Dark Horse Horsemanship

06/26/2024

Today was an epic day of camp!! Our campers learned how to push cows (Our patient donkeys did their best cow impression! 😂), they worked on their saddle position and soft hands in an unmounted lesson, and made some gorgeous tie dye bandanas. And that was all before lunch!! Week4, Day 3!!

06/26/2024

So many opportunities to learn at camp today!! From foal handling, flank roping, leather working to trail riding and everything in between!! Whew!! Way to go campers!! Week 4, Day 2

06/25/2024

Every little girl needs a pony!! 😍😭🥺😍🥰 So sweet! Raw emotions and thankfulness right there.....I feel you girl, we feel you!

06/24/2024

It was a hot day at camp today, but these kids (and the horses) were troopers!!! It’s going to be a great week!!! Week 4, Day 1

06/21/2024

This review just in....
"This was the funnest camp in the universe" -Hazel, 5 years old
🤣😂🤣
Here you go people, a verified customer review from a camper from our last group. Hazel may only be 5, but she's a tough cookie who loves horses. It was so fun having her at camp last week! She kept us laughing with some of the funny things she'd say!

06/20/2024

That’s a wrap on week 3!! Thank you campers for all the fun!!! Week 3, Day 4

06/19/2024

Today was another great opportunity for our campers to be a good friend, try something new, and do something outside of their comfort zone!! Week 3, Day 3

06/19/2024

Week 3, Day 2!!! We are having a blast with this group of kiddos!

06/17/2024

We had a blast with our new group of campers today!! Week 3, Day 1!!

06/13/2024

Too much playing today....we slacked on the pics! Fun trail ride, exploring the creek, making leather bracelets. That's a wrap for week 2! Thanks parents for sharing your kids with us. We had a blast!!

06/13/2024

What a week, friends!!! Way to go, campers!! Week 2, Day 4

06/13/2024

Day 3 of camp got us feeling like.....😴😴😴
****ck

06/12/2024

A cool example of teamwork from one of our campers today!!! Way to go!!

06/12/2024

Week 2, Day 3!!! Today’s lessons included using groundwork to communicate with our horses, vaulting in our riding class and leather-working in arts and craft time. And that was all before lunch! What a full day!!

06/11/2024

Another beautiful day at camp making friends and trying new things!!! Week 2, Day 2!!

06/10/2024

We kicked off our second week of camp today at the farm!!!

06/07/2024

Smiles for days........
We love our rockstar-ponies and we're SO thankful for them!!
.

05/15/2024

Yes! I want to be the human my horse wants to stand next to, and seeks for comfort and reassurance. 🥰😍💗

You know how your great aunt can’t be around you without commenting on your weight?
You know how your mother in law can’t stop asking when you’re gonna have a baby because she’s dying for grandchildren?

You know how your mom licks that napkin and squeezes your face while she whipes dirt off your cheek?
You know how, when you were a child, your parents brushed your hair too fast, pulled on your hair, and your feelings were dismissed? “Oh you’re being such a baby!”

You know the way that family dinner is so stressful, but your aunts make amazing food- so you have the draw of the food, and the stress of the discord and passive aggressive comments? You know the pressure to have seconds, to not offend, coupled with a comment on your weight?

You know all those tiny, nitpicky, well meaning things that drive you crazy? You know how horrible the hands that fuss over you feel? You know how terrible the dissonance between what’s said and what’s felt is?

They’re made to sound like they’re for you, but they’re not- they’re for the person doing them.
Don’t be that guy with your horse.

Pinching, picking, constant cleaning, fussing
Nitpicking every little step
Fussing with buckles, forgetting about the horse and wrenching leather over soft, sensitize surfaces
Yelling, smacking, emotional corrections and making up for it with food

Those are not for the horse- they’re for you.

Every touch should be for the horse.
Touch with intention
Focus on the task AND the horse
Guide, with care
Say no when you have to, without judgement or emotion
Say yes when you can, without going off the rails
Bring the horse to center
And be someone they find peace standing next to.

05/14/2024

Such a fun time sharing horsey love yesterday with the wonderful residents at Clemson Downs!💗🥰

05/10/2024

It's a GIRL!!!!! Baby #3 has arrived....and it's ANOTHER little filly!! She's as precious as can be. Momma-Annie and baby are both doing well. Annie's sweet nickers let us know she's very happy to be part of the momma-club!!!

