CR Horsemanship - Training & Lessons

01/26/2025

Very delayed.. but shout out to and a special group of students/parents, who all came together since November and covered a lovely pair of as a very special (very well kept secret) Christmas gift to me, hidden on a piece of paper at the bottom of a very full surprise snack box - funniest cover up I’ve seen. My body is not the same after surgery and has been a struggle to fit everything, so this was the most appreciated gift from an amazing barn family 💕 today they were delivered and I am so excited!! Thank you 🙏

01/25/2025

ISO! Coming from Alberta for this Tuesday only- flying in Monday night to Abbotsford, out of Vancouver late Tuesday. Would like to see 5 or 6 along the way so we can have a decision by the time we leave.

Looking for a step up pony for a lovely little lady, to a very knowledgeable home.
18-20 budget tops.
Ideal would be 12.3-14hh, simple minded, hunter type. Must have some show experience. Proven would be ideal.

Registered welsh preferred but a cute/great pony is always on the table for us 🥰

Hony type that mum could ride will be considered! Middle of the road type ideal, MUST be safe outside, can sit for a week and go back to work type pony. Typical pony quirks are okay so long as not a bucker/bolter/etc.

Please pm with your options! Must be within our route area as we will have limited drive time. Serious buyer, would like to have something in place before show season.

If you have a horse within the same barn, in the $13-15k mark for a capable teen boy, nothing hot or quirky- will grab a look along the way for that as well. Must be able to do up to .90s, but doesn’t necessarily need to be proven.

01/25/2025

Congratulations to Keana, for breathing those little girl dreams into real life and bringing home your very first horse!! Welcome home beautiful Ella ❤️🥰

01/23/2025

One of the great, awkward but wonderful joys in life is looking back over the years at your riding and handling. I've learned to love the squirm - the discomfort at looking at past versions of yourself and saying - "what was I thinking?" or "why didn't anyone tell me I looked like that?"

And yet, at the time, it was the best version of you. I recall feeling proud then of what makes me gag a little bit now. And I'm certain I'll feel that way again in a year's time, or maybe less.

And the beauty of that is choosing daily to show up - imperfect as it is, with the same curiosity and eagerness to be there as ever, knowing you will fall short, and deciding to be proud anyway. Knowing some day it will not be soothing to your eye, and still deciding to appreciate the effort you have to give.

That's really what this learning stuff is all about - climbing a mountain that never ends, only winds up and around and down and back up - and pausing for brief moments to enjoy the sunshine of success - only to return to the same road. To put one foot after another daily, knowing the path gets you nowhere except deeper within your self, and to love and enjoy that at time arduous, at times awe inspiring, trek.

01/11/2025

Love this 🙌 we often use the water analogy and I really spend a lot of time even with the schoolhorses finding adequately balanced tack. Too many of the new dressage saddles encourage the anterior pelvic tilt and are so unpleasant to ride in.

01/10/2025

2025 update regarding boarding, training and lessons;

The following spaces are open for board for horses in a program at Shadowlands Ranch;

1 - gelding pen, netted bale, has space for 1 horse. TB/warmblood group
1- mares pen, netted bale, 1 horse.
1- hand fed mid size pony pen (13hh plus), 1 pony, perfect for something that needs weight management or is Cushings/IR/previously foundered.
1- hand fed small size pony pen
1- semi private option, for a middle pecking order gelding with another gelding.
1-possible private pen

Beginner lessons- booked 6-8 weeks, 16 for a discount. Starting Jan 18. Ages 5-14 yo.
•Mondays 5-6:15- 6 weeks Jan Feb, 8 weeks March April.
•Fridays 5-6:15- 6 weeks Jan Feb, 8 weeks March April.
•saturdays 11-12:15 or 12:15-1:30.
6 weeks Jan Feb, 7 weeks March April.
•Sundays 11:30-12:45
6 weeks Jan Feb, 7 weeks March April.

Recreational/Competitive lessons:
Hunter/Jumper lessons currently run Monday/Saturdays, will open up Wednesday nights come spring 2025.

Nervous Novice Intro to competitive programs include 1 dressage lesson, 1 jump lesson per week.

Lessons are offered 1-2 day per week in monthly packages, with a 2 week break in December this year.

Training:
Continued young horse development or c**t starting under guidance to appropriate parties is offered- this was a great success last year!

Mileage horses for training or sales. Limited c**t starting. Currently booking for February. Ponies under 12hh will remain with Hailey going forward while anything above will remain with me.

Come join the crew and see what we’re about! We offer something for everyone, recreational to competitive.

01/10/2025

I think my parents did a pretty good job raising me. I’ve always been hard working, paid close attention to detail, been empathetic and helpful.

Somewhere along the lines I misunderstood the assignment.

I was helpful, empathetic, and compassionate to a fault. I sacrificed myself - mentally, emotionally, physically and financially, bent and flexed to the point of cracking, solely to help others…others who didn’t appreciate me or my efforts. It was draining in every way. For YEARS.

Then when I realized I had a problem, it took me about 4 years to unpack, reorganize and figure out who the heck I was and what I wanted out of MY life.

You know, what you want out of YOUR life is important. It’s not just important, it’s imperative.

I’m here to tell you that I climbed that mountain of self doubt, never feeling like enough, feeling down and out. I dumped out my junk all over the floor, I learned a lot, tried some different things and I failed, I cried, I felt lost more times than I can count and I found what didn’t make me happy or feel fulfilled.

But now…now I’m on the other side of that mountain.

I’m changing my life, my career, my business and my future.

I’m not a tree. I’m not stuck. And neither are you.

