Keystone Equine

Some time ago, I was sent a message that moved me beyond being able to reply. I needed to sleep on it. Then, I slept on it some more.
It raised the big question for all aging riders or those who are struggling with wellness. How do we know when it’s time to ‘sell our saddle’, so to speak? When is enough, enough?
I’m not sure I can answer this. I’ve been close to hanging up my spurs for good but I’m not there, yet. It’s not so much that I’d be saying goodbye to long-held h...opes and dreams…. It’s just that riding and horses are so key to my emotional and physical wellness. I promised myself that if I recovered from my stroke, I’d get myself back in the saddle again. I thank God that I could.
That whole ‘age is just a number’ thing falls flat after a while. I mean, we go as long as we can - and heck, many of you still are - but if we've a foot in reality at all, we know there is going to be a final chapter. The question is what form will this ending take? How do we know when it’s time?
Do we keep on keepin' on until we become that tragic story told in the local coffee shop? If we are honest with ourselves, we all know that as we age, there might be that one little mistake, that one bad moment, before something happens that we can't get out of. Worse, this feeling of working towards a deadline is made so much more daunting when we work and ride alone.
The writer of this message mentions that it’s almost easier putting a beloved pet down, than it is putting her horsemanship to sleep.
So much of our riding bravado is linked to our health. I know my body, some days, feels like a huge boulder. It gets ground down with the effects of rheumatoid arthritis… and the toxic medication this condition has entailed since childhood… and then, my stroke. I know full well that there are days I couldn't get out of my own way, even if I tried. I’ll bet many of you understand that feeling, too.
A long-time riding pal of mine has continued safely on to almost ninety. This is because her trusted horse of decades has also been blessed with good health. This year, however, the old mare asked to be put to sleep. My friend has decided that she will ride no more.
I ask those of you who are nearing the end of your active horsemanship to weigh in. Perhaps you've already reached this point. It's a hard question, the answer to which might be different for every one of us.
When do we know we are no longer safe in the saddle? What sort of plans are in place to look after our horses when we cannot? What are our choices, if we still want to be around horses? For me, it will involve mentorship, somehow, exchanging my brain, such as it is, for somebody else’s brawn.
Your thoughts?
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Some of your pictures from this morning's 'PONY is a four-letter word' post have moved me to tears. What beautiful souls so many of us have been blessed to have known! The vintage pictures of ponies from long ago, especially, struck a chord with me.
Thing is, ponies can be beautiful, talented, giving, caring, incredibly intelligent equines. They can also be little fiends. When we say we love a breed or type of horse, we must be honest and say that not all of them are worthy ...of our trust. Certainly, not all horses and ponies are worthy of keeping watch over our childrens' safety.
While most any horse or pony is only as good as the training he receives, I will admit that I've not had perfect success with all of them. There have been many victories but also, the heart-wrenching days when I've had to admit defeat. I give thanks to the lessons each of my ponies has taught me.
Loving ponies, as I do, does not mean that I dislike horses.
You will never hear me say, here on Keystone, that I favour one breed of horse or pony over another. I don't care to put my own pet beliefs over the fact that each breed has things it does very well... along with odd individuals who just don't measure up. That's each and every breed, folks.
This year marks fifty years since my father bought our family its first registered Welsh Pony. While I marvel at how much time has flown by, I can still feel the lifelong scar that this first pony left upon my chin. We were lucky. Despite a shaky start, Peter turned into one of the good ones.
Here's to celebrating the kind and beautiful ponies and horses in our lives, no matter their size or breeding. Here's to remembering - with gratitude, with forgiveness - all of the rest.
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For many horsemen, PONY is just another four-letter word.
To me, good ponies are worthy of my gratitude and respect. For over forty years, it was my ponies—and not my horses— who put me on the map. When I speak of them, I am referring to those from 12:2 to 14:2 hands in height. Why? Because I believe in ponies that have been well-trained and maintained by adults, before they go on to kids. I, myself, am not able to throw a leg over anything smaller, though some folks might.
T...his means that ponies do not have to: bite, kick, balk, bolt, rear and roll on their little riders. They do have to: ride out alone and work cattle, rein and stop one-handed, give to pressure and carry themselves properly, back up and understand lateral leg aids, extend and collect their paces, drive and jump, know their flying changes, appear in the show ring, own the trails… and just generally be able to do all the things that denote superb horses.
Some people are surprised to find that a good pony will be priced as high - or higher - than an equally good horse.
Yes, the child will outgrow the pony sooner but a good pony is a far rarer gem! Both being equal, I will almost always put a child on the pony because of how they move, how nimble they are over bad ground, how minor are the inevitable falls… and because I like kids to learn how to saddle, bridle and groom with as little adult interference as possible.
Do we still have to see that the cinch isn't twisted, the bit in kindly, the girth snug? Of course. The idea, however, is to have our children learn to handle these skills as soon as possible.
And so, a word of warning. This page is not the place to vent on the rotten natures of ponies! They have long been the backbone of my modest business and as such, I do not take their contributions lightly. It is not a good sign when we complain about, make fun of or knock the niche market that supports us.
I beg everyone's forgiveness. Sometimes I just feel as though I'm flogging a dead horse. When we're disrespectful of other people in this industry, whatever the size of their equines or their chosen disciplines, we undermine a beautiful way of life.
Please, share pictures of the special ponies you've known and loved.
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A reader writes: "Tell us about HARD-TO-CATCH HORSES!"
***
Why are some horses so easy and others, so not? While a lot of people put it down to a respect issue, I think the root causes of being hard to catch can be as varied as our horses are, themselves.
...Continue Reading

