Infinity Horsemanship

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Infinity Horsemanship

Using a balanced approach, Stephanie helps humans develop a partnership with their horses. We owe it to our horses to seek a better understanding every day.

With horses, there is no limit to the amount of knowledge one can attain. When the language and leadership is effective, the possibilities are infinite! Training∞Lessons∞Workshops∞Clinics

10/15/2024

One of my biggest "icks" is hearing or reading the words - "scientifically proven".

I read posts daily about horse behavior or care that someone asserts is scientifically proven. Or that research proves. And such statements automatically raise my hackles and make me distrust the rest of what they have to say.

The assertion that anything is scientifically proven is an affront to science as a whole. Science by nature is ever-changing, ebbing and flowing with new observations, new methods of measurement, new ideas. And that is the beauty of it. Science at its core should be built on skepticism and the enduring desire to seek new evidence.

I've written many posts about staying curious and thinking critically about everything you read.

So this is my take away message today:
If you read "scientifically proven", proceed with extreme caution. And when someone references "research", question that research. Was it truly research? Or was it a series of anecdotes from a limited sample? Who paid for the study? What were the potential limitations of that study?

As someone with a degree in psychology, I get extra bothered by assertions of proof in relation to behavioral sciences. Nearly all of our understanding of human behavioral science is based on extrapolations and inferrences. The actual research on equine behavior is even more significantly limited. That doesn't mean there isn't good information about equine behavior out there, but we must retain the caveat of uncertainty.

Absolutely nothing about equine behavior, learning theory, emotions, motivators, or cognitive ability is proven. Our understanding is built by centuries of anecdotal experiences passed through countless lenses of individual teachers and students, with a sprinkling of extrapolation from limited scientific literature.

Stay safe out there, the misinformation is everywhere.

10/14/2024

In my years of teaching horsemanship, my most common students have been either children or women over 50. For either population, picking up hind feet is difficult to impossible when done the traditional way of holding the foot way out because you are then responsible for holding the weight of that horse for balance.

When done the way Zak demonstrates here, almost anyone can lift and hold a hind hoof.

Additionally, most horses don't actually have problems lifting/holding their feet up. Usually the horses with "problem behaviors" like refusing to lift feet or pulling feet away are responding to how they are having their humans are handling their feet.

I don't usually share others' work on my page, but Zak does a great job of explaining and demonstrating the how and why of lifting hind feet with tact and respect for the horse.

10/04/2024

Hi All,
It's been a minute.

In the last couple years, I've taken a break from teaching and training. Some lessons here and there, some consulting for a nonprofit, but mostly I've been spending time with my own horses and my family.

During my hiatus, I've spent a lot of time soul-searching and figuring out what my place is in the equine industry anymore.

Like my pre-baby jeans, many old roles and titles don't seem to fit like they used to.

On top of that, there are so many voices out there now. So many teachers. Many of whom are genuinely contributing to a positive path forward for horses.

This is a good thing. But it left me questioning if there is room, or need, for my voice anymore. So I held off.

But even as I stepped away, I couldn't stop the words flowing around in my head. And I can't silence the little "yes, but..." voice when reading colleagues posts. This isn't reading in criticism. It's just the consequence of everyone's knowledge being filtered through personal and unique experiences. None of us are inventing anything truly new in the horse world (not even if you give it a new name and add a ™). We're just rediscovering through new eyes.

So like Moana constantly being called back to the water, I'm constantly being called back to sharing and teaching with my unique voice. (Mom-life means sometimes inspirations come from Disney movies now...)

I'm still discovering ways of sharing that feel most authentic to me. I'm not great at working the algorithms of social media and chasing "likes" feels icky.

So I'm going to share what and when I feel inspired. I have had a unique path with horses, and through life, and I will continue to speak genuinely about what I've learned and how it has filtered through me. And if my voice resonates with you, I'm grateful for your audience. ♡

10/04/2024

Every horse is better off in the hands of a horseman... but none of us started as such.

We all began clumsy, with poor timing, and experimenting our way through developing relationships with horses. There's no way around the beginning stages of anything.

