Don't miss anything happening

at Greenbriar Riding Academy!

MAY 2025

Issue 18

Flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and the hair is falling off in chunks! This is the time of year we get itchy to get in the saddle, that sweet spot between snow on the ground and fly season. Our herd continues to grow as we prepare for a busy summer season. Learn more about them in this newsletter!

Robin

WHAT'S COMING

MAY 3

Annual Kentucky

Derby Party

3 - 6pm

MAY 4

Barrel Racing Basics Clinic

with Aleah Schneider

1pm

MAY 17

Barn

Buddies

11am - 2pm

Annual Kentucky Derby Watch Party

I hope you will join us on May 3rd, 3pm-6pm for our annual Kentucky Derby Watch Party to be held in the Office Barn. Bring your creative juices as we will be making our own Derby hats or fascinators!  Last year we had a great time using the most basic of materials to create our hats. We will be drawing horses from a hat, so we all have someone to cheer for. 

Ours is not a party requiring fancy dress although if you feel like dressing up, do it!  Greenbriar will be providing Walking Tacos. Potluck dishes are welcome but not required. This event is open to all our students and their families. 

An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary.  Just come!

Barrel Racing Basics Clinic

with Aleah Schneider

May 4th at 1pm


Aleah Schneider is a 23-year-old wife and the owner of Aleah’s Training Horses. She specializes in colt starting, problem horses, and tune-ups, with the long-term goal of focusing exclusively on barrel horses. Currently, she has two personal horses, Tango and Vivian, who are beginning their barrel racing careers.

Aleah has been around horses her entire life—her mother rode while pregnant with her, and she began professional riding lessons at a young age. Her first instructor was a barrel racer, which naturally led her to the sport. Over the years, she trained with various clinicians and gained extensive experience in the industry. She started competing with two Arabian horses at local saddle club shows, but her journey changed when she adopted her heart horse, Twist, from a rescue. Twist had a rodeo background, and later, Aleah also adopted her filly. The bond she formed with Twist led to many racing successes before the mare’s retirement.

After high school, Aleah earned an Equine Management degree from Ellsworth Community College and worked with trainers specializing in pleasure, reining, and barrel racing. Eventually, she decided to start her own business, traveling to train horses at different locations. Now, she runs her training program from a rented facility and continues to pursue her passion for barrel racing. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and hopes each rider gains something valuable from her clinics. No matter how small it may be.

Please note that Horsemanship Days for May are on Saturdays!

Share your experience with us!

What is your riding goal for this year?


What has connecting with horses done for you?

We'd love to hear about YOUR love for Greenbriar!

Discover the World of Ponies Graduates!

Congratulations to our April graduates Nathan and Alana!

Also recognizing our Assistant Instructors Kenzie, Jackson and Avery.

Our Summer Camp 2025 logo is here!

Our winning entry was submitted by Greta Huberg!

Summer Camp is quickly approaching!

Save your spot now to ensure a memorable summer for your child. Each session offers 4 days of learning all about horses, making new friends, riding, and fun! Summer Camps will start in June!

HORSE SPOTLIGHT

So long to Stella and Maddie

Horses come and go here at Greenbriar and many of them take a piece of our heart with them.  Such is the case with Stella and Maddie. 

Stella was a big, beautiful QH mare who just didn’t make it as a lesson horse.  She was a little too challenging for our clientele.  We wish her the best with her new family and hope she enjoys the trail rides that will make her happy.

Maddie was also a nice QH mare that had raised a lot of top quality babies.  Greenbriar was to be her retirement job, but Maddie needs to live outside all the time and that doesn’t work here at Greenbriar.  She has found a wonderful home that can provide her with the environment she needs.  She is going to be ridden by a 7 year old girl who is learning to ride.  It is a perfect match!

Welcome to Scarlett and Maverick

Scarlett is a beauty!  She is a chestnut American Saddlebred mare about 20 years old.  She loves to go!  Scarlett is well trained, but with her energy, her riders need to be ready to ride and give her directions.  I think she will like it at Greenbriar because  “we think boring is good”.  Relaxation and rhythm are important here and with that horses find confidence and strength to become steady mounts.  Today she needs advanced and advanced intermediate riders.  However, I truly believe she will become rideable by most of our students in the future.

Maverick is a purebred Arabian who goes back to Khemosabi, a very popular stallion in the 1960’s. He is a beautiful bay gelding who is 20 years old.  He has experience showing at the local level in the saddle club shows.  I have been told he is energetic, as of this writing we have not ridden him yet.  We are excited to get to know him, maybe he will become your favorite horse!

Horse Lover - Barn Buddy Program

Have you ever noticed the adults and young people who always seem to be at the barn—quietly moving horses, grabbing tack, or sweeping up a corner? These dedicated individuals are our Horse Lovers, people who are passionate about being part of our barn community and eager to learn everything it takes to care for our beloved horses. If you're here, it means you're curious too! Caring for horses is rewarding, but it comes with plenty of challenges.

At Greenbriar, there are countless small but meaningful tasks that make a huge difference in the lives of our horses and the smooth running of the barn. Often, these little details are overshadowed by more urgent priorities. That’s where our Horse Lovers step in and fill the gaps—they’re mentors, role models, and guides for our students both youth and adults who want to dive deeper into the behind-the- scenes work of horse care.

If you want a meaningful role in the daily operations of the barn or lesson activities, becoming a Barn Buddy is the first step! This program is a wonderful opportunity to build connections within our community. It’s a space where students young and adults can learn from each other. Together, we create a stronger, more supportive barn family!

Program Details:

Open to students who have completed Red Level or higher.

Held on the third Saturday of each month, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Barn Buddy Activities: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Snack and Review: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Please sign up on the white board by the Saturday before to ensure we have a mentor available for you.

Our next session is on May 17th at 11:00 AM. Don’t forget to bring a snack!

Hello Spring

Hello Allergies

Caring for Horses with Seasonal Allergies

Chris Mortensen, Ph.D.

Horses Get Seasonal Allergies Too!

Just like people, some horses get seasonal allergies, especially in the spring and summer. About 1 out of every 10 horses will have allergies at some point in their lives!


What Are Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies happen when a horse’s immune system overreacts to things like pollen, dust, mold, or even insect bites. Normally, these things wouldn’t bother a horse, but for some, their body treats them like a big problem and tries to fight them off.


How Do Allergies Affect Horses?
Horses with allergies might get:

  • Itchy bumps on their skin (hives)

  • Hair loss from scratching too much

  • A cough or trouble breathing (called "heaves")

  • A runny nose

  • They might even seem tired or cranky

What Causes Seasonal Allergies?
Some common causes are:

  • Biting flies and mosquitoes

  • Dust in hay or bedding

  • Mold growing in warm weather

  • Pollen from plants

How Can We Help Horses?

While we can’t completely get rid of all allergens, there are ways to help horses feel better:

  • Keep their stalls clean and free of dust and mold

  • Soak hay to reduce dust

  • Use fly sprays, fly masks, and fly sheets

  • Keep horses inside during high-pollen days

  • Give special supplements to help with inflammation

  • Talk to a veterinarian to make a plan

Thanks to these treatments and some good care, horses with allergies can live happy, healthy lives!

OUR MAILING ADDRESS
Greenbriar Riding Academy

PO Box 435 - Springville, IA, 52336

United States

+1 319-854-7115