These sleigh bells are probably 125 years old, or more. It's always a beautiful thing to have them on a horse. They were my late father's but in my mind, they are his, still.
Happy birthday tomorrow, Dad. There will be cake.

"Do you hear what I hear...?" A magical moment brought to you by Tom Jones and my father's very old bells. ❤️

Recently, I went on a road trip with my grown daughter and two horses, promoting the art of riding sidesaddle at a large agricultural show.
Every effort was made to ensure that our tack was right and the horses ready. Our clothing was carefully chosen to add to the overall picture of elegance. Other than being made to travel during a bout of freezing rain, it was all shaping up nicely.
I love when I’m on top of things and organized, don’t you?
... Three strides in to our performance, all hell broke loose. With a little 'pfft!' I suddenly felt my bra give way. Surely not, my mind reasoned. Why, I was wearing the trusty ‘Goddess’, a veritable straightjacket of hooks, eyes and tie down straps. Never once had this contraption failed me!
A quick glance southward confirmed my worst fears. If ever I needed incentive to sit with my elbows pinned to my sides, this was it.
While packing, I’d vetoed my first choice of a quiet black vest and shirt with matching apron, in favour of a metallic, reflective copper dress that would boldly catch the light as my sorrel strided 'round the arena.
I learned long ago to paste a smile on my face, no matter what chaos was brewing. "The show must go on!" Meanwhile beneath my blouse, video footage of our choreographed ride appears to show two badgers engaged in mortal combat.
On a happy note, my daughter looked glam and I think both horses went pretty well. There may or may not be posted video… depending on how well I can edit out those badgers.
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I have a horse who feels like a ten-year-old going on three. He gets regular riding and still, he does not progress. While I have not owned him long, I suspect that he has always felt as though one is throwing their leg over a colt.
He’s not broncy… he’s just never any closer to feeling ‘on the aids’. He wants to lean in his corners, stiffen into downward transitions and sometimes, the front end doesn’t even feel attached to the back. He is easily distracted.
When this happen...
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There's no feed in this tub... but if there was... Henry says it'd be lip-smackin' good. #wishfulthinking #gointhruthemotions #justfeedmeandcallmepretty

I recently had the pleasure of introducing one of my horses to a prospective client. I try making these meet ’n’ greets the sort of trials that I’ve always wanted to arrive at, myself.
When the buyer drove into our yard on time, it was a good first impression. We were both presentable and wearing riding gear. We smiled, shook hands, chatted a bit, then signed my waiver. I had the herd close by and it was but a short walk out to catch the sale horse. We brought the mare up an...
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Ten Things to Do When Horse Shopping:
1. Separate your wants from your needs. Wants tend to involve issues of colour, sex, bloodline or convenience... and they seldom trump genuine needs. Needs, usually centred around safety and trainability, are non-negotiable. Write these down, if necessary, so that you’ll buy – not with your heart but with your head.
As an aside, people say that they can't buy a horse they don't love! We can all learn to love a kind but non-descript horse ...
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Tom Jones, on the way home from taking the cows their salt. Darned Border Collies, always wanting to sit in the driver's seat....

