Skookumhorse Ranch

03/11/2025

Lucy, a 7 year old TB/Welsh Cob mare is starting to look for her person.
She has been under saddle since November on and off during the winter months. She has a very sweet personality, is sensitive and smart and likes to move forward. She was bred for eventing by Catherine Davies and truly is very agile and athletic and I can certainly see her as an eventer.
At 15.3hh a smaller and soft rider would suit her well.

02/03/2025

Some memories of the last Legerete course in Vancouver with my mare Cinnamon. Thank you Linda for sharing them again, good times 🤗

Cinnamon was a TB/Hanoverian mare I bred myself (first and last attempt lol) and my partner to become a licenced teacher of Philippe Karl's school of Legerete.

She was a temperamental strong minded and powerful mare. She scared me at times and taught me a lot working through and figuring out our issues. In this last clinic so many pieces of the puzzle were aligning and lightness, softness and participation were coming together.
She also taught me how physical discomfort in the end I believe was a big part of her moody nature. I listen to my horses so much more now if something is too much and just plain hard for them physically. I am riding now to figure out what the horse needs not so much about what I want to achieve.
Thanks for the lessons Cinnamon ❤️

01/22/2025

Lucy and Penny both got here in the fall to get started under saddle and we are enjoying some sunny snow rides now with a calm companion.
Penny is a 4.5 year old Wildie mare from the Okanagan and Lucy is a 7.5 year old TB/Welsh Cob mare bred for eventing.
Lucy will be looking for her person soon, a very sweet mare with lots of eagerness to go and do things.

12/29/2024

2025 clinic dates

June 20-22
August 8-10
September 19-21

12/29/2024

Proud of Scottie taking care of Aleeya, he might have found a new job teaching kids 🥰

11/08/2024

Here is Lucy, a 7 year old TB/Welsh Cob mare.
She is bred for eventing and feels very athletic and powerful.
She has a thing with rubbing her tongue out on one side even without a bit. She supposedly has done this ever since she was little. Body work hasn't made a change and the vet will be out to make sure her teeth are good.
The tongue behaviour makes her stiffer to bend on that side and steering and slowing/stopping have been harder for her to accept. Something I want to be solid before I add more speed.
She is very trusting with people and pretty unflappable. The odd thing can distract her to the point where she shuts down and has trouble focusing. The more she knows for aids/exercises and following a light feel the easier it is to keep her focus with me. With older horses that is definitely something they need to learn if they have never been asked to do much.
Another very kind and pleasant mare to work with.

11/08/2024

I have 2 wonderful mares here this fall to get started under saddle. This has been the year of starting mares and I so appreciate these feisty, opinionated, strong minded, smart and giving horses. If you can prove to be a good and fair leader to them they are the biggest pleasure to work with. Typically brave and happy to work as a team with you.

Here is Penny a lovely 4 year old Wildie mare.
She has to be one of the smartest and most accepting and willing horses I have worked with. Strong minded at times and pushy to start but very reasonable in all her actions. As my other wildies she needs to have a good look at things that concern her and once labeled harmless she doesn't look back and is very brave and curious.
Lucky me to get to give her a start into her riding horse career.

I left the videos long and probably boring to most but I want to show how important relaxed, quiet, consistent work is to me. I like to give treats which gets less frequent the more solid they get but to start its a wonderful way to get them to check in with me.
I also left small moments of bracing and of them wanting to take charge in, they are a great opportunity to practice the one rein stop which I want to work should there be a real emergency some day something one just never knows with green horses what might trigger a flight response

09/25/2024

Some impressions from our September clinic.
I really appreciate everyone coming from close and far to make these clinic weekends happen and for all the fun, friendly, caring, learning and sharing vibes everyone brings together.
Everyone has their own horse journeys and I am honoured to be able to help everyone along a little ways on their paths to connected and safe relationships with their horse partners.

09/11/2024

I wanted to share the journey with my 3 wonderful horses.

Scottie the cheeky suspicious wildie.
He has really settled and let go of a lot of his fears and suspicions this year. I love having a trustworthy horse again to go out on the trails in a ba****ck pad on a loose rein in all gaits for the most part. If he worries we have our routines to come back to relaxation again so it doesn't escalate anymore.
He is letting kids brush and fuss over him and he slowly is getting used to different riders and beginners.

Julie, 4.5 year old draft cross
She was Jocelyn's surprise foal born at my place and found her way back here. A very sensitive mare, strong minded and bossy, an interesting combination. She couldn't tolerate even just wearing a bit and since she is so light and sensitive the sidepull works great for her for now.
She struggled with keeping focused on certain days and on those days just couldn't tolerate any pressure, progress was slow to start until she stayed relaxed more consistently. Her tendency was to either overreact or freeze and brace when was unsure. My challenge was to find a way to coax her into following my aids and not taking charge herself without a lot of pressure which would make her tense.

