MK Horsemanship

05/06/2025

I was a chronic ohhhhhh sayer in Lessons. I was finding myself responding to my teacher like everything made perfect sense so that I didn't look stupid to my teacher. The problem with that was that after I went home to work on everything we had practiced there was a lot of gaps and I didn't see the results in my horse that I got in the lesson.

I now try really hard to make sure I'm communicating when I'm confused or when I don't fully understand what my teacher is saying. There are still times when that habit creeps in and I want to say ohhhhhh, or nod my head that I get it... but as I practice breaking that habit, I see more results and gain a lot more confidence in admitting that I don't understand something.

05/02/2025

05/01/2025

It's so natural to resist what we don't want. We push, pull, grab, and kick when we feel the horse go against our perfect mental picture.
We say things like, "I just want my horse to speed up, slow down, or stop when I ask."
We need to meet the horse where he is both mentally and physically, in energy and time.

When we resist, we use force and our timing
will be forever off.
When we can accept what is, and allow
ourselves to get within the same flow we can
then sculpt something beautiful.

04/28/2025

Reactive handling = reactive response from the horse.

Thoughtful handling = Thoughtful response from the horse.

04/26/2025

We are excited to announce that we are hosting Hudson's Tack and More
for a saddle fitting and massage Clinic!

04/15/2025

One of the most detrimental assumptions is that the more experienced we get, the less lows we should have... but that simply isn't true.
Throughout our journeys there will be tough calls we have to make, our timing off, and struggles in practice and learning.

The lows are an opportunity to reassess, grow stronger, and become more knowledgeable.
We need the lows so we can grow into the next stage of the journey. So let the lows happen and see what grows from them.

04/04/2025

Why I like incorporating the cavesson!

Why Use a Lunging Cavesson?

If you do groundwork, a lunging cavesson is a game-changer! It helps your horse maintain a balanced posture without force or discomfort. Unlike ropes under the chin, the cavesson’s nose ring keeps the head aligned, reducing tension and resistance.

While traditional cavessons are made with lightweight metal wrapped in leather, newer versions use canvas or rope. The key is how you use it—not the material. Look for one with a jaw strap that fastens under the jaw to prevent slipping.

Longe cavessons make groundwork easier and more balanced—worth every penny!

For the full article, visit the blog on my website!

04/03/2025

As predators, I think that we disregard just how important it is for our horses to feel safe. Sure, in the back of our minds we know that feeling safe is important, but do we ever ask ourselves why it feels so important to the horse? Do we ever ask ourselves how powerful the feelings that come with safety and with fear are?

When I think of feeling safe, these things come to mind:

~ being able to feel the world around me
~ feeling the air fill my lungs softly
~ a body that responds
~ A body that is relaxed
~ free of pain and anxiety
~A feeling of wellness
~ comfortable sleeping and being awake
~ balanced
~ trusting

When I think of feeling unsafe, these things come to mind:

~ tension throughout the body that can also feel like pain
~ short shallow breathing
~ zoned out
~ anxiety
~ unbalanced
~distrusting
~ easily frustrated
~ easily agitated

When we take into consideration just how real and powerful both feelings of safe and unsafe feel to us in our own lives, it starts to make sense why the work we do with our horses can have such a positive or negative effect on them.

We don't get to pick what should make our horses feel safe... only they get to decide that, it's up to us to learn what those things are and how to create a safe place.

04/01/2025

Being cringe is the real way towards being cool! ✨️

03/21/2025

When I give advice or suggestions, I try to keep in mind the situation that person and horse are in and that what is working for me might not work for them.

It's easy to get excited and quickly spew out information that has worked great for me... but am I considering that horse and person's circumstances? And am I excitedly sharing because I know it will help? Or am I excited about the ego boost that will surely follow my great advice?

Before I share advice, I take in that horse and person's circumstances and compare how they relate to my own. Am I only doing this thing that works great for me because of the size arena I have? If I had a different sized arena or no arena at all, would I do things differently or maybe better?

I also ask myself what things I practice that are not situational. What is important no matter the situation?

So much advice is readily given in the horse world. But where is this advice coming from? What is behind it? Is it in the best interest of the horse and person in need?

Where does your advice come from?