest and nearly encircled by the Shenandoah River, Shenandoah River Farm is home to 20 horses and ponies in Strasburg, Virginia. Twenty-two students and their families form an equestrian family linked together by their love for horses and support for one another. Shenandoah River Farm is a boarding, lessons, sales and show facility, begun 6 years ago from a dream and founded on a verse, "seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you", Matthew 6:33. We are now blessed to have a regulation dressage arena for training and shows, a 250' by 100' jumping arena with beautiful, safe jumps, and an indoor arena, all with natural sand footing. Everything thus far accomplished has been made possible by the tireless help and support of my husband and so many parents and friends of our farm. Shortly after moving here from North Carolina , we restored the original barn built in the 1700s, and then built a new barn with a full apartment and indoor arena. Shenandoah River Farm's riding program focuses on both hunt seat and dressage, as well as encouraging outriding in the fields by the river and on the many trails and country roads! Our Heels Down Equestrian Team competes very successfully in both the hunter and dressage venues. However, education, not the ribbons, is at the heart of everything we do! Our talented medal riders are just as enthusiastic for the pre-shorts as for themselves!

All the students here are amazing.... mostly hunter and a few dressage enthusiasts, share a common interest in the "training of the horse." I specialize in the training of the horse and rider through the basics, from leadline to equitation on the flat and over fences, and in dressage, from intro through 2nd level. "Matching" the right rider to the right horse or pony, and then developing the partnership between the two, is of upmost importance to me. Lessons, on my horse or pony or yours, focus on safety, horsecare skills, correct equitation, softness, and good communication with your mount. Having started over 50 horses and ponies and having taught over 150 students to ride, my style is simple - it is based on respect, repetition, and praise. My philosophy is to build character and self esteem in every rider for riding and for LIFE! I want to create a respectful and lasting relationship between horse and rider as well as enable the horse to be flexible, comfortable, and happy in its work! Every student and horse are precious treasures with unique talents and abilities. Although I competed regularly in the hunters, dressage, and endurance, my passion is training and teaching, and I am seeking the educational requirements to one day obtain USEF "r" judge's credentials.

Why could it be helpful to combine huntseat and dressage in lessons and training? Cross-training brings amazing results, strength, and emotional stability to the horse or pony. Jumping and gymnastic courses build the horse's strength in the hind and encourage enthusiastic forward movement, while dressage helps improve balance in the corners and straightness through the upward and downward transitions and during flying lead changes! Being able to nail the counter canter or a turn on the haunches always helps in the under saddle portion of the medals! Even the youngest of students can be taught a little half-halt, to tell their pony that something different is coming up, or to slow down the tempo a bit and balance up in the corners!

Dressage teaches us that there is definable progression in the training of the horse from one skill level to another, celebrating even the smallest of improvements! The pyramid of training embraces rhythm, relaxation, and later impulsion and straightness, all very significant for the hunter AND the dressage mount. Warming up your horse or pony on the 20-meter circle and changing directions through the circle help loosen and supple the muscles on both sides. It is through the trot that other gaits can be improved, and the use of three-loop serpentines while maintaining a steady rhythm at the trot encourages suppleness and a nice stretch into light contact. Working over cavalletti and riding up and down hills are great exercises for strength, balance, and to keep one's horse mentally interested. Cross-training truly aids in keeping our horse or pony a willing equine partner; horses seem to sometimes get stressed or bored doing the same thing day after day. Galloping in the field is sometimes just the right medicine! Whether hunt seat or dressage, the reward for training is that both the person and the horse enjoy the journey!

Students, aged 3 to 53, always have fun at our farm. All have enjoyed watching our first crop of welsh babies grow up! We share birthdays, and a prayer for a safe and good lesson before we begin. Every month, a student is chosen as Student of the Month, sometimes due to overcoming a certain obstacle in riding. The student is given a small gift, perhaps a grooming kit, and a free lesson! As the weather brightens, we go for fun trail rides as a group, and let the horses cool off in the river. Our equestrian team enjoys competing in judged trail rides also. Each summer, we host Heels Down Summer Riding Camps, for children, aged 4-12, featuring daily hunt seat riding lessons, horsey crafts and games, and a trail ride and picnic alongside the Shenandoah River at the end of the week! Advanced students serve as mentors for the younger children during camp, and great relationships are formed! Our farm has been host to many charitable events, such as a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims, and camping and tubing events for local churches, clubs, and birthday celebraters! We have truly enjoyed the dressage shows we have sponsored here, and plan to hold some hunter shows in the future. Additionally, we hold judge's hunter equitation clinics, and regularly have Nancy Lowey, "R" judge, to instruct dressage clinics.

When we moved here from NC about 7 years ago, I arrived with one horse and one pony. I had worked as a clinical psychologist, specializing in children, adolescents, families, and addictions for over 20 years, and worked as a instructor/trainer on the side. Developing this farm and working with all these wonderful students and horses and ponies continues to be a dream come true. When I get too old to keep up with the ponies and the kids, I plan to reopen my practice, "Renewing the Mind," based on Romans 12:2, and utilize the most healing animals in the world - horses - to help abused children and women in equine-assisted psychotherapy. I truly give God all the glory for any accomplishment at this pastoral farm by the river.