Check out this adorable, stunning, incredible new weanling enrolled in the Harmonized Handling Program 😍 This stud colt named Romeo is here to learn how to be a well-adjusted, kind, happy, regulated and safe horsey citizen and I have to keep pinching myself that I get to play with a colt for “work” 🤩 A big thank you to David Presson and Jodi Maxson for the opportunity and trust to bring this special boy along. ❤️🫶🏻
Did you know that you can move your horse's legs with your mind? 🪄✨
In my latest online training video, Lena the Baby Fjord and I show you how to use intention and focus to move one leg at a time! Here's a little snippet from the video. You can see the entire session by joining the Online Program! DM me for details!
I’ve got some lovely horses for on-site lease available in Elizabeth, CO! Short and long term leases available!
All leases include lessons both on the ground at liberty and under saddle (if desired!) Lease fees are dependent on each horse’s needs, but they are budget friendly for those who need some horsey time and don’t have a horse of their own. Minimum 1 day per week and can go up to 4 days per week!
🦄 15yo Gelding. 15.2hh. FUN under saddle. Knows basic liberty work. Needs intermediate rider under saddle and on the ground.
🦄 18yo Mare. 16hh. Knows it all. Liberty, tricks, and bridleless riding. Safe and kind. Needs attention and cardio 😉
🦄 12yo gelding. Advanced liberty horse. Trained under saddle but has had time off so would be good for someone wanting to learn all the riding preparation stuff and how to bring their own horse along!
Shoot me a message if you’re interested! 🥰
Defensive horses are the most commonly mislabeled. People call them aggressive, b*tchy, mean, rude, pushy, etc. But, at their core, they are simply trying to protect themselves.
I have a new young filly in for training who has been regularly handled her whole life by a loving owner, but has never found any peace or relaxation with humans nor has she been able to soften her defenses. She is inconsistent in how she shows up to sessions -- sometimes she is fine to be caught, other times even just putting the halter on can be an anxiety-filled task.
So, she's here to see if we can get to the bottom of it and set her up for a life of happiness, relaxation, and joy instead of bracing and defensiveness.
I am filming a lot of her journey for my online members but wanted to share a little snippet here of her session yesterday, where we went from bracing and refusing to be touched to softening and resting while my hand was on her face.
✨ The message I share around the 2-minute mark of this edit is one that I am so passionate about and believe is very important for all of us to remember. And so, I wanted to share it here with all of you. ✨
Thanks for watching 🫶🏻
It’s the horse training tip of the day!
🤣😂
Some subtlety work at liberty with Cornetto 🩷
I chose to share this entire video because I think it demonstrates the level of detail I go into when beginning liberty work. I want the horse to learn to follow my shoulder and feel relaxed and good about the connection, finding focus without it being forced.
I want him to keep track of my body and what it’s doing and where it’s going, all while maintaining the good, soft feelings of friendship and mutual respect.
It might look “boring” to some, but I’ve found it’s an integral part of the building blocks that create a truly engaged liberty partner — not one who is only there because it’s really hard for them to leave.
Watch me as I try to not teach the already-too-spicy 3-year-old how to rear on cue because it would be so fun and so easy and she and I are totally bad influences on each other 🫢🤫
liberty work is so fun.
do it with your horse 🥳
need help learning? I'm here for you 😉
One of my favorite (and challenging) transformations to date 😍 This 3-year-old Westfalen gelding was SO uphill out of his withers that you can see in the before video there’s a massive dip in front of his withers and he’s so “downhill” from hind end to front end. 😳
He gave me a run for my money and for a while I wasn’t sure he was going to “get it.” But I kept rewarding the tiniest attempts of his nervous system to relax during movement and the one day it clicked and now he’s a stretchy junkie 😜 NOW we can work on developing the right muscles that will make him stronger, comfortable and more confident under saddle! 👏🏻
Self-Carriage?
Is self-carriage really self-carriage if the horse doesn't find it themselves?
Side reins, neck stretchers, draw reins, pessoa rigs... Bigger bits, tighter nosebands, leverage...
All of these things exist to "teach" a horse how to stretch and carry themselves. The problem with all of these tools is that your horse's first experience with contact is one that comes from resistance, pain, and constriction.
