Always August Farm

05/27/2026

New XC course (and show jumping / derby field) all freshly mowed! Message for an appointment to come school!

05/24/2026

Making the schedule for this clinic tomorrow! A few last minute spots still available at any level!

Event Timing: May 30-31 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Event Address: Always August Farm, 664 Habberton Rd., Fayetteville, AR Contact Christy Zweig at 479-445-7564 Always August Farm is excited to host Elizabeth "Liz" Swire for a dressage, show jumping, and xc clinic. Liz Swire has a background in eventing thr...

05/22/2026

There is a certain kind of rider who arrives at the barn with a spreadsheet, Parker Worthington writes. Not literally, perhaps, but figuratively armed with podcasts, clinician quotes, training philosophies gleaned from social media, and a very clear picture of exactly the kind of rider they intend to become. They have identified the inefficiencies. They have a plan. They are ready to optimize.

And then the horse walks out of the stall, and none of it applies yet.

This is one of the quieter frustrations of learning to ride well, and one of the least discussed. We live in a time period that is obsessed with optimization, with doing things faster, smarter, more efficiently, with less wasted motion and more measurable output. That framework works beautifully in a great many areas of life. It works considerably less well when you are trying to develop a feel for a thousand-pound animal that thinks and moves and responds in ways no spreadsheet can fully anticipate.

The problem is not ambition. Ambition is essential. The problem is sequencing, the belief that you can skip the long, unglamorous, deeply inefficient middle part of learning and arrive at mastery by identifying the right shortcuts early enough. You cannot. And the attempt to do so ends up taking more time than doing the right way to begin with.

Here is what actually happens when a rider tries to optimize before they have a foundation to optimize from: they get better at executing a technique they do not yet understand. They can produce the position their trainer described, but only when they are thinking about it. The moment something unexpected happens, like a spook, a missed distance, or a horse that drifts unexpectedly to the left, the technique evaporates, because it was never truly theirs. It was a performance of competence rather than competence itself. And because the foundation was never poured properly, there is nothing beneath the performance to catch them when it falls apart.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/05/22/you-cant-optimize-what-you-havent-built-yet/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

05/17/2026

🖤Mia didn’t get a ton of work while I was on my “maternity leave,” and she was a handful when I started riding again a month ago. On a whim, I decided to take her along to NWAHJA & see if I could survive a course. Although I think the crowd was terrified, we both had a blast. I can’t wait for the rest of the season with this special mare!

05/11/2026

🌹Texas Rose🌹 We had a fantastic eventing season kick off at Texas Rose, with several junior riders moving up a level & record best scores from those established at the level!

We can’t wait for the rest of the year!

🎉Big congrats to Aria & Beau for a successful move up, Audrey & Noodle for a successful move up and beautiful double clear XC, Abby & Harlan for a successful move up and FOD, and Mila & Bruce for continued success at Novice & hard work paying off with a personal best dressage test!

05/05/2026

We’re pleased to welcome back Liz Swire for a clinic on May 30-31. Join us! Sign up form below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXNKpHWs_GacJhhnojGB5YlPwl0b-RVW9YQOfo9EVXYT80Ug/viewform?

Event Timing: May 30-31 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Event Address: Always August Farm, 664 Habberton Rd., Fayetteville, AR Contact Christy Zweig at 479-445-7564 Always August Farm is excited to host Elizabeth "Liz" Swire for a dressage, show jumping, and xc clinic. Liz Swire has a background in eventing thr...

04/30/2026

On saturday, Whinnie (Misremembered X Runaway Moon) had a beautiful filly by the Hannoverian Stallion, Nechristo. With four white socks and beautiful conformation, this curious girl should make an elegant and athletic partner for dressage, show jumping, or eventing! She is available, and will go to the German Oldenburg Verband Inspection in August.

04/14/2026

Galaxy – 16.2+hh Shire Cross Gelding

Galaxy is a 2018 gelding with a substantial build and the feel of sitting on a big, comfortable couch. He is solid, dependable, and while brave & straighforward, will never jump his riders out of the tack.

On the flat, Galaxy is steady in the connection with correct basics and good lateral work, regularly scoring well in dressage. He enjoys his job and is a fun, confidence-building ride.

Recently, he took a young rider around her first Starter level event, finishing in 2nd place. He also loves to hack out and would make a fantastic foxhunter or all-around partner for someone wanting a safe, versatile horse.

Galaxy is sound with no history of injuries and requires no current maintenance. He is easy to handle in every way—good to load, tie, clip, and handle on the ground, and happily lives out in a herd.

🥕Mid / low 5’s

📍Located in Fayetteville, AR

Lots of video available!

04/12/2026

A few more pictures from the Heartland Spring Showcase: A UDJC Foundation Show here at Always August. The judge feedback portion of this show was new for our riders, but was so educational and fun!

04/11/2026

We are all set for the UDJC show tomorrow! Pics of the super fun Derby course coming soon!