Lesson Horses
“No one can teach riding so well as a horse” – C.S. Lewis
Miss Pea – Jockey Club Sweetpeacefuldream
Miss Pea actually is a sweet pea! Her time with Bit of Honey started in 2015 when she was owned by CANTER Colorado and in training with Kim in Colorado to go to the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in Lexington, KY. Miss Pea is a 2010 Thoroughbred mare, and she was just five when she competed there but acted like an old pro. She had excellent training as a racehorse, which made her transition to sport horse life as smooth as possible. She was sold after the makeover and then a couple years later returned to Bit of Honey on a lease to gain more eventing experience. She was then sold again, and Kim does her best to keep tabs on all the horses she has trained and sold. As a result, Kim was able to help later owners with saddle fitting and other things to help Miss Pea in her sport horse life, ultimately resulting in Miss Pea being given back to Bit of Honey when life got in the way for her owner who was having health issues. Miss Pea is 15.2 hands tall but big bodied, so is an appropriate mount for all types of riders. She is also gentle and kind, and enjoys trail riding in addition to her jumping and dressage.
Dewey – Jockey Club Doit’s Cat
Dewey has been part of the Bit of Honey Training barn in one way or another since he was a two year old and came for training with Kim from CANTER Colorado in 2014 for the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Equine Comeback Challenge in Denver, Colorado. Even at that young age Dewey was quiet enough for Kim to work with, even after she’d had recent back surgery but didn’t want to miss the expo. Over the years he has been owned by several different clients at Bit of Honey, but managed to stay in training here, ultimately ending up a Bit of Honey lesson horse and made the trip to Virginia with us in 2022. His favorite activities are eating and napping, but he is happy to help teach riding with his steady gaits and friendly personality. We often tell people he is half Thoroughbred and half black lab. Dewey’s gaits are easy to ride and he is 16.2 hands tall. He is great fun to have around the barn and in our lesson program.
Daisy – Retired
Daisy worked for several years at Bit of Honey as a lesson horse, and she loved jumping and trail riding. Daisy is now in her late teens and unfortunately is going blind (a common issue for Appaloosas, even when they have no spots like Daisy). Bit of Honey has had several blind horses over the years and we have a pretty good system for keeping them healthy, safe, and happy with buddy horses and steady routine. Daisy will live out the rest of her days here enjoying retirement, and we’ll always be grateful for everything she has taught our riders!