My wish for all humans (and horses) is for proper selection of "beginner horses". I've seen many horsemanship journeys ended before they began because the humans ended up with horses who were far outside of their skill level. And I've seen sensitive horses frustrated to violence because they were tasked with teaching beginner humans.

Of course all horses will rise and lower to the skill level of their dance partner, but some are simply more forgiving of the learning process than others by nature.

Our Mustang, Tashka, is so patient and kind. I'm so grateful to her for taking care of Alice while she learns to be more mindful and effective.

What was your first horse like?

10/02/2024

I listened to a podcast the other day from a big positive reinforcement colleague that inspired this… I want to be clear that I am not against positive reinforcement. I use it and find it highly valuable. But I want to address this because I’ve heard it in several arenas.

The statement was, “Positive reinforcement is great in riding disciplines because it makes it so there’s something in it for the horse. With R+, they too can enjoy the things that you enjoy.”

This idea to me is pretty appalling, to be honest. It implies that the only thing we have to offer the horse is food. If this is the case, then we need to seriously reassess our relationships with horses.

So I took this idea down the rabbit hole and realized that the whole question I endeavor to answer with my horsemanship teaching these days is:

“Can we engage with horses in a way that improves their lives as well as our own?”

So what can we give horses that would improve their lives?

1. Species-Appropriate Habitat and Care
We can provide a living environment that supports the horse’s natural needs and we can provide health care that is even better than what nature can provide.

2. Understand and Respect the Natural Predisposition of the Horse
Many “training” issues arise from people simply not understanding how nature has designed a horse to behave. When we respect these predispositions, we can better shape our interactions with them.

3. Help them find Mental and Emotional Balance (in a human world)
One of the biggest issues I’ve encountered as a trainer (especially in the Mustang world), has been to slow or delay training to the detriment of the horse. Horses who live in a constant state of fear and arousal are at a disadvantage living in our world. This can lead to physical health consequences such as ulcers, higher predispositions to illness, and greater likelihood of injury.

4. Help them find Physical Balance and Fitness
Again, nature does not always know best when it comes to posture and physicality. Horses in the wild develop muscularly to prevent injury from predators. Wild horses typically display overdeveloped muscles on the underside of their neck (brachiocephalicus) that provides greater protection from teeth and claws… but is at the expense of longevity of spine health, etc. Just as a personal trainer at the gym can teach us how to lift in a way that reduces injury, we can help our horses develop healthy musculature that supports longevity.

5. Play, Engagement, and Connection
For me, at the root of every interaction with my horses – whether I’m using R+ or R- - is play, engagement, and connection. Horses are social beings. They *need* social connections to survive. They seek out play and engagement. If we can provide these things, food becomes a secondary motivator. Because for horses, in the hierarchy of needs, before their need for food is their need for safety and social connection.

To me, horses have given humans so much throughout history. Our civilizations were literally built on horseback.

So today I ask myself what can we give our horses to improve their lives? There is so much more than food rewards.

09/27/2024

I believe that the way we nurture our relationships with horses will resemble the way we nurture our relationships with people. I've been thinking about this a lot lately as I reflect on the tragic passing of a friend. Brent Winston was a horseman to his core. But more so, he was an incredibly special person who positively impacted every human he crossed paths with.

Brent dedicated his life to the forgotten horses. I met him years ago in a training challenge for rescue horses when I was an aspiring horsewoman trying to prove myself to the world (and maybe myself). Brent wasn't there to prove anything... he was just there to represent the value and potential of the rescue horse. Brent had every right to judge me, think little of me, and laugh at the concept of us sharing the same arena. But he didn't. Brent had a way of seeing people and inspiring without judgment or making anyone feel less-than. Just like the rescue horses, he saw the good within, and helped steer us all in the right direction.

I will mourn the time that I didn't spend with Brent. The time that I took for granted as I intended to reach out to visit "next week". But I will carry the lessons I've learned from him throughout my life.

See individuals for the positive potential within, not the unfortunate reinforced behaviors they may be displaying at the moment.

Guide with kindness, respect, and honesty (even if the truth can be a little difficult at times).

Stay humble. Even if you're the most skilled hand in the pasture (as Brent usually was), there's always something to learn if you stay open to it.

