Zen Horsemanship, LLC

08/29/2024

Some notes to a young horse person, and a reminder to myself always —

If we are in this for the love of horses simply just as they are, every door will open.

Learn from everybody but don’t try to be anybody but yourself.

Be ready to let go of the story of how you’ll think it will all go.

Safety can be a choice, not something we hope for.

The more we connect to ourselves, the more we will connect with our horses. The more we love ourselves, the more we will love our horses and all and everything.

Horses are a way of life not a hobby.

Just the presence of a horse will give us more than riding ever could.

Be around as many horses as you can. And go slow. Envision the way ahead, but let the future come.

Forgive others, forgive your horse, and the biggest one of all — forgive yourself. Daily.

Let go of the big rocks you carry, called “past experiences that didn’t go as planned.”

Don’t think of unwanted behavior as something to simply train out of a horse. It’s their nature and history and feelings being expressed. Flow with it and seek to understand them, meet their needs, and let them know you hear them.

Your horse knows you by your presence, energy, intent, and your care more than your mistakes.

If you have horses, then connect with others with horses so you can build community and help others and have help when needed.

Take time away from horses now and then. Separation will unearth truth.

Ask for help and guidance often from those you trust and that feel good to your heart.

If we can understand what a horse is thinking and feeling, we can predict the future.

Understand the science of how horses think and move. And look deeply into the spirit and soul of a horse, what the mind and body are serving. “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” — The Little Prince

Seek the truth that unites all horses and all of us. You’ll know it when you feel it because it makes sense like you already knew it. It will feel like home.

Learn the laws of the universe — vibration, attraction, resonance, synchronicity, rhythm, cause and effect, duality, relativity, reciprocity, divine oneness, gratitude. Horses live by them too.

It’s all about love. The sooner you realize that, the better.

😊🐴🙏

06/01/2024

Where’s the rush?

Working with horses is supposed to be fun.

Why have we as an industry created so much pressure to fulfil certain timelines and make hard set training schedules?

Why is it so common for people with young horses to be pressured by peers and trainers alike about when they’re going to move onto X goal with them?

“When are you going to ride them?”

“When are you going to jump them?”

“When are you going to show them?”

And then the subsequent pressure about letting the horse down by not fulfilling their full potential.

Horses don’t care about their potential.

They care about feeling safe and having their needs met.

They care about access to forage, freedom and friends.

So, why can’t we as humans accept the fact that horses don’t operate on set timelines, so we don’t need to either?

Ever since my youngster, Banksy, was born 5 years ago, I’ve been intermittently hounded about timelines and destinations for him, along with my other horses as well.

I used to have set timelines and goals.

I still have goals but they’re much more flexible now.

I don’t like setting hard and fast timelines for horses because they all develop slower or faster depending on a lot of factors.

Additionally, for my own mental health and wellbeing, I need to go at a pace that is suited to me.

In the past, I burnt myself out and nearly extinguished my love for working with horses because of all of that unnecessary pressure.

I refuse to go back to that place because it robbed me of the joy horses bring me.

Don’t feel pressured to fulfil quotas that other people set for you.

It is okay to move at a slow and steady pace.

It is okay to have setbacks.

It is okay to never have any competitive goals.

Heck, it’s okay to never plan on riding your horse and just enjoy them from the ground.

All of the weird timelines that are in place in the horse world are entirely made up and we don’t have to follow them.

Don’t give into the peer pressure that seeks to make working with your horse feel like a full time job or school curriculum that robs you of the fun you could have.

Removing that pressure makes it a lot easier to show up better for your horse because you no longer resent them for disrupting arbitrary timelines and having setbacks.

Go with the flow, enjoy the process.

Ignore anyone who is bothered by that.

04/16/2024

🙌🏼

04/14/2024

Love this! “Awareness of awareness” this is a great example

01/29/2024

I’m just going to say it:
THIS 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 NOT 👏🏻 OK 👏🏻

10/06/2023

10/06/2023

One day this summer I came into the barn to find that one of the riders had a horse that had pulled its shoe half off, and he wanted to know how to get hold of a farrier to pull the twisted shoe. He literally did not know how to do it himself. Despite the fact that there was an entire shelf of farrier tools sitting in the barn aisle.

