Duzan Riding Academy

03/11/2025

It’s never easy to share when we lose one of our long time school ponies. Our girl Gretta was humanely euthanized after a bout of colic (likely from strangulated lipoma, or tumor) causing a blockage in her intestine. We were grateful to be able to get her to OSU with the help of Sarah and Ryan while Sam and I were at a show in Lexington. After treatment from our vet at the farm and the OSU vets, it was determined that we needed to let her go peacefully before she got to the point where her intestine would likely burst, causing immense pain.

Gretta originally came from an auction in northwest Ohio where she could hardly be touched. She likely had several babies and supposedly was a nurse mare before becoming a kids pony and coming to my farm in 2011.

Although she still had some trust issues with adults from her prior life, she took excellent care of literally countless children, teaching them how to pay attention and coordinate their aids. She spent several years with the Allwood family as Sydney’s first pony before coming back to me for semi and then full retirement. I am incredibly grateful for the care they gave her as part of their family, and that she got to have her own kid. Like most school horses, she was “claimed” by many children, taking them through all the firsts- rides, canters, shows, jumps, water crossings. More recently, Jake claimed her as his “ride up around the pond pony”, and he is taking her loss pretty hard. Please keep all the kids who loved her in your thoughts, as it’s never easy to lose such a special friend.

If you have photos or memories of Gretta, please share them in the comments 💜

22/09/2025

We have an Instructor position available for a person who can help our beginner to intermediate students gain a solid foundation in huntseat riding with progression toward jumping and dressage. The ideal candidate will teach students how to put the horse first while working through our curriculum. We have a great facility with indoor, outdoor, jump field, trails, and a reliable and safe string of school horses. We are looking for someone who can teach after school on Wednesdays and possibly Fridays. Email resumé to [email protected] if you are interested in this position!

11/09/2025

Looking for stable hands for our 30 stall barn in Ostrander, Ohio. Monday-Friday morning feed, horse care, and stalls. We also have weekend stall cleaning shifts available as well. Must have horse experience, pay attention to detail, be reliable with good communication skills, a delightful personality, and have adequate transportation. 😁 Please email [email protected] for more information!

07/09/2025

Took a few friends on a trail ride today!

08/08/2025

We hosted 3 camps of various levels this summer for our current students, and we had a blast! We were able to visit with an equine vet and dentist at our farm, and take a field trip to visit Adam Black Horsemanship. Our most experienced riders hauled horses off the farm for a trail ride at a metro park. We also got to learn about Positive Reinforcement training from Bri McDonnell of The Equine Haven. Thank you so much to all of you who took time to share your knowledge with our young riders!

05/07/2025

Why are horses a release for people?

Horses are a release for people because they strip life back to its simplest, most honest form.
In a world full of noise, emails, deadlines, expectations, horses remind us that real communication isn’t about words. It’s about presence. It’s about energy, intention, awareness.

When you’re with a horse, your words mean nothing, but your actions, your body language, your energy? That’s everything. You can’t fake confidence with a horse. You can’t lie with your posture. You can’t manipulate with charm or excuses. Horses reflect back exactly who you are in that moment, your fear, your calm, your frustration, your peace.

That’s why working with horses is 90% self-reflection. They force you to get quiet. To slow down. To pay attention not only to them, but to yourself. Your breathing, your posture, your thoughts. They draw you out of your head and into your body, into the present.

It takes us back to a time when survival, connection, and trust weren’t built on promises or conversations. They were built on consistency, energy, and respect. Horses remind us how to just be, without the layers of complication life piles on.

That’s why so many people find healing with them. They don’t care about your job, your past, your social status. They care about your energy in this moment, and nothing feels more freeing than being seen for your truest self, without judgment, without words.

📸 With One Line

03/07/2025

My non-horsey husband had a very important moment recently: He made his own horse show debut in an “adult leadline” class. (Every schooling show should have this! It was highly entertaining.)  

02/07/2025

❤️

💞

27/04/2025

24/04/2025

We have a whole herd of riders ready to take on IEA Nationals 2025! Our middle school team qualified in dressage, along with several individual riders!

Lyla - Dressage Future Novice Test and Huntseat Future Novice Flat
Lydia - Dressage Future Intermediate DSE
Sophie - Dressage Future Novice DSE
Marlee Kate - Dressage Future Beginner DSE
Elizabeth - Dressage Future Beginner DSE
Carson - Huntseat JV Novice Fences
Sydney - Dressage Varsity Intermediate DSE
Emma - Dressage JV Beginner DSE

And representing the middle school dressage team: Lydia, Emerson, Sophie, and Elizabeth!

Good luck to all those competing, and a huge thank you to our sponsors, especially to Bella Vista Equine Veterinary Services for their amazing support of our program and keeping our horses sound, happy, and healthy, and to Equus Now! for providing horse show prizes and keeping our riders beautifully outfitted!

13/12/2024

We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign through the end of this weekend! We would be grateful if you can help support this cause! There’s a box inside the front door of the barn for donations that will support local families.

I tried to get Dave to put on his dress blues for you guys but no go 😭😏

If you don’t have time to drop off a toy but want to help, you can Venmo with TFT in the memo and we’ll do the shopping for you!

28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! We are so grateful for our barn family- we really do have the best of the best!