And love and appreciate the time spent here, because there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

Thank you Brent for the light you spread. Now it's up to us Earthly bodies to carry that light to those around us.

08/25/2024

To me, horsemanship is both a science and an art form. When we treat it as one more than the other, we miss something essential.

I am a scientist by nature. I’m analytical and love processes and formulae. Give me a recipe, and I will recreate the dish. But show me a pantry full of ingredients, and I can’t mentally assemble them into a meal.

When I got my first horse, I absolutely floundered. It all seemed so abstract. I didn’t know the rules and I had no system to follow. So when I was introduced to a systematic horsemanship process with set exercises to practice, it made sense to me.

The task was no longer the arbitrary: “Go to the barn and get your horse to love you.” Instead, it became: “Go to the barn and practice these 10 exercises, seeking measurable improvement each day.” Simple.

Over time and through practice, I felt like a real horseman. I could get my horse to back up, go forward, yield front and hind, move sideways, lunge in circles, stand still, disregard scary stimuli— all with rather subtle cueing. I could check my progress against a list and assign myself value based on what I could and could not yet get my horse to do.

Enter the Mustangs…

Once I began working with untouched Mustangs, things changed. I could practice my exercises and check the boxes, but there was always something missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. Their heart wasn’t in it. There was always a bit of a disconnect between our goals.

It took years of learning to diverge from my previously comforting system before I could find the art in gentling Mustangs. There is so much in those early conversations that need flexibility, synchronicity, and flow that is impossible to systematize. There is an energetic component that can feel so subtle for us humans but makes or breaks an authentic interaction for a sensitive Mustang.

My experiences with the wild ones unlocked the artistic side of horsemanship that I was so desperately lacking.

Now I find the art weaving itself into everything I do with horses. Everything becomes a dance. And with dance, you must learn the steps, but you also must learn to feel the rhythm of the music and flow with your partner. It needs both science and art.

Today I find many horsemanship paths that excel at one or the other. Artistic, free-form interactions that leave little room for goals or direction, and highly systematized processes complete with a dozen scientific acronyms all explaining exactly what you’re doing. Both have their place. Both will appeal to apprentices in need. But I find the rare individual who has left room for both the science and the art to be truly beautiful.

08/19/2024

I live in a semi-arid prairie, receiving an average 15” of rainfall annually. Pastures don’t grow easily here. So I’ve grown to love weeds. I love when the brown/grey landscape turns green and I’m grateful for the hardy knapweed, spurge, and thistle that give the illusion of a lush and fruitful land.

But of course, I know that weeds don’t make for a healthy pasture. They rob nutrients and water from native, nutrient-rich grasses. They spread and choke out shallower root systems. Some are even toxic to those who eat them. So while the weeds can appear vibrant and attractive, the land- and the grazers that depend on it - are left unfulfilled and in danger.

Sometimes I feel like our horsemanship efforts can be as delusional as my appreciation for weeds. We admire techniques and results that look good on the surface. We applaud performances that seem genuine because of the end result. But when we take a closer look, what we thought was lush, healthy, green pasture turns out to be just weeds.

We can pretend that an anxious horse is connected to us because they are compliant… but below the surface that anxiety is choking out the possibility for a truly healthy and happy partnership. When we allow the weeds of our horsemanship to go unchecked, those issues eventually spread little bits of toxicity throughout the relationship.

It's not always easy, or quick, to reclaim weedy pastures. But when we start taking a closer look and recognizing that not all that is green is healthy, we can start to make changes for the better.

Can we take an honest look at our horsemanship and begin to recognize the grass from the weeds? Then what if we just pulled a couple weeds every time we interacted with our horse? It’s exciting to imagine what could be with a little honest introspection and small steps for positive change.

07/24/2023

In training, 90% of the job is teaching the right lessons at the right time. (Fake statistic warning.)

But in all seriousness, there is a right time to present certain lessons that have a higher chance of success. If we can recognize these moments and time our questions accordingly, training will seem so much easier.

If you fetch your horse out of the pasture and he is feeling anxious and full of energy, it’s not the best time to teach him how to stand quietly tied. I’m not saying you can’t do it… but your horse may struggle around, pawing and calling for a long time before they settle down.

