Carousel Stables

08/02/2026

All horses… not just barrel horses 💜

A lot of people think barrel horses are made by running barrels. They’re not.

They’re made by hauling, stalling, standing tied, riding in new places, and exhibitioning.

Every trip teaches something:
• Learning to haul quietly.
• Standing in a stall and relaxing.
• Warming up around other horses.
• Focusing in a busy environment.
• Walking into an unfamiliar arena with confidence.
• Listening to the rider instead of everything going on around them.

The barrel pattern is only a small part of the job. A horse that can handle the pressure, stay mentally with you, and confidently adapt to new environments will always have more long-term potential than one that’s only good at home.

Don’t rush to make a barrel horse. Build a confident, broke horse first. The speed will come.

The goal isn’t just to make a horse that can run barrels…it’s to make one that can run them anywhere.

07/18/2026

Who wants to go?

Come and have fun with us! No show clothes or show tack required. Good last practice show before gate and county Fair.

07/17/2026

Love it!!

You’ll figure it out.

07/16/2026

Be careful out there!

I'm sure everyone has noticed the wildfire smoke from Canada and MN that is all around us today. People ask can I ride with smokey skies. This image is an easy to read guide from Smartpak to help you make those decisions.

Here's more information of the effects of smoke inhalation from air pollution in horses. Smoke is composed of chemicals and particulate matter. Different types of wood, vegetation, houses or buildings, plastics, and other combustible materials all affect the composition of smoke. Many toxic chemicals are produced, some of which can be fatal in high doses and when inhaled over long periods.

The particulate matter found in smoke tends to be very small in size, which allows it to pe*****te deep into the lung tissues. For this reason, smoke tends to be more harmful than some other airborne particles, like the dust generated from riding arenas or roads.

Horses that are exposed to wildfire smoke can suffer various degrees of injury ranging from mild irritation to severe lung tissue damage. Owners should carefully observe their horses for any signs of respiratory distress, which include:

Respiratory rate consistently over 30 breaths per minute at rest (not during or right after exercise)
Labored breathing (increased effort from the abdomen/rib cage)
Flared nostrils
Deep or repetitive coughing
Nasal discharge that is yellow/white in color
If you notice signs of respiratory distress in your horse, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

The symptoms of respiratory distress are notable and most commonly experienced by horses in close proximity to wildfires. But what is less obvious and more common is continued and repeated exposure to air pollution caused by drifting smoke. It is not yet well known how this might affect horses’ athletic performance and long-term health. The best recommendations at this time are to minimize work intensity (and therefore the amount of air pollution inhaled) depending on the AQI.

06/27/2026

Thank you to those that came out for our mountain trail clinic! We learned a lot! And a special thank you to Carla Kline for showing us how to navigate this new adventure for us 😊

We are looking to have another clinic in the fall.

06/14/2026

Now that’s a visual lol

Dressage doesn't have to be complicated! Your seat sets the bend, your legs set the direction and your reins ask for the bend in the neck. Shop all my books at www.elaineheneybooks.com and worldwide on Amazon.

06/13/2026

This right here!!

THE HORSE WORLD HAS A CONFIDENCE PROBLEM.

Too many riders quit before they ever discover what they’re capable of.

Not because they lack talent.

Not because they don’t love horses enough.

But because they spend so much time looking at everyone else’s journey that they stop believing in their own.

They see the finished product.
The champion horse.
The polished run.
The confident rider.

What they don’t see are the years of mistakes, setbacks, tears, lessons, and self-doubt that came before it.

Every accomplished rider was once a beginner.

Every great horseman started knowing very little.

Every success story began as someone who simply refused to quit.

So stop comparing your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty.

Your only job is to be a little better than you were yesterday.

Keep learning.
Keep showing up.
Keep believing.

You might be far closer to your breakthrough than you think.

06/10/2026

💜

💡The same is true in dressage. 🤔

The horses that challenge us test more than our technique. They demand patience, humility, feel, timing, and understanding. Easy horses may build confidence, but difficult horses shape character.

Every resistance, every misunderstanding, every setback is an opportunity to become a better horseman.

The greatest lessons are rarely taught by the easiest horses.

06/06/2026

💜

The strongest horse and rider bonds don't come from the easy horses. They come from the relationships that get tested. The ones that would've been easier to walk away from. The ones that came with setbacks, frustration, tears, second guesses, and moments where neither side seemed to understand the other.

The horse that never scares you, never frustrates you, never challenge you, never makes you question yourself.... that isn't where you grow.

Some of the deepest bonds are built with the horses that make us grow.
The ones that expose our weaknesses. The ones that teach us patience.

The ones that force us to become better communicators, better riders, and sometimes even better people.

Relationships aren't built when everything is going right. They're built when things get hard and you choose to keep showing up anyway.

That's true for horses, and life.