Summer Heat Reminders

As the temperatures rise, proper after-ride care becomes especially important for the comfort, safety, and recovery of our horses. Lessons will be modified or shortened during extreme heat for the safety of both horses and riders. Please remember to bring LOTS of water, wear sunscreen and ask your instructor for breaks if you are feeling the heat. 

After your lesson, please take a few extra moments to cool down and care for your horse properly:

1. Proper Cool Down
Always allow your horse to walk on a loose rein for several minutes after your ride. This helps bring their heart rate and breathing back to normal and prevents stiffness.

2. Untack Promptly
After you dismount, untack immediately so you can get to the wash stalls as quickly as possible. You should be in the wash stalls and hosing down within 5 minutes max after dismounting. 

3. Hose & Repeat
On hot days, horses will need to be hosed off repeatedly until their body temperature returns to normal. Focus on their large muscle groups (neck, chest, shoulders, and between the hind legs). Once they feel cool to the touch, graze or hand walk for a few minutes and then recheck their temperature - if they have heated back up, repeat hosing and walking until they remain cool to the touch. 

4. Wait to Feed
Horses that need feed must be thoroughly cooled out before feeding to avoid colic. If you are short on time, please ask the tack-up-help if they can supervise your horse eating so you can leave - do not feed them while they are still hot. 

If you have any questions, please ask one of our staff! We appreciate your support in keeping the horses safe and happy during the hot summer months.

Spring Schooling Show Start Times!

Hello Raynham Riders!

With the beautiful weather comes the start times for this weekend's schooling show! 

Spring Schooling Show Start Times

For the combined test divisions, riders should be in the warm-up 20 minutes prior to your dressage time, and 10 minutes before show jumping (since your horse will already be warmed up from dressage). For the equitation divisions (Novice, Pre-Novice, and Introductory), there are warm-up times included in the start times.

Here's everything you need to know:

• The SHOW OFFICE will be in the house office around the back of the farmhouse (by the chicken coop)

• Payment: Cash or cheque to the secretary on the morning of the show, or e-transfer.

• Attire: Show Team Riders should *ideally* dress/prepare their horse as if it were a regular off-property show (full show attire & braid). New show riders may not have all their show gear yet - that's totally fine, just dress neatly!

• Spectators: Are more than welcome, but please stay out of the barns and tack-up area - it will be busy enough without extra bodies!

• Dogs: As much as we love dogs, please leave them at home as it will be busy!

• Food: We will have food available for purchase - coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water, pop, muffins, cookies, chips, chilli, hot dogs, and walking taco for lunch! Concessions will be CASH only.

Please let us know if you have any other questions! We are looking forward to a fun show on Saturday!

Gabby

Friday, March 13th - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

Well, we made it almost a month without another inclement weather cancellation but we couldn’t quite  finish the session without another reminder that we live in Canada! They are calling for a LOT of snow today in the afternoon and during the evening commute so we have unfortunately decided to cancel lessons. 

Riders are welcome to schedule a makeup during our make up days, tomorrow through Tuesday. Here is the link to book a time. If you cannot book a time over the next few days, we will extend makeups from today into the next session. 

If you have to go out on the roads today, stay safe!

Nikki 

Wednesday February 18 - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, we will have to cancel lessons again today. The weather is quite unpleasant and is going to continue well into the evening, so best to keep everyone safe and warm!

Stay tuned to your email inbox as we are working hard on opening even more makeup lesson spots in the coming weeks. 

Stay safe,

Gabby

Sunday, February 8th - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

Unfortunately, the forecast for tomorrow is very cold again so we are cancelling lessons. Thankfully, the long range forecast looks promising! 

Stay warm tomorrow!

Nikki 

Saturday, February 7 - LESSONS CANCELLED

As it is currently -21c outside and not expected to warm up significantly, sadly lessons are cancelled again today. Stay tuned for an email blast today with options for rescheduling. Stay warm and safe today.

Sunday, February 1 - Lessons ARE running

Hey Raynham Riders,

With warmer temperatures finally on the way, we’ll be running classes starting at noon on Sunday, February 1.

