Heather Lehigh Horsemanship

11/06/2024

Awwww! Thanks!🥰🥰

Heather Lehigh of Heather Lehigh Horsemanship works hard on her farm to provide top notch training for her clients and their horses! While working with her a few weeks ago her sidekick fell asleep on her shoulder! Heather you work so hard, sometimes you need to take a rest and BREATHE! Graceful Strides is Honored to call you a friend and client!

10/25/2024

Such a good man!🐎🩷 He loves his kids. These two are so cute together🥰

Also, no, Gideon is not pregnant😆

10/20/2024

Little snippets from a fun show yesterday😁
I am so proud of my girls! Horse and human!
This was my 2 students first show and a very big experience for them. Over all they did great! I told them we were taking it nice and slow and concerned about good horsemanship and having a good time rather than trying to keep up with the others. And they did. We'll work up the speed eventually. Both of them got their first taste of galloping and dealing with horses in big environments.
Chexy is a bit of a handful because she knows what arenas are all about but Sienna worked through it beautifully!
Ecco was much chiller than I thought she'd be and gave Madison some lovely even runs.
Last minute I decided to take Sheika...and I'm sooo happy I did.
Didn't get to ride her at all the week before so I didn't know what I'd have to deal with. But I rode her like she was an experienced finished horse...and she behaved like she was. When I went in for runs...I turned her loose like I never have before, and she rose to the occasion. I found out Sheika could actually get into running barrels if I started working her into that.
So if you want to see the run that made me smile so big, swipe to the last video😁😁😁

10/18/2024

Never really got around to an introduction post about Mo and shes been here almost a month already! Better late than never!
Mo is here to get back under saddle. She was started several years ago but then started showing signs of past injuries and put out as a broodmare while they worked at figuring out what was going on.
I almost sent Mo home as I wasn't confident on pushing through some of the physical issues she had previously...BUT... we did continue, and today...I saddled and rode Mo around the arena🥳🥳🥳
I think it's been a couple years since anyone was on her back so it was a big moment that she took in stride beautifully!
I've been learning a lot about conditioning and working through horse's physical issues this year😅
And that's one reason I love training. It always pushes me to be better and do better.
So, as long as Mo holds up with conditioning and strengthening work, y'all should see more of me riding her!

10/14/2024

"And all at once, summer collapsed into fall."
~Oscar Wilde

🧡🤎💛

I do believe it's the most beautiful time of the year.

Today I did something I don't normally do. I rode on Sunday. Normally it's a day to take a break from my normal horse-filled week and relax...away from horses. But Gideon was a pleasure to work with, so it didn't feel like work today. I could have fun and enjoy it.
Don't get me wrong, I do love the horses and riding and training but...like any job it can become monotonous. So today was great being able to step away from the trainer mentality (somewhat) and just ride to ride.

Pc
>>>

10/02/2024

Say hello to "SMOKIN RED GUY" a 2022 AQHA red roan stud c**t here to be started under saddle.
I have one past experience with this guy. I used him for a roundpenning demonstration back late spring/early summer (can't remember exactly when🙈)
Other than that, he's really had nothing, training wise.
In that demo, he challenged my every concept of roundpenning and made me scrap ALL my steps and methods that defined roundpenning in my mind.
Don't we love those types?😅
I actually do love him all the more for it.
He's still a challenge.
Today, I found out that even though he shows he remembers a lot of what we did that day, he still avoids me... until something switches (I have no idea what??🤯) and then he comes right in like we've been lifelong buddies.
I hope to figure out what facilitates the change. But I do love that he makes me once again realize that no two c**ts are the same or can be treated as such. They are all unique and make c**t starting fun rather than monotonous.
(And as far as I know, he'll be standing at stud next spring)

09/25/2024

Finally getting around to announcing the names of the new girls! After lots of great suggestions I've settled on
Red dun-Prairie Rose🌹 aka Prairie
Blue roan-Silver Mist 🩶 aka Syl
Loving these two little yearlings so much and finding out their individual personalities...which are completely opposite! Starting them in the spring should be interesting!
But yall know, I'm not waiting till next year to prep. That starts from day 1 and continues every day.
Both of them are complete sweethearts and lovely movers.
Sly has been very protective of her feet so far (and they are loooong) handling them is my priority right now. She was clipped and shaved though...makes me wonder what they had to do to her, to let them do that😖
Who's your favorite so far?

09/13/2024

Yesterday's Pine Grove Clinic was a blast! Thank you everyone who came out and made it possible!
But huge shout out to Gracie Graceful Strides Mobile Massage Therapy for all the time, energy, and insight you gave to each horse and participant!
I know everyone left with sooooo much info and a game plan to get their horse in a healthier and happier place.
Canoli the mechanical horse also was a huge hit and gave everyone position practice.

Definitely looking forward to doing it again!