Winona Hills Equestrian

10/14/2026

Team Winona Hills Equestrian is super proud to have earned champion of Stone Gate Farm horse trial series in both the novice and training divisions! 🏆🐎

Many thanks to It's A Haggerty's for donating scrim sheets to the Event Series Champions. The reserve champs will receive a photo of your choice from Gia Photography.

Congratulations to all! Stay tuned for revised volunteer requirements for next season as many of you lost out on awards because you didn't meet the volunteer requirement.

Others to be recognized:

Up and Coming Rider for the Youngest Rider: Ciara Kelleher at 6 years old riding Frodo and Waffles in Tadpole and Flight if The Phoenix at Intro

The Vintage Rider for the most senior rider: Harris Ferris riding Roonie at Beginner Novice

New Award for the Mount who had the most riders: Waffles gave a total of 4 riders a successful experience at Tadpole ridden by Ellery and Zara Fine, Ciara Kelleher, and Allison Palko. Many thanks to Laura fine for sharing your pony.

A shout out to the Kelleher family who had all 5 children participating at the Mini Trials!!

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

What a wild day we had yesterday! We started off with the combined test Hackamore Farm where everyone had fabulous rides and showed steady improvement. Then we headed out with another load of horses for cross country schooling and volunteer appreciation day Stone Gate Farm. It was a long day but so much fun. We have a wonderful team here at Winona Hills! 🥰🐴🥰

10/09/2026

What a fun afternoon schooling at Flying Cross this afternoon!

09/30/2026

I think they are ready to move up to Training level at the Hackamore Farm Halloween CT next weekend!

09/21/2026

I threw away an opportunity for two first place finishes and couldn’t be happier! Here is why:

Secret put in a stellar dressage test that had us in second place and we moved up to first place after a beautiful show jump round that would have scored well in the hunters. We were woefully unprepared for cross country today due to extenuating circumstances and I was not going to over face her for the sake of a pretty ribbon. We withdrew. She was a good girl and a winner in my mind!

Ellie hasn’t been feeling well this week with an upset stomach and diarrhea from the rich grass we have as a result of all the rain. I was ready to withdraw her at any point if she told me she didn’t feel up to the task. We were in first place after dressage and double clear in show jump. Anyone who follows us probably remembers that she is still mentally recovering from an injury dropping into the water at KHP 4.5 years ago. I elected to school the water before attempting the combination. This cost us valuable time. The footing on course was dicey in places and I wasn’t going to push her and risk injuring my very best girl. We dropped to third place due to time penalties but she was so brave and bold our whole course and I really feel like we have made headway toward rebuilding her confidence. It was a perfect day in my mind! 🥰

08/29/2026

We are over the moon for these mares!! 😍
My first outing with Secret and Chloe’s first outing with Honey after an injury and long recovery. Both finished on their dressage scores with a blue ribbon. 😁🥇🐎

07/07/2026

It was a wet Winona Horse Trial but we had some good rides!
• Reggie finished on his dressage score earning second place at his first recognized event.
• Lexi and Bonny completed their first novice, jumped their first corner ever, and improved their dressage score in just under two weeks.
• Lexi and Scarlett came in fourth place in a division full of adults and professionals. The pony also found her perfect person and left the show on a trailer with her new family.
• Ellie put in an excellent dressage test and show jump round. She was exuberant to gallop cross country after a long hiatus, but we were sadly eliminated at the water. She still has PTSD from her injury dropping into the water at KHP five years ago. It is going to take some time to rebuild her confidence, but she is still my very best girl!

Many thanks to Jackie Smith and Stone Gate Farm for all the work that goes into putting on the event and Gia Nichole Photography for the great pics!

06/29/2026

We set up a course in the brand new arena today and it is just so amazing!

06/20/2026

It was a great day at the Hinckley mini trial with everyone finishing on their dressage scores! Chloe and Lexi both brought home blue ribbons with Happy Eloise and Midnight Pirate. Reggie and Scarlett successfully completed their first mini trial with no jumping penalties. Couldn’t be more proud of this group! 🤩🤩🤩