Brenna Harken Dressage

05/09/2024

Wish and I are thankful for Empower Equine keeping Wish at her best with routine chiropractic adjustments. Having Katie’s knowledge as both a vet and a chiropractor is incredibly valuable to us. We can’t recommend Empower Equine enough!

04/26/2024

I had a 20 minute break in my schedule yesterday before my daughter woke up and a decision had to be made: pull the arena footing from the rail and have her join me in grooming it or an uninterrupted shower after 5 training rides. Needless to say, the countless “wow”s, “tractor”s and excited claps made the decision worth it.

04/15/2024

Another great weekend of lessons with Renae. She walked us through a few new exercises to help with throughness in the changes with Wish, resulting in a few beautiful, lofty changes!

I had the privilege of riding Athena, owned by a client of mine, as well as many of my students had an opportunity to ride with Renae as well. What a fun weekend as we continue to prepare for show season!

04/12/2024

Sam is starting to figure things out! Considering she only had two rides in the last year and a half, I am very excited to watch how she progresses over the next couple months.

04/03/2024

Brenna Harken Dressage welcomes Sam for a few months of training! Sam is a coming 6 year old Westfalen mare owned by Liz Walter. She has done extensive ground work but has very few rides under saddle. We are excited for the confidence she will gain under saddle during her time here!

03/10/2024

Thank you to Elk Mountain Photo for these pictures from the clinic!

03/10/2024

One of the things I miss most about training in WA is the access to a variety of clinicians. In Montana, the opportunities are not as readily available. I’m so thankful for an early morning lesson this weekend with Renae Talton from Kalispell. She helped us narrow in on encouraging Wish to keep her active hind end *under* while still maintaining some reach. Although she makes me work for it, I’m immeasurably thankful for this mare that is still willing to grow and progress at 18 years old!

02/09/2024

This is such a fun, welcoming event for everyone from the first time shower to the well seasoned upper level rider wanting another ride in front of a judge. I’m looking forward to presenting a few horses myself along with helping some clients do the same!

01/25/2024

Wonderful visuals here of the stages of engagement. I think often people expect that when a professional gets on their horse that they will be able to make them look like the end result. I often have people disappointed when they ask me to help make their horse more uphill and the first thing I ask is if their horse can stretch out and down, over their back into the contact. A professional should know how to encourage a horse to engage correctly and over time progress through the stages outlined. But it takes hours to *develop* the muscle, confidence, and understanding for the horse that is needed for upper level frame.

01/11/2024

While the temperature in the indoor remains above 0 for a few more hours, I let these two youngsters play. Although Bentley has been the easiest young horse to back, this video pretty accurately depicts how much maturing occurs between a 3 year old and 4 year old.

01/11/2024

With wind chill expected to be -40 this weekend, I appreciate these tips from On Course Equine Nutrition!

Negative 9 is cold, even for Southwest Montana, so Andrew and I hurried back from a ski trip as soon as we realized that an arctic blast was headed our way. I'm glad that we did, because these temperatures are "next level" cold and demand extra diligence! This was our first winter back in Montana, s...

12/23/2023

Spotlight Saturday: Clover owned by Becca Skoric-Barringer

When Becca bought Clover in May of 2023 as a four year old, Clover knew she was bigger and scarier than us humans. Because of this, Clover was barely halter broke at four. Becca has shown incredible patience, dedication and perseverance working through Clover’s pushy, sometimes confrontational behavior.

Clover came into my program 6 weeks ago with the intention of backing her this winter. Very quickly Clover showed much anxiety with anyone on her back which often resulted in explosive behavior. After 6 weeks of creatively growing her confidence under saddle and through ground driving, Clover is confidently walking, trotting, and steering under saddle! This video was taken during our second ride trotting, which she offered freely after only three solo rides. This mare has challenged my general approach to backing young horses but has reaffirmed the importance of individualized training.

11/09/2023

I found little Aemilia studying up on the FEI young rider test this morning. Only a matter of time before a pony is at the top of her wishlist!

09/29/2023

Can you believe this sweet boy is only 3 years old?! It has been an absolute pleasure backing this young horse, continuing to put training on him, as well as provide insight for his wonderful rider Gianna Lishman. I’ve never met a 3 year old with a work ethic like Mr. Bentley!

09/24/2023

Saturday Spotlight: First Wish owned by Brenna Harken

Wish continues to amaze me! I have had Wish for 4 years, although she took the back burner to client’s horses the first couple years of us together. It was evident early on that Wish wasn’t sold out to dressage, desiring most to be a mom again. However, after losing a foal this winter we started incorporating more cross training into her regimen. Although I did not know much about jumping, she made it clear how much she loves it- so I have been learning! Without listening to this desire of hers, I do not believe we could have made the advancements in our dressage training that we have in the last 6 months. Today she went down centerline for the first time at 3rd level, scoring 64+% and then went out to enjoy the cross-country course. You can’t find a more versatile mare and I am very honored to get to enjoy her and learn from her!

08/12/2023

Saturday spotlight: Donahue aka Huey (a De Niro Gold offspring)

Huey is an incredibly talented, and incredibly large young horse owned by Jill Hamilton. At just over 17.1h at 3 years old, Jill has done a wonderful job taking things slow with Huey to allow him to mature physically and mentally. Huey joined my program in part-time training for just a few months to help sharpen his aids on the ground, grow in his ability to stay focused on his handler, and to learn more about being a good working boy! This has included introducing long lining, lunging with very loose side reins, and next week will include work from in the saddle! Jill has done an incredible job with him thus far and I’m excited to watch them develop and provide guidance when desired.

07/22/2023

Saturday Spotlight: Gianna Lishman and Bentley

Bentley is an incredible 3 year old Warmblood that I have had the pleasure of starting under saddle this spring and have continued to develop. Bentley has been the easiest 3 year old I have ever worked with! He has been under saddle less than three months and is already learning to stretch to the contact, lift his back and easily gets his leads. His confident yet steady demeanor has already made it possible to incorporate cavalettis, solo hacks around the property, and hill work part of his weekly routine. It has been an absolute joy to start this gelding and work with him and his rider Gianna Lishman, who is shown below riding Bentley after he had only been under saddle 3 weeks!

07/15/2023

Spotlight Saturday! Julia Pattin and Athena

I have had the pleasure of working with Julia for almost 2 years. I began training her and her late gelding Harley. After Harley passed Julia found Athena- a young (3 year old at the time now 5), undernourished Clydesdale from Amish country. Little did we know that she would be the sportiest draft you have ever met!

She has taken to dressage wonderfully, capturing the eye of any bystander with her elegance and presence. It has truly been a joy building up this horse and rider pair. Athena is now schooling first and second level movements with ease and I am so excited to continue to present her in the competition arena.

07/03/2023

Brenna Harken Dressage was established in 2021 after I moved back to Helena, MT with my husband. I am a USDF bronze and silver medalist working primarily out of Juniper Hill Stable. I value patient yet consistent training, developing horses over their top line to excel in the dressage arena. I have been professionally training for close to 5 years having worked closely with well known Grand Prix trainers, judges, and clinicians from around the country.