Sunny Side Horsemanship

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Farmville, VA
Sunny Side Horsemanship

Horsemanship trainer and coach. Helping others create connection & build confidence with compassion.

12/03/2025

In the quest for connection in human and equine relationships, it is not enough to simply listen to what one is saying.

We must listen to understand what one is truly communicating to us and then we must believe that their experience and emotion is as true to them as ours is to us.

Disbelief and rejection of one’s emotions and experiences is the fastest way to disconnect and strife.

It may look something like, “Really! That’s what you’re upset about? Get over it! That’s not really a big deal!”

How many times have you approached a situation with those thoughts even if you never said them out loud? Then wished for a better connection to help that being work through the problem.

12/02/2025

Today’s rainy weather special thanks goes to my FIL for letting me swipe his round bale unroller several years ago when I bought my tractor.

This handy tool has been a game changer for me and will definitely pay for itself if you decide to buy one.

By unrolling however much I want, picking up and being able to move to a different location or field, it significantly cuts down on waste, and the hay is spread out however much you want to reduce fighting and hay hoarding. The horses get dry, fresh hay even on the wettest of days and I save $ by reducing the waste.

It also has significantly improved my pastures. By being able to move it wherever I want in the field, I systematically reseed and fertilize my pastures over the winter while also reducing wear and tear from the horses and keeping them out of the muck. As soon as the grass starts really popping up in the spring, I go back to feeders in the sacrificial area of the field.

12/01/2025

First solo mini trail ride with Maverick. He did fantastic minus the trying to sprint back to the barn when we headed that direction. After a little redirection of that forward energy, he settled and walked back calmly and ended beautifully.

11/29/2025

I am not here to motivate. I am here to help educate the motivated.

I will not be calling and texting you to motivate you and make sure you’re doing the homework with frequency that I gave to you in our sessions together. That has to come from your desire to get better.

I will not be calling and texting you asking you to set up another appointment to work together. That has to come from your desire to want to learn more.

I will celebrate with you the milestones you achieve personally and with your horse. I will make the time in my schedule to set appointments with those who value what I offer and want to learn more.

I will give you resources and tools to help you grow and motivate yourself, but you have to want it. You have to decide you’re ready to grow and face the uncomfortable part that require growth. You have to choose your mindset each and every day.

11/28/2025

Leo learning how to come on over to the block for mounting. This neat tool is great for being out on the trails. They learn to come wherever you’re standing, stump, tailgate, ditch, etc. and pick you up for the ride.

11/27/2025

I am so very thankful for all the opportunities I am given in the lives of my family, friends and clients including being entrusted with training and teaching to help you achieve your goals while I chase mine.

A very happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, 2 and 4 legged.

11/26/2025

Speed up, hold steady on a loose rein, slow down, stop and stand quietly on a loose rein, walk off quietly when asked. Good boy Levi.

11/25/2025

Gaited horses can and should have the same basic skill sets as every other breed.

Skills like standing quietly for tying, tacking, and mounting. Being soft and responsive in a bosal or snaffle, walking quietly down the trail on a loose rein solo or in any order with a group. Being light and responsive to the rider regardless of whether other horses are amped up on the ride too, and able to increase and decrease energy (gait, canter, etc.) without fuss.

What else are some must haves for any horse you have?

11/24/2025

Living life to the fullest is knowing how to be where your feet are currently.

11/23/2025

Maverick on his first baby trail ride!

When getting youngsters under saddle, I get them out of the arena as quickly as is safely possible. The miles on trails creates a curious, forward horse that can emotionally regulate themselves better.

I like to start out with them following a baby sitter, then as they build confidence we’ll start going out solo. Once I feel confident that they are ready for it, we’ll even haul off farm for some additional exposure in different places.

Between trail rides, I’ll mix in arena rides teaching them how to carry themselves better and all the basic cues that begins to develop a fun and well rounded mount.

11/22/2025

Levi is here for some fine tuning and to build confidence on trails.

He comes from a barrel racing background and tends to be forward and most comfortable in an arena.

Our main focus right now is building confidence going out solo which includes being able to walk calmly back to the barn on a loose rein, and stop and stand quietly and patiently along the way.

11/21/2025

Working on narrow and mushy creek crossings with Leo. I have found that these are harder mentally for horses than a large crossing that you can ride down and through.

My goal when doing these is to teach the horse to slow down and quietly step through them rather than leaping and rushing.

Address

66 Lula Lane
Farmville, VA
23901

Telephone

+15406340040

Website

http://SunnySideHorsemanship.com/

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