The Balanced Horse Project

03/08/2025

A Moment That Changed Everything

In the early days of STEP Training, I was on a mission. I had uncovered something profound. Something that could change the way we approach horse training. But I was broke, scraping together whatever I could to feed 21 horses, run a farm and attend events hoping to connect with the influential horsemen shaping the industry.

I reached out to the big names. It was a bit shocking. The Parellis wanted money for their endorsement. Clinton Anderson? I offered to fix his demonstration horse, and he brushed me off. Over and over, I got the same response. Doors closed before I could even step in.

Then, I met Monty Roberts.

He had come to Montgomery, Alabama for the Horse Expo. I watched as he loaded a difficult horse into a trailer without force, or fight. He used respect and understanding. That hit me hard. Respect. It was what I had been missing from those other professionals.

Like thousands of fans, I stood in line to have him sign his book. But when my turn came, something different happened.

Monty looked up. Paused. Put his pen down. He didn’t just sign his name and move on. Instead, his eyes landed on the images of horses I had placed in front of him.

It’s always an odd feeling when the leader stops to acknowledge you, especially when you’ve been ignored so many times before.

"What is this? Explain!"

So, I did. I told him about neutralizing birth trauma, how body symmetry could unlock a horse’s full potential, how I was seeing a natural system transform training challenges, performance and equine well-being.

Monty took my hand, leaned into his words. That moment would carry me through years of doubt and rejection:

"I believe you are doing something great. I can sense it in my bones. It makes sense. It appears to work. But you need to do more work before it's ready to present to the public. Take the strength of my words as a positive and Don't Stop."

That moment stuck with me.

This morning after 25 years from that day, a video of Monty appeared on my feed. I almost cried. Of all the power players in the horse world, he was the only one who truly saw the importance in what I was doing.

Through every rejection, every closed door, I held onto his words. I’d look at his signature in my book and remind myself:

"Don't stop ‘til you get it right."

And I never did.

Now, with Monty's 88 birthday video showing up, is it a sign? Is the universe hinting I am ready to present STEP Training to the public?

03/08/2025

Rotation Day: A New Chapter for Every Horse

Oh, I hope the rain holds off because today is Rotation Day!

Every seven days, we complete a cycle of STEP Training, sending horses home for a well-earned reset rest. This crucial phase allows their bodies to naturally adjust, aligning their structure, enhancing muscle development, and improving overall well-being. It’s amazing to see once-downhill horses begin to level out, their metabolism reset, coats shine brighter, hooves strengthen and their interest in carrying a rider. The transformation is truly inspiring!

As one group departs, another arrives. Frank and I welcome each new horse with fresh eyes, documenting their conformation and guiding them through the first steps toward a balanced life. Sometimes, just the smallest shift makes all the difference.

Some horses stay for a month, giving their owners peace of mind when boarding situations don’t allow for the right turnout. Others stay longer—these are the ones who need time to restore their energy before they can rebuild balance and symmetry. We give them the extra charge they need to thrive.

Every horse, every rider, every day—we create a diverse, dynamic world where transformation happens. Watching a horse step into its own confidence and ability to perform with ease is why we do what we do.

And that’s something to be proud of, as owners realize the answers to the problem is as simple as balancing the horse.

03/07/2025

Gunny’s Next Chapter: Balance, Confidence, and a Bright Future

Well, that didn’t take long!

Now, Mike is walking Gunny back to his paddock, and with every step, there’s a sense of quiet accomplishment. Gunny has completed his STEP Reset, allowing his body to regroup and develop a level, balanced posture, a key foundation for any great horse.

I’ve known Gunny since he was a weanling. He comes from bloodlines that many would envy, but as with so many horses, birth trauma played a role in shaping his conformation. It’s something that’s often overlooked, yet it has a profound impact on a horse’s ability to move, learn, and perform with ease.

Thankfully, Shana, his last owner,
understood this. She introduced Gunny to STEP Training early in life. The goal was to setting him up for success. As a youngster, he grew strong, straight, and sound, developing a solid back and a powerful hind end. But as life went on, things changed. Rough housing as a c**t, followed by being gelded, and moving on to a career trainer’s barn, Gunny continued growing . Eventually, he found himself needing a new home because he was too tall for reining. We though we had a buyer for Shana. That fell through and that’s when we stepped in.

I could see from his photo's Gunny was out of balance.

Why Early Balance Matters

For young horse owners, there’s an important lesson here: taking time to understand weight distribution is everything. Shana has a fantastic horse in Gunny, but his birth trauma, combined with a late growth spurt, left him stuck on the forehand. With crooked legs and mis-matched feet, things are made harder than needed. For some horses, this can lead to nervousness, stiffness, or difficulty moving freely. Resistance or lameness will follow if the horse is pushed.

