HHF-Harkey Horsemanship

07/14/2025

07/09/2025

Big thanks to South Carolina Voyager Magazine for asking me to be a part of their Inspiring Stories series! I love their mission with this series to bring attention (and hopefully business) to local small businesses, artists and creatives, entrepreneurs, and dusty, sweaty horse trainers and farmers like us!
Go give this article a read, go check out some of the other folks from the series, and as always, if we can help you on your equine journey or if you’re interested in learning more, shoot us a message!
Www.helmshillfarms.com

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phoebe Rowan Harkey. Hi Phoebe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.My husband, Ben, and I started Harkey Horsemanship back in the beginning of 2020, right before COVID hit. Ben started riding at a young age and has spen...

07/07/2025

The Power of Slow: Why Slow Work Is Beneficial for Horses

In a world where fast-paced training, high-level competition, and immediate results often take the spotlight, the value of slow, deliberate work with horses is sometimes overlooked. Yet, slow work is one of the most powerful, foundational tools in developing a sound, balanced, and mentally healthy horse—regardless of discipline or breed.

Whether you're bringing on a young horse, rehabbing an older one, or simply trying to build a better partnership, slow work is essential. Here’s why.

---

1. Builds Strong, Healthy Muscles and Soft Tissue

One of the most important reasons to include slow work in your training is its effect on the musculoskeletal system:

Encourages correct muscle development over the back, shoulders, and hindquarters

Reduces the risk of strain injuries by gradually conditioning ligaments and tendons

Strengthens core muscles that support balance, posture, and self-carriage

When horses move slowly, they must engage their bodies more mindfully, using strength and stability rather than momentum. This leads to correct movement patterns and long-term soundness.

Slow work also asks the joints to flex more.

---

2. Enhances Balance, Coordination, and Proprioception

Slow work helps horses:

Find their balance without rushing

Improve coordination as they become more aware of where their feet are

Develop better body control through transitions, bending, and straightness

This is especially important for young horses, horses returning from injury, or those struggling with crookedness or tension. By removing speed, you give the horse time to understand and organize its body.

---

3. Supports the Horse's Mind and Nervous System

Fast work can easily overstimulate a horse—particularly young, anxious, or sensitive ones. Slow work:

Calms the nervous system

Encourages focus and thoughtfulness

Builds confidence through repetition and clarity

Reduces tension and mental resistance

A relaxed horse is a thinking horse. Slow work allows them to understand what's being asked without triggering their flight instinct.

---

4. Teaches Body Awareness and Responsiveness

In slow work, every step counts. This helps the horse become more:

Responsive to light aids

Aware of their body placement

Willing to carry themselves rather than rely on the rider or speed

This kind of responsiveness builds the base for higher-level maneuvers later, whether that’s collection, lateral work, jumping, or precise movements in a show ring.

---

5. Prepares the Horse for More Advanced Work

You can’t build brilliance on an unstable foundation. Slow work is the groundwork for:

Collection and engagement

Suppleness and straightness

Rhythm and regularity

Lateral work and transitions

Skipping slow work may get quick results short-term, but it often leads to physical issues, behavioral resistance, or training holes down the line.

---

6. Benefits for Riders, Too

It’s not just the horse who benefits—slow work helps riders:

Improve their feel and timing

Develop a softer, more independent seat

Build better communication and trust

Address their own balance and posture

By slowing everything down, riders can become more aware of subtle changes and learn to work with the horse instead of pushing against resistance.

---

How to Incorporate Slow Work

Here are a few simple ways to bring more slow work into your training:

Long, slow walks (in hand or under saddle) to build muscle and calm the mind

Pole work at the walk to engage the core and improve body awareness

Lateral work (shoulder-in, leg yield, turn on the forehand) at walk or slow trot

Slow, controlled transitions between and within gaits

Hill work at the walk for strength and balance

Stretching and bending exercises to loosen and align the body

Consistency is key. These don't need to be long sessions—just thoughtful and regular.

---

Conclusion

Slow work isn’t “easy” or “lazy”—it’s intelligent, intentional, and incredibly effective. By removing speed, we give the horse time to learn, strengthen, and settle. Whether you’re working toward competition or simply building a better relationship with your horse, embracing the value of slow work will reward you with a more balanced, supple, and confident partner.

