Hidden Gem Equine

10/10/2026

10/07/2026

We are proud to announce our upcoming move to Sky Rose Equestrian Center in Antioch, IL on Nov 1. There will be stalls available for training, rehab and prehab horses! We specialize in bringing out the hidden gem in your horse.

We have experience in multiple disciplines. Nikki spent 20 years as an A circuit hunter, jumper and equitation trainer and the last 10 years in eventing and dressage in central KY and IL.

Nikki most enjoys helping horses become their best and strongest selves. She uses targeted ground work, flat work, pole and cavaletti work to create a program to improve how the horse uses their body. Have a horse that the vets say “they need to get stronger”; we can help with that! We can help with rehab from a prior issue or prehab so your horse can be happy and sound! Short term or long term spots available.

We will also be looking for part time grooming help!

09/23/2026

Flying Cross is always a good time! The organizers work so hard to make it truly special! Thank you to the owners, organizers, sponsors and volunteers for putting on a spectacular event! It is one of my favorite events to attend! This year they gave ribbons for dressage which I love!! The team won piles of ribbons!

* Christina Kelly and Fencer B Nov Derby 8th, Dressage 2nd on a 22.2, FOD Overall HT 2nd, BN TIP Champ

* Lisa Hartke and McLovin after 2 years of no competing!! Traning Derby 6th, Dressage 7th, Overall Training HT 3rd!

* Anabelle Friend
* Anabelle rode all 3 of her horses to dressage scores in the 20s and double clear SJ. This is hard to do! Good riding girl!
* Tator CZ’alad Nov derby 2nd, Training Derby WIN, 4th Novice dressage on a 25.
* Best Cause 5th Novice dressage on a 26.7
* Puddle’CZ (yes full sister to her other horse) 5th dressage on a 28.5, and FOD for overall Open Novice HT 2nd!!
* Puddles was also 3rd in the starter derby with her lessee, Trudy Lonesky. Congrats Trudy!

* Dory Tuohey and Pinnacle cantered, stayed in the ring and completed on a #! Sometimes huge improvement, confidence and learning doesn’t translate into having a better score than others. Improvement in your own scores and having fun while doing it is most important on your riding journey.

09/22/2026

Huge congratulations to Anabelle Friend on earning her A level in eventing for Pony Club. This is such a huge accomplishment! I’m beyond proud of her riding and understanding of the training fundamentals for the discussions.

09/21/2026

Seems like forever ago but we did attend Hoosier Horse Trials in early August! We don’t usually show in the heat and hard ground of July so this was the first event since Revel Run in early June. Everyone learned things!

Thank you to the organizers, sponsors and volounteers that work tirelessly to put this event on.

Dory Tuohey made the move up to B Nov with a good XC run but a parting of company into a puddle during SJ led to a finish on a letter.

Christina Kelly also ran B Nov and with her usually stellar dressage but her green horse got quite overwhelmed on XC to end on a letter.

Anabelle Friend had some trouble on XC with 2 of her horses. It wasn’t their day. She wisely chose to retire. This happens. Horses get nervous, horses need to learn things, horses loose confidence. So do riders. Much of training horses is 1 step forward and 2 steps back. You don’t necessarily compete to win every time. Sometimes its is more of a training tool, a fitness tool or to see where the horse is at within competition standards.

Lindsey rode Maddie Ozbun’s green TB in intro. He was amazing in the jumper derby on Friday, Such a good boy for dressage. XC got moved to Sunday am with the storms. He also got pretty overwhelmed and could not would not cross the watery muddy drainage area to get to one of the jumps. Which was really a big ask for him!

Anabelle Friend and Puddle’CZ aka Perfect Puds WON their novice move up wire to wire FOD on a 27.1.

09/16/2026

If you are limited on time then walk is all you do.

07/21/2026

Join us!!

07/20/2026

Beautifully said

It’s easy to forget just how dangerous our sport is.

We jump into the saddle without a second thought, heading out for a hack, schooling in the arena, travelling to lessons, clinics, and competitions, rarely pausing to consider that, each time, there is a chance we might not come home.

We don't dwell on that, we can't. If we did, we’d never ride at all, but weekends like this bring that reality into sharp, heartbreaking focus.

Every time we put a foot in the stirrup or a hand on the reins, we accept a risk, and because of that, we owe it to ourselves to live fully. Not cautiously holding back, not giving 75%, but to jump in with both feet, to dream unrealistically, to make mistakes and bounce back, and to be intentional in all we do.

The talented lives that were lost at the weekend were lost in pursuit of something those riders loved deeply. That doesn’t soften the grief or make it easier for those who knew and loved them, nor for the wider equestrian community. But perhaps, in time, there may be some quiet comfort in knowing they were doing what set their souls alight, under blue skies, looking between a pair of ears.

For now, though, we’re reminded, starkly and painfully, that tomorrow is never guaranteed and that the sport we choose, the sport we love, is not a safe one.

And yet, we ride anyway.

So don't live small. Be brave, be present, say the things that matter, take up space, let your passions lead and make sure every time you put a foot in that stirrup and look between those ears, you remember that life is precious, but it is also fragile, so you live it the best you possibly can.

-

Sending love and strength to the families and loved ones of Kerry and Sophie.

Immediate support is available for everyone affected.
Riders Minds offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day.
Tel: 0800 088 2073
Text: 07480 488 103
Live webchat: https://ridersminds.org/

07/20/2026

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝘀...
"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴?" 🤔

Most riders never find the answer because they're constantly doing something. They're adjusting the reins, squeezing with the leg, changing the contact or trying to place the horse at every fence.

The problem with that approach is you'll never discover what your horse actually needs from you. You might think your horse needs more hand when, in reality, they simply needed a better turn. You might think they need more leg when they actually needed you to stop getting involved and allow them to travel.

The less unnecessary riding you do, the easier it becomes to recognise the moments that genuinely matter.

That's when your aids become quieter, your horse becomes more confident and riding starts to feel much simpler. 🐴

👇 What's something you've stopped doing that's improved your riding?
🐴 Tag someone who always tries to help their horse a little too much.