Hidden Brook Stables

07/30/2026

I wrote this 4 years ago now and it changed the trajectory of this page and in a way, my life. People who didn’t know me got a glimpse of the real Cara. So here it is, May it help someone this year…

I haven’t stopped thinking about my beautiful student who took her own life last year. This cloud of sadness has been looming over me for days. I’m so sad for her, her family, friends and all who knew her…what in inspirational light she was!

I’ve heard more and more about other veterinarians and horse trainers who have taken their own lives after my post went viral. I can’t really speak from a veterinarian’s perspective, but I certainly have a word for most other professionals in the horse industry.

People who are horrible to you are NOT worth your life. It is only a reflection of their own shortcomings, problems, drama, baggage or insecurities. But man, it is so so hard to remember that when you’re inconveniently in the perfect position to be the punching bag.

I used to be there. I was that horse trainer. People were horrible to me. I was miserable. I wanted to help everyone, so I played the roll of that proverbial punching bag for a long time. One client at a time. I can say that those feelings of misery honestly didn’t leave me until the last few months. I wanted out, desperately. For the first time in years, I don’t feel that way anymore. I don’t have those kinds of clients anymore. Here’s why…

The best advice I can give you - stop selling cheap seats. Figuratively and financially. Get rid of those seats in your life and your business. There are 7 BILLION people on Earth and plenty who will see your worth, respect you and love you. Don’t waste a second thought on those who don’t value you.

Stop selling cheap seats and the toxic people will never show their face.

Stop selling cheap seats and you won’t have to work yourself into the ground.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will attract a different level of client, friend, etc.

Stop selling cheap seats and those who are not meant for you will get uncomfortable and see themselves out.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will enjoy your work.

Stop selling cheap seats and you will enjoy your clients because THEY are your tribe.

Raise your standards. Raise your vibration. Raise your prices.

The rest will fall into place, I promise.

You are more than enough.

🌻Cara

📸 Sister

07/30/2026

07/21/2026

07/18/2026

Yessss!!!!!

Third Level riders coming down centerline starting Dec. 1 of this year will face a big change in the tack permitted at the level. After a rule change proposal was passed at the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s mid-year meeting in June, double bridles will no longer be allowed. Instead, riders will be able to compete with two bits for the first time at Fourth Level.

We spoke with FEI five-star judge and USEF Dressage Sport Committee member Mike Osinski about the change. Read the article at the link in our comments.

📸 AK Dragoo Photography

07/16/2026

Equine Pulse

07/08/2026

How to make a million with horses …

You know the joke… start with 2 million. When you are a breeder in the US I would say start with 3 millions (inflation and all). I never realized how much of money pit breeding in the US was.
Breeding in the US is 2026 is an absolute financial su***de.
A lot of my friends breed horses and many of them gently shamed me to never have caught the bug to breed my own.
So 5 years ago when I imported a very nice 1m40 jumper mare and she got injured during the import process and needed some time off I was like : well, the universe is telling me to try the breeding venture.
So I bred the mare to a very nice proven stallion and a year later Blip was born. Well it was not that simple as he “died” shortly after birth and by some miracle came back to life after 20mn of CPR from the vet.
Anyway after he got weaned I tried to keep him at a friend’s place as she had a baby of the same age. But Blip was a menace and kept jumping out of the pasture every day and he was “too much to handle”.
I didn’t really want to bring him to my farm as it is set up for full training/show barn but not exactly baby friendly.
I believe that young horses should rough house with other babies their age in big pastures and be horses for the first couple of years of their lives.
So I shipped Blip to “daycare/nightcare/boarding school and he went to grow up in Missouri.
So I paid board for him for 4 years, but ironically it would have cost me more to keep him in my backyard.
He received top care and then got started under saddle this past May.
So a little bit over 5 years into it, here I am owning a 4YO who does w/t/c under saddle.
So I just did the math and I’m have already over $40,000 invested into him.
And board was only $500/month.
But between the stud fee, reproduction cost, castration, trims, dental work, training to start him under saddle, routine vet work, shipping.
And I still have a baby with no change, and at this point I have no clue if he is going to look like a deer or like a hunter when he jumps, if he is going to have a sticky change (because he is barely cantering with a human on his back), he might have 3 chips in his fetlocks or kissing spine or something with his neck (I haven’t done X-rays so god knows).

So let’s say I keep him for an other year to train him, show him so he is solid at 2’9, I will easily sink an other $20k into him…
And so if I sold him for $60k then I would break even after investing money for 6 years. Let this sink in.
If added a $20,000 profit which seems huge when you put it like this. A whole 20 grand, this is highway robbery. This comes down to $284 ($9/day) per month for 6 year.
This is what a breeder would “make salary wise” if they sold a 5 year horse for $80,000.
So to all the breeders out there, I have no idea how you do it.
This is a one and done for me, this was a cool “science experiment” but I’m out.
Now on the bright side, Blip is a very good looking youngster, with good conformation, an amazing brain and 3 nice gaits, so at least the universe didn’t screw me.

07/07/2026

07/07/2026