07/06/2025

07/05/2025

As a bodyworker for many different facilities, I get to have some really cool conversations with knowledgeable horse owners and various equine professionals. Here are some of my favorite big ideas and tips that I think would benefit everyone in this industry.

1. You only know what you know, when you know it.

Have grace with yourself on your horsemanship journey, everyone starts at square one. It’s a roller coaster and terrifying at times, don’t give up. You’ll regret it if you do.

2. It takes a village.

Vets, farriers, trainers, saddle fitters, bodyworkers, facility managers, everyone matters…even if you missed this small just named list. No one person or specialty area has all of the pieces. If you’re a progressional, refer!

3. The more you expect from your horse, the more you must support them.

Cutting corners on maintenance and preventative care catches up to you in the long run. Absolutely take it a step at a time as needed, but don’t sweep an issue under the rug and expect it to fix itself.

4. Horses are athletes, train and condition them like one.

Is your horse physically in shape and capable to do the job you’ve given it? Getting a horse in shape correctly from square one is a very slow process.

5. Warm-up. Always.

15 minutes minimum, walking only, at the start of every ride. Cheapest and easiest preventative or maintenance act out there.

6. Never stop learning.

Not one person knows it all, every horse or horse person could have something to teach you. Don’t become stagnant. Don’t be a professional that gate keeps information.

7. No hoof, no horse.

Take care of your talented farrier, several big picture issues can start or be prevented in the hoof. A little bit of correct hoof knowledge can go a long way for every one that owns a horse.

8. Always keep the horse first.

Advocate for them, look for small changes before they become big problems. Be aware of the big picture for them, even if it painfully may not align with your riding goals.

9. Horses don’t have a placebo effect.

If they’re acting out, there is a reason. Dig to find the source. Rule out pain, take a look at your horsemanship and management, behavioral issues, and evaluate holes in training. It’s usually not the horses fault. Horses don’t limp for funsies.

10. Take nutrition seriously.

Nutrition affects so many things and your horse needs the proper fuel to do what is expected of them. Don’t be afraid to seek professional guidance and make changes as needs change.

07/04/2025

I saw this question today in a FB group :

“Where can I find a good price for lessons?”

It’s a common one, and often mostly refers to kids lessons - the question today was specifically looking for lead line. As if that somehow should even be cheaper….

And honestly? While we’re not a riding school - every time I hear it, I shake my head as the person asking has no idea what they’re actually asking

Let’s unpack what a “good price” means

You’re not just paying for 30 or 60 minutes of lessons

You’re paying for everything it took to make that experience possible, and safe (and FWIW, even lead line ponies need to be safe - none of this changes)

Let’s walk through it:

A well-adjusted, healthy, SAFE horse

That horse doesn’t exist by accident. They’ve had hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of groundwork, handling, & schooling before ever being trusted with you or your child - sometimes they are even given a warm up schooling just before your lesson

That training & preparation isn’t a billable service, but it’s still time, wages, paid trainers, and wear, and it’s absolutely ESSENTIAL, so that quite frankly, that your kid doesn’t die

Daily facility care:

Manure doesn’t clean itself
Shavings don’t walk into stalls
Water buckets don’t refill magically
HayNets don’t autofill

A good barn is safe, clean, and well-run, which means qualified people show up daily to make sure no one’s slipping, colicking, or standing in filth - every day, before the lessons start and long after they’ve ended at night - no matter the weather,

even if it’s a holiday, even on Christmas Day

Routine and emergency vet care.l

They’re up to date on worming, dental, vaccinations, and pain management. And if something big comes up, it gets handled quickly.

Farrier care every 4–6 weeks

Shoes or trims, rain or shine. A lame horse doesn’t give safe lessons. Farriers don’t work for free and metal is expensive …

Quality feed and supplements:
Good quality tested hay (not cheap), alfalfa, supplements, and grain for some

Bodywork and wellness care:
Lesson horses get sore. Especially when carrying beginner riders who bounce, grip, lean on their backs and pull on their mouths

A good barn makes sure those horses aren’t silently suffering and they budget for chiro, massage, and whatever else is needed to keep them going comfortably

That care includes adequate DOWNTIME. Way more time not being ridden then in lessons. So that means they often have mores horses to care for than available lesson time slots.

