Off The Rez Horsemanship

08/23/2025

As King’s trainer, my first responsibility is always to him. My job is to set him up for success, and right now, that means stepping back from the Trainers Challenge.

This was not an easy decision. I’ve put my heart into this journey, and of course I wanted to step into that arena with him. But forcing King before he’s ready would undo the trust we’ve built. I won’t risk that.

I may feel like I’ve let myself, my family, and my friends down, but in truth, the best way to honor the work we’ve done together is to protect it. King has given me his trust, and I owe it to him not to break that bond.

So tomorrow, we’ll be watching from the sidelines—but still moving forward, in our own time, in the right way for him.

08/19/2025

08/14/2025

" You can't feed your ego and your soul"

08/08/2025

The Journey.

King was one of the most defensive horses I have ever worked with, from stepping into the round pen using two flags when he would come at me to him nickering every time he sees me.

These past 100 days haven't
been anything I pictured it would be. It's not so much what I was able to teach him it was what King was able to teach me.

Even though im not anywhere near where I want to be training wise I am proud to say i never let ego get in the way; King always came first. Respect is earned, one cannot demand respect. It is earned by listening to him and respecting his boundaries.
He can pin his ears and i will respect his boundries but he cannot come into my space with pinned ears.
Without respect there can never be trust.
It is my job to set him up to succeed at what ever we do. He didn't get tight or broc when I saddled him up for the first time or when i had my first rides on him.
My 3rd ride in I felt a slight hesitation it wasn't that he wasn't ready.
I noticed his asymmetry and that his shoulder was getting pinched by the saddle. I didn't realize that there is probably a 1-1/2 " difference as he shows no sign of lameness and is sound.
Unfortunately buying a saddle wasn't in my budget and riding ba****ck is out of the question with my neck and shoulders feeling the way they do I am still waiting on test results. I am walking away with one of the greatest lessons; that it is ok to have boundries its okay to say No; and when a horse does say no one needs to ask oneself why is he saying no.

06/20/2025

Connection before Horsemanship.

Still not feeling great with Neck and shoulder pain and dealing with headaches.
This is definitely throwing a curve ball with my training schedule with king.
He allows me to throw on saddle blankets, chaps, tarps, But am unable to throw on a saddle with my neck/ shoulder being the way it is.

We have gone out on many walks allowing him to graze along the way this is training right?
He trusts me to walk in the bush far away from all the other horses.

Even though i am unable to do the things I normally would do It is teaching me patience, adaptation and is allowing me to enjoy all the little things such as living in the moment.
I am beyond grateful for the journey he is taking me on.

I love the way he waits at the gate for me, the way he dives into the halter or just hangs with me after I take his halter off. I love that he nickers at me as I walk past his pen or neighs when he hears my truck pull up. To have that connection with him means alot.
1. Connection
2. Mutual Respect
3 Trust
4. Partnership.

06/13/2025

Update on king
We are a little bit behind on our training schedual due to my kids moving out of province, healing from injuries Just waiting for the Green Light from the doc.
I was having neck issues and that's one thing I won't mess with as I have had a c6/c7 fracture scare in 2023.

05/20/2025

Just one of those days...
Whole body aches and am fighting with some sort of bug.

Working with Jake took everything out of me mentally and physically.

King had a Red Light therapy session which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Hopefully we can get two sessions in tomorrow.

Jake

05/18/2025

Couldn't be happier that i am getting King for the Trainers challenge.
Building a connection before horsemanship. Looking forward to see what kind of journey he will take me on.

05/11/2025

"Oh my King" how you have reached my soul.
People have let you down by not reading your sighns of discomfort.
The first thing I said when I got here was that you could be dangerous if they don't listen to you. You did what you had to do in order for us to listen it was 100% human error. You are here to teach us to pay attention to the subtle sighns.

The Road to trust is a long one. Thank you for teaching me that i am capable of so much more than I believe i could. For letting down your gaurd and showing me your soft side.

I'm no trainer
I'm nothing special.
I merely listen.
I see you,
I feel you,
I hear you,
I respect you.
I would never lie to you.
I am a student of you and everyday you teach me something new.
May I touch you?
For It is a privilege and not a right.
OTR

04/24/2025

Today's question of the day,
"may I?:

This once magnificent wild stallion is known to bite not because he is bad merely because the small sighns were missed of him being uncomfortable. He appreciates a good neck scratch but I also I respect his No go zones.

Curiosity builds confidence.

Music gets me out of my head and through music we learn to connect.
Usually listen to music that feeds the soul such as classical, Celtic and guitar.

Never quit learning !!

04/19/2025

https://youtu.be/F5gNr2TPOpI?si=Zqs8OSLBwbvdmSBJ

The connection you’re longing for with your horse might not come from doing more—but from doing less. In this episode, Argentinian horseman Cristóbal Scarpat...

04/16/2025

Indian spam today.

One of the sweetest/honest Wild horse ever!!
A friend once told me " Ramona you bring out the best In each horse"
I allow them to be themselves, draw out their personality. I don't want them ever to withdraw and shut down; they already have lost their freedom. I am here to help them to transition to a domestic life and give them the best start i possibly can.