But when a horse is properly leveled. When their body finds natural balance, everything changes. They become calm, adaptable, and eager to learn. Bends and transitions become effortless for the trainer, and the horse feels confident in its own body.

Gunny’s Quick Reset

Because of Gunny’s early exposure to STEP Training, his balance problems were resolved in a matter of minutes. That foundation set as a yearling made all the difference. It was like flipping a switch. His body instinctively corrected back to it's natural alignment.

Now, as Mike leads Gunny out to the paddock, there’s a bright road ahead. Gunny is ready for his next chapter, thanks to his solid start in life. He’s stepping into it with inherited confidence thanks to his fantastic bloodlines.

03/07/2025

A Horse, A Friend, and a New Beginning

A good horse has a way of bringing out the best in good people. And sometimes, the best lessons in life don’t come from books—they come from the quiet wisdom of a steady-minded horse.

Mike came to the farm to learn about country life and working with horses. With about 0.0005% horse knowledge (by his own calculations), he wasn’t sure what to expect. But as fate would have it, he found a friend in Gunny—a horse with a heart as big as his gentle spirit.

Gunny has spent the past week in a detox, letting go of past stress and settling into a new rhythm. The transformation has been incredible. From a tense, uncertain horse, he has become calm, steady, and eager to connect with his people. And today marks a new chapter—Gunny is ready to begin STEP Training to prepare him for his return to work under saddle.

So, with trust growing between them, Mike and Gunny walked in together, side by side, ready for the next step in their journey.

Well done, Mike—and well done, Gunny. A patient teacher and a willing student are a perfect pair.

03/07/2025

My job as a STEP Trainer prevents rides like this.

03/06/2025

When you buy a wellbred horse below market pricing there is a great risk there is a problem.

This week a wonderful horse sold to an client as broodmare sound (lame)is starting to come sound.

It is very exciting to watch.
Yesterday she had a balanced jog in the pasture on day 5 of training..

03/04/2025

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are beyond excited to introduce GUNNASHINEFORTHEBABES—better known as Gunny!

At just three years old, Gunny is already proving to be an exceptional young horse—kind, intelligent, athletic, and brimming with confidence. His journey began with Shana Wilson, a longtime client who has incorporated our STEP Training principles into her reining program. From the time Gunny was a weanling, he was immersed in the STEP approach, allowing him to develop both physically and mentally in harmony with his natural energy.

Though he was started under saddle last fall, his height didn’t quite fit Shana’s vision for a reiner. So we made the decision to bring Gunny into our program.

With his incredible mind, balanced movement, and striking presence, he’s shaping up to be a top-tier show prospect. After a few more rides, he will be available for sale to the perfect home.

Stay tuned for updates on this fabulous young horse—he’s one to watch!

03/03/2025

A Life Changing Transformation in Just 30 Minutes

We try so hard not to get too excited… but sometimes, the joy can’t be contained!

Meet this little filly who arrived on Friday. As a weanling, she had a run-in with a tree. The pain she lived with stunted her physical development.

Yes, it sounds extreme but in the past month alone, we’ve worked with a horse who slipped off a trail bridge, another that collided with a barn doorframe, and now, this fear-driven filly. Sometimes, we wonder if the universe is testing us.

When owners bring their horses to us, they usually arrive with a list of diagnoses, therapeutic efforts, and frustration. And that’s okay. We don’t need to know those details because we aren’t vets or therapists; we are horse trainers. Our approach is different because we have done real time investigations to become extremely effective at our job.

We stay in our lane, while applying the foundational knowledge of horse training. From our investigations a unique skill set has evolved. As trainers we assist the horse in resetting body symmetry and balance. The horse rediscovers how and where to place its weight. That’s it. The horse is in control of the results.

This filly hated living with pain.
Fear and flight were her go to protections. She wanted to agree but physically couldn’t. Man! She was a firecracker when we took the "before" photos; tense, defensive, and full of resistance. But after just 30 minutes of guided balance work, she stood like a pussycat for the "after" shots.

The real magic? Her entire personality shifted the moment she recentered her front quarters. Her defensiveness vanished. Completely. It took just 10 minutes of balance work for her anxiety and resistance to disappear.

Why did this happen?

Look at her before-and-after photos. Can traditional training produce results like this in 30 minutes?

We’re so happy for this little girl. Now, she has the chance to grow into a happy, balanced horse. This is why we do what we do.

Every horse deserves a chance at living a balanced, comfortable life.