Come on. people, don’t be whimpering infants about basic horse care. Learn how to be horsemen and horsewomen, not just helpless little riders who need someone to hold your hands about what to do when something goes wrong. Big vet issues, sure, actual shoeing, yes, but not knowing how to perform the most basic tasks is simply bad horsemanship.

What is worse, though, is being so entitled that you think those kinds of jobs are too menial. If you think that, you have been raised wrong.

09/29/2023

Hey horse girl…
It’s okay if you have to take a rest.
It’s okay if you had the longest day ever, you’re running on 5 cups of coffee, you’re sitting in traffic, you’re at your wits end and trying to get to the barn before the sun goes down…. And you start to think maybe you should just go straight home instead.

It’s okay if you are getting over an illness, or an injury, you’re having a bad pain day, or your mental health isn’t in the best spot and you’re thinking… I don’t want to go to the barn today.

It’s okay if you have had a full day at work, chasing kids and adults, completing school projects, work projects, and your horses are with you at home and the barn chores get done but not much else.

Your barn can be your favorite place, and you can still need a 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚.

Your horse doesn’t want to see you rushed, in a bad mood, sick or weak, or hurting and stumbling. Your horse wants to see you healthy, happy, and ready to give him or her all of your attention.

You don’t need to be everything to everybody every second of every day.

If your body is telling you to rest, listen to it… every day looks different 🖤

09/27/2023

So well said.

Long time, no post from me. How are ya?

I have some items brewing and changing in the background over here. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being on sabbatical this year, and it’s given me the space I really needed.

No matter what happens with my items in the background, 2024 is going to look different. Different than before, and different from now. So, stay tuned.

03/28/2023

Worth a share!

Have you ever just come to the abrupt realization that you don't see anything the same anymore?

The two year old that you once would have approved of starting under saddle now looks like an incredibly immature baby that you can't imagine asking to carry a load.

Physical issues that lead to training and performance issues you no longer view as the problem but perhaps the solution to the actual problem.

All of the things you would have considered behavioral issues you can now see as the balance issues that they are. You no longer want to address the behavior but instead the reason for the behavior.

You are no longer fooled by words. Anyone can say anything about their training and approach...but the horse will tell you a lot about whether the words match the action, if you're educated enough to see it. Some things are debatable...other things definitely aren't.

You now recognize that you are a nervous system and your horse is a nervous system...and that the priority is to keep you upright and alive. That matters, A LOT.

You recognize that developing a horse is an endeavor that takes years. YEARS. Years of a lot of time and a lot of commitment. There's truly no substitute.

You also realize that getting here has meant admitting that there were times when you were wrong. That there were times when you did harm with the best of your intentions. That you had to walk away from circles of people whose beliefs and approach no longer lined up with what you now know...or maybe they walked away from you? Either way, it's hard to stand alone sometimes.

You realize you've had to become a beginner a thousand times over...and you'll continue to find yourself in that spot a thousand more times in the future, plus some. Maybe even at some point today.

You realize that even when it feels like you haven't grown at all...you actually have. That growth is something to be proud of, no matter where you're at on your journey.

- Terra

02/22/2023

This has not been an easy decision. But, Zen Horsemanship, LLC will not be serving the public for the 2023 horse-season. Please read below for further details.

I am happy to speak to clients individually should anyone have further questions or concerns, but please understand that I will get back to you when I’m able to. I appreciate your support and look forward to better serving you all in the future!

02/17/2023

ISO a working student

This position is ideal for the teenager or young adult looking to gain some first hand knowledge while helping out around the farm when needed and assisting in training. The ideal person would be older then 16 years of age and have reliable transportation. The location is in Charleston, Maine. This would be 4-6 hours a couple days a week this coming “on season” gig, generally March-November. I have a few “spring projects” I’ll need help with as well. You would be asked to help with barn chores and projects (mucking, mixing feed, cleaning barn, bedding stalls, scrubbing tubs, maintaining fencing and paddocks, packing trailers, moving hay, cleaning tack etc) and also groom and learn from the trainer. Majority of the horses on the small property are green and young so some experience is also preferred but can train the right ENTHUSIASTIC individual. In exchange, you will receive hands-on training experience and ground lessons with riding for the right individual. Opportunity to groom and assist at traveling events (demos, clinics, shows) also for the right person.

