Shelby Newton Equestrian

Things I Learned Riding Horses in the Mountains 🏔️🐴

This is definitely not what I envisioned my first real post being about. I had about 20 other things I wanted to talk about first—warm-up posts, I guess.

But this one is fresh in my mind, so I figured… why not just dive right in?

A little about me: I am not a fan of writing, putting my thoughts out there, and if I'm being honest, the internet scares me a little. 😅

I recently had the opportunity to ride horses in the mountains, and I came home with a few things that really made me think about how we train and enjoy our horses at home.

1. Horses really do live very different lives.

This one seems obvious, but it really struck me.
I've experienced this in my own move from Ontario to Saskatchewan. In Ontario, the horses I was around were often stalled for much of the day, with limited turnout and mostly on hay. Here, it's much more common to see horses living outside 24/7 with huge amounts of space to move.
Neither is necessarily better or worse—there are good and bad examples everywhere—but the contrast really made me think about how differently horses can live.

The same goes for their jobs.

Some horses spend their lives taking their riders down trails, up and down mountains, through trees and creeks. Others primarily work in an arena, with maybe some light hacking.

And I get it—every horse is different. One of mine would probably look at a creek, reconsider every life decision he's ever made, and back himself straight onto the trailer.

But it made me wonder: how wonderful would it be if our horses could experience a little bit of both?

2. I've never seen horses work harder than they do going up a mountain.

Long, steep inclines are no joke!

It really made me appreciate how important it is to know your horse, recognize their effort, and understand when they need to be given a break—or when they can handle being pushed a little further.

It also made me realize that maybe I'm a little too polite with my horses at home.

Sometimes they probably could use a little more encouragement to work outside their comfort zone.

3. Our groundwork doesn't always have to be perfect.

At home, we practice poles that are perfectly spaced and obstacles that are carefully set up.

The trail doesn't care.

Trees fall wherever they want. Logs aren't perfectly measured. The ground changes. Rocks are in the way. Horses have to figure out where to put their feet.

It made me think that maybe there is value in making our groundwork a little less predictable sometimes—walking poles at different distances, changing the terrain, stepping over something awkward, and allowing our horses to think about where their feet need to go.

4. Good basics transfer to everything.

A horse that knows how to move away from your leg, bend around your leg, adjust their balance and listen to subtle aids is a much safer and more capable partner on the trail.

Especially when there are trees involved and you'd prefer to keep your knees intact.

It was a really good reminder that all those basic foundation skills we work on in the arena aren't just "arena skills." They prepare horses for pretty much everything.

5. Hill work is seriously underrated.

I don't think I've ever seen horses that were so fit without being ridden every single day or following a structured training program.

Three 27-year-old horses looked absolutely incredible.

The mountains were a pretty convincing argument for incorporating more hill work into our horses' lives whenever we have the opportunity.

6. Enjoy your horse. ❤️

This might be the biggest thing I brought home with me.

There is something incredibly rewarding about getting out of the arena, putting your horse in front of you, and just going.

So now I'm challenging myself to do more of it.
More trails. More exploring. More different experiences.
Because at the end of the day, our horses don't just need to be trained—they deserve to enjoy their lives too.

And maybe that's something I want to bring into my program at home as well: building horses and riders who are confident, adaptable, and prepared for more than just what happens inside the arena.

Now… I guess I've officially made my first post. 😅

Tail Winds Equine
24-2 Draft Horses

🤎 Meet Scotch, new to the lesson program 🤎

💚 He came off the trailer to an entourage of adults and kids. He also learned how loud and busy the yard could be but stayed as cool as a cucumber. 💚

🧡 I am sure he could handle it but he is going to get some time to settle in and make some new friends. 🧡

Ground Poles to 2"3 and ending the day with Rail Classes 💚🧡🤎

Blessed with beautiful weather for our first show.

Leadline Class 😍 Thank you to Tack Addict in Yorkton for the Class Prizes !

Without the help and support, the day would not be possible.

Keep your eyes out for photos from our personal photographer (my dad😅)

Highpoint reward still to be calculated for Prarie Sport Horse Association Members.

Last day for registrations!

Register at: Schooling Show | Prairie Sport Horse https://share.google/zwIQHtiGicJbsbfrA

Register at: Schooling Show | Prairie Sport Horse https://share.google/zwIQHtiGicJbsbfrA

Young horse field trips are always humbling. Jinx's goal is to make new friends. I thought the goal was stay rideable. Somewhere in the middle we found success. 😅 He actually handled the day well. 🧡

Thank you to the , the Cana Equestrian Group, Cindy Smith, and Beth Hora for putting on the local show.

Our first hunter show in the making! A relaxed, one-day show designed for riders of all levels—whether you’re bringing along a green horse, stepping into the hunter ring for the first time, or just looking for a fun day out with friends. Hosted by Tail Winds and run in partnership with

Schooling Show at Tail Winds

We’re so excited to be hosting a relaxed, welcoming schooling show in partnership with the Prairie Sport Horse Association !

This day is all about learning, confidence, and having fun — whether it’s your first time in the ring or you’re looking to give your horse some positive mileage in a low-pressure environment.

✨ Classes for all levels:
Leadline, Ground Poles, Crossrails (up to 2’3”), Hack classes
✨ Junior, Senior, Open & unjudged Schooling options available

PSHA members receive discounted entry fees and are eligable for high point prizes 🎉

Come out, support your local horse community, and enjoy a great day with your horse 💛

📍 Tail Winds – Yorkton, SK
📅 June 20th, 2026

We can’t wait to see you there!

https://www.prairiesporthorse.ca/event-details/schooling-show