What is balance? Even if we're not quite sure what it is… we certainly know what it isn’t! Balance may be a state of ease... but that doesn't mean it's easy.
When riding one of my ol’ favourites, that sense of homecoming I feel whenever I settle into the saddle is based on two key concepts: I feel safe and we feel as one. This sense of community is where euphoria and relaxation come to us, in turn… and so much is reliant upon my horse’s acquired poise.
Now, make no mistake....
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A reader writes: “Hi Lee, I have a question. How do you use your body to move the horse when you are riding sidesaddle? I can’t imagine it’s all in the reins….”
***
While a lot of my posts here on Keystone feature the horses being ridden sidesaddle, I still do most of my training astride. Why? Well, it’s hard to establish straightness and forwardness in a green horse when we, ourselves, are asymmetrical. When riding sidesaddle, we try very hard to sit centred but there’s no g...etting around the fact that one side of the horse carries our two legs, while the other side of the horse has none.
So, my sidesaddle horses will have had enough riding that they understand the concepts of going forward… of bending… of obedience. Yes, greener horses can carry sidesaddles but I have no interest in jeopardizing our joint well-being, nor the enjoyment to be found in our work.
I can help my horses transition to the sidesaddle seamlessly by giving them an understanding of verbal cues, as well as ‘leg’ aids with my left leg in combination with the offside romal or whip.
I train that the lope or canter lead is based on bend, rather than simply my legs. Here, my hands are key as they take away any misunderstandings… if I’ve been diligent in teaching my horses to keep their shoulders up and stay between the reins. This means that they will never lean into turns like racing motorcycles as long as the inside rein touches their neck. The outside rein keeps them round and controls speed. To me, this knowledge of the reins is key in making a lovely sidesaddle horse.
I can refine the aids by shifting my inside seat bone slightly ahead on turns and by keeping my eyes up, looking where I plan to go. Too many of us look down! These subtleties are easily read by any confident and educated horse. I know that I am getting somewhere when my horses can side-pass or two-track from right to left… or change leads from right to left… all without the benefit of my flesh-and-bone off-side leg.
When my horses get to this stage, riding them--aside or astride—is truly a pleasure.
Photo by Michele King.
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Have you checked your status lately?
It occurs to me that many of you who regularly like and comment on Keystone posts don’t actually like or follow the page. You can quickly and easily do something about that and it will be of mutual benefit to both of us.
If you click on our home page, you’ll see the ‘like’ button under the cover photo. If you already like the page, check the ‘follow’ button and then, click ‘see first’. This way, you’ll have a better chance of seeing t...he daily posts I share with you, as opposed to the fewer than three percent of you as is now the norm.
When you ‘like, follow and see first’, check your 'edit notifications' and click 'see posts'. You will prioritize yourself in the facebook algorithms as they pertain to Keystone's page.
In turn, I promise to never get spammy or to wallop your personal space with ads.
Much thought goes into sharing information, as well as the more entertaining bits of everyday life. To date, these exceed over one thousand original posts. It would help me to know that these stories are reaching as many of you as possible.
To all of you who have joined Keystone this week, welcome. Thanks for giving me the gift of your time. Here’s to living well and riding better!
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A little skill to work on during the off season is training your horse to relieve himself at your prompting.
Race horse trainers - and mothers of toddlers in one-piece snow suits - have long known that the day is greatly enhanced if bladders aren't full.
The practical applications for your average saddle horse or pony are: increased comfort during long hauls; keeping your trailer floor dry; less everyday stall cleaning and bedding waste; proof that they are or are not drink...ing enough; stress-free gathering of urine samples for drug testing or health care; less time in the wash racks and increased performance in competition. Besides, it’s a great way to dazzle your friends….
Remember, our horses are creatures of habit. If you’re watchful, you’ll see that they relieve themselves in pretty much the same place at the same time, day in, day out. Start giving them a signal—I like to whistle—whenever this happens and praise them when they’re done. While this has zero to do with you at first, it sets them up for success.
In a few days, you can halter one and take him over to where he usually stales; start whistling and bob’s yer uncle. Allow the horse to face into the wind if you’re outdoors and just start making it a mindful business. Soon enough, you’ll be able to back your horse off the trailer on cross country hauls and set him up for the pause that refreshes.
So often when we’re showing a horse that isn’t quite on his game, a horse that is restive or just doesn’t want to extend or hold his pace, it’s because he’d like to relieve himself. Horses don't always know how to go about it during the hurly-burly of competition.
Staling on command gives us one more tool in our tool box. I’ve now had my own horses do this for close to forty years and it’s worth the wee effort. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
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A beautiful moment from Agribition. Cait and Henry, performing before a very young bystander. The photo has an impressionistic quality but goes so much deeper. It makes me wonder....
Who are you and I influencing? Perhaps more importantly, how and why?