Badger did good!! 😍😍

05/03/2024

"I eatin' hay wike a big-girl!!" -- Attarah is getting so big, 4 weeks old today!! We love her sweet, curious spirit....and watching her play when she has the zoomies!!🥰💗😍

05/03/2024

Our Spring semester is wrapping up and coming to a close. We have had a blast with our 2 interns from Anderson University. We've introduced Emma previously, now meet Lilly Pecar! She helped us serve a variety of student groups. Groups from New Foundations Home for Children, foster children, women in recovery from Shalom House and youth-at-risk from Renaissance Academy.
Here's what she had to say about her internship experience with us.......
"Hearts in Harmony is a non-profit organization that helps individuals learn new skills and overcome challenges. This internship has allowed me to observe the therapeutic process up close in a unique environment using horses. The opportunity to work with a variety of people, including both children and adults, has helped me further understand the direction I want to go regarding my career. I have improved in my communication, leadership, and listening skills while working with each individual. I was also able to engage in my own self-reflection throughout the internship, and learn how to utilize biblical principles in my own life and in helping others. Every individual working at this organization is kind and makes you feel like family. This is an excellent internship placement for anyone who loves animals and is seeking a career focused on the well being of other people."
It's been a blessing to serve with these wonderful ladies!!

04/29/2024

We're still waiting on baby #3, Annie is feeling pretty left out! 😂 Only a week or so left and her baby should arrive! Here's a teaser for her lovely stallion!

Double E Performance Horses, LLC owns this sweet boy... "Olenas 'Lil Badger." He has a fantastic brain, plus he's athletic and handsome...the whole package! He's young, and a super fast learner. He's taking everything in stride that Elizabeth throws at him....roping, mounted shooting, trail riding and more I'm sure! He's a rockstar!! We can't wait to meet this sweet baby!

04/24/2024

Sweet baby update. We named Gracies baby "Attarah" which means "Crown"...and we're calling her "Tari" for short. We wanted an "a" name in honor of Mark's sweet mare Azi who we love dearly, but is getting up there in years. We know our time left with her is dwindling. She is still doing well and teaching people lots in programs. She's a blessing to many as I'm sure Tari will be!

She is very curious and playful, she loves her zoomies! She got to go on her first adventure out of the paddock the other day when momma needed her feet done! She stuck to momma like glue! Their instincts are just amazing!

04/24/2024

Our sweet baby "Toba" is so super friendly!! She mobs me every time I go in to check on momma and baby. She LOVES scratches! Momma and baby are doing well, praise God!
Blessed is an understatement!! Thank you Cabulous WH for helping us create this beautiful babe!!! 💗😍🥰

04/21/2024

So I'm super late with the teaser of Mena's stallion. I was thinking the baby would have more of momma's coloring....looks like she took after her daddy!!! Almost exactly. She even has a little sock like him with ermine marks...his is left hind, hers is right! LOL!

Cabulous WH is a 2017 16.3 Westphalian and Oldenburg stallion by Cabalito/Sea Accounts xx/Fatalist B. He has been given many accolades for his trainability and brains. He had an article written about him called Calm, Cool and Collected.... https://www.facebook.com/CabulousWH?__cft__[0]=AZXiuPePIQQBnzOADWYwuuZXiBmb6aRzECmIdcvMbDLw64Nt8CdLhgxKIA30N-_dbCuMzvmf2RBp-sUWZOyNreZQF7TDg0o_jGbM9IrJn0JzpwmfA4Wz2Bd1p2h5VCPPbZg1NPjdkrnINv99Dz3DLIcoIncL2v_rP8uczPbOTcRT-bP6gyXiKAWkxjt0lTPl84nAgNJkmy__OW3dnkjuVRwC&__tn__=-]K-R

He excels in the Hunter world and has been shown AND trained by his owner, who was gifted him (as an unhandled 4-year-old) on her 17th birthday. She has done all his training, development and showing.

We're excited to watch our little Cabulous baby develop!! Last couple pics are momma and baby...when baby was less than 1 hour old!! More pics to come!!

04/21/2024

Aaaannnnndddds then there were TWO!!! I am completely BLOWN away....Mena blessed us and sooooooo many students with the opportunity to experience the beautiful miracle of birth today! Her water broke at 1pm and baby was out by 1:23pm....thank you Mena that I can sleep soundly tonight! 😂

Meet sweet little "Toba"....a filly, named in honor of one of our beloved therapy horses Toccoa who passed of natural causes last fall. Talia called him "Toba" when she was little and we wanted to name this new addition in honor of him. Welcome to the world sweet little one....you are so loved already!!

04/11/2024

Summer horse camp is right around the corner!! Sign up with a friend and you'll each get $25 off your registration when you sign up together!! Message us for more info or go to our website to sign up!!

www.DarkHorseEquestrian.com/summercamp