Elmwood Stables
1242 Gabarus Highway B1L 1E6 Sydney, NS, Canada

So very true! Worth the read

It starts when we’re little kids... I can’t pick up the horses feet. I can’t carry the saddle. I can’t make him trot. ... Then it happens as a youth: I can’t keep the barrels up. I can’t get him in the alley.’ I can’t win a check. Then as an adult: I can’t ride. I can’t win. I can’t succeed. The words I can’t plague our minds with self doubt, in ourselves and our horses. We’re presented with challenges, and instead of hitting them head on, we crumble and say I can’t. Those very words have killed more dreams and futures than any other phrase. And the irony is, they’re a lie. Because you CAN. The next time you’re faced with adversity, instead of giving up because you can’t, change your mindset. Rather, ask how do I, if you’re struggling with something. Surround yourself with people who are willing to help answer that question. Remove I can’t from your vocabulary. Failure is, and never will be, an option. You’ll be surprised how much further you get in life when you stop being your own obstacle. You CAN do it. - Lee Bailey Bradshaw (Black Cursive Barrel Horses)

Beginner riders want to work on intermediate horsemanship. Intermediate riders want to work on advanced horsemanship. Advanced riders want to work on the basics.

Hello everyone! Hope you’re having a great weekend heading into March Break. We wanted to send out a notice to all our clients admits this Covid19 pandemic that if you’ve travelled or been close to somebody who has travelled in the last 14 days or you’re experiencing any cold/flu symptoms to please wait a minimum of two weeks before visiting or booking with us! We want to keep all the kiddos that come here safe as well as our family, since this is our family farm. ... Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Chilly morning at the farm

I will never be able to describe the power of time spent cleaning stalls. During this time I have made some of the biggest decisions in my life. I have silentl...y thought my way, step by step, through some of the biggest disasters of my life. I have ugly cried my way through heartbreak all while cleaning stalls. I’ve thrown bags of sawdust in range as I thought about all of the shitty things going on in my life. Each stall has oddly given me a place of comfort as I stood, fork in hand, feeling empty during the times I’ve felt so alone. It has taught me to appreciate the serenity of the quiet. Realizing the ones in my life I can count on and the numerous fake people who are only present when convenient for themselves. I’ve enjoyed a free gym membership, as I’ve sculpted my back and shoulders into he man, just sifting away. I’ve stumbled my way, dry heaving, with sunglasses ....cleaning stalls through last night’s hangover, because god forbid my best friend be forced to stand in a dirty stall. Today I spend my morning, cleaning stalls and processing my life. I’m mentally making life changing decisions, as I write this post, knowing that whatever I decide, it will be the right one, as it was made in a stall. I understand that there are those who think us horse people should get real jobs. And that all we do is spend our days playing around. I’m genuinely sorry that you have never been exposed to a lifestyle that teaches you discipline, how to love unconditionally, put something other then yourself first, bust your ass for the things you want and need, kept humble by a 1200 lb animal, the real meaning of hard work, early mornings and late nights spent caring for something other than YOU. Those are things a real job will never give you. Some of you haven’t cleaned stalls .....and it shows.

We had such an amazing weekend at our Fall Farm Day and our Trail Ride! It was a great way to spend the weekend with such awesome people. Thanks to everyone who came out!

You breed the mare, wait 11 months for her to have her baby, you pray everything is ok and the foaling goes smoothly and finally the day the foal arrives is filled with such excitement and fresh promises for its future. Fast forward to time to start them under saddle the first 30 days, you get them started with a good foundation to hoping to give them as many tools so you can to set them up for success. Then you sell them and send them off to their new life hoping the next ...person loves and cares for them like you would. Never had that worry with Arielle! Always a pleasure to see Sally coming back to the farm for lessons, having the pleasure to help teach her new things throughout their journey, seeing her in great condition and making her owner so happy. These are the things that make my heart full. Sally has grown up and is making her new mom proud. Thank you Arielle for giving her a great home and being her human. This is where things get fun! It’s all starting to coming together now

Hello everyone! We have a few spots open for new riders to join our lesson program. We teach ages 7+, beginners to advanced riders. You can ride one of our horses, or bring your own.... We are also available to travel to you to teach lessons, price depending on distance. Lessons are flexible, and fit to your schedule. If you are interested in coming up for a lesson or have any questions at all, send us a message We look forward to hearing from you!

Do the best you can Quote credit to Maya Angelou

Share your stories about your first horse with me for a chance to win some prizes! Contest closing Sept 1.

Summer Contest Like this page and share your feel good first horse stories with me! I can’t wait to read them. Every story will be entered in a draw for a f...ree bag of Buckeye Peppermint Treats and Buckeye Hat (Please make sure your comment is on the original post and not a share!)

I will share this over and over again because I see it all the time. Ray said it best! We don't expect the child to write his name the first day or two in sch...ool. As soon as he learns to sit down in class and listen to the teacher, he is not immediately expected to write his name.....but we expect immediate learning from a horse. We expect the horse to go from kindergarten to the eighth grade, to high school, to college without enough time, preparation, or consideration for his thoughts and feelings. We often don't even get him into a learning frame-of-mind before we begin to train him. We don't even have him relaxed and confident, where he can sit down in class and just listen. We skip all that preparation because we are so superior, or neglectful, or lazy. Because we haven't prepared ourselves to recognize the horse's feelings." - Ray Hunt Photos are from the Ray Hunt clinic Dad and I attended early 2000s. That tied button up tho lol. The best memories I’m so grateful to have been able to meet and work with Ray for those few days. Lucky my father made that happen for us. Will cherish those memories forever

Parents, let your daughters grow up to be horse girls, because they will learn quickly and repeatedly that life isn’t fair, that hard work is often trumped by ...Lady Luck, and that every defeat, no matter how terrible, is temporary. Let them dream big and kick on. Let them learn confidence, grace and grit. Let them build big muscles and strong backs. Let your daughters grow up in the barn. Let them learn that buckets need filling and stalls need cleaning, even when it’s raining, even when it’s frozen, even when they have a different idea for how the day should go. Teach them to drive trucks and trailers and ATVs. Teach them to change tires and wrap legs and give shots. And let them leave a spur mark, or a bit rub, or a bandage bow, and let them deal with the shame of causing pain to an animal they love. Let them grow up with horses and with good horse people, because it will teach them to be humble, and to be resilient, and to be brave. Written by Lauren Spreiser for Chronicle of the Horse https://www.chronofhorse.com//let-your-daughters-grow-up-t

We would like to wish a big congratulations to Kerissa Martin today for the purchase of her favourite boy, Phoenix A lot of work went into the surprise but it was all worth it in the end. Biggest congrats to the Martin family, and we wish you guys all the best with your new family member! Kayla Lynne Martin Sheila Martin

Selling this Jacket I ordered in that was too big for me. Size is Women’s Large. Price is $95.