Well-fitting tack:

Well-priced barns use tack that fits, because a horse in pain is not a safe horse,and its cruel

Safe facility:
An arena with good footing prevents slips, strains, and tendon injuries - and keeps you in the saddle instead of the dirt

A building and paddocks that are free of hazards, and mud so the horses are safe in their downtime

Repairs for what the horses will eventually break - and trust me, they break things with glee…

All of that takes maintenance, money, machines and expertise to manage
Insurance

And finally….your instructor:

The person you’re trusting with you or your child’s safety (and the horse’s well-being) should be:

• Professionally trained
• Skilled with both horses and humans
• Calm under pressure
• Insured (on top of the facility insurance )
• Continuously developing their skills through training and mentorship

And they get paid only AFTER all of the above is covered.

Often, they’re making the bare minimum, just to give your family a magical, safe, unforgettable experience

And then they’re still paying for their own development, licensing, and insurance out of pocket

So the next time you’re looking for a “good price”…

Ask yourself this:

Do I want the cheapest? Or do i want my child (or myself) to be safe?

Because this is what a well priced lesson actually means:

The horse is sound. The tack fits. The footing holds. Their body and soul is well cared for

And the person in charge is actually qualified to take responsibility for you or your child.

And it’s all properly reflected in the price of the lesson, and allows for profit. Yes, profit, a riding school is a BUSINESS.

And if you want it to stay open in order to enjoy lessons now and in the future it needs to earn a profit, and its staff need to earn better than a living wage

Our pricing structure here is different because of the nature of the work we do - but I will say we aren’t inexpensive that’s for sure 😂

But believe me when I say,
I know viscerally what goes into every “well-priced” session people are out there searching for

And I tip my hat to every barn making it work

Share this if you ride.
Save it if you’re a horse parent.
Tag a barn owner or riding coach who needs to hear “thank you.”

And maybe a nudge to raise their prices 😉

06/27/2025

Harkey Horsemanship has an opening for a training or consignment horse in Ellenboro, NC, close to Tryon, Hickory, and Upstate SC. We also have full care pasture board, stall board, and lesson options available!
Horses in our program receive individualized training sessions to meet the horse where they’re at and forge a path forward together, 24/7 access to quality hay and/or forage, tailored nutrition, and fully insured trainers who’ve honed their skills over decades of experience and are constantly seeking to improve their knowledge to better the horse.
Shoot us a message on FB, email, check out our website, or text the number listed for more info!
Www.helmshillfarms.com

06/24/2025

The Small Trainer/instructor/coach/friend

That moment when your horse is just slightly off, not lame, not colicky, just… weird.
You’re staring at them, they’re staring at you, and neither of you has a clue.

But the small trainer? They notice.

Find a trainer who actually sees you. Sees your horse. Sees that your inside leg is flapping like a fish and kindly pretends not to notice, until you’re ready to hear it.

Because not every big-name rider in a fancy yard is the right fit.

A trainer isn’t just there to shout “MORE LEG!” while sipping coffee from the safety of the arena fence.

A real trainer guides you, teaches you, picks you up when you fall (both literally and emotionally), and occasionally reminds you to breathe.

Before you send your horse off to a big, famous rider, ask yourself:

Are they going to take the time to know you and your horse?
Or will they take one look at your slightly confused face and your horse’s “I work on my schedule” attitude and move on to the next client?

Because it’s the small trainer who actually gives you a chance.

The one who believes in you, even when you’re convinced you’ll never canter in a straight line.

The one who doesn’t judge when you say, I’ve never done this before, but why not?

The one who takes an extra 30 minutes just to make sure that turn is exactly right, so you leave the arena feeling like Carl Hester(even if your horse is feeling more like a Thelwell pony).

The one who’s walking through the yard at 10pm, checking on your horse like an overprotective parent.

The one trying to make your dreams affordable (because, let’s be honest, we all know horses eat money for breakfast).

The one who actually wants your horse to enjoy their job, not just tolerate it.

The one who will try every trick in the book (and some that aren’t in the book) to get the absolute best out of your horse.

That’s why I’m training to be more than just an instructor.
I’m training to be a coach, a mentor, a friend.
Someone who sees you, supports you, and doesn’t let you give up, no matter how many times you forget to sit up.

Because the small trainer?
They’re the ones who make the magic happen…
And they’re also the ones who will laugh with you (not at you)… when your horse suddenly remembers how to rodeo mid-lesson.

06/23/2025

Thanks for this, Karla Pohl:

06/20/2025

Silo says this counts as his intro to cat(tle) work. Salmon, however, didn’t much enjoy being herded