Because the morning will still be quite chilly, the 10:00 a.m. class will run at 12:00 p.m., and the 11:00 a.m. class will run at 1:00 p.m.

As the weather continues to improve, we’ll be adding additional make-up class times. New dates will be shared here and in the WhatsApp group as they become available. Any last-minute cancellations will also continue to be posted in WhatsApp.

It feels safe to say we’ve already broken our record for winter weather cancellations—and January has only just ended! We know rescheduling can be a bit of a hassle, so we truly appreciate everyone’s patience, flexibility, and understanding. This winter has been a challenging one, and your cooperation has made a big difference.

Thank you, as always, for being such a great community! 

Nikki 

Saturday, January 31 - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hey Raynham Riders,

Unfortunately, it is still below our cut off temperature for lessons today. Tomorrow is looking hopeful, and next week is looking much better thankfully. 

Stay warm today!

Nikki

Friday, January 30 - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

I can’t believe we have to cancel classes again. We’ve never had this many inclement weather cancellations in January before! Today it’s -23c and not expected to warm up above our cancellation temperature, unfortunately. We are waiting to add more options for make up lessons until we can be more certain the weather will  be cooperative! We will post here and in the WhatsApp groups when more dates are added. Stay warm today!

Nikki

Thursday, January 28 - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders!

It’s currently -16c and only forecasted to get colder 🥶 Unfortunately this means that classes are cancelled again today. We still have quite a few spaces on our “Make-up Mondays” available and we will be adding a Sunday date shortly. Stay warm and safe today!

Nikki 

Wednesday January 28 - LESSONS CANCELLED FROM 5PM ONWARDS

Good morning, everyone! 

Unfortunately, the cold weather continues, so we have to cancel classes from 5PM onwards as it will fall below our -12 °C cutoff. We have added more options for rebooking to the online scheduler and will continue to add more dates as spots fill up. Details on how to reschedule inclement weather cancellations are on the website as well - https://www.raynhamstables.com/make-up-lesson-scheduling.html. Please let us know if you have any questions! 

Stay warm today!

the Raynham Team

Tuesday, January 27 - Lessons ARE running!

Hey Raynham Riders! 

It’s still chilly out, but has warmed up above our cancellation temperature so we are going to run classes today! Bundle up in lots of layers! There are hot packs in the tack room as well.

See you in the barn!

Nikki 

Friday, January 23 - LESSONS CANCELLED FOR THE WEEKEND

Hey Raynham Riders,

We can't catch a break this winter! The forecast for the next few days is very cold, and to top it off, we're expecting a big snowstorm on Sunday.  We have decided to cancel lessons from Friday to Sunday and are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that it warms up a bit next week!

Please use the online schedule to rebook your class for this weekend - https://www.raynhamstables.com/make-up-lesson-scheduling.html.  We have added additional spots for make-ups on Monday evenings.  We will be adding additional spots on a few Sundays shortly, and we will continue to add more dates if the current spaces fill.

If you need assistance rescheduling, please send us an email. Stay warm and safe this weekend!

Nikki

Tuesday, January 20th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Good morning, everyone! 

It is very chilly again today, so unfortunately, we have to cancel classes as it is below our -12 °C cutoff. We have added more options for rebooking to the online scheduler and will continue to add more dates as needed. Details on how to reschedule inclement weather cancellations on the website as well - https://www.raynhamstables.com/make-up-lesson-scheduling.html. Please let us know if you have any questions! 

Stay warm today!

Nikki

Thursday, January 15th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hey Raynham Riders,

As I'm sure you have already guessed, lessons are cancelled today. Not only is it miserably cold, we've already received a ton of snow, and it's still coming down! We will be emailing details about rescheduling shortly!

Stay warm and safe today!

Nikki

Tuesday, January 6th - LESSONS CANCELLED

Hey Raynham Riders,

The weather at the barn is still lovely, but they are calling for some nasty driving conditions this afternoon, so we have decided to cancel classes for this evening. 

We will be offering additional spots on Sundays and Mondays for students to reschedule. Stay tuned for an email blast shortly!

Stay safe today! 

Nikki

Wednesday, December 10th - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

We were hoping the snow would stop, but it's still coming down. We don't want anyone to have to drive in messy weather, so we are going to cancel classes for this evening.

