Training by Kelly O'Brien

07/13/2024

Lets all cheer on Max Morin Performance Horses !!! Draw 17 in level 3&4 Finals happening now, They are on draw 10 currently

PREMIER NRHA EVENT FEATURING RMRHA STALLION STAKES FUTURITY

07/11/2024

Day 2 of Michael Lyons Horsemanship scenes from the morning session. Good stuff all around

06/25/2024

PREACH
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Yc3WrymjRj1FwLG2/?mibextid=oFDknk

06/07/2024

Free for pickup
2023 NRHA Reiner Magazines

06/07/2024

06/07/2024

Don't practice wrong, or babysit. Teach your horse their job, and give them responsibility in it.

Blue Seal Kent Nutrition Group Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Bow Blue Seal Dodge Grain Co. Inc. EquiFUSE Team Equine Training by Kelly O'Brien

06/06/2024

This is a great Q&A article with Dr. Raub

Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Bow Blue Seal Team Equine EquiFUSE Training by Kelly O'Brien

Dr. Randel (Randy) Raub, PhD, answers common questions about horse nutrition and provides expert advice. Find out more at Blue Seal.

05/31/2024

I love getting messages like these. As a Coach I want nothing more than to see my clients success when working on their own.

***Kelly!! I was finally able to lope tonight without getting dizzy and... drum roll.... moved whiskeys shoulders over to get the right lead!!!!

***I'm so proud of her - couple lookey moments but she came right back with a few focusing moves - THANK YOU for your help and encouragement t so far 25 minutes down the road, by herself ❤️

Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Bow Blue Seal Team Equine EquiFUSE Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/31/2024

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

WEEDS

Summer is upon us and everyone is busy with lawn care and planting their flowers or vegetable gardens. It is such a great time of year. As I work away planting I am excited to see the flowers in bloom and imagine the farm fresh veggies and how good they will taste. Growing plants is a labor of love. There is something about touching the earth that really feeds my soul. It is so satisfying to view the beauty of the colors and to catch the hint of fragrance in the air. Then it seems like overnight my beautiful gardens have been overtaken with w**ds.

Looking at them all is so overwhelming. It is going to be time consuming to remove them in order for the garden to stay healthy and maintained. My beautiful vision has now become an eye sore. I begin to resent having planted the gardens. I put off starting the process because it seems as there will be no end. I have discovered that choosing the right time to w**d makes all the difference. After it rains, the soil allows you to pull them with greater ease and success. Just like being in immersed in a great book where I will read just one more chapter and then go to bed, I move to the next section of w**ds.

Something happens when I am w**ding, my mind starts to become more clear. Issues that I have been struggling with seem to disappear, choices I need to make are easier to decide. As I continue to remove the w**ds, the gardens are restored, and the clutter of my thoughts clears. For what is never long enough there is a balance to the plants I want and the ones Mother Nature has chosen. In order to reap the benefits of my work, I also must put in the time to maintain it

The very same goes for working with a horse. For every training day, whether it be you are working on a new exercise or really raising your performance, expectations to a new level of acceptance, maintenance is required. As a Certified and Accredited Trainer in the John And Josh Lyons Program, the rule of thumb is for every training day you need three maintenance days. That does not mean three days pass until your next ride or practice session. That means you are putting in the time to be sure your horse is able to show you the evidence that he gets the lesson. You are not working on anything new, but reviewing the exercise you began the week with. That is where the How Far? How Fast? How Little? test comes in.

• How Far: how many steps can my horse maintain my desired position or speed without any help from me.
• How Fast: how soon does he execute the correct answer to my cue?
• How Little: How light can my rein and leg cue be for him to perform correctly.

Maintenance is vital to the success you have. It is especially perfect for days that you don’t have a lot of time and just getting in a quick ride. 15 minutes makes a huge difference is you are CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT in your riding regiment. This is removing the w**ds. If you are unable to ride in the winter months following this protocol in the riding season will be really important. When Spring hits, your horse may be a little rusty, but the lessons taught will be easily remembered. In fact the time span can be up to 18 months for the horse to retain what he has learned when taught correctly and maintained.

It’s glorious out today, I think I’ll tackle some w**ds.

FIND YOUR JOY

Blue Seal Bow Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Team Equine EquiFUSE Josh Lyons/Lyons Legacy Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/19/2024

Great bunch of Cowgirls working on their WESN lesson in the clinic yesterday! Thanks to all for your interest and commitment to bettering your horse and your skills.

If you are interested in hosting a clinic or would like one designed for you and your friends at my facility let's make it happen!