03/02/2025

The quiet farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, became the center of a heated debate in December 2024 when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the culling of 400 ostriches after detecting avian influenza. Despite nearly 90% of the birds remaining healthy and showing no signs of illness, the agency maintained that eradication was necessary. The farm owners resisted, pointing out that their flock demonstrated possible natural resistance to the diseas, an opportunity for scientific study rather than mass extermination. Yet, the prevailing approach to disease control left no room for discussion. The decision was made: comply, cull, and move on.

This case highlights an increasingly rigid regulatory approach that prioritizes eradication over adaptation, a trend seen across various sectors of animal health, including the equestrian industry. Disease management strategies that once valued natural immunity are being replaced by strict vaccination mandates, often overlooking the long-term implications for genetic diversity and resilience. In competitive horse sports, horses that have naturally recovered from diseases such as Equine Influenza or Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) are often barred from competition due to a lack of vaccine records, while horses that have recently received live virus vaccines, known to shed viral particles, are considered safe. This raises an important question: should disease resistance be measured solely by pharmaceutical intervention, or is there value in the body's natural ability to defend itself?

The role of vaccination in controlling disease is undeniable, but the reliance on rigid protocols without considering the complexities of immunity could have unintended consequences. Historically, populations that develop natural resistance to diseases contribute to the long-term stability of species. By systematically removing disease-resistant individuals or sidelining naturally immune horses from competition, we risk narrowing the genetic pool, making future generations more susceptible to emerging health challenges.

Concerns about vaccine shedding, while acknowledged in some veterinary circles, remain an under explored topic in equine health regulations. If shedding can occur, particularly with modified-live virus vaccines, it is worth examining whether existing competition rules fairly assess the risks posed by both vaccinated and naturally immune horses. The goal should not be to eliminate vaccines but to ensure that regulations reflect a balanced understanding of immunity—one that integrates both medical advancements and the body's own defenses.

Beyond the equestrian world, this debate carries broader implications for the future of domesticated species. As veterinary policies increasingly favor pharmaceutical dependence over genetic resilience, we must ask whether we are moving toward a system that inadvertently weakens the very animals it seeks to protect. Over-reliance on external interventions could lead to a future where domesticated species are no longer capable of surviving without continuous human management, an outcome that could have lasting consequences for biodiversity and sustainability.

When a fundamental part of nature is suppressed, the system falters. Likewise, if we continue sidelining natural immunity in favor of rigid control measures, we may find ourselves engineering fragility rather than fostering strength.

Rather than approaching disease control with an all or nothing mindset, a more nuanced perspective could provide better outcomes. Recognizing natural immunity as a valuable asset, allowing horses with proven recovery records to compete under appropriate guidelines, and conducting further research into vaccine shedding risks are all steps toward a more informed and sustainable approach. Regulation should evolve alongside science, not remain static in the face of new insights.

The BC ostrich case and ongoing debates in the horse industry remind us that progress in animal health should not come at the cost of biological intelligence. By maintaining an open dialogue between regulators, veterinarians, and animal owners, we can develop policies that protect both individual animals and the long-term resilience of their species. The goal should not be to reject vaccines or regulation outright but to ensure that policies reflect a holistic understanding of health that acknowledges the complexity of immunity and the need for adaptability in an ever-changing world.

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03/01/2025

The First Step Towards a New Era in Horsemanship!

Today was a success! The first STEP Trainer Certification Program first info srop is complete, and the journey has officially begun. This isn’t just another training course,
it’s a shift in perspective, a deep dive into the unseen forces that shape balance, movement, and connection between horse and human.

Over the next three weeks, students will embark on their first assignment: collecting data on three horses each. A trainer's power of observation is the foundation of understanding.
Before they step deeper into the process, they must first see the patterns, asymmetries, and energies at play in horses.

Tonight, YouTube links will go out, setting the stage for the next phase of learning. The real work begins now. I can’t wait to see how each student unfolds their own discoveries.

This is more than certification; it’s a revolution in horsemanship.
One step at a time, we’re making horse training GREAT AGAIN!

03/01/2025

A New Era in Horsemanship Begins Today!

Today marks the official start of the STEP Trainer’s Certification program. It's a journey unlike any other in the world of horse training.

From the moment students step in, they leave behind their past education and experiences. Why? Because this course invites them to see through a completely different lens. It places you in the horse’s perspective.

It takes courage to enter this “twilight zone” of discovery, where balance isn't just a concept, but a living force that reshapes everything horse trainers thought they knew.

Once they experience how true balance works, there's no turning back. No more falling for quick fixes or gimmicks. STEP Horsemanship transforms our prespective. It aligns actions with intention, refining communication. Students are stepping into a whole new understanding of horses, movement, form and energy.

