When they were both 9 years old, Cassandra Long and Robyn Schmidt met while learning to ride horses. After growing up and pursuing individual endeavors, Long and Schmidt decided to open Timbercreek Stables in Magnolia 10 years ago at the request of Long’s daughter, AnnaKate.
Trainer Robyn Schmidt (left) and owner Cassandra Long (right) opened Timbercreek Stables 10 years ago in Magnolia. The business is a horse boarding and competitive training facility.[/caption]
“There wasn’t anybody I would have put my child with prior to that anyway,” Long said. “I knew if [AnnaKate] really was going to [ride horses], I needed to do it the right way.”
As a result, Long recruited Schmidt as a trainer and selected property on the outskirts of Magnolia.
Timbercreek Stables offers horse boarding, and hunter and jumper training services. Although Long owns the business,
Schmidt trains a class of about 12-15 students, age 6 and older, to ride competitively.
“They compete at all different levels,” Schmidt said. “Hunter [riding] is judged on style, and jumper [riding] is for speed.”
On average, students attend two horse shows a month, competing in various categories and in all weather conditions, Schmidt said.
“The horse show season in Texas is all year,” she said. “A love for horses always makes you a certain type of person. It’s not something that is for the faint of heart. We ride in the heat, [and] we ride in the cold.”
In addition to preparing for competitions, students also learn horsemanship—taking care of a horse before, during and after riding it. By caring for an animal, students learn responsibility, time management and communication skills, Schmidt said.
“They learn to be a better member of society,” Schmidt said. “I like to say I’ve given the universe a kid that’s more responsible, driven and compassionate.”
Long said seeking to win a ribbon is about more than riding a horse well.
“There [are] a lot of life lessons to it,” Long said. “All [people] see is the fluff side of things [of getting] to ride a horse, compete and win ribbons. They don’t see what it takes to get there.”
Timbercreek Stables
2700 Superior Road, Magnolia
281-691-2483
www.timbercreek-stables.com
Hours: Call for appointment
Trainer Robyn Schmidt (left) and owner Cassandra Long (right) opened Timbercreek Stables 10 years ago in Magnolia. The business is a horse boarding and competitive training facility.[/caption]
“There wasn’t anybody I would have put my child with prior to that anyway,” Long said. “I knew if [AnnaKate] really was going to [ride horses], I needed to do it the right way.”
As a result, Long recruited Schmidt as a trainer and selected property on the outskirts of Magnolia.
Timbercreek Stables offers horse boarding, and hunter and jumper training services. Although Long owns the business,
Schmidt trains a class of about 12-15 students, age 6 and older, to ride competitively.
“They compete at all different levels,” Schmidt said. “Hunter [riding] is judged on style, and jumper [riding] is for speed.”
On average, students attend two horse shows a month, competing in various categories and in all weather conditions, Schmidt said.
“The horse show season in Texas is all year,” she said. “A love for horses always makes you a certain type of person. It’s not something that is for the faint of heart. We ride in the heat, [and] we ride in the cold.”
In addition to preparing for competitions, students also learn horsemanship—taking care of a horse before, during and after riding it. By caring for an animal, students learn responsibility, time management and communication skills, Schmidt said.
“They learn to be a better member of society,” Schmidt said. “I like to say I’ve given the universe a kid that’s more responsible, driven and compassionate.”
Long said seeking to win a ribbon is about more than riding a horse well.
“There [are] a lot of life lessons to it,” Long said. “All [people] see is the fluff side of things [of getting] to ride a horse, compete and win ribbons. They don’t see what it takes to get there.”
Timbercreek Stables
2700 Superior Road, Magnolia
281-691-2483
www.timbercreek-stables.com
Hours: Call for appointment