Shaya, 5.5 year old draft cross
She was in training for ground work with me a couple years ago and I got the chance to buy her this spring!
She is big, bossy and pretty used to get her way and be in charge. She tried some intimidation techniques to start when she would get tense about something. Standing my ground getting my point across in a non-confrontational way as possible worked best for me. Letting her express her tantrums and opinions as long as it was out of my space and staying on track in what I was asking of her. Over time the tantrums just went away by praising her for every good effort she made.
She was not afraid at all of me getting on her back but for her to let me be in control of steering and speed was very challenging and still shows up here and there. Once she trusts me to be a safe leader she will be an amazing brave partner no doubt.

I really have found 3 horses I entirely love being with and I am excited for the journey and adventures with them! The fun thing is that they all love each other too.

09/05/2024

September 20/21/22 clinic is coming up!

1 Spot left!

$350 plus GST for the weekend.

These were the lovely participants from August.

08/02/2024

August 9/10/11 riding clinic in Clinton.
I have 1 possibly 2 spots open due to a cancellation $368 for the weekend
Includes 2 private lessons and one semi private cavaletti and poles lesson, trail rides, theory, BBQ, camping and horse pen.
My training is based on french classical Dressage, I am licenced with Philippe Karls school of Legerete.
I can help you with basic riding and groundwork skills, lateral movements, in hand work, lighter aids, better understanding of your horses behaviour, creating a plan to improve your horses strength, balance and movement and most of all having a fun and safe time with your horses!

08/02/2024

Veronika is coming back!

07/17/2024

I have some spaces for year round horse boarding open.

Full pasture board on 200 acres, great for young and retired horses $350 plus GST

Pasture at night and dry pen during the day with some hay $410 plus GST

Diet group in large area with round bail and 1" hay net $410 plus GST

Use of outdoor and covered arenas, lots of trail riding all around. Barefoot trimming, training and lessons are available as well.

06/24/2024

The summer solstice clinic weekend was filled with many nice moments between horses and riders, lots of chatting, exchanging experiences and ideas, an engaging theory evening, chill trail rides and some good food at our potluck BBQ.
Thank you everyone for coming out with your horses to be part and create this nice weekend 😀

06/18/2024

Cooper after 2 months of training.

This day was a bit stormy and he was distracted and a bit anxious and I left the videos purposefully long to show how I address days like these.
We need to acknowledge our horses struggles and worries and adjust our rides accordingly to gain a true trusting partner in the long run.

https://youtu.be/eWJoSEBpLzM?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/CUM9ZXSELMI?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/GlHASXnWln0?feature=shared

longeing/ horsemanship warm up before riding

06/18/2024

Introduction Cooper, Marion's
4 year old Appaloosa x TB.

He has been here for a couple of months training and this is around his 30th ride.

He is a very smart and personal horse and learns things quickly.
He can get worried and distracted on stormy days, changes in the horse groups and has a strong sense of wanting to take care of himself. Convincing him to follow the riders direction/ steering was the hardest, giving up that control, trusting the rider to not get him into anything scary is hard for him and on anxious days it comes up again. I address these bulging, drifting, slowing, rushing behaviours quietly and consistently and reward his trying, trusting and participating often with a quick break and a treat to convince him of the benefits of working with me. I want to create as many positive associations and confidence as possible with being ridden and being with his human.

As a 4 year old his brain is still very immature and short and rewarding sessions are best.
Even though he is tall, his front end and thoracic sling are weak and with his conformation it will take time to build muscles, posture and coordination until he is fully physically matured at 6 years old.
Strength will help him with his balance and being balanced makes him feel safe with his rider.

Young horses are a journey to train don't push and expect too much too early especially ones with less than ideal conformation to carry a rider.

05/23/2024

June 21/22/23 riding clinic in Clinton.
2 spots left, $368 for the weekend
Includes 2 private lessons and one semi private cavaletti and poles lesson, trail rides, theory, BBQ, camping and horse pen.
My training is based on french classical Dressage, I am licenced with Philippe Karls school of Legerete.
I can help you with basic riding and groundwork skills, lateral movements, in hand work, lighter aids, better understanding of your horses behaviour, creating a plan to improve your horses strength, balance and movement and most of all having a fun and safe time with your horses!

05/22/2024

Scottie my 12 year old Wildie at his first Légèreté Dressage clinic.