Back in 1995, with my good friend Sharon at High Country International Combined Driving Event.

Wow a true horse woman , cattle woman , and an AMAzing writer! So glad I stumbled apon her posts!!

Wonderful advice no matter what type of riding you do.

We sold our pony to Keystone Ponies in good faith that they would find him the perfect home, and of course they did, we couldn't be happier :)

We phoned Keystone Ponies after our daughter had been bucked off 3 horses. She was scared to ride and needed to build her confidence back. Tee has done that and more. They are a beautiful pair and are on the go where ever they want, shows, gymkhana and clinics. I would highly recommend Lee McLean of Keystone Ponies, she has been a great help even after 8 months. Thanks Lee!

Thought provoking articles, momentos, and reminders that daily remind me to build a bigger picture of where I want to be and sometimes who I want to be. Thank you for putting into words what I sometimes think but don't have the courage to write myself.

The thought, skill and wisdom that come from Keystone Equine have helped me to become a better horsewoman. The mix of disciplines and dose of common sense open my mind to new ways of working with my horses every day.



I grew up near Lee and her family, and am wishing I could go back in time to ride over and take advantage of the learning opportunity I missed. Since I can’t I will eagerly read all the blogs and look foreword to our next encounter!

Sometimes you never know the strength of your actions. Just sending you a message to let you know how I look forward to posts from Keystone Equine in my FB feed. You are a powerful, eloquent and easily familiar wordsmith. Thank you for sharing. Your words "She's not sick, just different" hit me with the force of a high speed 2 tonne manure spreader. � She's just different. Yup. Keep at the keyboard sister. You are a gift to many.

So much wisdom here. Wish I had access to this kind of information many years ago!

Love the insightful posts about real life with equines

Lee writes so well and isn't afraid to say it like she sees it! Love reading her insights on the horse industry!

Keystone Equine has been a lifesaver for myself and my horse and Lee has had just the right words to say to help me make the difficult decision to move my horse to another owner for her sake and mine. I'm 60 and had a horse of my own again after all the years of remembering and wishing.



My horse came to me four years ago and was a shut down, defensive, chestnut mare somewhat of a bully. She taught me a lot, and I taught her a lot too but I couldn't get past some big hurdles with her one of which was spooking very big.



My horse had a lot of energy if she wanted and it made me nervous. These nerves made her nervous which caused more anxious behaviour with her and which of course caused me to be more nervous too. Sometimes I could work it out with her but other times not and those times would end in an explosive spook. Fortunately I was able to sit them all but this spring I wasn't able to control my nerves and my poor horse was becoming more and more anxious as I cautiously rode all the while expecting another explosion. Finally one evening after sitting another spook and feeling like it was not 'if' but 'when' as far as meeting the ground, I was done. What helped me be done was remembering all the wise words in Keystone Equine about riding a suitable mount and stopping the insanity that I found myself in. With that and the wisdom of others who had also encouraged safety above all else, I understood what I had to do and called my good friend and asked for help to sell my horse.



What a relief for my horse and I. She is with my friend who is a trainer and is doing great! She has the potential to sell well. I am so relieved because I really wanted the best for my horse, I just didn't understand that best was actually someone else and not me.



Its a little hard on the pride, and my riding confidence is pretty shaken but I've booked myself some lessons and will wait to see who my next equine companion will be. The relief is huge, and I'm pretty sure its the same for my horse who I believe was using the only language she had to let me know it was time for a change.



