Don't miss anything happening at Greenbriar Riding Academy!
Don't miss anything happening at
Greenbriar Riding Academy!
MARCH 2026
Issue 26
March is here, bringing the welcome feeling of a new season just around the corner! The barn is buzzing with energy as our training horses continue to make great progress and we gear up for the upcoming show season, settling fully into the rhythm of the new year. Riders are building confidence, goals are taking shape, and the excitement of spring is beginning to shine through.
There’s plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead, including our Fun Show, our movie night to kick off Spring Break, and a week celebrating our riders who have leveled up! It’s an exciting time of growth for both horses and riders, and we can’t wait to see what this month brings. A little bit of warm weather would be nice.
MARCH 2026
Issue 26
March is here, bringing the welcome feeling of a new season just around the corner! The barn is buzzing with energy as our training horses continue to make great progress and we gear up for the upcoming show season, settling fully into the rhythm of the new year. Riders are building confidence, goals are taking shape, and the excitement of spring is beginning to shine through.
There’s plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead, including our Fun Show, our movie night to kick off Spring Break, and a week celebrating our riders who have leveled up! It’s an exciting time of growth for both horses and riders, and we can’t wait to see what this month brings. A little bit of warm weather would be nice.
Greenbriar Fun Show
March 7th
Spring Break Closure
*No Regular Lessons*
March 16 - 21
Level Up Week
March 23 - 28
Please note that Horsemanship Days for March are on Saturdays!
SPRING BREAK LESSONS: A week off to recharge and relax, for you AND the horses. Lessons will resume the following week on March 23rd. Please note their is no horsemanship on March 21st.
Come watch the iconic movie adored by adults and children alike! To ensure enough popcorn, drinks and candy for everyone, please add your name to the white board if you plan to join us for movie night! PLUS vote for your favorite candy!
our first show of the year!
Our Fun Show includes everyone! Join us for an afternoon of games and good ol' competition at Greenbriar.
march 7 from 2-5pm
Come play! $60 for all three classes.
Musical Stalls: Ride around the arena, but be quick when the music stops! Poles will be placed in the middle of the arena to build stalls for every rider but one. Ride forward into the next stall available when the music stops. Continue to ride the arena until a winner claims the final stall.
Boot Race: Mount your horse, minus one boot! Ride across the arena, dismount and dig through the bucket of boots. Find your boot, put it on, and mount your horse. Ride across the arena to the finish line! Leave your lace up boots at home!
Ride A Buck: Dollars provided by Greenbriar! Ride around the arena and keep your dollar under your seat. Walk, trot, straight, circles, keep your buck the longest and win all the dollars! Continue to ride the arena until a winner rides with the final buck.
SIGN UP ON EITHER
BARN'S WHITEBOARD AND
SECURE YOUR FAVORITE HORSE!
MEET MARYANNE
Hi, it’s me! I’m the one behind the scenes building our newsletter each month, and we finally decided it’s time for me to step into the spotlight for a moment. In addition to putting together the newsletter, I support Greenbriar with administrative tasks and marketing, helping keep things organized, running smoothly, and growing in all the right ways. So without further ado, keep reading to learn a little more about me and what I love most about being part of Greenbriar
A little about me
I grew up in Indiana riding in western lessons. Barb and Randy Musselman were incredibly kind people who shared their love of horses with the community. A depressing sidenote - their barn has since been torn down and apartments built on the land. And Barb and Randy are both in heaven, hanging out with all of their horses. I have them to thank for making me the horse lover I am today.
I most recently lived in Enterprise, Alabama - a small military town with a horse boarding facility on base. I took lessons there, leased a horse, and then eventually bought that horse - Nyra! She is a 6 year old bay quarter horse who lives up in the pony barn. It's nice to be able to visit her in the middle of my work day if I’d like! She brings me so much joy and challenges me as a rider.
I take riding lessons with Geline and continue to develop as a rider. If I’m not at the barn working or riding, you’ll find me in my reading chair at home. If I’m not in Iowa, I’m in Watertown, New York visiting my sister, brother-in-law, and niece.
What do you love most about helping the program run day to day?
I love ensuring that every Greenbriar experience is a positive one, for people who work and ride here, to people who have just heard about us. Every experience matters and I like being able to be a piece in that positivity.
What are you most excited to experience at Greenbriar this year?
Working remotely during Summer 2025, I was able to help plan and organize from afar. This summer, I’m excited to see the summer camps in action! I grew up taking riding lessons and attending summer camps and have wonderful memories of camp shenanigans and learning new skills. I remember my camp horse Jetta and learning how to ride without holding the horn. Randy took a dollar from his wallet and slapped it to my thigh. He promised I’d get to keep the dollar if I simply kept my hand resting there. I kept that dollar.
What do you hope every rider learns here beyond riding skills?
Riding is a journey! The skills we focus on learning are always developing and deepening. The program exists to support riders through that journey, even if they come for a little while, come back later, or stay forever. I grew up riding in a lesson program, volunteered for riding time, leased a horse during the summer, drove an hour away every Saturday for a riding opportunity I could afford, and then eventually got back into lessons. And now I own a horse, something I never thought I’d be able to say. Your equine journey is ever changing and that is 100% okay!
What do you hope every rider learns here beyond riding skills?
That they are part of the horse community - it doesn’t matter if you ride once or for years, it is always a part of you. And it's always something that we share, making the community bigger and bigger. It's casual conversations about how you previously rode, how seeing any horse anywhere brings you joy, how you know the coolest activity to suggest for friends on vacation or their kids birthday party. And maybe you even end up working for a horse business later in life, who knows!
What’s one thing you’re always excited to plan at the barn?
I’m always excited to plan new events that give people the chance to experience horses and everything Greenbriar has to offer. Horses seemed to be more accessible when I was growing up, which makes creating these opportunities even more meaningful today. I love bringing a vision to life and watching both kids and adults discover their own love for horses.
What’s your favorite project you’ve helped create here?
Horses and Hot Chocolate - I love a fuzzy horse and holiday cheer - so it was a chance to help create an experience that I would've enjoyed as a child. I’ve enjoyed brainstorming new versions of it for future seasons - minus the winter fuzz.
It's been so nice to meet everyone since I've been here and you can find me in the office if you need any help! Greenbriar has been so welcoming and has made the move to Iowa all the better!
level up week is coming!
Once a quarter, we check in and celebrate how far our riders have come. Level Up Week is your chance to review your progress, check off your skills, and take that exciting next step in your equine journey!
Start preparing now! Don't wait for Level Up Week to start working toward your next level. Get a head start!
Review your current level's mounted and unmounted skill checklist
Practice skills during your regular lessons and let your instructor know you're aiming to level up!
Brush up on your horsemanship knowledge using Quizlet (great for learning outside the barn!)
Join us on Saturdays for Horsemanship Class to strengthen your unmounted skills
We are so proud of every single one of our riders. No matter where you are in your journey, you belong here. We can't wait to cheer you on this March!
New topics this month!
2026 SUMMER CAMPS AT GREENBRIAR!
We’re ready for the warm days ahead and a barn full of campers all summer long! We hope to see you there! This is the final month to save $40 on camp, so be sure to secure your spot and your savings! Use code SAVE40 at checkout to take $40 off each camp when you book before April 1st.
OUR MAILING ADDRESS
Greenbriar Riding Academy
PO Box 435 - Springville, IA, 52336
United States
+1 319-854-7115