Riding Far, LLC

This week starts with Justin preparing for a busy run of shows, but the conversation in our weekly Facebook Live soon widened into something bigger about culture, principles, and how we want to move through the horse world.
We found ourselves talking about the difference between simply fixing problems and creating the conditions for something better to emerge, and how easy it can be for pressure, performance and old habits to pull us away from the way we actually want to work.
With a full week ahead, that felt like a useful place from which to set our intentions.
What intention will guide your week?
Photo: Erin Gilmore Erin Gilmore Photography

We’re growing the team at Riding Far!

We’re looking for experienced, dependable part-time barn help at Sycamore Seed Farm in Charles Town, WV.

Think you might be a good fit — or know someone who would be?

👇 Apply using link in first comment.

Please share and send on to anyone who might be interested.

Psych Saturday: Really Good Soup

Yes, it is that time again. Reflections after another amazing clinic with Pippa Callanan. Learning with her is like making a really good soup. It takes time, patience, quality ingredients, and the artistry and experience to add just enough of each.

One of the exciting parts for me is that my lovely mare, Nubble, and I were both sound enough to dance together. When you don't take something for granted, you savor it in a way that brings a vibrance to the experience, and you start to notice the most interesting and subtle things.

Several moments from the clinic stand out as powerfully important, but one has flowed into every one of my rides this week. It seems small as I write about it, yet its impact has been profound.

During my ride on Nubble, Pippa had us demonstrate a working walk, collected walk, counted walk, and piaffe in sequence, carefully transitioning between them. I had performed each of these hundreds of times, but never in sequence. Never where I had to create and feel the subtle differences as I moved from one to the next: the changes in Nubble's cadence, her energy, and the bounce in her step.

This is just one part of Pippa's brilliance. The exercise marshaled my attention in a way that let me both appreciate the experience and remember it. On top of that, I connected to our capability, Nubble's and mine. That sometimes ephemeral sense of "I can do this!"

More than the learning and awareness, I have been filled with the desire to recreate those moments, to craft that soup again and again. What exactly were the ingredients? Was it the quality of the contact and Nubble's relaxed jaw? Was it my posture and balance? Was it the position and action of my leg? Which ones were essential? How much of each? How did their balance need to change in creating each variation?

The thought I keep coming back to is that identifying the exact formula is impossible. Once again I am reminded that the result I want does not come from a linear process. It emerges from a constellation of ingredients, carefully collected under the watchful guidance of a caring and skilled mentor and through hundreds of hours of thoughtful, diligent practice.

I had a session this week with one of my youngest riders. We were reviewing her progress, and I asked her to reflect on what she had accomplished so far. Then I asked how she had gotten there. How did she make her soup? She said the most insightful thing. She started with, "All the tools." Then she added, "We talked and worked on it and then all the sudden, p**f, I did it."

I could not have described it better. You gather the ingredients. You start putting them together, tasting as you go. You make the soup again and again, playing with the balance of ingredients and conditions, and one day, p**f, it's soup.

What soup are you making?

~ Paul

October is show month for Riding Far!

This month, Justin is shifting gears and heading into the show ring, putting the same principles that guide his teaching and everyday work with horses into practice in a competitive environment.

For us, horsemanship and performance aren't separate conversations. The goal is to continue developing horses who can perform while keeping their physical and mental wellbeing, their understanding, and the partnership at the heart of the work.

You'll find Justin competing in dressage and Working Equitation throughout October, culminating in the USAWE Region 6 Championship Show, where Riding Far is also a sponsor. We'll have a booth there, so if you're attending, please come by, say hi and spend some time with us — we'd love to meet you.

And if you've been thinking about joining us, there's just one spot left for our November Immersion Clinic with Dr. Paul and Justin. We'd love to have you with us.

Visit our Events section for more information and to claim the final spot.

📸 Gilmore Photography

Today’s Facebook Live looked back at our final clinic of 2026 with Pippa Callanan, and at just how much we’ve enjoyed learning with her this year.

We talked about what happens when the fundamentals begin to show up in more advanced work, how the same progression can look completely different from one horse to the next, and the value of being pushed at the right moment.

One of the things that stood out most during the weekend was recognising the community that has grown around these clinics - riders, auditors, questions, support, shared learning, and all.

Our intentions this week come from a place of appreciation for what these experiences make possible, and curiosity about where the learning takes us next.

What intention will guide your week?

Pippa Callanan returns to River Wind Farm- Oxford NC from September 29th- October 1st for a French Classical Dressage Clinic. There is only one rider spot remaining, but plenty of room for auditors. Each participant spot includes three private lessons, one each day, to cover work in hand and riding, all levels and disciplines welcome, from unstarted to haute ecole/Grand Prix.

Prior clinics have included rescue horses, ponies, unstarted youngstock, working ranch horses, working equitation horses, and dressage horses competing through the FEI levels. Come see how French Classical Principles and kind, ethical, common sense horsemanship can help further your partnership with your horse. Pippa was a long time student of Bettina Drummond, and one of only two Americans to have trained directly with Philippe Karl as his working student for two years. Pippa develops horses at her home in France, using a combination of contemporary science, natural horsemanship, and her depth of french classical equitation. Pippa is a kind, patient and effective instructor, who has a special gift for meeting horse and rider pairs exactly where they are.

PM me to reserve your spot today. Full riding spots are $750 to be paid in advance, this does not include stabling, which is $50 per night to be paid at the time of the clinic. Spots are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. I accept paypal, zelle, or checks. This purchase is non refundable, but is transferable to another rider until 48 hours before the start of the clinic. Auditing is $35 per day, or $85 for the full 3 days, and includes light refreshments. Bring your own chair. Lunch delivery is available at additional cost.

If you would like to attend but are limited by financial constraints, please contact me privately about volunteer, barter, and work/exchange options. No one will be excluded for financial reasons.

We hope you can join us for this supportive, informative and unique clinic.