Skookumhorse Ranch

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.

05/22/2024

Scottie at his first Légèreté clinic with Veronika Bühn in Abbotsford

04/17/2024

The clinics with Philippe Karl's licenced teachers continue!
I am excited to learn more again, this time with Scottie my little Wild horse 😊
Thank you Katrina for organizing 🤗

04/15/2024

Clinic dates for 2024

June 21/22/23
August 9/10/11
September 20/21/22

$350 plus GST
Includes 3 lessons, trail rides, theory, potluck BBQ, horse pen and camping.

02/07/2024

Scottie my little wild horse is already going to be 11 this year!
Our general troubles have been tension and bracing, sticky to going forward steadily or barging off for cantering.
He went on a trip all the way to Oregon to experience the ocean and the beach last October.
All the traffic, noise, people, bicycles, waves, washed up seaweed and torrential downpours being stuck in a little pen were quite the sensory overload for him spending his first 7 years in the wild. We had to go back and spend time on relaxing, softening and trusting again.
Sometimes that happens in a horse-human relationship and really is an invitation to acknowledge the horses emotions, showing them we see them with their troubles and giving them the time and space with slow easy time together to address their worries and tensions.
It really paid off with our rides becoming even lighter, more responsive and less reactive, more tuned in and less braced, distractions are shorter lived and he is able to trust me and move past them much more relaxed.
A slow and rewarding journey deepening our trust and connection.
It's time to work on our balance and strength again with Dressage exercises with our improved lightness and understanding.
What a fun journey!

11/18/2023

This November weather has been just fabulous for renovating and re-roofing a couple of shelters in the fat horse area.
Last month Marin helped with piling branches and logs and then burning the piles which really cleaned up the space.
In the spring I want to set up a track system with electric fence inside this larger area so the horses who can't go on pasture for metabolic and weight reasons will at least have to move farther from water to food to shelters.
The layout will take some adjusting no doubt to find out what will be most horse friendly and movement inspiring for the pasture deprived fatties.
Visions come true one little step at a time 😄

11/09/2023

The colorful girls group.
This year I experimented with separating mares and geldings and I like the dynamics.
There are less extreme teasing heat cycles, love desperate mares, boys not loosing their brains turning into controlling herd stallions, lover or mamas boys.
I feel there is less intense attachment in general (groups of 4-6 horses) and more calm once the groups have settled.
Of course there is always an exception, usually ones that were not raised with other horses and become anxious easily.

09/20/2023

Frankie is still looking for a loving person to give him a purpose in life. QH gelding, around 16hh, mid teens, a pleasure riding home would suit him best, he enjoys trail riding most, no pressure arena riding he is happy with too, he was a western pleasure horse in his past and had too much drilling which can make him worried.
A lease situation could be an option. He comes with winter blanket, hoof boots and his favorite bridle.
Absolutely lovely boy when he gets to know and trust his human but in my opinion not a beginner horse as he is light and responsive to aids, a tactful intermediate rider would be fine with him, easy to handle and fit in with other horses. He would love a turnout live with some horse friends which he missed out on as a younger horse.
A bit of a harder keeper, needs good barefoot hoof care and body work here and there.

08/29/2023

September 15-17th 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!

08/16/2023

Nice moments from the August clinic with these fabulous ladies!

08/01/2023

August 11-13th riding clinic in Clinton.
1 spot 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!

07/26/2023

Frankie, 15 year old QH gelding is looking for a new partner for trailriding and non competitive arena riding. I can see him for entry level working equitation or doing trail obstacles, basic Dressage, pole patterns, horsemanship kind of work and mostly quiet relaxed trailriding. Not a beginner horse though as he can have some anxiety from previous training that needs to be recognized but is easy to deal with some horse experience.
Owner is asking 6k and includes his hoof boots, winter blanket and bridle with the bit he prefers.

07/09/2023

The summer fattie area got some fencing upgrades today!
These guys get too overweight on the fresh grass, better being safe than risking founder to put them on hay until the grass dries up here in August/September when they can hopefully enjoy some free roaming on the hillside too.
'Easy keepers' aren't so easy after all!

07/07/2023

August 11-13th riding clinic in Clinton.
4 spots left, $368 for the weekend includes 3 lessons, trail rides, theory, BBQ, camping and horse pen.

06/27/2023

Favorite moments of last weekend's riding clinic at Skookumhorse Ranch.

05/29/2023

June 23-25th clinic in Clinton
1 spot left, $368 for the weekend includes 3 lessons, trail rides, theory, BBQ, camping and horse pen.