So I’ll share the timing secret that will make your life (and your horse’s life) easier.

Practice low energy behaviors at the end of a session and high energy behaviors at the beginning.

Teach your horse to stand quietly for hoof care at the end of a ride when they would prefer to stand still anyways.

Don’t wait to school canter departures until the end of an hour-long ride if your horse already struggles to pick up their energy.

Want to teach your horse to lay down? Hose them off and take them to a sandy spot on a sunny day.

Consider how you can “work smarter, not harder” and set your horse up for tasks that they can more easily find success with!

07/21/2023

There’s a handful of programs popping up recommending horse owners take over their own hoof care. We are most familiar with our horses, so aren’t we the best people to trim their feet?

I don’t trim my own horses’ feet and here’s why…

I have 7 horses. If I were to trim them myself every 4 weeks, I would gain the experience of 28 hooves per month. That’s more than most casual horse owners… but less than my actual farrier will see in one day. With such little and infrequent practice, I’ll never approach the level of skill that my farrier has.

As a trainer who values understanding the horse as a whole system, I have a wide breadth of knowledge including equine health, lameness, pain signals, body work, physiology, proprioception, energy work, tack fit, and even farriery. But my DEPTH of knowledge is in understanding and modifying behavior. I can recognize how limited my knowledge of vet/farrier work/etc. is when compared to the masters who dedicate their lives to those subsections.

Farriery is more than just making a hoof match the picture in the textbook. An excellent farrier must understand the biomechanics of the horse and how subtle differences in the hoof can influence the entire system. An excellent farrier understands how to accommodate individual differences while maintaining universal principles of hoof health. And an excellent farrier commits to continued education and has evolved their methods over time as new data combines with trial-and-error across thousands of hooves.

I have a huge respect for the mastery of one’s field and I appreciate my farrier for their expertise. This is the main reason I don’t trim my own horses.

Now for a few concessions…

I believe strongly in learning about the whole horse so we can be their advocates. Not all farriers are excellent, so having a cursory understanding of how a foot should look and function allows you to think critically about the work your farrier is doing. Years ago, I completed an 8-week farrier course for this reason.

I am comfortable trimming a horse when needed, and often do “training trims” on Mustangs or other young horses in my care to help ease their transition to their first real trim with a stranger.

I am an active participant in every farrier appointment. I watch, ask questions, and learn.

I am lucky to have an excellent farrier in my area who I’ve worked with for years and who knows my horses well. I understand not everyone has the benefit of access.

I have the utmost respect for individuals who do choose to learn how to trim their own and take that responsibility seriously. I simply urge folks to consider the source of their information carefully and as always, think critically in their journey!

(Thank you to Zak Nix for providing excellent farrier care to my horses!)

07/21/2023

Hi All,

It's been a while. And I'm not going to apologize because I'm trying to avoid the shame-spiral associated with excessive and unnecessary apologies. (Baby steps... right?)

I have struggled to post much since Alice was born for a number of reasons...
- I'm trying to find space to write in a constantly changing daily schedule.
- My brain doesn't seem to make words do good flowy stuff anymore.
- I'm self-conscious about the quality of my pictures/videos.
- I'm scared of judgment I may receive about how my baby exists around horses.
- I feel the need to curate high-quality posts with high-quality images and there's no room in that for fumbling words, or unedited photos, or grainy videos.

The list goes on...

But I've recognized something else this week... I've taken notice of the qualities of other trainers/educators that I admire.

What I admire in my favorite people to follow:
- They post about their vulnerabilities and struggles.
- They post photos from real life and not from well-staged photo shoots.
- They are relatable and real as they share aspects of their lives outside of the arena.
- They aren't afraid to revise old work and admit that what they said last year might be different than what they practice this year.

So why is it that I find these qualities so attractive in others, but I don't allow myself the same freedoms?

The answer to that lies somewhere buried between childhood upbringing and current ego, I'm sure.

But I'm going to give myself the same advice that I give my students in horsemanship...

Don't let the fear of making mistakes and being imperfect drive you to inaction. Try something, even if it's wrong. Making mistakes and being clumsy is part of the learning process. But doing nothing will never get you closer to your goals.

