Aintree Farm Stables

Katie Quinn and Flurry❄️ trying to detect the ice cream truck’s exact location🍦😆

Our beloved Miss Louise is retiring after 28 years of teaching riding (and life) lessons!

Please join us for a retirement celebration on Tuesday, June 2, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Aintree/Spring Mill tent at the Germantown Charity Horse Show. All are welcome!

Thank you, Miss Louise 💗

Resident barn🐱Sherbet is always happy to hang out between lessons ❤️🐈

Dedicated athletes ✅
Enthusiastic horse lovers ✅

☀️Beautiful day at the farm yesterday!!

Well this is interesting... could explain how Marvin learned how to get his door latch open using his rear end. 🤷‍♂️🤣🥴

YOUR HORSES ARE WATCHING YOU – AND LEARNING MORE THAN YOU THINK

As you go about your daily routine looking after your horses – maybe opening gates, switching on lights, lifting latches – it’s easy to assume your horse is just waiting. But research suggests they may be watching closely, and learning from what you do.

A study from the University of Regensburg investigated whether horses could learn a completely new task just by observing a human. Twenty-four horses were introduced to a feed box that could only be opened by pressing a switch positioned a short distance away. All horses were first allowed to eat from the open box so they understood it contained food, before being tested on how to access it once closed.

The horses were then split into two groups. One group watched a familiar human demonstrator press the switch, walk to the box, and take food from inside. The other group received no demonstration and simply explored the setup themselves. Horses were given repeated trials over several days to see whether they could learn to operate the switch.

The results showed clear differences between the two groups. Eight out of twelve horses who observed the human learned to press the switch and open the box, compared to just two out of twelve in the control group. This strongly suggests that the horses were learning through observation, not just trial and error.

Individual horses also differed in how they solved the task. Some used their lips, others their teeth, and some pawed at the switch. One horse succeeded almost immediately, while another required many more repetitions. The demonstrator was always someone familiar, which is important, as horses are known to pay more attention to people they recognise.

So, if horses can learn to manipulate a novel object like this just by watching us, how much are they learning from us every day, without us even realising?

Study: Social learning across species: Horses (Equus caballus) learn from humans by observations, Animal Cognition (2016)

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

A BIG congrats to this new duo…. Cypress Debes and Grande Finale! So excited to see these two flourish together 🤩

Spotlight on McLain and Autumn 🤩

Golden Season and McLain had a successful for their first outing!!

It’s been a good weekend to EXEL! Love these little moments in between rounds. Comradery, teamwork, and horsemanship are what it’s all about.

A very Merry Christmas to “the Binkley boys” Lesley and McLain on their lease of Autumn AKA Golden Season! Can’t wait to see these three flourish together in 2026 🤩🎄