Majestic Equestrians

02/11/2024

Baby Ace walking through the barn with Chelsea Kurtz and all the big kids. ❤️❤️❤️
Wendy Morgan
Alex Blanton

01/21/2024

Chevi and Ace meet. Chevi is so kind. Ace is so sweet. ❤️

01/03/2024

Exactly 🙌

A controversial topic, sure to unleash all sorts of opinions, is the difference between reward based training and pressure and release based training.

And whether it is possible, perhaps desirable, to use some sort of combination of both approaches.

So it is 1952 and I am 11, sitting on Saturday afternoon at the Garden Theater in Greenfield, Massachusetts, watching a Western. The outlaws are being chased by the posse. “Hold up, “yells the sheriff. Every cowboy leans back and takes a reef on the reins. Every horse’s head shoots up, mouths wide open from the pressure. And no one gave it much thought, not 60 years ago, because that was simply how it was done.

Fast forward to 2023. I posted a photo of one of the world’s most accomplished and most quietly classical riders asking her horse to stretch, and out came the attackers. “There is a wrinkle in the horse’s side from her leg pressure.” “ The horse is behind the vertical.” Yada, yada, yada, a litany of complaints from the peanut gallery.

So I would ask this simple question---“My horse is galloping along out in the open, and I want him to slow down. Do I throw him a peppermint? So that is one ridiculous scenario, But tearing his head off with some bit designed to stop a charging bull rhino would be equally bad horsemanship.

Isn’t the truth balanced somewhere between using sheer force and using reward? When my kids were little, I took them to King Brother’s Circus in Hanover, NH, and there was a guy there who was the handler of the elephants. Someone asked him about how he trained, and he said, “It depends on the animal. I use pressure and release with big cats, bears, most animals, but with dogs and seals, when they do it right I flip them a biscuit or a fish.”

And not only are there different schools of belief about training, there are huge degrees of pressure, from the old movie cowboy method to the soft and gentle repetition of walk, halt, walk, halt teaching a young horse to yield to mild pressure until the horse learns to associate what these mild pressures are requesting.

But later, if that young horse, now older, is out fox hunting in a group, and its blood is up, using, say, a Tom Thumb Pelham might be the difference between getting tanked off with and having control.

So what I think is pretty simple, and I may be convinced otherwise if I see a better way---Try as much as possible to create a conditioned response using gentle repetition and staying below the horse’s anxiety threshold in basic schooling, but when the horse gets strong with excitement and starts to take over, do what it takes to be safe.

The real riders, the ones who are more than theoretical experts sitting safely somewhere NOT on a galloping horse, will know that there is theory and there is reality. And they will be as soft as possible most of the time they train, but they will also not become passive victims when the horse starts to get too aggressive.

11/30/2023

This is so cool! Way before my time but you can absolutely see this scene was taken here at Wolfe Canyon Ranch! Lots of history here I didn’t know about. ❤️🙌😀

SCVHistory.com LW3618 | Saugus | Film: Circle J Ranch Scenes in ''The Lawless Breed'' with Rock Hudson, 1952

10/20/2022

Being gentle with a horse does not mean letting the horse push you around and place you in danger. Horses need to have ground manners. They need to stand reliably for the farrier and the veterinarian. They need to stand quietly while you are mounting or dismounting. They need to let you groom them, bridle them, saddle them without dancing around.

It is not that the horse is allowed free rein. Teaching basic manners, though, is a lot different from routinely smacking a horse around, yanking on the bit with rough hands, grinding on the horse in schooling sessions, or cranking the horse into draw reins or other leverage devices.

Part of being well trained is that the horse respects human boundaries, but the good trainers use only as much pressure as needed to create respect and only in situations that to do otherwise allows dangerous behavior.

09/19/2022

Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Looking for a groom 3-4 days a week. Must have experience with horses of all ages. Must be reliable and open to learning. Pay depends on your experience. This is a great opportunity for a working student if you’re a good fit. 😊
PM me for more info.

07/01/2022

"Banjo is for sale. 7 year old chestnut quarter horse gelding. At 14.1 hands this little pony is a pocket rocket.