So I'm going to try and be a bit more casual here. Offering more of my story, my experiences, and my lessons even if they're not always squeaky clean. If you're here for it, I'm grateful to you! Maybe some of the lessons I coach myself through will resonate with your journey. If my style change is not your cup of tea, I'm still grateful for the time you've spent in my audience.

Cheers all, thanks for allowing me an outlet to channel all the thoughts floating around my head. And here's a picture of Alice on the floor of my tack room with a sweat scraper in her mouth - a very honest representation of what my new life is like. ♡

05/27/2023

Comparisons

Social Media is a tricky place. We're piped information from friends, colleagues, competitors and strangers about how beautiful their lives and businesses are. And though we logged on in search of connection and inspiration, we find ourselves in the inevitable comparison-spiral that leaves us feeling more alone than ever.

I'm struggling with this more than ever. A fair number of fellow trainers/educators had babies within a few months of me, and I can't help but watch as they gracefully resume their lives with a work/family balance that I'm struggling to find in my own life.

So naturally, I start justifying away their success to feel better about myself. They probably have more help. They probably are recycling content to stay active. It's their second kid, so they probably have it figured out this time around. They probably got blessed with a baby who sleeps well. They're probably struggling as badly as me but they only post the good stuff.

But what if none of this is true? What if they really are just better at this than me? Maybe they really do have the energy to wake up an hour earlier to fit in a workout. Maybe they don't need an ideal environment to write content. Maybe they are more disciplined in their time management and spend less time doomscrolling and comparing themselves to others.

Now this is when people usually chime in trying to be helpful, offering a pat on the back and reassurance of a job well done. But I'm going to offer a different kind of reassurance...

Who the heck told us that we had to be the best at everything all the time? Why are we so conditioned to believe that everything is a competition? Maybe my fellow horse training mommas ARE doing better than me. Maybe that person IS a better rider than you.

Life is not a competition. Personal growth is not a competition. Our horsemanship journeys are not competitions. If you want to do better or be better, do it for yourself. Get comfortable with feeling like there's someone out there doing better than you... it's probably true. You're probably doing better than loads of people, too. Be humble in that knowledge.

Life is hard. Moreso when we measure ourselves against someone else's yardstick. And if you have comparison-addiction like me, scroll back on your own newsfeed. See how today-you compares to past-you. Because that is the only comparison that matters on this journey. ♡

📷 credit Michael Edwards

04/13/2023

We live in the Age of Information… where we can find anything we want to know with just a few clicks or a scroll. Unfortunately, we can also find plenty of MISinformation. Anything we want to be true CAN be true if we follow the right authors. And often the voices that shout the loudest are the most uninformed. This statement isn’t meant to be cynical… it’s based in truth as represented by the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect dictates that we fail to accurately estimate our own competence. When we lack skills or knowledge, we overestimate our competence because we don’t know enough to recognize our mistakes or see the vastness of the subject in the shadows. By contrast, those with great skills and knowledge tend to underestimate their abilities.

In any skill, those who are the most ignorant (the bottom 25%), tend to overestimate their knowledge the most and are often quick to share their “expertise”. Those in the upper 25% of competency may be hesitant to take on a mentorship role.

So how do we avoid falling prey to the inability to see our true skill level? Simply being aware that this Effect exists is a good start! When we know that it’s a natural phenomenon, we can check in with ourselves along our journey. Additionally, making ourselves open to listen, learn, and accept constructive feedback will help keep us honest. Take lessons, attend clinics, find mentorship that you trust.

In the horse industry, we have another unique way to keep us honest with ourselves – our horses. There’s an old saying – “Every time I think I know what I’m doing, a horse comes along to show me otherwise.” Listen to your horse and try to really understand the feedback they’re giving you.

(P.S. I recognize the irony of my criticizing the accuracy of information on the internet, while simultaneously sharing information on the internet. Which is why I’m constantly encouraging people to think critically. Even about the information I share. I am limited to the filter of my own experiences.)

04/08/2023

What The Oversimplification of Behaviorism is Missing...

