Ledge End Acres

Ledge End Acres We specialize in raising and starting Morgans and Andalusians using natural horsemanship techniques. Sales and/or lease options available! Contact for details.

Carol Hamel giving us all a demo at our Hackamore Clinic on Saturday.  Learning SO MUCH!
08/20/2024

Carol Hamel giving us all a demo at our Hackamore Clinic on Saturday. Learning SO MUCH!

Llero is turning into the most beautiful ride under the tutelage of Cardinal Ranch!  So proud of him!
07/15/2024

Llero is turning into the most beautiful ride under the tutelage of Cardinal Ranch! So proud of him!

Look at my boy Llero!!! Under saddle by Day 5!  He's already sold, in case anyone is wondering....đŸ€©
04/28/2024

Look at my boy Llero!!! Under saddle by Day 5! He's already sold, in case anyone is wondering....đŸ€©

How often have I felt inadequate on a green horse?  This is a great read!
02/28/2024

How often have I felt inadequate on a green horse? This is a great read!

Going out in public with a green ‘project’ horse is a test in humility and self-control. It is so easy to feel sheepish, especially when one is outnumbered by proven horses and their riders. We begin to spiral down into the murky pool of doubt, if we’re not mentally prepared to deal with it.

There can be a lot of ‘less than’ feelings, when you show up on the truly green horse. The horse you loaded at home can (and probably will) be very different to the one you unload in public.

Long ago, I learned that every time we start a horse from scratch, every single step of our day out is steeped in horse training. Not in reminders, not in fine tuning. No, I’m talking foundational building blocks, hugely unwieldy stuff that doesn’t just fall into place.

It bears changing our viewpoints, just a bit.

From unloading a horse who is in a hurry and taking the time to change that, to entering a spooky space, to not being all that well socialized with other horses. Maybe that green horse is going to get very chargey, a real handful, or maybe he is feeling threatened by strangers coming too close behind and now, he’s suddenly wanting to kick.

From bridling a horse who is distracted and staying with that, until he is focused and accepting
 to working quietly with others zooming around, all on their own agendas. Finding and keeping your youngster's mind, so they’re not so inclined to buck.

“Oh, you should do better groundwork!” Well-meaning people will say, as though the thought has never occurred to you.

Starting young horses means being able to seemingly ignore the pressures of those around you
 and of the clock, all the while being absolutely aware of those around you
 and of the clock.

Every single thing we do with the green horse, the very same things we’ll take for granted on the quiet goer, is a chance to train, or re-train. Seeing as we all love a confident and skilled horse, we should be on board with this notion. We shouldn’t be so quick to point fingers at horses who are visibly struggling.

If this is you on the trustworthy, well-schooled horse, I can only urge you to feel grateful rather than inconvenienced, while you watch my horse try and try, again.

If this is you on the young learner, I can only urge you to keep your eyes on the destination. You're doing good work.

I’m often fielding questions from people as to why my horses aren’t good at standing tied in a row of strange horses at the public arena. Or of why they might struggle at the mounting block, or while opening gates, or picking up the canter in a relaxed posture, or stopping and backing well, or
 even just walking past a jacket left hanging over the arena rail.

I can only answer that they're not good yet.

One of my young horses absolutely lost his mind over the sight of another horse wearing a cooler, a few weeks back. He completely checked out of Dodge! Such a seemingly small thing derailed him and much of what I thought he knew for sure.

Horses must to go through all these stages, learning all these seemingly little things, before they can become the abiding partners we can rely upon. Because they do not know these things naturally, they are not hopeless cases. They are not ‘bad-minded’, as I was told by an observer, one memorably hard day.

Learning isn’t always pretty. Horse or human, there will be some struggle involved.

Horses are not born knowing all the things we expect. We shouldn’t be surprised, or dismayed, or embarrassed, by having to teach them.

Here, we remember Chickadee in the early days. With time and love and experience, she went on to become a phenomenal little horse.

Photo: Mike McLean.

Had a sweet ride on SMF Jubiloso recently.  Such a BIG stride. 😅
10/22/2023

Had a sweet ride on SMF Jubiloso recently. Such a BIG stride. 😅

Bella and I were at a Cowboy Dressage Clinic in Falkland for 2 days this week.  Met so many lovely people, and had a gre...
05/21/2023

Bella and I were at a Cowboy Dressage Clinic in Falkland for 2 days this week. Met so many lovely people, and had a great hostess! Thank you to clinician Kim Repp Moats! I was very proud of Bella, as she tried really hard to do quite a few maneuvers she has never done before.

01/09/2023

Any folks who who have Andalusians requiring Revision: I have made application to USPRE to host a 2nd site for revision in Salmon Arm, BC. Could interested parties please comment or PM so that I can get an idea of how many horses we might attract? Salmon Arm is in a very central location right on HWY 1.
Thank you.

09/05/2022

My boy is coming along nicely. So fantastic to see him attain his potential!

Excellent read....
09/02/2022

Excellent read....

08/28/2022

Today a friend of mine posted this...Morgans make the best partners! đŸ€ 

We have a new baby at Ledge End Acres...introducing Andalusian filly Cariña...we have yet to determine whether she will ...
08/19/2022

We have a new baby at Ledge End Acres...introducing Andalusian filly Cariña...we have yet to determine whether she will be bay or grey, but we have 4 white socks and a white blaze! Born at 5:30 (ish) am, August 18th.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Gunner! You have grown to be a pretty boy!
08/16/2022

Happy 3rd Birthday, Gunner! You have grown to be a pretty boy!

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5871 10th Avenue , NW
Salmon Arm, BC
V1E3B1

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