Thank you Keystone Equine, all those posts stuck with me and helped me make this decision for my horse and I.

Intelligent, Insightful, soulful, knowledgeable, and very much in touch with equines as well as people. A rare "gem" quality of a person. Especially now, in these days of all the persons who have taken it upon themselves to become

"ner de wells" and "haters" as their full time occupation. Thank goodness for a positive voice! In the public media wilderness, there are too many people whom are more interested in tearing each other up when building is so desperately needed.

If you are ever in the search for a small mount for your children, Keystone ponies is place to look and buy. We purchased our daughter a pony almost 2 years ago from Keystone ponies, not because she was a flashy show pony but because she was safe,safe safe. It has been almost 2 years and if we still have questions or are looking for help; Lee is always there with suggestions and support. Like the saying "it takes a village...", it takes a great group/team of people (sellers, trainers, owners) to maintain and continue owning a great pony for you kids-talking from personal experience. I would recommend Keystone Ponies to anyone.

If you are a thinking horseperson - if you love horses and horsemanship - if you like to read well-written, sensible, and heartfelt prose on subjects near to the horseperson's heart - if you are open to engaging in thoughtful conversations with like-minded individuals - then you must like and follow Keystone Equine!

I recently had my first haul-in lesson with Lee, and I cannot express how happy I am with the progress that both my horse and I have made already thanks to her guidance. Lee was able to pinpoint where we needed to start our training journey, and already (three days and one more ride later) I feel like I have a different horse. She provided me with that 'Ah Hah!' moment I was looking to find, and I'm really looking forward to our next session. I would recommend Lee to anybody looking for lessons, whether you're a newbie or just need some dusting off. She's very intuitive and matched my (and my horse's) learning styles flawlessly!

I can't believe it has been a year and a half now that our daughter Georgia's pony Arthur has been in our life... It was a magical day when we made the trek to Keystone Ponies to look at the beautiful little palomino Welsh gelding. When Georgia walked up to Arthur quietly chatting away to him he immediately quieted and got the softest look in his eye. If ever two souls were meant to be together it was these two.



Georgia plays daily with Arthur in the corral as they chase one another and she gallops around pretending to be a horse, she can safely lead him anywhere even over small jumps, stands on buckets as he quietly stands to be brushed, was ponied on him through the mountains as a two year old through water and up hills and now Arthur proves himself again as the worlds greatest pony as Georgia at 3 years old is able to ride him on her own in the arena and he navigates through all her tugs and kicks and knows exactly what she wants from him.



Do we love our Keystone pony? Well, that would be an understatement. He is quite simply our hero and the best investment we have ever made. Would i recommend a Keystone pony? Yes, to anyone. No one is rich in these times: But, you get what you pay for. And your child's safety should be worth the investment.



If you want a beautiful, safe and smart pony backed not only by a year guarantee but also lifetime support buy a Keystone pony!!

I absolutely love this page, the wisdom in each post is astounding and really makes a person think. I don't always agree with what I read but I love and respect each post for its honesty and true grit. I love putting my phone down to contemplate what I have read and maybe one day apply some it somewhere in my life as a horsewoman. Thank you!

Folks, I just can't get enough of this brilliant woman's candor. Old enough to be humbled, young enough at heart to not let her errors get her down and out of the game.

Old school wisdom abounds on this page!

I highly recommend reading everything she writes.

By far one of the best advisors in the horse world! Thanks for all of the shared wisdom. �

Wow a true horse woman , cattle woman , and an AMAzing writer! So glad I stumbled apon her posts!!

Wonderful advice no matter what type of riding you do.

We sold our pony to Keystone Ponies in good faith that they would find him the perfect home, and of course they did, we couldn't be happier :)

We phoned Keystone Ponies after our daughter had been bucked off 3 horses. She was scared to ride and needed to build her confidence back. Tee has done that and more. They are a beautiful pair and are on the go where ever they want, shows, gymkhana and clinics. I would highly recommend Lee McLean of Keystone Ponies, she has been a great help even after 8 months. Thanks Lee!

Thought provoking articles, momentos, and reminders that daily remind me to build a bigger picture of where I want to be and sometimes who I want to be. Thank you for putting into words what I sometimes think but don't have the courage to write myself.