His movement is pretty enough that he's been shown in classic dressage at training level. Also goes amazingly in western gear, and schools basic level western dressage.

Very sound, stands patiently for the farrier, works well with and without other horses. Very responsive to aids and a fast learner. Appropriate for an experienced youth or small adult."
PM for more info.

06/30/2022

Awe ❤️

"Sad night last night but today is a brighter day. The ewe (female sheep) on the left lambed a stillborn and we were unable to resuscitate it. She cried most of the night longing for her lamb after we removed it.

The ewe on the right lambed twins last week, though they were very small. It seems that today she has given one of her twins to the grieving mother to raise as her own. This is a photo of them together with their new children."

Credit: Bishop Family Farm

07/07/2021

Thousand Oaks, Ca.
If you’re looking to board and train in the Conejo Valley, Wolfe Canyon Ranch is the most beautiful place to be. The care of the horses is optimal and the horses are very content. Feed 3x a day, clean 2x a day, GGT footing, jumping, dressage, trails, Euroxcisor, hot/cold wash racks, large turn-outs with plenty of turn-out time, many services offered to keep your equines happy. Text or call 805-390-5083.

07/01/2021

“Dreamer” is currently in training at Majestic Equestrians and is offered for a full or half lease. He is a Friesian/Quarter Horse cross. He is schooling Training and First Level and is 12 years old. He is an on-site lease only, but is ready to show and be enjoyed by an at least intermediate rider. We have trails and wonderful footing in the arenas. Dreamer likes Dressage and a little jumping for fun. Video in the comments. Text Pam @ 805-390-5083 for more info.

03/05/2021

MUST HAVE at least 7-10 years HORSE EXPERIENCE!!!
Feeding, cleaning stalls, blanketing, turning out horses, water truck, tractor, fence fixing, water pipe fixing, any and all ranch related tasks. Must have experience with horses and be kind to all animals. Must be handy around a ranch. Prefer that you speak good enough english. Possibility to live on property. Very good pay.

02/23/2021

Thousand Oaks, California!!!

We have available stalls for trainer with clientele at Wolfe Canyon Ranch. Any discipline considered. Horses are fed 3 x a day. Clean 2 x a day. Euroxcisor, 9 turn-outs, large arenas, trails, galloping track, hot/cold water washracks, serene atmosphere, and much more! This place is AMAZING! PM, Call or text 805-390-5083 😁
Training available!!!
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02/21/2021

Thousand Oaks, California!!!
We have available stalls for trainer with clientele. Any discipline considered. Horses are fed 3 x a day. Clean 2 x a day. Euroxcisor, 9 turn-outs, large arenas, trails, galloping track, hot/cold water washracks, serene atmosphere, and much more! This place is AMAZING! PM, Call or text 805-390-5083 😁
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02/15/2021

Lora Marsh and her beautiful girl Dia enjoying the amazing Wolfe Canyon Ranch, home of Majestic Equestrians. ❤️🥰👍😁

02/11/2021

We have available stalls for trainer with clientele. Any discipline considered. Horses are fed 3 x a day. Clean 2 x a day. Euroxcisor, 9 turn-outs, large arenas, trails, galloping track, hot/cold water washracks, serene atmosphere, and much more! This place is AMAZING! PM, Call or text 805-390-5083 😁
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02/04/2021

I am interviewing trainers with clientele to come join us at Wolfe Canyon Ranch. Did I mention hot/cold water at our washracks? So many acres of trails? A galloping track? 805-390-5083
Boarders welcome too.
I am accepting a few Dressage training clients as well. ❤️

Here at Wolfe Canyon Ranch we have availability for a trainer with clientele. Box stalls, euroXcisor, roundpens with drains, exercise track, 3 arenas of different sizes, warm water at washracks, beautiful trails and so much more! Come join the professional and friendly atmosphere with your students and horses. Text or call 805-390-5083

02/01/2021

Here at Wolfe Canyon Ranch we have availability for a trainer with clientele. Box stalls, euroXcisor, roundpens with drains, exercise track, 3 arenas of different sizes, warm water at washracks, beautiful trails and so much more! Come join the professional and friendly atmosphere with your students and horses. Text or call 805-390-5083