Be Well At

Wellspring Farm

Holiday Edition Newsletter

A Note From Tiffany

"Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable"

R.D. Lang

It is a natural tendency to want to avoid, minimize, or eliminate painful feelings, thoughts, and experiences. We want to feel "good," and we don't want to feel "bad." When we experience disappointment, loss, or tragedy, there is a strong temptation to get back to "normal." This might mean sweeping the feelings under the rug

and refusing to talk about them. 

Unfortunately, this can lead to many problems because pain is an unavoidable part of the human experience. Avoidance delays the necessary process of engaging with the pain to move forward. Avoiding feelings won't make them go away. You might be able to temporarily set them aside, but feelings that are not dealt with tend to grow and eventually come out in surprising and sometimes destructive ways.

I would like to encourage you to feel to heal!

Allow yourself to feel the full range of emotions that an experience can bring. Take time to do "check-ins" with yourself. This will increase your emotional awareness and help you identify what you need in terms of support and self-talk. Our emotional awareness and the regulation of our emotions are important in our leadership with horses.

The deeper you feel to heal,

the higher you raise the bar on who has access to you, including your horse!

Dealing with the grief of my mother's recent passing, I wanted to be "ok" and be strong for everyone around me. Then, someone I trusted encouraged me to feel my pain and sit with it. Through her eyes, my pain was valid and productive- a necessary step on my journey towards healing. This direct acknowledgment of my suffering was the permission I needed to truly feel my pain instead of avoiding it. Instead of worrying that I wasn't trying hard enough to be happy, I felt like I was doing things properly. I could celebrate the work I was doing. My pain and grief had meaning. Allowing myself to experience the painful and uncomfortable feelings fully is doing the work. Sitting with the grief instead of disengaging or distracting myself is the work. Once we accept that feeling to heal is essential, we begin to understand that feeling our pain is important and productive. 

Feeling to healing is a way to be the best version of ourselves

 and encourages our horses to do the same!

The school horses that teach people how to "speak horse" are individuals we all need to be thankful for. Angels on earth, here to serve and protect.

Wellspring has lost noble and loved school horses recently, therefore I could not decide on one singular horse to highlight. Instead, I would like to share an ode to all the school horses out there. You have heard the saying "they are worth their weight in gold" and here is why.

Above and Top Right: First horse show on Fella.

Right: Ribbons won on a school horse from the ADK show Wellspring used to host!

The school horse that started it all for me, "Fella" in 1988. In the dressage arena.

I am a lesson horse

by Chris Cassenti

I am a horse that is not recognized as the top hunter jumper, the best western pleasure horse, or the 1D barrel horse,

I am a lesson horse.

I am the backbone of the foundation to do all of those things.

I am a lesson horse.

I am not loved by one person, I am loved by several people. I do not have my person, I have my people.

I am a lesson horse.

I will teach your child and yourself more than just to ride. I will bring your child out of their shell.

I will teach your child about life. I will be yours and their shoulder to cry on.

I am a lesson horse.

I will bring my family the joy of teaching kids. I will bring my families business growth. I am so loved by my family, even if they don't express it every day. My family allows others to show me love and enjoy me.

I am the lesson horse.

At the end of your childs' journey on a lesson horse, they will outgrow me. They will find one that jumps higher, a horse that is show quality, a horse much faster than me. But, I will never outgrow being a lesson horse. I will be the one that loved your child and helped your child grow into the rider and person they are.

I am a lesson horse.

At the end of my time as a lesson horse; I will be covered in grey hair. Each grey hair came from each hour I spent as a lesson horse. I will be in a field of green grass, I will be taken care of as I was when I was a lesson horse. I will watch your child from across the pasture love her new horse. But, I will love your child more than any horse can. I will be the backbone of the business, the family, and your child. Do not forget about me,

I am a lesson horse.

I am a lesson horse.

Upcoming Events

Holiday Party

Come one come all!

Let's celebrate!

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Party starts at 6:00

Party down in the indoor with friends, food, fun and music!

It is a potluck-style event.

Please bring your favorite dish

or dessert to share.

Stall decorating contest will be judged by party attendees and winner announced that evening!

Stall Decorating Contest

Deck your stall out for the holiday season!

Stalls must be ready to be judged at the holiday party on December 15th!

Winner receives a prize and bragging rights!

If you do not own a horse, no problem!

There are plenty of school horses

stalls to be decorated.

Please reach out to your instructor if you need assistance in participating!

Please keep safety in mind and

research any live greenery to ensure

it is not toxic for horses!

All decorations put up are kindly asked to be removed no later than January 15th

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from

the Wallace Family

We appreciate each and everyone of you

Boundaries and Bonding Horsemanship Clinics

Please join me in learning how horses need boundaries before we can bond with them. Learn how to be a leader that can set boundaries, but also have a positive relationship with your horse.

It is possible and creates peace in your partnership!

Clinic Dates:

January 12th 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18 yrs and under

January 26th 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18 yrs and over

February 9th 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18 yrs and under

February 23rd 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18 yrs and over

March 9th 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18yrs and under

March 23rd 4:30-5:30

Clinic open to 18yrs and over

Clinic price is $25.00

Each clinic will be limited to 6 spot

The Giving Tree

The giving tree is coming back!

Last year we introduced a way for our community to give something to our horses that they are wishing for this year.

Things like bales of hay, double snaps (they love to break them), bags of enrich, dental care, veterinary care and more!

The giving tree will be up and ready on December 1st. You will find and hopefully smell the beautiful live tree in the school barn right outside of the office.

All offerings can be made payable by check or Venmo.

Thank you in advance for supporting this small business and the animals that call it home. Wellspring is truly blessed to have a community like ours!