The thought, skill and wisdom that come from Keystone Equine have helped me to become a better horsewoman. The mix of disciplines and dose of common sense open my mind to new ways of working with my horses every day.



I grew up near Lee and her family, and am wishing I could go back in time to ride over and take advantage of the learning opportunity I missed. Since I can’t I will eagerly read all the blogs and look foreword to our next encounter!

Sometimes you never know the strength of your actions. Just sending you a message to let you know how I look forward to posts from Keystone Equine in my FB feed. You are a powerful, eloquent and easily familiar wordsmith. Thank you for sharing. Your words "She's not sick, just different" hit me with the force of a high speed 2 tonne manure spreader. � She's just different. Yup. Keep at the keyboard sister. You are a gift to many.

So much wisdom here. Wish I had access to this kind of information many years ago!

Love the insightful posts about real life with equines

Lee writes so well and isn't afraid to say it like she sees it! Love reading her insights on the horse industry!

Keystone Equine has been a lifesaver for myself and my horse and Lee has had just the right words to say to help me make the difficult decision to move my horse to another owner for her sake and mine. I'm 60 and had a horse of my own again after all the years of remembering and wishing.



My horse came to me four years ago and was a shut down, defensive, chestnut mare somewhat of a bully. She taught me a lot, and I taught her a lot too but I couldn't get past some big hurdles with her one of which was spooking very big.



My horse had a lot of energy if she wanted and it made me nervous. These nerves made her nervous which caused more anxious behaviour with her and which of course caused me to be more nervous too. Sometimes I could work it out with her but other times not and those times would end in an explosive spook. Fortunately I was able to sit them all but this spring I wasn't able to control my nerves and my poor horse was becoming more and more anxious as I cautiously rode all the while expecting another explosion. Finally one evening after sitting another spook and feeling like it was not 'if' but 'when' as far as meeting the ground, I was done. What helped me be done was remembering all the wise words in Keystone Equine about riding a suitable mount and stopping the insanity that I found myself in. With that and the wisdom of others who had also encouraged safety above all else, I understood what I had to do and called my good friend and asked for help to sell my horse.



What a relief for my horse and I. She is with my friend who is a trainer and is doing great! She has the potential to sell well. I am so relieved because I really wanted the best for my horse, I just didn't understand that best was actually someone else and not me.



Its a little hard on the pride, and my riding confidence is pretty shaken but I've booked myself some lessons and will wait to see who my next equine companion will be. The relief is huge, and I'm pretty sure its the same for my horse who I believe was using the only language she had to let me know it was time for a change.



Thank you Keystone Equine, all those posts stuck with me and helped me make this decision for my horse and I.

Intelligent, Insightful, soulful, knowledgeable, and very much in touch with equines as well as people. A rare "gem" quality of a person. Especially now, in these days of all the persons who have taken it upon themselves to become

"ner de wells" and "haters" as their full time occupation. Thank goodness for a positive voice! In the public media wilderness, there are too many people whom are more interested in tearing each other up when building is so desperately needed.

If you are ever in the search for a small mount for your children, Keystone ponies is place to look and buy. We purchased our daughter a pony almost 2 years ago from Keystone ponies, not because she was a flashy show pony but because she was safe,safe safe. It has been almost 2 years and if we still have questions or are looking for help; Lee is always there with suggestions and support. Like the saying "it takes a village...", it takes a great group/team of people (sellers, trainers, owners) to maintain and continue owning a great pony for you kids-talking from personal experience. I would recommend Keystone Ponies to anyone.

If you are a thinking horseperson - if you love horses and horsemanship - if you like to read well-written, sensible, and heartfelt prose on subjects near to the horseperson's heart - if you are open to engaging in thoughtful conversations with like-minded individuals - then you must like and follow Keystone Equine!

I recently had my first haul-in lesson with Lee, and I cannot express how happy I am with the progress that both my horse and I have made already thanks to her guidance. Lee was able to pinpoint where we needed to start our training journey, and already (three days and one more ride later) I feel like I have a different horse. She provided me with that 'Ah Hah!' moment I was looking to find, and I'm really looking forward to our next session. I would recommend Lee to anybody looking for lessons, whether you're a newbie or just need some dusting off. She's very intuitive and matched my (and my horse's) learning styles flawlessly!

