Indy O'Connor, Agape Horsemanship

03/15/2025

Yep!

True story :D
credits: Pinterest

03/10/2025

03/09/2025

Here’s the second free preview video.

03/09/2025

Ok folks, here are two free previews of basic horsemanship videos I’ve been working on. I will probably tweak or redo them because I’m a perfectionist. Once I’m happy with them, I’ll be posting a reel on various social media platforms with a link to purchase the video series. I’m also working on a podcast called Wild Agape where I discuss how horses help us become better people. I’ll have guests and include my experience as an ordained minister, a school teacher, and a professional horseman. Look for the announcement of the podcast in the coming weeks.

03/09/2025

😂

03/09/2025

I am often asked, usually in a condescending manner, why someone should take so long to do all the groundwork and spend so much time working on the little things, or why I do so much slow work in the saddle? My response is that you don’t have to ride like me or Buck Brannaman, or Ray Hunt, but if you want a partner in your horse versus a tool to get a job done, then you have to treat horsemanship as an art. True art requires time and a fierce dedication to details and technique. To be a true horsemanship artist, one must decide to not be mediocre, or a simple exercise rider. It requires extreme discipline and although it might take longer on the front end, the back end will result in a true partnership between horse and human. It depends on what you’re after in your horsemanship.

10/30/2024

First time this wild horse has had a bull whip cracked off her back. Took all of ten minutes. The right horsemanship matters!

09/06/2024

I thought I would share this kind endorsement from one of my horsemanship students who happens to be one of the co-hosts of my upcoming October clinic in Gilbert, AZ. Thank you Natalie for your kind words!

I wanted to give my personal experience with Indy as a natural horsemanship trainer. I adopted two wild mustangs Feb 2024. One was a 2 yr old mare that had been gentled, and one was her mom, a 7 yr old, who was still fairly wild. With caution she could be haltered by those she trusted and that was about it. After getting some basics I was off working with both mares on ground work and in essence 'c**t starting' on my own with guidance and advice from Indy. He taught me the skills, I brought it back to my girls. I have zero experience with horse training. I have ridden family or friends horses through out my youth but never taken on new untested and wild horses. Fast forward to May. I started working hard on getting a first ride with my 7 yr old. We started discussing what it would look like and where she and I both needed to be. Then in July we had our first ride. Indy has the ability to sense where both the rider and horse is at. Originally during that session he wanted to wait for the first ride to happen, then after one exercise, he changed his mind and the first ride went off without a hitch. I've been riding her and working with her ever since as we move on to the different phases of under saddle training. Learning from Indy has built my confidence, my horses confidence, and overall changed how I look at the relationship between my horses and myself. He believes strongly in the rider being the one working with their horse so both learn and improve together. I can attest what this method can build between horse and rider. I can also attest that Indy will meet you where you are at and build your abilities beyond what you feel capable of. Whether you are just starting out, or have been in it a while but need a different way to get better results, consider taking this clinic and seeing what could be possible.
-Natalie Zarkou

05/01/2024

I will be the discussing my journey as a horseman and my work with the Wild Horse Inmate Program in Arizona on the On The Move podcast tomorrow, Thursday 5/2 at 4pm mountain time. I’m honored to be doing it!Once the podcast is taped it will be on their page as well. Log on tomorrow and check out our conversation or visit their page once it’s posted. Below is the link to their page. On the Move interviews professionals in the horse industry including Buck Brannaman. I’m looking forward to sharing my journey with horses!🐴

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088183991577&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Find On The Move everywhere else podcasts are available.

04/18/2024

Arizona horse friends, I am putting together a video series on foundational groundwork and am looking for horse owners who would like to volunteer their horses to appear in the videos. This video series would demonstrate the essential foundational groundwork steps that build a strong partnership with your horse, both on the ground and in the saddle. Problem solving will also be a part of the series. If you are interested, please DM me and I can give you more details.

03/04/2024

It is with profound sadness that I share the news that we had to say goodbye today to my best horse and best horsemanship teacher, Chief. Chief has been my partner for over 20 years. He lived to be 35 years old. Chief was retired a few years ago and arthritis and old age caught up with him. He traveled the country doing clinics with me, introduced countless people to the joy and beauty of horses, took many a child on their first ride, and helped me become the horseman I am today. I will miss him dearly! Now his pain is over, and he runs free in God’s green pastures. We will meet again one day my brother. I will forever be indebted to you and the lessons you taught me.