Spellbound Farm

04/10/2026

Even the best riders in the world have bad rounds. Missing a distance, rushing a line, or forgetting your course are mistakes that are part of riding. According to top hunter rider and trainer Geoff Teall, mistakes are inevitable in the show ring. What matters most is learning from them and using them to improve.

Every rider, no matter their level, will face setbacks in the ring. Learning to handle those moments with honesty, perspective, and responsibility is a crucial part of becoming a better horseman.

No amount of preparation can eliminate mistakes in riding. Even when riders plan carefully and practice diligently, things can still go wrong in the show ring. A rider chip at a fence or misjudge a distance. These situations are frustrating, but they are also completely normal. Every rider, from beginners to top competitors, experiences bad rounds from time to time. Accepting that reality is the first step toward dealing with mistakes constructively.

When a round goes poorly, riders often feel the urge to find someone or something to blame. It might be the course design, the footing, the judge, the weather, or even the horse. But Teall makes it clear that blaming outside factors prevents riders from learning from their mistakes. Instead of identifying what went wrong and improving for the future, the rider avoids responsibility.

Teall emphasizes that riders should take ownership of their performance. If something goes wrong, the first question should be: what could I have done differently?

Instructors often face a delicate balance when working with students who make mistakes. Some riders become overly critical of themselves after a bad ride. Others immediately begin making excuses. Teall argues that neither response is productive.

Being too hard on yourself can destroy confidence, but constantly blaming others is equally harmful. Riders who blame the horse, the instructor, or the conditions are avoiding the responsibility that comes with improving.

Good sportsmanship requires honesty. If a mistake happened because of something the rider did, the rider must acknowledge it. That honesty creates the opportunity to learn and improve.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/04/08/handling-bad-rounds-and-mistakes-like-a-true-horseman/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

03/27/2026

Instead of following a traditional path of always moving up, riders are beginning to step back and ask a different question: what actually allows me to ride well, stay safe, and enjoy the sport long-term?

In many programs, progression has traditionally meant bigger jumps, bigger divisions, and often, bigger horses. But that path doesn’t always align with what riders need to be successful in the ring.

“There are a lot of people that don’t have to have the big, glamorous, sexy horse to go to the horse shows,” trainer Jane Ehrhart, who runs River Hill Farm, a private training facility based in Wellington, Florida, explains. Riders are focusing less on what a horse looks like on paper and more on how it feels to ride day in and day out. Because the right horse isn’t just the most impressive one, but the one that fit its rider.

The horses that dominate the top levels of the sport are often bred for brilliance in movement, scope, and presence. But those same qualities can come with added complexity.

“If you want your horse to be so glamorous, it comes with all these breeding and habits and attitude,” Ehrhart says . For some riders, that trade-off is worth it. For others, it creates unnecessary challenges.

A horse that feels too big or complicated can make the experience more difficult, particularly for adult amateurs who are balancing riding with other responsibilities. Instead of helping riders improve, the wrong match can make consistency harder to achieve.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/03/26/rethinking-what-success-looks-like-in-the-hunter-ring-for-adult-amateurs/
📸 © Heather N. Photography
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03/26/2026

Spellbound Farm is proud to offer Colourful for in house care lease. Conner has a record in the hunter and eq rings a mile long. He is now ready to step down and teach a new pilot the ways of the hunter ring. Conner is suitable for the short/long stirrup. Please contact Tracey directly for more information or to set up a trial.

03/26/2026

Available for in house lease at Spellbound Farm:
Wilhelmus S- low level jumper schoolmaster. Ready to learn the ropes of the jumper ring and have a blast doing it? Wiz is your guy! Wiz is the winner from the .60s to the .85s-he would still do the big sticks if we'd let him! Just off of his last lease and looking for a new person, Wiz is available for full in house care lease. Contact Tracey directly for additional information or to set up a trial.

03/24/2026

03/12/2026

Join us next weekend March 21 & 22 as we kick off our 2026 hunter/jumper horse shows! Entries are open and prizelist is posted at spellbound.horsespot.net Stalls are very limited, reach out to Tracey directly for stabling reservations!! Best of luck to all competitors this weekend at the NTHJC Benefit Show at TRHP and the DHJSC Season Opener in Waco!

02/26/2026

01/28/2026

Current state of things here at the farm after one day of melt. Our road is still pretty treacherous. Horses getting on the walker and arena turn out along with extra snacks with warm alfalfa soup. Ready for some warmer temps tomorrow! Endless appreciation to and our ranch hands for going above and beyond 💜

01/12/2026

Big thanks to everyone that braved the weather on Saturday for our Combined Test and Dressage show! Other than the cold wind it was a great show to kick off the year!

Make sure to check out your photos from !

Entries are now open for the 2nd show of the winter series on February 7th! Enter at spellbound.horsespot.net
There is still time to get in on the run for the series prizes, just 2 shows are required to be eligible and the 3rd and final show will be on March 7th.