Grand Slam Equestrian, LLC.- Nina M. Shaffer

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Don Stewart has trained hundreds of riders over his long and storied career—many of whom have gone on to dominate top hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. His longevity in the sport isn’t just about talent; it’s about his ability to evolve without abandoning the values that got him started.

“I think there’s a big difference in how we brought riders up 30 years ago,” Stewart said. “But I’m not here to say one way is better. I think we have to take the best of both.”

One of the biggest shifts Stewart has seen is in how young riders approach the barn and the sport as a whole.

“We used to be there all day, every day,” he recalled. “We cleaned stalls, we swept aisles, we watched every lesson whether we were riding or not. That’s how we learned.”

That “barn rat” mentality, Stewart believes, created a deeper level of horsemanship. “There’s something to be said for just being in the barn,” he said. “You can learn as much listening to a lesson as you can riding in one.”

Still, he understands that times have changed. “Kids today are busy. They’ve got school, they’ve got other responsibilities. I get it. But I do think we lose something when horses are just another activity on the schedule.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/07/23/what-never-goes-out-of-style-don-stewarts-take-on-riding-respect-and-results/

We are currently accepting new clients!

Our program welcomes both adults and children, offering instruction for riders of all experience levels. If you have never been on a horse before, no problem! Nina specializes in working with beginner riders stepping into the stirrups for the very first time. More advanced riders looking to further develop their skills will gain a deeper understanding of correct dressage foundations.

Our lessons are designed to provide a safe, supportive, and structured environment where riders can build confidence, develop proper horsemanship, and progress at a pace appropriate for them. We have an incredible lineup of lesson horses ready to hit the show ring too.

For more information or to inquire about availability, please call or text us to schedule a Meet & Greet today: 484-341-3849

You drove forty-five minutes each way. You packed the snacks. You wrote the check. And now you are standing at the rail watching your child stare at the horse while simultaneously watching a video on their phone, half present in a place that deserves their full attention, Parker Worthington writes.

Sound familiar?

The barn is one of the last genuinely analog experiences available to a child these days, and that is not an accident… It’s a feature. Horses do not respond to distracted riders. They do not care about follower counts. They demand presence, patience, and the kind of slow, attentive observation that is increasingly rare in the life of a ten-year-old who has been raised in a world of instant feedback and infinite scroll. Here is how you, as the adult in the car, can help make the most of this irreplaceable time.

1. Take the Phone the Moment They Hop Out of the Car

Not later. Not after they check one more thing. The moment the car door opens and the barn smell hits, the phone goes into your bag. Do this cheerfully, consistently, and without negotiation. Replace it with an analog dial watch — a real one, with hands, that they have to actually read — so they can track their lesson time and their chores without being tethered to a screen. The watch is not punishment. It is a tool that teaches them to orient themselves in time without a device doing the thinking for them. It also makes them feel enormously grown-up, which, at ten, is most of the battle.

2. Teach Them to Arrive Early and Walk Around

The thirty minutes before a lesson are not downtime. They are the lesson before the lesson. Teach your child to arrive early, walk through the barn quietly, look at the horses, notice which ones seem energetic and which seem settled, check the water buckets, observe the general atmosphere. This habit builds the kind of ambient awareness that separates a rider from someone who merely sits on a horse.

3. Let Them Carry Things

A ten-year-old can carry a saddle. They can carry a grooming bucket, a water bucket, a hay net, a stack of wraps. Let them. Do not carry things for your child at the barn unless they are genuinely too heavy or there is a safety reason to intervene. The physical experience of caring for a horse, including the weight of the tack and the logistics of the grooming kit, is part of the education. Children who are carried through barn chores grow up to be riders who don’t understand why things take as long as they do.

📎 Read more tips at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/06/21/ten-things-you-can-do-to-actually-help-your-ten-year-old-at-the-barn/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

An excellent read!

https://practicalhorseman.com/training/jumpers-training/to-sit-or-not-to-sit/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASUKSlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe49cD1Wyz4ahRR1SfPY1AIpWw_gaNc8CNryTsKls4AEDQg4FKSzON2Q9QTbQ_aem_yhkoHHOOVI6UNsgxWsQL6w

To Sit or Not to Sit While On Course? Do you know when you should stay out of the saddle and when you should sit while riding a jumping course? Trainer and clinician Bernie Traurig ­explains the four riding seats and when to use each one on course.

Welcome back to with
, Part 14:

THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM

Behind every successful rider is a team of people working quietly behind the scenes — trainers, parents, barn staff, veterinarians, farriers, mentors, and the horses themselves. While ribbons and results may recognize a single rider in the ring, the journey to get there is rarely accomplished alone.

Horsemanship teaches us that success is not built by one individual, but through the patience, support, dedication, and trust of an entire team working toward a common goal. From early mornings at the barn to late nights preparing for competition, each person plays an important role in helping both horse and rider grow together.

One of the greatest lessons this sport offers is learning to value not only personal achievement, but also the people who help make those achievements possible. Gratitude, teamwork, and respect for others are just as important as skill in the saddle. A simple thank you can go a long way, just as congratulating fellow competitors reflects true sportsmanship.

The strongest partnerships are built not only between horse and rider, but within the entire community that stands behind them. The path to success is rarely a straight one, but having the support of a team can make all the difference along the way.

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From the sunshine of Derby weekend to the rain-soaked day at Devon, these smiles capture the joy, dedication, and memories that make this sport so special. It is a privilege to share knowledge with the next generation of riders. Could your son or daughter be the next Grand Slam Leadline star?
Derby at The Vineyard Show Series The Devon Horse Show