👉🏻 Mentally, side reins and any other head-restricting device are among the most detrimental things you can do to a horse's well-being. Taking autonomy of the head away from a prey animal who is designed to scan and observe their environment is painful for them in more ways than one.
This results in resistance from your horse... physically, mentally, and emotionally.
They will learn relatively quickly to put their head down and keep it where you want it to be because it's uncomfortable for it to be anywhere else. But, by observing the facial expression and musculature of the horse's neck, you can clearly see this is nothing more than obedience and box-checking to avoid the negative stimulus of bit or poll pressure.
Then the horse's view of contact comes from a place of resistance...and that resistance will slowly spread to all other aspects of their work because contact is present in everything we do under saddle.
Self-carriage has to be discovered, not taught. The horse has to find out that it actually feels better to stretch down and disengage their neck muscles. We can't force those muscles to relax any more than you can force someone to relax who doesn't want to.
So what do we do? We let the horse find it on their own through patience, positive reinforcement, and proper muscle development.
This gelding, Bear, had one of the most upside-down necks I have seen in a while. He didn't want to go forward and resisted any notions of contact. Through my program, he's learning to stretch down and release his body, and he's doing it without any gadgets, tie
🌬️ Harness the Power of Your Breath for a Stronger Bond with Your Horse 🌬️
Did you know that your breath can significantly impact your relationship with your horse? Let's talk about the transformative power of box breathing, specifically the 4-7-8 technique. This simple yet powerful exercise can help you stay calm, centered, and present...which in turn, helps your horse feel more relaxed and connected with you.
✨ What is 4-7-8 Breathing?
Inhale: Breathe in quietly through your nose for 4 seconds.
Hold: Hold your breath for a count of 7 seconds.
Exhale: Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whooshing sound for 8 seconds.
✨ Benefits of Box Breathing for You and Your Horse:
Reduces Stress: Helps calm the mind and body, reducing anxiety and tension.
Enhances Focus: Promotes mental clarity and focus, essential for effective horsemanship.
Improves Emotional Regulation: Aids in managing emotions, making you a more consistent and reliable partner for your horse.
Strengthens the Bond: Creates a shared calmness, deepening the connection and trust between you and your horse.
🌟 Try it now using this video as a guided breathing exercise 🌟
Take a few moments to practice 4-7-8 breathing in your next interaction with your horse. Notice how this simple exercise can shift your energy, making you more present and tuned in to your equine partner.
Remember, your horse can sense your emotions and energy. By practicing mindfulness through your breath, you’re not only benefiting yourself but also creating a more stable 😉 environment for your horse.
👉 Follow for more tips on enhancing your relationship with your horse through mindful practices.
#HarmonizedHorsemanship #MindfulHorsemanship #BoxBreathing #HorseTrainingTips
He’s doing it 👏
He’s trying so hard and he’s letting himself be brave.
After a week or so of minimal progress, I got quiet and I sat with him. I asked him what I should do.
I got a sudden bit of inspiration. I don’t know where it came from, but it said:
“Teach him something else. Stop trying to touch him. Everyone has tried to touch him for 2 years. Do something else.”
And then I saw a lunge whip in my mind. I was confused and wanted to resist the thought, but I trusted my intuition and I walked inside to get a whip.
I just followed my intuition for the next 30 minutes. But it was working. And after a few sessions like that one, he’s following “halter pressure” in the form of the string of the whip wrapped around his nose.
I never thought to try this because he was so reactive to touch on his face and under his chin. I would have thought this would have set him off into a panic. But he never panicked. He allowed it all and we’ve made more progress in the last 3 days than we’ve made in the last month and a half.
We’ve got this Sammy. We can do it! 🙌🏼🥰
In the last 24 hours, Sammy has:
1. Laid down and slept (with REM cycle) in the middle of the day. His human hasn’t seen him lay down once in the 2 years since round up. (I’m sure he has, but not during the day with humans around!) 🙌🏼
2. Allowed me to touch his shoulder and actually rest my hand there while he processed and did some licking and chewing ❤️
Way to go, my friend ✨🥳