Options for make-ups include:

Private Lessons Spots:

• Thursday, Dec 11th: 3:00, 4:30, & 6pm
• Friday, Dec 12th: 7:30pm

Group Lesson Spots:

We'd like to reschedule all of the group lessons from this evening to next Monday, December 15th. We will send an email to see what time(s) work for everyone.

Also Available:

• Thursday, Dec 11th @ 7pm (Youth, Adv Beg/Novice)
• Thursday, Dec 11th @ 8pm (Teen/Adult, Novice)
• Saturday, Dec 13th @10:30am (Youth/Teen, Novice)
• Saturday, Dec 13th @ 12:30pm (Adult, Beginner)

Stay safe and warm tonight!

Nikki

How to Dress for Winter Riding!

Hey Raynham Riders!

Once again, I am posting my winter riding tips! As someone who is ALWAYS cold (think sweatshirts in the summer), it's taken me many years to learn how to dress for winter riding. Here are all of my best tips!

• 
  Dress in layers and make sure your base layers are moisture-wicking. Thermal long underwear designed for skiing is ideal! Once you are riding, you will warm up quickly, so be sure your top layers have zippers that can be easily undone while mounted.
• Staying warm while tacking up is key! Head, hands, and feet lose body heat quickly. Wear winter boots with ski socks, warm gloves or mittens, and a hat when tacking up. Snow pants or sweatpants over your riding pants are also a good idea for chilly days. You can remove the extra layers and switch to riding boots and gloves right before you get on.
• When riding, a thin fleece headband can fit under a helmet to keep your ears warm! A cozy helmet cover is also a great option.
• Winter-specific boots will work as riding boots so long as they have a ½”–1 ½” heel, a not-too-chunky sole, and a narrow enough fit to fit into the stirrup. Ask your instructor to check if you are unsure.
• Winter riding gloves or mittens really help, too, but even non-riding specific gloves are fine, as long as they have some grip.
• Long Johns under your riding pants are a great option. You can also layer sweatpants or snow pants on top, too, if it's really chilly.
• For those really cold days, hot packs (www.littlehottieswarmers.com) are sold at Costco and many other places!) Gloves and boots are a great way to stay warm
• This is a luxury item, but many riders have added a heated vest to their winter apparel arsenal in the past couple of years, and it's been a game-changer! You are unlikely to need it while riding, but it's great while tacking up and untacking. They can be purchased on Amazon.

Horseback riding is a year-round sport, but we do live in Canada, so it's critical to dress appropriately so you can enjoy riding throughout the winter :)

Nikki

Winter Blanketing Tips

Hey Raynham Riders,

Since it appears winter has arrived and is here to stay, most of our horses have winter blankets on. Here are some important things to know:

• If your horse is very sweaty, they need to be cooled out by hand walking them with a cooler on before their blanket is put on. Coolers are available in the tack-up area.
• Blankets are sized and straps are adjusted specifically for each horse. Please ensure you are putting the correct blanket on by checking the name tag on the front of the blanket. If you are unsure, please ask a staff member.
• It is very important that blankets are put on/taken off correctly, for both the safety of the horses and riders and to prevent damage to the blankets. Below are the steps.

As always, if you are ever unsure, please ask one of our friendly staff! Thank you for your help in keeping our horses safe, warm, and blankets in good repair.

Your Raynham Team


HOW TO REMOVE A BLANKET - Watch & Learn: https://youtu.be/B_qJSnjR-Mc

1. Unclip leg straps at the back of the blanket
2. Undo the belly straps
3. Undo the chest clips/buckles
4. Fold the back 1/3 of the blanket forward to ensure the leg straps are not tangled around their hind legs
5. Fold the front 1/3 forward and then slide the blanket off the horse towards you. Please hang up neatly while you are riding on the grooming stall partition.

