Butter's Journey

06/07/2026

Happy 4th Birthday Butter!!!! 🎉❤️🎂

A little simple celebration this year without Cassy Hoban and I dressing him in embarrassing clothes. 😆 He is too grown up for that now. 😉

Instead he decided to sneak some wet smooches on Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC 😂

He has GROWN so much since I dropped him off last December. 😳 His body is lean and burning fuel as he keeps up with all that change.

He is getting the summer off to grow. We will see how he looks in the fall and gauge when he is ready to ride again.

In the meantime he is loving life at this farm.... so much space and a playground of jumps, ditches, hills and water to keep his brain fed while they enjoy long hand walks and play.

Royle Farm
Milo B Stallion
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC

05/10/2026

Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC has been keeping us up to date with Butter's progress. They are really building such a deep relationship! 💞

I wanted to add this photo to show how big (and beautiful) he has become. 🤩

Now that WTC are set, our plan for this summer/fall is easy body building with long walk hacks to help him grow without strain on his joints.

As our vet advised, it is good for him to develop muscle 💪 and strengthen bone 🦴 without straining his young joints. This should help him get stronger without risking getting arthritic as he ages.

Our approach is a long game. We want him to last forever and be happy and joyful in his work. We want it to be easy for him.

He is the kind of horse, though, with his athletic ability and strong urge to please, that it would be easy to take advantage of that and burn 🔥 him out. We have seen that too many times in our sport.

Not going to happen with our young man. Never. No buckling. As always, Butter decides our time line.

Royle Farm
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC
Cassy Hoban

04/27/2026

Best boy!

04/25/2026

This 💯% !!!!

It says everything about how we feel about the relationship of the owner/trainer(s)/horse.

Glad there is another Nancy out there helping the cause!

“We’ve had the privilege of time together,” said Jordan LaPlaca said yesterday after his Grand Prix win with Gold Play at the World Equestrian Center April Dressage CDI4* in Ocala, Florida. “I have the luxury of not being pressured by an owner to produce, but rather to be in like-mindedness of sustainable riding for the future. I hope to be doing this with 'GP' for many more years. I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder.” See link in comments for details!
📸 Andrew Ryback Photography, LLC

04/09/2026

Facebook made a then/now photo collage on my personal feed.

Such a big change!

Last year to this year..... Butter growing so beautifully. From "dirt pants" to human rider. ❤️

Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC
Royle Farm
Milo B Stallion
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC
International Riding Helmets

04/04/2026

Before his ride, Butter had a quick body/mind check on the lunge with Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC.

He turns 4 in June. His body is still developing and he has a clear uphill tendency that is natural for him.

Here he is cruising along, relaxed. This lasted ~5-10 mins just to see how he was feeling. Everything is done with the minimum amount of work, as his body and mind are precious to keep sound and happy.

Royle Farm
Milo B Stallion
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC
International Riding Helmets
Kendall Cox

04/03/2026

Back home after visiting Butter (and Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC) in Wellington.

Still going through my photos. Here's one of him hacking around the farm.

He grew some since December, mostly filling out and his chest is widening. He is a stunner. 🤩

More photos to come.

Royle Farm
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC
Milo B Stallion

03/30/2026

Visiting my boy down in Wellington. Thankfully he had the decency to remember me and appear happy to see me.

Today I caught him in full pest mode, bugging and fussing with his pasture buddy in the adjacent paddock.

Note the "innocent" look when I called out to him in photo #2, as if he were a perfect angel. 😆

He makes up for being a pain by giving Kendall Cox a lovely ride, in spite of the wild, windy, rainy weather. 🤩

Gradual improvement for our guy - on his time scale. He is so willing and eager, we do everything to keep him happy in his work.

Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC
Royle Farm
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC
Milo B Stallion

03/19/2026

Butter and Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC out for a hack.

Hacking will be a big part of his riding regimen, especially while he is young. Our curious, confident guy loves exploring.

Royle Farm
Milo B Stallion
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC

03/19/2026

😂

I suspected Butter might not keep his fly mask or bell boots on. He thinks everything he can reach with his mouth is a toy.

On the upside, he got front shoes yesterday for the first time, and he was an angel. 😇

He has big beautiful feet that he wears down more quickly than he needs, so we are tryng shoes. He did this at home in Georgia too, but now that he is "working" we want him to be comfortable and stop extra wear.

He has been doing short sessions and lots of hacking. Without me there to take photos of his every move, we don't have all his daily riding recorded at this stage.

Elizabeth Poulin Dressage, LLC
Royle Farm
Milo B Stallion
International Riding Helmets
Hulsebos Saddles US LLC