Working with horses is hard. This skill set requires us to continually evolve and work on self improvement. I often hear riders talk about what they want from their horses and how they want their horses to behave. It got me thinking. What if our horses could tell us what they want from us and how they want us to behave. Here are some thoughts that I think horses would have:

If your sole goal with horses is winning a competition, might I suggest you take up another sport. The issue with equestrian disciplines, is that there are two beings working together to compete. However, only one of those beings has a say and gets to make the decisions. The horses do not get to decide if they feel like participating. The horse could care less about competition or winning. Winning is about you not about the horse. If you want to participate as an equest

New tasks may not be pleasant for horses. The tasks may be physically or mentally more demanding and the horse may have the responses of bracing, evading or even fighting.

You are your horse’s advocate. That does not mean you have the knowledge to make all the decisions you need to make. That means you are smart enough to surround yourself with people EDUCATED enough to help you advocate for your horse. When you have to make large decisions regarding your horse, RESUMES matter. Your cousin who had an uncle that had horses is not an advocate for you and your horse. They are emotional support for your, which is NECESSARY. Advocation has to

We want our horses to find some relaxation in their work sessions. Training is stressful for them. When they get confused, we need to pause. Too often I see riders do the opposite. The begin demanding. A kick to the side, jerk of the reins. Horses can only have one response to that…brace and become defensive. You would not relax or want to participate if someone kicked you in the side or punched you in the face. Your horse won’t either. Try a pause. Break the information dow

Teaching Takeaways Beau Soleil Farms Part 3

Teaching Takeaways Beau Soleil Farms Part 2

Favorite Things Friday

Teaching Takeaways Beau Soleil Farms part 1

You would not put a new driver in a car that was only half way built. You would not put a new driver in a sports car. Those are recipes for a disaster.

The devil is in the details. It is easy to pick up a book of exercises or scour the internet for training advice. Without the proper lens to understand the exercises, you can create more problems than you fix.

Favorite Things Friday

A day late

A day late

September Master Zoom 9/16

Favorite Things Friday

If you and your horse do not have a good relationship on the ground, you do not belong in the saddle. I see a lot of horses walking over top of their handlers, dragging their handlers around, handlers begging horses to go forward or trying to hold them back. I see many who can’t back their horses on the ground or move them laterally. Horses that do not go straight and balanced on the ground but are expected to go straight and balanced with a rider. Tense horses on the gro

July Master Zoom

I need to start at 7:15p.

I love her prints and greeting cards.