You will figure it out.

You can change your life and live your joy.

Just don’t give up!

You’ve got this.

I believe in you.

🌻 Cara

📸 Scott Trees

01/09/2025

Nice night out with the big guys to expose them to cows and check out the new Cattlac Ranch! Nice place, great people and love watching the fantastic cow horses.

01/05/2025

These words of wisdom remind us that achieving greatness in horsemanship is not about complicated techniques or flashy movements. Rather, it's about mastering the fundamentals and executing them with precision, consistency, and dedication.

Masterful horsemanship is built on a foundation of simple, yet essential elements.

Trust and respect between horse and rider.
Clear and consistent communication.
Precise and subtle aids.
Softness, suppleness, and responsiveness.
A deep understanding of equine behavior and psychology.

When we focus on perfecting these simple things, we lay the groundwork for truly exceptional horsemanship. We develop a profound connection with our horses, built on mutual trust, respect, and understanding.

~ 24K

01/05/2025

2025 riding lesson schedule! For January- March. Standing times on weeknights, year round (10 months). Summer camp dates released!!

Monday
5 to 6:15 - Beginner with TA, 1 space open

615 jump - full
715 – jump full
8 PM jump - 2 open spaces. Boarders/lessees.

Tuesday – outdoor jump lessons will resume in May pending the weather if people would like to be off Saturdays.

Wednesday
4:45- full
530–2 open spaces
615 – 2 open spaces
7 PM – 2 open spaces
745 - full

Thursday
12:30-3 pm- open spaces.

Friday
5-6:15- beginnner assisted with TA -1 space open
615-(2 spaces) mixed teens
7 pm- (2 spaces) adults
7:45- 2 spaces- competitive/lessees
8:30- private- open

Saturdays
3-6 yo hour unmounted class with/Britt (6 spaces) - 10 am start. 6 weeks

11 to 12:15 beginner - 3 spaces
12:15 to 1:30- 3 spaces
1:30 jump- 2 spaces- lessees/owners
215 private - filled
3 pm private- filled

6 pm- (4 spaces)
7 pm private - open

Sunday
9 am adult- full
9:45 mixed- 2 spaces.
10:30- full (pending 2 open)
11:15- quick break
11:30- beginner assisted with ta- 1 space open
12:45- (3 spaces)
1:30- (private)

Leduc location- Tuesdays- 2 spaces!

01/02/2025

2025 schedule is now out for lessons, show team/leases and summer camps! Inquire within if you would like a copy of our services and pricing guide. We are excited to be back full tilt this year and looking forward to seeing new and familiar faces! Happy new years to everyone 🎉 Thank you for your support as we continue to change and grow 🥰 Training books are now open as well, will be taking a limited few until May. July/August/September will have 2 spaces open. **tstarting

12/30/2024

Gunn is still up for consideration to a new home and/or a phenomenal on site lessee- preference would be lease for sure 🤗 16.3hh TB gelding, prefers flatwork and has taken a real liking to western- first time on cattle this weekend and he sure had a blast. Big solid dude, likes a job. Inquiries welcome.

12/29/2024

12/28/2024

Love this, so much. This is where I’m at in my life the last few years. And my horses are so much better for it.

I don't let other people ride this old wolf very often...in fact it's a short list of folks who have thrown a leg over him until recently, but this year he sure has mellowed. He doesn't mind showing the odd person a good time. In fact, I think he kind of enjoys it, although I'm sure he'd deny that until the bitter end. There was even a nice young man drive out in a snow storm a few weeks ago to rope a few off one of my c**ts, who ended spinning some on old grey power here, and Hombre stepped right up and enjoyed showcasing his ability.

Trainers always talk about making horses. They discuss their programs and their tools, and the do's and don'ts of building horses. Sometimes trainers can start sounding pretty dang self important...like they are a one horseman crusade creating well mannered, model equine citizens everywhere they go.

Well, at this point in my own journey, I find that I've had more horses 'making' me, 'building' me over the years, than I've ever made. And I've rode a ton of horses.

This horse in particular.

As this friend in the picture pointed out, twenty some years ago when her and I first met, this horse and I probably wouldn't have partnered. Ever. He wouldn't have been able to get through to me. Poor old Hombre would have been, "Hey woman, shut up and listen!" and my teeth would have been bared instantly at the, "Hey woman," portion of the sentence. Like a married couple on the fast track to divorce, our horrendous egos would have made victims out of us both.

Live and learn, they say.

After a while, I think all trainers need to figure out that it really has been about their learning curve all along, not the horses. The horses have just been a consequence... the good ones, the great ones and the ones that we tend to forget about...the ruined ones, the ones in need of fixing once we've run out of knowledge.Those ones didn't fit our program, and we wouldn't shut up and listen.

The tool I've mastered in recent years, the one that has gained me the trust of warrior souls such as this grey horse called Hombre, is empathy.

I understand a strong horse's need to keep his pride intact, to hold the final say over his own safety. I don't need a broke horse to showcase my abilities or submit to my ego. I don't need him to make me look good, I know who I am. I've looked bad often enough, that looking good has no effect on me. I know what I can do with a horse, and my intentions are to get better.

What I'd rather do at this stage, is be Ginger to his Astaire. Follow his lead. Let him show me what he can do as schooling commences, instead of jumping in with my training skills and my all important program and shoving him around until he gives in and I get what I had in mind all along.

After all these years of training for a living, and thousands of horses, I've finally learned what I wish I'd known from the start; stop telling and start asking. In short, simply shut up and listen.

Have a good day folks. 😊