With every student who embraces this knowledge, we’re shaping the future of horsemanship.

Make Balanced Horses GREAT AGAIN!

That is the goal at the Balanced Horse Project.

02/27/2025

An anniversary surprise, in the form of Gunny has inspired us to reach for our dreams that we had when we met. Frank is, a true QH guy. I'm the English chick trying not to over compensate. Well we are quite the pair after 30 years.

Frank has his own dreams in life.Sometime they conflict with my hermit qualities. With Gunny's arrival, things need to grow forward. We have a wonderful farm that we never developed because we were on the road too much.

Frank wants to take over the barn and sell horses after they have completed our program. We know it's a good choice because of the unsolicited number of horses signed up for in house STEP training, in the coming weeks.

We weren't expecting to own Gunny but fate put him on our path. It's perfect. We've known him since Shana purchased him as a weanling reiner. But he will be too tall for reining so he was needing a new home.

He is the only horse that we could buy who has been in the Prep STEP program from the beginning. Now we can take him forward, and test our philosophy in the showring.

We’re graced with a truck. Then the gooseneck trailer showed up. Now we have Gunny. Yesterday I watched a man silently smile with the arrival of a wellbred QH horse.

Frank is stepping up to take over the horse operations so I can focus on teaching the STEP Training Certification and hosting retreats. We will continue the trips out for horse owners who can't ship in.

Something wonderful happens every day. The trick is, to notice when great opportunities come your way.

02/26/2025

The test drive of the truck and trailer was successful.
We drove around the block and PRESTO! Magically we returned home with a golden horse.

Thank you Shana for approving Gunny purhase by the Balanced Horse Project. Frank is in Quarter horse heaven.

02/25/2025

We did a test drive with the truck and trailer. Tomorrow I pick up a new horse.

02/25/2025

Breaking Through the Gates

Have you ever felt like the world only lets us see part of the truth? In horse training, just like in life, there are unseen forces shaping what we’re allowed to do and know?

“You can’t do this.”
“You can’t use that.”
“This problem is your fault.”

But what if the real truth isn’t about restriction but about redirection? What if the answers have always been there, yet the gatekeepers constantly stop us from reclaiming what we’ve forgotten?

When we step beyond accepted knowledge, we rediscover something profound.

I’ve seen this firsthand with horses. For years, I watched them struggle under misguided training methods, told that this was the “only way.” But when I let go of those imposed limits, I witnessed something extraordinary; the horses moved freely, reborn in balance, without force or resistance.

The deeper I go, the more undeniable it becomes that forgotten wisdom holds the key. It’s the missing link modern training has overlooked, a knowledge that extends beyond what we’ve been taught to accept.

When we step beyond those boundaries, we don’t just change the way we train, we change the way we see. We reconnect with something ancient, something true. And in that space, the horse moves as it was always meant to, with balance, freedom, and harmony.

Have you ever challenged what you were told was possible? What did you discover when you did?

02/24/2025

Sunny a QH and Norde an OTTB, make up our Charleston crew. In just 5 days we can post their first STEP training session results.

Both horses are in the transitional phase.

Sunny, the handsome chestnut, has discovered his hips are flexible. With a newfound balance he has the confidence to challenge for group leadership.

Meanwhile, Norde is lifting off the forehand and feeling the effects of weak torn muscles.

These horses are clearly feeling the benefits of our simple yet powerful training program. What we do, may not make sense to people. Somehow the roughest horse will have a crystal clear idea about the process. They surrender instead of resist.

The toughest part of STEP is the the owner rider or trainer need to sit back and relax. Doing nothing is harder then you think.

STEP Training is as simple, as giving the horse, space to integrate what they've learned. It means horse training is really that simple but we make it complicated for some reason.

For a couple of weeks we will watch, wait, and love the horse. It's exactly what they need.

If you think STEP Training is as waste of time, then you are missing out on riding a balanced horse.

Thanks to Wanda J. for capturing Sunny's proud moment, testing his new body.

Amanda, I appreciate these photos of Norde's self correction.

When you're ready to train ride or breed a balanced horse, keep the BHP's STEP Training programs in mind.

02/23/2025

Hello, everyone!

We're thrilled to share the highlights of our recent STEP Training road trip to South Carolina. The journey was both enlightening and inspiring, providing us with fresh insights to enhance the introduction of our training programs.

Rosalina was an amazing moment.
Seven's knuckle over knee has straighten.He can be stress tested with a rider's wait. We worked with 2 TB's. Both showed immediate improvement to their postures.
A free range QH shifted his barrel. He needs another STEP session.
Bay grey and palomino mares kept us busy. The weather limited teaching a riding lesson.

