Renegade Wind, LLC: Equine Learning Center

12/19/2024

Nick supervising Cate’s target work with Whiskey Rose. He takes his role of master teacher very seriously. 

12/17/2024

This is my friend and student, Anna, teaching her pony, Mocha, to toss a little towel to her. What is really amazing though is that Mocha is blind. She is shepherded around by some of the sheep on their farm. In the comments, Regina is the ewe in the pic, one of Mocha’s guides. Big kudos to Anna for finding ways to enrich her pony’s life.

12/17/2024

This is my friend and student, Anna, with her pony Mocha. Anna has taught her to toss a little towel to her. But what is extra special is that Mocha is blind. The accompanying pic in the first comment shows Regina, one of their sheep who helps Mocha get around. Pretty amazing!

11/09/2024

10/25/2024

Quinn and Leo getting in some exercise on a beautiful fall day. Ivan thought it was exciting.

10/25/2024

My buddy, Nick

10/19/2024

Sammie and China learning to ground drive. Perfect fall weather today!

10/11/2024

Enjoying this weather!

10/02/2024

Love this!

⚠️ WARNING CONTENT MAY OFFEND SOME READERS ⚠️

"My horse is being wasted sitting in the paddock so I need to sell it!"
🫣🫣🫣

The attitude that horses are only worth putting money into if they are ridable, is the same attitude as the only people worthy of having a home and love, are those that have high end jobs and bring in lots of money. 🤯
That would be illegal and inhumane in humansville.

🤔 Why is it that horses are only valuable to so many humans if there is only something in it for the human such as riding?
🤔 Why are so many horses seen as dispensable objects like cars?
🤔 Why are horses not worthy of being purchased or loved if they are deemed not ridable?

I am referring to a common attitude or an opinion that the horse's role on this earth is to serve our human want of riding. The idea that a horse can just be with a human and never be ridden is so foreign for most.

It's offensive to read that right?
Of course it is!
Most of us are taught from a young age that horses are for riding. This then translates into a human belief and I just challenged your belief system unless you believe otherwise. This is why those words are offensive. BUT we know no different, until we learn a different perspective.

🤓 So let's look at a different perspective...

Firstly, there is nothing in the rule book that says horses HAVE to be ridden, that is purely a human "want".
Don't ever feel the need to justify why you put money into your non ridden equine partner if you choose not to ride. If just being with your horse fills your heart, then that is all the justification you need!

I'm not saying never ride your horse, I'm saying work on seeing riding as the next phase of your relationship instead of the first, and often only, thing you can do with your horse.

Think of when you first meet a prospective human partner. You generally don't just demand to move in to their house and jump to the most advanced level of the relationship.
No, you get to know them. Build trust. Build emotional, mental and physical confidence in them. Learn how to effectively communicate with them. Learn how they behave when they feel a certain way. Learn about their dislikes and likes. Learn about what motivates them. You spend time dating, enjoying each other's company and growing together somewhat, before you start thinking about moving in together and taking the world on in a more advanced level.

If we saw horses like this, where relationship is more important than the act of riding, then everything would be so different.

Sure, riding is a PART of the relationship, the NEXT PHASE of the relationship. It is NOT "THE" relationship and it certainly isn't what starts the relationship.
If done slowly, respectfully, kindly, fairly and sensitively, riding can play a role in deepening the relationship that has already been created on the ground.

The ultimate predator being on the the ultimate prey animal's back, is the ultimate challenge and requires ultimate trust and communication to get the ultimate partnership!

How can we achieve this?

☝️ there is SO much fun, relationship building games and advanced things you can do on the ground without ever being on your horse's back, if you so wish. You're just limited to your imagination.
☝️ Build trust, confidence and effective communication on the ground first and then take it into the saddle (and NO, lunging doesn't fall into this category. Lunging is NOT a relationship building excerise, it is a hunting exercise).
☝️ Help your horse to understand a cue in the saddle by teaching that cue on the ground first. Use your imagination on how to give the cue on the ground so it makes sense up in the saddle. Keep the cues as identical as possible.
☝️ Make your priority your horse's confidence, NOT the task.
☝️ Take the time your horse needs, not the time you think it should take.
☝️ Offer cues slowly, softly but distinctly.
☝️ If your horse doesn't respond straight away, DO NOT get firmer or emotional! Breathe, understand that one of two things is happening in your horse's mind: your horse is either unconfident or it doesn't understand. More often than not, it is a lack of confidence rather than a lack of understanding.

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 😊

08/25/2024

The Dynamic Duo! China and Sam

08/23/2024

I had the privilege of teaching this young lady for 10 years before she left for college. Now she runs the stable for me during the summer when she’s on break. Lots of great memories!

08/23/2024

Today we were blessed to have Lexi from Twisted Iron Ranch with us! She did PEMF therapy on Jewel and Whiskey Rose. Whiskey was slightly off on her right front, which started last week. She showed a lot of inflammation in her right shoulder along with several other areas as Lexi ran the machine. We’ve only ridden her about 8 times at a walk since she arrived so I suspect she may have been slipping around in the mud or had some things cooking when I met her that hadn’t really surfaced. No matter, she will have a few more treatments with the electro magnetic therapy and then we’ll have a chiropractor make sure she is in alignment.

Hero received red light therapy on his laminitic feet. We were making great progress with homeopathy but some richer hay and a little grass caused a flare up again. He’s been worse but, darn it, he was doing so well. And he will be again! By the way, even though he is on Prascend, his ACTH has been climbing. Normal ACTH (cortisol) should be 2-35. In January, with meds, he was at 380. I consulted with a homeopathic vet, started him on a homeopathic treatment and by May he was at 110 ACTH.

I highly recommend Lexi if you are located in the area! She is very knowledgeable, professional and compassionate with the horses. I’m looking forward to our appointment next week!

08/02/2024

When it’s too hot to ride, there are plenty of other things to do. Samantha is desensitizing Whiskey to arrows in case we do mounted archery.