April Newsletter
April was a very full month at Unicorn Stables! From Easter weekend clinics to off-property schooling days, international adventures, and a barn full of April Foolsā good sports, itās been a fantastic month of learning and great riding. This monthās highlights include:
Easter weekend clinics and schooling day
Must-know summer camp information
April Foolsā fun at the barn
A working equitation trip to Portugal
Schooling day at Panorama Ridge Riding Club
April School Horse of the Month
š· Easter Weekend Highlights
We had a busy and successful Easter weekend filled with learning opportunities for riders of all levels.
The Show Prep Clinic, led by Coach Cassidy, focused on helping riders understand what goes into preparing for a horse show. Participants learned about turnout, how a show day typically runs, and had the chance to practice braiding. It was a very informative session that helped build confidence and readiness for the upcoming season. A huge thank you to Westway Feed & Hay Sales for supplying some buckets of goodies for our future competitors!
We also hosted a Learn to Fall Clinic with Coach Emma. This important clinic taught riders how to safely tuck and roll in case of a fall, along with a review of proper riding safety equipment. Riders approached the exercises with great focus, making it a valuable and practical experience for everyone involved.
To wrap up the weekend, we rode up to Panorama Ridge Riding Club for a schooling day. This marked the first outing of the year for many riders, and for some, their first time off-property altogether. All of the horses behaved wonderfully, and riders did an excellent job applying what theyāve been working on at home. Coach Emma had a fantastic time and was very proud of the group.
āļø Summer Camps
Summer camps are quickly approaching, and spots are filling up fast. If you are hoping to participate this year, please email the office soon to secure your place. Weāre looking forward to another fun and busy summer season.
š April Foolsā Day Fun
Coach Tammie brought some laughter to the barn on April Foolsā Day with a creative prank. Riders were told about a ānew studyā by ESI claiming that stroking a horseās ears would make them go faster, while patting their shoulder in a counterclockwise direction would slow them down. Everyone played along and handled it with great humour. Thank you for being such good sports!
š A Horse-Filled Trip to Portugal
Boarders Ava and Brit recently travelled to Portugal, where they had the opportunity to ride working equitation horses at Quinta do FalcĆ£o with Coach Pedro. During their time there, they gained valuable experience and developed a deeper understanding of the discipline. It was an incredible learning opportunity, and weāre excited to see them bring that knowledge back to the barn.
š PRRC Schooling: Take Two
We took on another schooling day at Panorama Ridge Riding Club later in April! Once again, all the riders did a fabulous job, and the horses were so well behaved. Coach Tammie had everyone focus on their speed and direction between the fences. All riders were turned out lovely and tidy. For some riders, this was their first time off the property with their horse ever, and for others, it was the second outing of the year!
š“ School Horse of the Month - Mark (āMy Little Hippoā)
This month, we are featuring Mark, a long-time member of the Unicorn Stables family. Mark has been with us since he was just three years old, and in his younger years, he was quite the spirited horse, competing up to the Pre-Training level.
His round build earned him the nickname āHippo,ā which led to his charming show name, My Little Hippo.
Now in his early twenties, Mark has stepped back from regular competition but continues to be a favourite among lesson riders and leasers. He is known for his kind nature and reliability, though he still enjoys adding a playful buck when he gets the chance to go out on the cross-country course.
Hereās what his leaser, MaĆ«lle, has to say about Mark:
āRiding and leasing Mark has been an amazing experience. Heās such a sweet horse, and heās so easygoing and fun. Heās always good, no matter what weāre doing, and heās really helped my confidence. Going on trail rides with him is super fun, since he literally wonāt react to anything, heās just chill. I love Mark so much and am grateful Iāve gotten to experience riding and leasing him.ā
Thank you to all of our riders, families, and coaches for making April such a positive and productive month. We look forward to continuing this momentum into the spring season! š¦