At this point, I'm sure most of us have been exposed to the verbiage of behaviorism. Positive Reinforcement (R+) is the addition of an appetitive (something the learner wants) to increase the chances of the behavior happening again. Negative Reinforcement (R-) is the removal of an aversive (something the learner doesn't want) to increase the chances of the behavior happening again.

Both types of reinforcement are effective ways to shape behavior. I’m not here to argue which is better.

As Conditioning Theory becomes more popular in the horse training world, people tend to oversimplify it into two camps: R+ is clicker training, and R- is "natural horsemanship". But truthfully, it's more complicated in practice. During a dynamic conversation with our horses, the lines between R+ and R- are constantly blurring and blending.

First, I want to discuss what exactly an "appetitive" is. People tend to think that "R+" and "food rewards" are synonymous. But many things can qualify as appetitive stimuli. It literally means "something the learner desires". So, to use R+ effectively, we must understand what our learner desires. In horses, these desires can evolve over time. For example, I work with a lot of untouched Mustangs who do not find physical contact (petting) to be appetitive. Also, food rewards in the early stages are not particularly appetitive for these horses. What they truly desire is comfort, safety, peace, and connection. My domestic horses who have spent their lives around humans find a pet or a scratch to be very rewarding and they love a food reward. But they also desire comfort, safety, peace, and connection. Understanding what is truly rewarding to your individual horse and knowing how to give it to them are crucial first steps to being able to reinforce (train) behavior.

Now to discuss R- and aversives. People have simplified "natural horsemanship" or really anything outside of clicker training to be negative reinforcement training. "Pressure and release" may fall into the category of R-... if the horse sees the pressure as an aversive. Just as the "negative" of negative reinforcement doesn't mean "bad", "pressure" also isn't inherently bad. Holding hands with a loved one is pressure. Receiving a massage is pressure. Struggling to think of the crossword answer is pressure. Not all pressure is aversive. So just like with R+, we must understand what is aversive to our horses if we want to use R-, and more importantly, we need to understand how to remove that aversive. Things like tapping, high physical effort, and physical pressure on the reins can be aversive or appetitive depending on how we use them. Horses universally dislike feeling alone, unsafe, and uncomfortable. Can we be a source of connection, safety, and comfort for our horses? And if we can, are we not then offering R+?

Here's where the lines start to blur as we start actually carrying out dynamic conversations with our horses.

If you were to ask me what type of reinforcement I try to use primarily, I'd say positive...despite an apparent lack of clicker/treat pouch and the inclusion of tools such as lead ropes, whips, and bridles.

(Disclaimer: I'm not saying I never use treats, or I always use bits. I love liberty and bridleless riding too and find food rewards to be a powerful tool.)

When I pick up my tools, my intent is not to create a pressure that my horse doesn't like, it is to offer guidance to the next release. If my reins are aversive to my horse, I've missed the point somewhere along the line. It's like dancing with a partner. A good partner does not yank you around to get you to follow, they guide you with pressure, rhythm, and energy.

Whenever I'm interacting with horses, I strive to create an energy congruent with the situation at hand. Horses seek peaceful energy. When it seems like I'm not offering an obvious reinforcement, I'm actually offering what I call a “bubble of peace”. As I ask for movement, that energy shifts away from stillness and becomes more directed. I like to imagine I have laser beams coming from my eyes, and with that intensity of gaze, a horse can understand where I'm directing the energy. When they find the answer, I turn off the laser beams and reward the horse by offering to share my bubble of peace.

This energy modulation is something that I believe all great horsemen use, whether they know it or not. I’ve observed it in stern cowboys and clicker trainers alike. I believe it’s also what makes the difference between when the trainer or the client asks the horse to do something. A clever trainer can teach the client’s hands, body, and voice to nearly mirror theirs. But when the horse seems light and forward to the trainer and struggles to trot for the client, usually what’s missing is the energy modulation.

This kind of thing can seem a bit "woo-woo", but I think we can all relate to feeling the energy change (for better or worse) when certain people enter the room. Some people seem to carry an infectious positivity and it just feels good to be around them. Others seem to carry their own little rain cloud.