Blue Seal Bow Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Team Equine EquiFUSE Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/16/2024

Thursday's Thoughts

NO COMPARISON

We subject our children to scrutiny pretty much from birth. There are percentiles for everything. Are they growing correctly, are they learning at grade level, can they do what their peers are doing? Are they normal? Is it any wonder we are so hard on ourselves? We all have gone through the yearly standardized testing in school. We were clumped into categories. The smart kids, the average students, the jocks, the “special needs”. Then there were the popular group, the socially awkward, the “bad” ones. Where did you fit in?

I was in the smart kid (advanced placement) classes, but never excelled compared to my classmates. I was a cheerleader, but not one of the pretty girls. I could do gymnastics and was strong, and always wished I was more like some of the other girls. I grew up with horses, had chores and took my riding very seriously. It was how I found myself.

Fast forward 35 years, and horses are still where I find myself. All of the struggles of adolescence are far behind me, aren’t they? Sure they are, until it is bathing suit season, or taking my clients to horse shows. I grew up competing in horse shows pretty much every weekend from May to Labor Day. Loved it, couldn’t wait. I wanted to do well, to impress my teacher, to beat my friends and adversaries, to make my family proud. As the standards of comparison for what wins in shows has changed, I decided that conforming to some of those standards was not for me. Instead I changed focus on being a sponge, soaking up as much knowledge from my mentors as possible. Riding with other like minded people gives me satisfaction. I never think about not being as skilled or capable as others in a learning environment, after all, I am there to learn what I don’t know. I am there to become a better teacher and coach. That is what lights me up now. I occasionally go to shows with clients in their respective discipline, and use them as a gauge to see how effective I am in my coaching.

As a teacher, I have discovered that many of my students are comparing themselves, even berating themselves for not being more skilled than the level they ride at currently. Many of them have been riding for their whole life, others decided well into their adulthood to begin their horse journey. Where you are doesn’t matter, you are putting yourself out there. Be proud of yourself. Allow yourself to learn. Be willing to change habits that you may have had for years, it all takes time. Stop the negative chatter and appreciate your efforts. Most people are involved with riding as a life enhancement, not a job. Life is hard enough, save the judgement for the horse show judge, which honestly is only their opinion. Stop comparing yourself to an unrealistic, even ma standard, they are ALL an opinion. There is no room for judgement in a learning environment, only encouragement. While working on becoming a better version of ourselves in the saddle, we become better people in all areas of life. There is NO comparison to living our best life.

FIND YOUR JOY

Blue Seal Bow Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Team Equine EquiFUSE Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/15/2024

Wednesday Q and A

If you have a question on training, behavior, care of horses, send in a video and I will be happy to post the answer. There is no dumb question, and everyone may benefit from yours.

Blue Seal Bow Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. EquiFUSE Team Equine Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/15/2024

I LOVE TUESDAYS

05/14/2024

Back to Basics Foundation Building Clinic this Saturday, May 18th 12-3 has a couple spots left.

This is a ground work clinic designed to fill in holes on your horse already under saddle or to start prepping for it's start.

$150/per participant
Auditing fee $20

Bring your own chair, snacks and drinks!
No dogs

Located at Concord Equestrian Center
56 Sanborn Rd Concord, NH

[email protected] for more infor.ation and to reserve your spot. Rain or shine

05/13/2024

If this sounds all too familiar call me. I am offering horse broker services to find what you are looking for in your next horse.

05/11/2024

Sorry for the Terrible photo, but THANK-YOU Milestone Equestrian and Andrea Oxier for hosting part 2 of Ground Work to Saddle Clinic in New Boston, NH.

We had a nice turnout and everyone had more relaxed, responsive horses. Great job to all, and thanks again for allowing me to share what I do!

If you are interested in being a host facility for a clinic, let's get it on the calendar!

05/10/2024

Thursday's Thoughts

BROKEN TRUST

All relationships are built on trust. Most relationships end because that trust has been broken. In personal relationships there is not much that hurts us more than a betrayal. We put confidence in another person, we believe the words spoken and hope that their intentions are good. Discovering that we have been wronged can do a lot to our ability to trust ourselves as well. We question our own judgment, maybe even our sanity. Sometimes we are completely blindsided, sometimes we are given little glimpses that we choose to ignore. Sometimes we are gaslighted. The point is, it happens. Sometimes we have a lot invested in the relationship, and work to repair it. Other times the cost of staying in it is too high. Does that mean you will not have another relationship? Perhaps, but unlikely. Do we bring our hurt and fear of it happening again to our next relationship? Sometimes we do. Does it create a good foundation for this relationship? I’d say, a firm maybe. It depends on how honest our communication is, and how much work on ourself we are willing to do. Obviously nobody likes to be blamed for another’s actions, but the capacity to understand, and be mindful of your feelings can go a long way to creating a safe, mutually beneficial relationship. It is how trust is earned.