Now that we're back home, we're eager to resume work with our Off-The-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) He has regained body confidence and is looking fabulous. I. Mar another OTTB mare arrives from another trainer. On Feb 28 I pick up my first ranch horse canidate to develop.

It's time I invested in my skills and bring out promising young horse capable of achieve top rankings in their discipline. So I'm really excited to appeal STEP to my own competition horses.

At our farm, offer owners access to under used resources. The STEP Reset Training is included as part of our flexible training board options. Whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly board, our STEP program has garnered success among local horse owners and trainers.

We invite owners to send their horses if they are seeking solutions, long lasting results and consistent performance and happy atitudes.

Ih owners want to immerse themselves in our training philosophy by joining us for a weekend or even a full week, you'll learn the fundamentals of w-holistic connection that strengthen your understanding of the horse. We open the farm i. the Spring and Fall. If this interest you, bookings are open for Mid Mar to mid May..OH you can bring your horse too.

Many owners are on a journey, whether it's the earn a metal of ride mountain trails, My journey blessed with the opportunity to do real research and ride the balanced results. When you are ready to experience STEP training and it's rewards we offer a list of services and programs which are available to those who inquire.

Until then STEP forward and never look back.

02/22/2025

The Magic of Teamwork in STEP Training
Mares are the mistresses of magic. They know their worth, both as mothers and as the matriarchs of their herds. They guard their bodies with a quiet self respect and willful strength, when their physical integrity is threatened. And when trust is lost, regaining it requires patience, presence, and a specail touch.

Rosalina had been through the wringer. She was as wild as a deer when we last visited MNR Training Center. Her wary, sharp mind was haunted by trainers who mistook her self preservation for deliberate disrespect. Today, however, she tempered her fears and had a different experience.

I showed Miranda North Rawson, the career trainer how to invite Rosalina in by intuitively suggesting Rosalina had permission to touch the human. It's a lesson in trust were the human is lead by emotion and not by the eyes. Mustangs taught me how the piercing threat of human eyes created boundaries of mistrust and anxiety.
When the eyes are removed, the horse understands we are not a predator on the hunt.

When Rosalina volunteered her touch, Miranda had permission from the horse to open a door that force could never achieve.

For a month Miranda met Rosalina with something simple, like sitting with her to mirror the horse's breathing. Consistency and just being with Rosalina paid off. Miranda earned the right to touch the body of a regal mare. She added brushes ropes and asked a lot from a traumatized horse.

To outsiders, it may seem insignificant, but in the world of horses, this quiet presence speaks volumes. These are the things we rarely talk about. The knowledge once woven into horsemanship that has been slowly eroded by modern methods. It's the moments of being together is a silent envelope that holds a powerful training gift. TRUST.

Today, that knowledge proved invaluable. We faced a horse who in a split second could explode and injured someone. As Miranda softened her energy, I reintroduced myself. Rosalina instantly remembered me. Within minutes, I was able to touch Rosalina freely. I escalated from whisper touches to slap patting her body like any other horse. I wrapped a heavy cotton rope around her neck. Instead of fleeing, she stayed. She chose to stay. Trust was forming.
Then it was Frank’s turn. With his eyes down in quiet respect, he stepped into her space, and we began the STEP routine. Rosalina remained still, allowing him to touch and move her without fear, until he reached her legs. Each time she pulled back, we heard the sharp pop of her joints. She would pause as painful echos of the past formed memories of falling while hitched to a buggy. The last trainer had laid her down to make a point. Judging by the sounds of her body today, it must have been a battle of a mare's instinctive will and sheer mechanical force.

We paused halfway through the STEP 1 sequence, letting Rosalina process the shifts happening within her. Then, as often happens when intuitive trainers stand within the energy field of a horse, emotional/physical, a wave of released trauma from Rosalina's chest struck Miranda who was holding the shrank. Tears welled up and softly spilled over. The tension Rosalina had carried alone for so long unfolded to reveal ,the most beautiful moment.

Frank turned to leave, and Rosalina followed. Without hesitation, she chose to walk toward the very thing she once feared. A man! Frank turned back, wrapping his arms around the mare who had just trusted him with her life. A simple, quiet hug.

To reinforce her new found confidence I step in, lighthearted and playful,, giving Miranda a moment to breathe. As Frank left again, Rosalina turned to follow once more.

A horse who once could not trust walked freely beside a stranger.
This is what success looks like. It's not in grand gestures or forced submission, but in the quiet, sacred moments where trust is given freely. The simple things we so often take for granted are, in truth, the most powerful.