I can't believe it has been a year and a half now that our daughter Georgia's pony Arthur has been in our life... It was a magical day when we made the trek to Keystone Ponies to look at the beautiful little palomino Welsh gelding. When Georgia walked up to Arthur quietly chatting away to him he immediately quieted and got the softest look in his eye. If ever two souls were meant to be together it was these two.



Georgia plays daily with Arthur in the corral as they chase one another and she gallops around pretending to be a horse, she can safely lead him anywhere even over small jumps, stands on buckets as he quietly stands to be brushed, was ponied on him through the mountains as a two year old through water and up hills and now Arthur proves himself again as the worlds greatest pony as Georgia at 3 years old is able to ride him on her own in the arena and he navigates through all her tugs and kicks and knows exactly what she wants from him.



Do we love our Keystone pony? Well, that would be an understatement. He is quite simply our hero and the best investment we have ever made. Would i recommend a Keystone pony? Yes, to anyone. No one is rich in these times: But, you get what you pay for. And your child's safety should be worth the investment.



If you want a beautiful, safe and smart pony backed not only by a year guarantee but also lifetime support buy a Keystone pony!!

I absolutely love this page, the wisdom in each post is astounding and really makes a person think. I don't always agree with what I read but I love and respect each post for its honesty and true grit. I love putting my phone down to contemplate what I have read and maybe one day apply some it somewhere in my life as a horsewoman. Thank you!

Folks, I just can't get enough of this brilliant woman's candor. Old enough to be humbled, young enough at heart to not let her errors get her down and out of the game.

Old school wisdom abounds on this page!

I highly recommend reading everything she writes.

By far one of the best advisors in the horse world! Thanks for all of the shared wisdom. �

Wow a true horse woman , cattle woman , and an AMAzing writer! So glad I stumbled apon her posts!!

Wonderful advice no matter what type of riding you do.

We sold our pony to Keystone Ponies in good faith that they would find him the perfect home, and of course they did, we couldn't be happier :)

We phoned Keystone Ponies after our daughter had been bucked off 3 horses. She was scared to ride and needed to build her confidence back. Tee has done that and more. They are a beautiful pair and are on the go where ever they want, shows, gymkhana and clinics. I would highly recommend Lee McLean of Keystone Ponies, she has been a great help even after 8 months. Thanks Lee!

Thought provoking articles, momentos, and reminders that daily remind me to build a bigger picture of where I want to be and sometimes who I want to be. Thank you for putting into words what I sometimes think but don't have the courage to write myself.

The thought, skill and wisdom that come from Keystone Equine have helped me to become a better horsewoman. The mix of disciplines and dose of common sense open my mind to new ways of working with my horses every day.



I grew up near Lee and her family, and am wishing I could go back in time to ride over and take advantage of the learning opportunity I missed. Since I can’t I will eagerly read all the blogs and look foreword to our next encounter!

Sometimes you never know the strength of your actions. Just sending you a message to let you know how I look forward to posts from Keystone Equine in my FB feed. You are a powerful, eloquent and easily familiar wordsmith. Thank you for sharing. Your words "She's not sick, just different" hit me with the force of a high speed 2 tonne manure spreader. � She's just different. Yup. Keep at the keyboard sister. You are a gift to many.

So much wisdom here. Wish I had access to this kind of information many years ago!

Love the insightful posts about real life with equines

Lee writes so well and isn't afraid to say it like she sees it! Love reading her insights on the horse industry!

Keystone Equine has been a lifesaver for myself and my horse and Lee has had just the right words to say to help me make the difficult decision to move my horse to another owner for her sake and mine. I'm 60 and had a horse of my own again after all the years of remembering and wishing.



My horse came to me four years ago and was a shut down, defensive, chestnut mare somewhat of a bully. She taught me a lot, and I taught her a lot too but I couldn't get past some big hurdles with her one of which was spooking very big.