Now, what if the relationship is with your horse?

If you own or ride a horse, the chances of you being hurt by them is pretty close to 100 percent. Falling off a horse is something that will happen. What do you do then? Get back on of course, which is often easier said than done. Physical pain is easier to get over than the memory of the moments that caused it. How you are able to manage the history you now have with your horse is going to set up the rest of your horse/rider relationship. Letting it go is very difficult. Our brains are wired to be on the lookout for danger. Some people choose to avoid it altogether and get out of horses, or at least get rid of the one that broke the trust. I get it, and have toyed with that idea myself. For me it is unrealistic, just as the thought of never having a personal relationship again, not stepping into the saddle is not an option I will ever choose. I have been hurt by my personal horse, pretty severely. I would be lying if I said I do not have some PTSD from it. I do. But riding a horse for me is as natural as breathing and so I am willing to take that risk. I do however try to minimize a repeat performance.

How?

First of all, I stop talking about it with everyone who mentions my limp. My brain can retrieve that information and all the details in a flash. The problem is that every time I do, I relive it as if it is happening at that moment. That is how our brains work, so every single time you think about it, or talk about it, it is literally happening in real time in your body. I work on envisioning a great ride instead.

I have a pre ride check list that I perform and although I deviate from it from time to time, on days that I know that memory is lurking just under the surface, I am diligent. I say what I am doing to not overreact, and stay focused on what the correct response to my cues are. It helps to slow my hands. It keeps panic away. All bad happens in the panic.

I pray before I step into the stirrup.

I listen to my gut. Some days, I am just not up for the physical challenges of riding. Some days my head just isn’t in the game. On those days, I invest time in becoming more educated. I watch training videos of people that I admire. I practice ground work to make my muscle memory better, along with my timing and feel. It also makes my ability to observe my horse and look for the slightest of changes that I work to correct. This helps to improve my horse’s response to my cues that I employ when I am in the saddle. I may just be in the presence of my horse and breathe.

These are steps I take that help the horse to earn our trust, and his of us. It is mutually beneficial. Whatever it is that I do, it is because I know that being in the company of my horse is vital to my life. So is being in the company of people who love me. Getting over broken trust takes time. It requires us to be vulnerable. We need to be honest with ourselves of the parts we are responsible for. Getting past it is a growth experience that can be so rewarding. And healing if we let it.

FIND YOUR JOY

Blue Seal Bow Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. EquiFUSE Team Equine Training by Kelly O'Brien

05/07/2024

And so it goes

05/02/2024

Thursday's Thoughts

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

Isn't that the truth! As a horse professional for over 30 years, I have learned a lot, and have so much still to learn. In my younger days, I learned by making a lot of mistakes. As I matured and expanded my education, I decided the best way to learn was by taking the advice and direction from people who are more skilled and knowledgeable than me. Of course I still make mistakes, we all do, it is part of being human. Being open to learning is something that makes life better. We gain experience and acquire valuable information to pass on to others, and as a teacher that is vital to the services I offer.

There is SO MUCH to know if you are owning or responsible for the daily care of a horse; Nutrition, hoof care, medical care, knowing how their internal systems work, what constitutes and emergency to name a few categories. We rely on professionals in the field of needed services to be competent. How do you gauge that if you are not knowledgeable yourself? Here are just a few things that you need to be able to trust your own eyes on:

1. Are you able to recognize if your horse is in poor physical condition?
2. Do you know what medial/lateral balance in the hoof is? Or if your horse has broken angles and how to tell? Deep sulcus thrush?
3. What are colic symptoms? How about what their normal gut sounds are?
4. If the new unwanted behavior is actually a pain reaction?

Suppose you are able to recognize a sub par farrier service? Poor nutritional care or unsafe environment in your boarding facility? A veterinarian that doesn’t take your gut saying something isn’t right with my horse? A trainer or instructor that uses techniques that make you uncomfortable, or are seeing no progress? Do you do right by your horse and find someone who is more skilled, or do you continue to employ them because you like them as a person or don’t want to make them upset? These are honest questions that you should be asking yourself. Where do your loyalties lie? Of course everyone can have a bad day, but if you are seeing consistently poor results, you may want a fresh set of eyes on the situation. No single person can know everything. Educate yourself, ask questions. Do the answers make sense? Can they back up the answers? Do they get upset or feel offended when you ask questions? Do they let you know when they don’t know the answers? When you know better, you need to do better. Good eyes and hands on your horse are invaluable. It all starts with you.

