Pandemic Rewind

Don’t worry, no one wants to re-live 2020!

Kate HealeyMarch 14, 2021equestrian, equestrian utah, Utah horseback riding, horses, horse, eventing, pandemic, barn, horse barn, horse barn utahComment

A Letter to My Showing Students

As the first schooling shows start opening up, I like to remind my students who they are-and aren’t-competing against when they show, and how I expect them to conduct themselves. Here’s a letter to all of my students going to shows this year.

Photo Critique 2

Hades and Brooklyn are next up for a photo critique! Hades is jumping this square oxer really well, using his back for a nice round shape up over the fence. Brooklyn has a great eye and her back is totally flat, which will help her recover well on landing.

Kate HealeyMay 18, 2020eventing, eventer, equestrian, horse, horess, horses, horseback riding, horseback riding utah, utah riding, horse jumping, horse jumping utah, show jumpingComment

Considerations for Horse Buyers-Part 3

Considerations for Horse Buyers Part 3: What To Look For (and avoid!) in Horse Sale Ads

Kate HealeyApril 2, 2020equestrian, horse, horses, buying a horse, horse buying, horse care, horse sales, horse sale ads, poy, pony, ponies, eventing, riding, horse riding, riding students, learning ridingComment

Guest Post: Christian Eagles on Eventing Deaths

After hearing about the death of another rider and her horse on cross-country, I wanted to get a professional’s feedback on changes that could be made and what we can individually do.

Kate HealeyMarch 3, 2020eventing, eventer, equestrian, cross-country, eventing death, eventing deaths, USEAComment

Check Your Goal Before You Wreck Your Goal

I believe that goal-setting is important, but that a flexible mindset is even more essential with a sport like ours. After all, the saying does go, “make a goal and watch your horse laugh!”

Kate HealeyFebruary 24, 2020horses, horse, equestrian, eventing, riding, horse riding, horse riding lessons, riding lesson, riding utah, horseback ridingComment

Photo Critique-Episode 1 of 1!

I decided to start a series where once a week on this blog I will evaluate a photo of a horse and rider combination and give a short, hopefully helpful, critique. I’m starting with myself!

Kate HealeyFebruary 17, 2020dressage, equestrian, eventing, eventing utah, event horse, thoroughbred, rider, rider critique, riding, horse ridingComment

The Ugliest Pony I've Ever Seen

Once upon a time I was 14 and was looking for a project pony. When I say “project pony,” a few requirements were obvious (at least to me).

How to Get Rich Enough to Pay For Your Horses

Every time my dad or someone else would complain about my horse bills when I was young my mom would say, “It’s cheaper than rehab!” but yeah, I don’t think that’s entirely true.

Valentine's Day Gift Picks

Valentine’s Day gift ideas and guides keep popping up on my news feed. They’re filed with pink saddle pads, red bell boots, scarves with horseshoes on them and other useless (to me) items. So I decided I’d put together my own list.

Kate HealeyFebruary 2, 2020horse, horses, pony, ponies, equestrian, equestrians, rider, horse rider, horse riding, horseback riding, eventer, eventing, eventing lessons, Eventing, barn, Charles Owen, riding, riding helmet, valentine, valentines, Valentine, Valentine's, Valentine's Day, valentine's day, valentines day, equestrian life, equestrian lifestyle, roeckl, charles owen, Roeckl, roeckl gloves, riding gloves, riding gifts, gift ideas, Valentine's Day gift ideas, valentines day gift ideas, valentines ideas, valentine's day idea, equestrian gifts, equestrian gift ideas, rider gifts, rider gift ideas, eventer gifts, horze, Horze, Smartpak, Smartpak Equine, smartpak, smartpak equine, mr stockings, mr stockings boots, Mr Stockings boots, Mr Stockings, Mr Stockings USA, mr stockings USA, dublin river boots, tuffrider boots, romfh, ROMFH, romfh breeches, riding breechesComment

Thoroughbreds Are Like Toddlers

I only have one toddler but I have been around a fair amount of tiny humans in my life. Words that come to mind when describing toddlers are stubborn, emotional, reactive, flighty, and insecure. Sound familiar??

Kate HealeyJanuary 28, 2020horses, horse, horse training, thoroughbred, thoroughbreds, eventing, riding, equestrian, Eventing, toddler, toddlers, parentingComment

What to Do-And Why You Should Do It-When You Can't Ride

If you, like me, rely on an outdoor surface to ride, bad footing can ruin your day, week, month, even season. So rather than going slowly insane as day after day goes by without riding, let’s consider how we can combat the negative emotional, mental, and physical setbacks when riding isn’t possible.

Kate HealeyJanuary 27, 2020horse, horses, pony, ponies, horse riding, horseback, horseback riding, horseback riding utah, utah, equestrian, equestrian utah, eventing, barn, horse barn, horse owner, horse owning, horse care, horse lessons, riding, riding lessons, horse riding lessons, horseback riding lessons, horseback riding lessons utah, horseback riding instructor, riding instructor, instructor, horse riding instructor, winter riding, horse books, horse magazines, dressage, dressage riding, horse dressage, eventing barn, USPC, pony club, pony clubs, grooming, horse grooming, training, horse training, jumping, horse jumping, show jumping, Charlotte Dujardin, Valegro, Ingrid Klimke, eventer, Eventing, eventing lessons, groundwork, horse groundwork, horse tack, cleaning tack, tack cleaning, tack, fitness, equestrian fitness, rider fitness, yoga for riding, equestrian yogaComment

No "Equestrian" in Team

I wanted my girls to have that sense of belonging and community that came from being an official member of something. I wanted them to be able to come together to support each other and not feel competitive against each other. That’s how the Valley View Equestrian Team all started.

Considerations for Horse Buyers-Part 2

Segment 2 of our series explores some things to consider when looking for a horse to buy.

Kate HealeyJanuary 14, 2020horses, horse, pony, ponies, horse riding, horse care, horse owner, horse owning, eventing, barn, equestrian, horse sellers, horse adsComment

"Wild" Turkey Invasion

Yes, those are turkeys. No, they are not native to our area.

Kate HealeyJanuary 11, 2020equestrian, barn, eventing, eventing barn, horses, turkeys, wild turkeysComment

Dressage Terms, Explained

Ever been confused by dressage terms? What’s the difference between “frame”, “round”, and “collection” anyway?

Funniest Things Overheard at the Barn This Week

Me, after the lesson: “Do you have any questions?”
7 year old student: “Yes. What is Buttercup’s favorite color?”

5 Resolutions for Riders

Some of my students have asked me what some of their New Years resolutions should be in regards to riding …

Chasing That Feeling

This sport is all about feeling. We are all just chasing feelings. Some people get accused of chasing ribbons, but it’s not really about the ribbon-a $2 piece of cardboard and material …

Why I Didn't Work at McDonald's (and maybe why I should have)

When I was 15 my instructor took me aside one day at the barn and asked me to teach a riding lesson to a new 8-year-old student. I was totally caught off-guard ….

Kate HealeyOctober 10, 2019equestrian, eventing, eventer, riding, horseback riding, horse riding, riding instructor, horseback riding lessons, horseback riding instructor, horse, horses, horse trainer, horse training, horse showing, pony, poniesComment

Posting the Trot

a Valley View Equestrian Blog

Valley View Equestrian