Owning our own energy and using it as a tool for communication is something we are all inherently capable of, but it may take time and practice. In the beginning, try allowing your body to help modulate your internal energy. Literally smile and breathe when you want to portray a peaceful energy. Adopt a stern face and imagine those laser beams when you're asking for a yield. Practice self-scans as a way to build awareness of your own body, mind, and energy.

If we want to be effective teachers, we first must understand what motivates our students and how we can give that to them. Then we need to unbox ourselves from different camps and allow the conversations to be dynamic, flowing, and engaging.

**Pictured is a great example of this from a Mustang Momma. Picture 1: Mom (Juno) and young foal (Zeus) were resting when the older foal (Artemis) comes in looking to play. Picture 2: Juno creates a directed energy towards Artemis, letting her know that now is not the time for play resulting in the baby clacking in a way to say "got it! I'll behave!" Picture 3: Artemis adopts a calm energy and Juno rewards her with a bubble of peace.

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Videos

Alice leading Tashka

Every horse is better off in the hands of a horseman... but none of us started as such. We all began clumsy, with poor timing, and experimenting our way through developing relationships with horses. There's no way around the beginning stages of anything. My wish for all humans (and horses) is for proper selection of "beginner horses". I've seen many horsemanship journeys ended before they began because the humans ended up with horses who were far outside of their skill level. And I've seen sensitive horses frustrated to violence because they were tasked with teaching beginner humans. Of course all horses will rise and lower to the skill level of their dance partner, but some are simply more forgiving of the learning process than others by nature. Our Mustang, Tashka, is so patient and kind. I'm so grateful to her for taking care of Alice while she learns to be more mindful and effective. What was your first horse like?

Ponies get a bad rap. They’re often labeled as stubborn, naughty, or worse, leading to an unfair reputation. But the truth is, ponies are simply horses like any other breed, deserving of understanding and respect. Where does this come from? I find the common thread among “naughty ponies” is how they are handled and what is expected of them. Ponies are often relegated to being ridden by children who are not yet able to manage full-sized horses. And apart from a fraction of handy kids, most struggle with poor timing, ineffective use of aids, and are coached to “get after” their ponies. Ponies - like other horses - desire respect and cognizant handling. When they are instead treated with abruptness and inconsistency, it sours them on the whole interaction. So they start voicing their discontent through nipping, bucking, shutting down, etc. And thus are labeled as naughty. I’ve found that ponies who are treated with respect, compassion, and clarity don’t develop the negative behaviors of the “naughty lesson pony”. How do we get to the solution? I believe it starts with how we educate young riders. We must teach kids that horses—regardless of size—are not mere tools for entertainment but sentient beings deserving of care and respect. Kids should be taught to ask “why” their horse isn’t responding before they’re told to escalate pressure. Teaching them to recognize and respond to a pony’s emotions can foster a deeper connection between pony and child. Just as we instruct children to treat other people with kindness and respect, we must instill similar values in their relationships with animals. The more I observe my daughter’s interactions with the horses, the clearer it becomes that children often possess an innate sensitivity toward other beings. They naturally show respect and care—qualities that adults sometimes forget. It’s crucial that we don’t allow the harshness of our own experiences and training to influ

My property is absolutely packed with sunflowers this year...which is great luck, because sunflowers are my favorite! I thought I'd share some lessons inspired by sunflowers. 1. Find your light. Sunflowers grow towards the sun and rotate to face the sun throughout each day. Find what helps you grow and pursue it diligently. 2. Find Balance. The way that sunflowers "turn towards the light" is through the stem elongating one side at a time. Don't try to grow every aspect of yourself all at one. Make measurable progress in one area, then balance it out by developing other areas. 3. There's more to you than what's on the surface. Within each single sunflower head are thousands of tiny blooms called florets. 4. Attract a community of support. Sunflower attract about 5x as many pollinators as other wildflower species which is critical for reproduction.

Nita, my Sand Wash Basin Mustang, is excited to announce that she has a new book coming out in ONE WEEK! Authored by myself, illustrated by the incredibly talented Xilona Art & Illustration, and inspired by Nita's true story... I can't wait to share this project with you all. Stay tuned for more information about "Finding Freedom - The True Story of a Wild Mustang and Her Girl" in the coming week!