FIND YOUR JOY

Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Bow Blue Seal Dodge Grain Co. Inc. EquiFUSE Team Equine Training by Kelly O'Brien

04/29/2024

May Events

Truck In Tuesdays
Western Dressage Pattern Breakdown- exercises to improve your score and have a happier horse

5-630 pm $25/week group lesson

SATURDAY May 11- Private Clinic at Milestone Equestrian, New Boston NH

Saturday May 18th- 12-3pm Riding Clinic at Concord Equestrian Center, Concord NH
Contact Kelly O'Brien for participating or auditing [email protected]

04/23/2024

Jessica Downs and Cody/Styx/Little Sir practicing some Nunya while the construction in the powerlines is going on. Beautiful day to get out and ride! If you are in need of help with your horse, reach out, I'm happy to help

04/21/2024

Today's war on the winter pinecone invasion was successful! Ready for some great outside spring riding...next up .....the lawn

04/11/2024

Thursday's Thoughts

ATTENTION TO DETAILS

This seems like a very fitting topic this week. One of my students had a very serious, non horse related accident over the weekend. Although the injuries are significant, it could have been much worse on many different levels. It also could have been avoided entirely. Paying attention to the details is critical in so many activities that we perform on a daily basis. We become careless and over confident and in doing so put ourselves, and others safety at risk. It is all the little things we ignore that lead up to a big thing that we cannot. Most of the time, that big thing is life changing and not without consequence.

We hear about things that happen all the time in the horse world, where people and horses are injured or killed in freak accidents. Although there certainly are incidents that occur without warning, I believe that the majority happen with warnings along the way were missed, or not handled because of being in a rush, or thinking it isn’t that important. An example that I came across this week is behavior turning a horse out and releasing it from their halter. I am a stickler for details when it comes to this type of thing because I have seen how a little detail becomes a BIG problem. If you are handling a horse that is in a rush to rip away from it’s halter, that is not something to ignore. The resistance to poll pressure and pulling away from you can result in you getting kicked in the chest, face, ribs, and be seriously hurt or worse. Teach your horse to lower their head and not pull away. Teach them to be handled at your level, not you attempting to reach up to theirs. Teach them this every single time you are handling them, be it bridling, haltering, brushing their face, turning them out or returning them to their stall. Pay attention to how your horse is when you lead it. Is it dragging you? Are you having to rush to keep up with them? Do they stop when you stop? Do they lower their head when there is pressure on your lead rope or reins? Pay attention and be honest. Call yourself out and be willing to change. Be present, recognize what is happening and if you don’t know how to fix it, find someone who can help you. If you know better, then do better. Create a protocol that you do not deviate from. .Life can change in the blink of an eye, and that is no small detail.

FIND YOUR JOY

04/09/2024

Remember, repetition without change causes frustration in your horse. After your horse (and you) understand the cue, raise your expectations.....great job Pam Binning Smith on hip, shoulder, hip today!

04/05/2024

Thursday's Thoughts Friday Edition

POWERLESS

The original Thoughts for this week have been replaced with what you are now reading. The Spring snow storm that hit yesterday left many without power, this time I was on that list. Electricity and internet were knocked out with hundreds of trees falling victim to the very heavy wet snow, taking lines and transformers with them. Fortunately, I have a generator on hand for such occasions. Being in charge of the care, custody and control of horses is no easy feat, and these circumstances add stress and intensity to the workload. Being without power amplifies the meaning of the word powerless as it relates to the human emotion. We are vulnerable and better have a back up plan. And friends who are knowledgeable in ways that we aren’t that are willing to lend a hand. I am so fortunate to have people in my life that are there in a moments notice when my S.O.S goes out.

Caring for horses no matter the number is not a lifestyle that the masses can understand. It is labor intensive, financially expensive, and a huge investment of time. I have many friends in the horse industry that are a husband, wife, family team. Their power and ability to persevere comes from the strength of their unit working together. Then there are people, mostly women like myself, that are strong, capable, and alone. When situations arise that we are rendered powerless, with thoughts of giving up nearing the surface, it is the people who willingly come to our aid, help us selflessly, dry our tears and believe in us when we don’t believe in ourselves that get us through. If you have that, you are not alone. Show your appreciation, they are a treasure perhaps the Hero of The Day. Maybe you are just reading this and can't relate to the horse struggle. Insert any situation that may bring you to your knees. Remember, the REAL power in this world is love and friendship, everything else is just a convenience.

FIND YOUR JOY

Blue Seal Bangor Blue Seal Feeds Dodge Grain Co. Inc. Team Equine EquiFUSE Training by Kelly O'Brien