Looking at bones

Instant gratification. That is dangerous when taking on the hobby of horses. We want things quick and easy. Rarely does that happen with horses and when it does, it is usually a short cut that is to the detriment of the horse.

Yes late because I can’t keep track of days lately.

Fall is approaching even though it may not feel like it in Texas. 2025 has rushed by. October lessons are booking! If you haven’t gotten...

I like these bamboo sticks for ground work. They are light and have a tapered end. It’s easy to modify the length if they are too long.

4 hours on an empty stomach. Stomach acid sloshing around while being ridden or in a trailer. Stress of leaving home / friends. Stress of something new. These situations can all cause ulcers.

Yes, super late because of life.

Your hand will drown out your leg. Your horse will not be able to focus on your leg if your hand is hanging on their face or in their mouth. Anytime I feel like the horse is dull to my leg, I try to give a release with my hand and try again. Most of us ride with too much contact. If we can’t just lay the rein in a finger to ride, it’s probably too much. It takes time to get there but riding with too much contact all the time ensures we never will.

We need to stop using words like stubborn, lazy, belligerent, high strung, marish, cold backed, etc. when describing our horses. These terms have no meaning in the horse’s world and they give us excuses to ignore pain and punish behavior we don’t understand.

Favorite Things Friday

Late because I was attending a PPE check for a client.

Yes late. Life has been busy.

DON’T MISS OUT! We still have one participant spot in module one Plenty of room for auditors. We have 3 participant spots in module two...

Password August25

Password August25

Show up for your horse. It’s not your horse’s job to show up for you. It’s not your horse’s job to make you feel better, safe, more secure, more confident. It is your job to do that for the horse. Your horse is not a volunteer for your hopes and dreams. You require your horse to show up as an assignment.  Therefore, you have to bring your best to the relationship and your best to the your session if you want your horse to perform their best.

Bracing creates more bracing. It doesn’t matter if you are on the ground or in the saddle. Every time you are tempted to brace against your horse, hang on the rein/rope, pull, stop and give instead. Give for one step. Then repeat your request. Stop after three attempts. Reset, re-evaluate. Do not continue the brace no matter what. If you continue to brace against your horse you only teach your horse to brace. Your horse can make no other choice but to brace against your braci

8/26 7p cst

We have almost made it through summer in Texas! It’s my least favorite time of year here. I am booking September. There are 6 lesson...

Opportunity for someone serious about learning working horsemanship and maintaining functional soundness in horses. Reasons why last few...