HOW TO PUT ON A BLANKET - Watch & Learn: https://youtu.be/TjXvmJnblqA

1. Ensure you have the front of the blanket orientated toward the front of the horse and slowly drape the blanket of the horses' back.
2. Do up the chest buckets, ensuring you put the strap back through the buckle (not just the pin) so it is secure. If the blanket has chest clips, please attach them with the opening of the clip towards the horse's chest, so they do not get caught on anything.
3. Do up the belly straps (they cross), and ensure they are lying flat, not twisted
4. Attach the leg straps by passing the strap around the hind leg and attaching at the back of the blanket on the same side. When doing up the second strap, also loop it through the first strap to make the blanket more secure.
5. If any of the straps are missing or the blanket is damaged, please check with staff - it may not be safe for the horse to wear.

Here are some photos:


Chest buckles need to be done up correctly - please 

put the strap through the buckle AND the keeper.

Snaps should be clipped with the opening towards the horse.

Belly straps should be done up diagonally, and 

ensure that they are not twisted.

Raynham Holiday Banquet 2025!

This year’s awards and holiday banquet will once again be held at the beautiful Nobleton Lakes Golf Club. The banquet will be held on Friday, December 5th, 6:00 - 10:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased by filling out this form by Wednesday, November 19th.  This event is for ALL RIDERS and their families, everyone is welcome!  Tickets include a delicious holiday meal (kids’ meal option available), prizes, games, silent auction, and our year-end awards presentation! 

This year's silent auction is raising funds to add indoor wash stalls to the 

• Adult Tickets: $110+HST ($124.30)

• Child Tickets: $55+HST ($62.15)

DINNER MENU

• Butternut Squash Soup

• Roasted Turkey with Gravy or Vegetarian Option

• Served with all the fixings! - Harvest Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Artisan Dinner Rolls, and Butter Balls 

• Coffee/Tea, and Dessert!

• The Kid’s Plate is chicken fingers, fries, and ice cream

Holiday Banquet Silent Auction - CALL FOR DONATIONS!

The silent auction is a popular part of the Raynham Banquet and a huge source for raising funds for extra projects that benefit our riders which would otherwise not be possible. Our past fundraising has allowed us to upgrade the footing in both areas to a soft, dust-free sand/fibre mix, develop the cross-country schooling field, install mirrors in the small arena, offset the cost of our lovely stadium jumps, and more! 

At last year’s banquet, we were able to raise a significant portion of the funds needed to install an indoor wash stall in the tack-up area with hot and cold running water. This would also include a new insulated boarder tack room, which would house the hot water tank. This will be a huge benefit for all horses and riders as it will provide a space for cooling out, bathing and first aid treatments year-round. Our goal for this year’s banquet is to raise the additional funds needed to move forward with the project over the winter. 

We are currently working on collecting items for the silent auction. Your help in providing donations is greatly appreciated. Popular donation items include:

• Equestrian-related products and services 
• Unique items and themed gift baskets
• Tickets for sporting or cultural events
• Restaurant gift certificates
• Kids’ Items are always fun for our younger riders to bid on

If you know of a local business that would be willing to donate a product or service, please email me at maryd@skyridge.net and I can send you a fundraising letter. Donations can be dropped off at the Raynham office. If you could fill out the form provided on the table with the item description, value, and the name of the donor. We ask that all donations be provided by Monday, December 1.

SPONSORSHIPS

We are again seeking Sponsorships, which include a $1000 Premium Sponsorship and the $500 Supporting Sponsorship.   Included with these sponsorships:

$1000 Premium Sponsorship

• Business logo displayed in all Banquet communications leading up to the event
• Business Logo displayed on an individual slide throughout the evening, and at the beginning of the slide show presentation
• Thank you recognition during the Banquet presentation
• Business name, logo and link to website added to a new Sponsorship page on the Raynham website

$500 Supporting Sponsorship

• Shared Recognition in all Banquet communications leading up to the event
• Brand logo displayed on a shared slide throughout the evening and at the beginning of the slide show presentation.
• Thank you recognition during the Banquet
• Business name, logo and link to website added to a new Sponsorship page on the Raynham website

Family/Individual Sponsorship

• If a family would like to contribute as well, any donation is greatly appreciated
• Family/Individual name will be displayed on a shared slide throughout the evening and at the beginning of the slide show presentation.
• Thank you recognition during the Banquet
• Family/Individual named on the new Sponsorship page on the Raynham website