05/02/2023

Eagle is 6 years old, 14.3hh and a Wildie from the Nemiah Valley.
W/T/C on trails and arena, soft and responsive to ride. Sure footed, curious and sensible on the trails, I can see her as a great backcountry partner.
Good ground manners, ties, good with her feet, loads and leads lightly.
She is very personable and friendly, expressive, curious and loves to run and play with her friends and will need pasture turnout with companions.
An intermediate rider with confidence riding and bringing along a still green horse will have a great partner. A smaller lighter rider would suit her best, I am 5.10" and tall on her.
$6500
Located in Clinton , BC

https://youtu.be/cs6nRvB5v64

04/28/2023

9 year old 15hh registered Perlino QH mare looking for a loving rider to bring her along!
Hera has about 25 rides, walk and trot and has a nice forward energy, longes well and is light and respectful on the halter.
She was a broodmare until last year with little handling that's why she is still green at her age.
Good ground manners, ties, loads, good with her feet, very sweet and soft mare.
A bit cautious until she knows you, she wants to do the right thing, gets a little worried when she doesn't understand something, is quite athletic, sensible and is light and sensitive to ride.
I think she will be a great all around horse englisch or western, arena and trails.
Located in Clinton BC
$5500

Hera has about 25 rides, walk/ trot. She was a broodmare in her previous life and is looking for a loving riding partner to bring her along. She is athletic ...

04/13/2023

Here is Hera again.
She is 9 years old, registered QH mare and came to me last spring as an open broodmare heading to auction.
She didnt know much besides halter and leading.
A very sweet and kind mare, a bit more on the sensitive side and will be quite athletic under saddle, she is getting ready to find a gentle person to bring her along as a riding horse.
We are on about the 15th ride, walk/trot in the arena , will be heading outside when the snow and ice are finally gone. She is soft and light to ride and has a very nice energy.

Hera came to me as an open broodmare who was heading to auction. She is ready for a new life as a riding horse with a loving person.

03/22/2023

Regalo is enjoying his Pulsating Electro Magnetic Field Therapy blanket session.
Talk to Nancy Himsl if you are interested in getting your horse treated in the Clinton area!

03/14/2023

Benito is going home next weekend!

As a trainer my biggest hope is that his owner can successfully continue on his development and that I was able to give him solid basics for a long and happy life as a riding horse and trusty companion.
This very sensitive, quick thinking, quite emotional and reactive and very athletic young horse has thought me a lot again, personally and professionally.

This is close to Benny's 60th ride and our 3rd time cantering. I waited with the canter until he felt ready and not worried, started with asking for forward trot transitions first and when they were relaxed the canter was just a voice command like he knew well from the longe line and a light leg aid which he learned always means to go forward (both legs at the same time means go forward, one leg means stepping/crossing the hindquartes away). Then its about staying up there balanced on a consistent track to avoid abrupt loss of balance (which will easily spook and scare horses and is often the cause of bucking).

He has days where he plays around at the canter on the longe and others where he is quiet and steady. I gently discourage the playing around on the longe as I want to do when riding, thats something horses can do on their own time out in the field imo.
Mine all can do so there is no excuse lol, in a stabled or paddock bound horse this is very different story or when my herd gets stuck tiptoeing around ice as we had lots of this winter then I let them express their energy and need to move at the start and always end with well mannered transitions and gaits just what I want to ride!

Benito, 3rd canter March 2023

03/05/2023

Intoducing Felix aka Mr Grey, coming 6 year old QH gelding.
Picked him up through a horse dealer last summer, curious but very reactive, tense and untrusting.

Was a very slow process to gain his trust, which was last years lesson for me in general to really accept the horses daily comfort zones and slowly stretching them and letting the horse become more confident in themselves und their human in their time, which can be hard from a business point of view to slow way down (I think I am reasonably slow already lol) Progress with confident horses is much faster than with one with previous trauma. From what I found out Felix made his round through a roping barn, auction and a couple private owners already.

By fall we had 10 slow relaxed rides and were getting closer to getting him to trust me picking up his feet.
We started up last month again and are up to walk/trot, understanding and respecting light aids in a relaxed way.
It's lovely to see his true personality shine through now, from being guarded, alert and tense like a board to a cheeky and actually very laid back kind of guy. He also finally decided that trims are trustworthy.
I feel he will make a great trail partner and will soon be looking for his new human friend.

02/10/2023

2023 Summer clinics at Skookumhorse Ranch

June 23-25
August 11-13
September 15-17