ZH is an empathetic horse-training and lesson service. This opportunity is to learn skills such as groundwork, empathetic horsemanship, attunement, positive reinforcement, equine behavior, and more.

Message here or email at [email protected] your experience (resume preferred) and references.

11/08/2022

This is an open letter to ZH Clients past, present, and future:

First of all, I want to thank all of my clients this year. 2022 wasn’t my year for a lot of reasons. I experienced loss, life changes, “real job” challenges, financial struggles, struggles with my own horses, and more. I appreciate every single one of you that were patient and kind when I needed it.

Next, I’d like to say this: running a business is hard. I do this, on top of working in a busy and demanding medical field full time, plus all of my other responsibilities at home, and nevermind time for fun or my own horses 🙃

I’m not getting any younger. And if one of my closest friends passing away this year (at 46 years old) taught me anything, it’s that life is short.

Further, not only is life short, but I have work to do. I have work to do on myself. I have work to do on my own horses. I have work to do so I can build a better future for myself and those I love.

That all being said: I’m not sure what next horse-season looks like for me and for Zen Horsemanship, LLC, quite frankly. I do know that my current business model is not sustainable for me long-term, in the way I’ve been operating it.

Further, if (emphasis on IF) ZH will be able to serve the community at all next season, all services will be seeing a price increase. This isn’t something I like to do. But, I don’t make money running this business. My goal originally was only to cover the costs of my own horses, and this isn’t even doing that anymore (even with an increased work/client load I’ve taken on). Rising living costs as well as new facility fees are really driving this. Looking at it with current costs of living, I would have to do a minimum 30% increase across the board to make ends meet, and justify staying in business. That’s before we even reach next spring. I’ve only done a price increase ONCE in the last 8 years now that I’ve been doing this.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I don’t know what the future holds as of right now. I have some thinking and soul-searching to do over my winter sabbatical.

That being said, I will post a more definitive update after the new year. But I wanted to put this out there now.

Thank you again for your never ending support.

Namaste,

Amber Tapley, BS, LVT
Zen Horsemanship, LLC

10/17/2022

Zen Horsemanship, LLC will be on sabbatical starting November 1st, 2022.

- Whether or not I will be accepting new weekly students in the spring is TBD. But, reach out NOW if you’d like to be on the list to be contacted as the season begins next year.

- The first Retreat of the year is scheduled for Memorial weekend. Location TBD. But likely either Unity or Brooks. I am hoping to have at least three Retreats next season, so keep your eyes peeled!

ZH is likely to go through some changes in the next coming years. That being said, thank you for always taking this journey through horsemanship with me, and I look forward to continuing to serve the local horse community. ✨💖

09/20/2022

Other than for the ZH Mindfulness Retreat, I will be responding to all other inquires and client questions after my time period away. Thank you!

09/19/2022

I have ONE last minute slot in the Zen Horsrmanship Mindfullness Retreat! Stabling and CABIN now included in the cost! Message me if you’d like to join us. ✨

Auditing free as well. Event link can be found on the page!

08/29/2022

07/05/2022

When things go wrong, people tend to escalate emotionally.

Say a horse gets out, horses are fighting in their pasture, a horse isn’t getting in the trailer, whatever it may be, at any given barn, you see people running around, flapping their arms, waving ropes, maybe yelling.

Logically, I think we all know that adding intense emotions and commotion to an already escalated animal will not produce the desired result. Trying to de-escalate a prey animal with our out of control emotions and behavior is a fool’s game.

In order to stay calm during these intense moments, I think it has to be our go-to state. Take, for example, emergency responders, law officers, and anyone frequently working in intense scenarios: they are able to stay calm because they are executing what they practice day in and day out.

If you find yourself emotionally escalating when things aren’t easy or pretty, firstly, understand it is normal to feel that way. The cure for this is 1- experience and knowledge, and 2- practicing the right mind frame; day by day.

06/29/2022

"The moment when you sit down and begin to breathe in, calming your mind and your body, peace has become a reality. That kind of breathing is like praying. When there is the element of peace in you, you can connect with others, and you can help others to be peaceful like you." —Thich Nhat Hanh

06/24/2022

A great explanation on using these tools to help a horse with separation anxiety