My horse had a lot of energy if she wanted and it made me nervous. These nerves made her nervous which caused more anxious behaviour with her and which of course caused me to be more nervous too. Sometimes I could work it out with her but other times not and those times would end in an explosive spook. Fortunately I was able to sit them all but this spring I wasn't able to control my nerves and my poor horse was becoming more and more anxious as I cautiously rode all the while expecting another explosion. Finally one evening after sitting another spook and feeling like it was not 'if' but 'when' as far as meeting the ground, I was done. What helped me be done was remembering all the wise words in Keystone Equine about riding a suitable mount and stopping the insanity that I found myself in. With that and the wisdom of others who had also encouraged safety above all else, I understood what I had to do and called my good friend and asked for help to sell my horse.



What a relief for my horse and I. She is with my friend who is a trainer and is doing great! She has the potential to sell well. I am so relieved because I really wanted the best for my horse, I just didn't understand that best was actually someone else and not me.



Its a little hard on the pride, and my riding confidence is pretty shaken but I've booked myself some lessons and will wait to see who my next equine companion will be. The relief is huge, and I'm pretty sure its the same for my horse who I believe was using the only language she had to let me know it was time for a change.



Thank you Keystone Equine, all those posts stuck with me and helped me make this decision for my horse and I.

Intelligent, Insightful, soulful, knowledgeable, and very much in touch with equines as well as people. A rare "gem" quality of a person. Especially now, in these days of all the persons who have taken it upon themselves to become

"ner de wells" and "haters" as their full time occupation. Thank goodness for a positive voice! In the public media wilderness, there are too many people whom are more interested in tearing each other up when building is so desperately needed.

If you are ever in the search for a small mount for your children, Keystone ponies is place to look and buy. We purchased our daughter a pony almost 2 years ago from Keystone ponies, not because she was a flashy show pony but because she was safe,safe safe. It has been almost 2 years and if we still have questions or are looking for help; Lee is always there with suggestions and support. Like the saying "it takes a village...", it takes a great group/team of people (sellers, trainers, owners) to maintain and continue owning a great pony for you kids-talking from personal experience. I would recommend Keystone Ponies to anyone.

If you are a thinking horseperson - if you love horses and horsemanship - if you like to read well-written, sensible, and heartfelt prose on subjects near to the horseperson's heart - if you are open to engaging in thoughtful conversations with like-minded individuals - then you must like and follow Keystone Equine!

I recently had my first haul-in lesson with Lee, and I cannot express how happy I am with the progress that both my horse and I have made already thanks to her guidance. Lee was able to pinpoint where we needed to start our training journey, and already (three days and one more ride later) I feel like I have a different horse. She provided me with that 'Ah Hah!' moment I was looking to find, and I'm really looking forward to our next session. I would recommend Lee to anybody looking for lessons, whether you're a newbie or just need some dusting off. She's very intuitive and matched my (and my horse's) learning styles flawlessly!

I can't believe it has been a year and a half now that our daughter Georgia's pony Arthur has been in our life... It was a magical day when we made the trek to Keystone Ponies to look at the beautiful little palomino Welsh gelding. When Georgia walked up to Arthur quietly chatting away to him he immediately quieted and got the softest look in his eye. If ever two souls were meant to be together it was these two.



Georgia plays daily with Arthur in the corral as they chase one another and she gallops around pretending to be a horse, she can safely lead him anywhere even over small jumps, stands on buckets as he quietly stands to be brushed, was ponied on him through the mountains as a two year old through water and up hills and now Arthur proves himself again as the worlds greatest pony as Georgia at 3 years old is able to ride him on her own in the arena and he navigates through all her tugs and kicks and knows exactly what she wants from him.



Do we love our Keystone pony? Well, that would be an understatement. He is quite simply our hero and the best investment we have ever made. Would i recommend a Keystone pony? Yes, to anyone. No one is rich in these times: But, you get what you pay for. And your child's safety should be worth the investment.



If you want a beautiful, safe and smart pony backed not only by a year guarantee but also lifetime support buy a Keystone pony!!

I absolutely love this page, the wisdom in each post is astounding and really makes a person think. I don't always agree with what I read but I love and respect each post for its honesty and true grit. I love putting my phone down to contemplate what I have read and maybe one day apply some it somewhere in my life as a horsewoman. Thank you!

Folks, I just can't get enough of this brilliant woman's candor. Old enough to be humbled, young enough at heart to not let her errors get her down and out of the game.

Old school wisdom abounds on this page!

I highly recommend reading everything she writes.

By far one of the best advisors in the horse world! Thanks for all of the shared wisdom. �