Legend in Disguise - Before and Now
A potential client asked for video of some of my training results so I made a before and after of Maverick! It’s been awhile since I’ve looked at the videos from when he first started training and oh my goodness has this horse changed for the better! So, I thought I’d share his before and now.
Maverick is still learning, he just turned 5 the other day so he’s still a baby. But he is so much more balanced, has an idea of bit acceptance, and is so much more confident and on the aids! I have just loved having this horse in my program!
Bobby’s First Ride
So excited to share that Bobby officially has ride #1 under his belt! He was a little tense but relaxed with every step he took. So proud of Mr. Bobby!!
The new feral horse pens are up! These pens are 24’ x 24’ and 6ft tall (currently have 5ft dividers and gates but they will be 6ft shortly) with sand footing! Any feral intakes will be living in luxury. Two of these pens will be filled tomorrow as I will be picking up two yearling mustangs for a couple of my students to compete in America's Next Top Youth Trainer 2024! I’ll be posting more on that tomorrow!
Meet Neyland
Meet Neyland, the cutest little Quarter cross pony. Neyland has been in my program for a couple months now, but only for one session a week. After talking with his owner, we decided it would be best to put him in my full training program. Neyland is a sweet boy but has quite a bit of anxiety and doesn’t know much under saddle. He knows leg means go, left rein means go left, right rein means go right, and how to stop… that’s about it 😅 As you can tell by the video, he simply doesn’t know how to use his body and carry himself properly. He also has zero bit acceptance but I do know that his previous owners rode him in a hackamore. Neyland a very smart and willing boy so I’m excited to see the horse he becomes after more training!
Tag #2467 “Lincoln”
Lincoln has met all of his TIP requirements and we have began the process of reassigning him to his new owner! Lincoln met all of his TIP requirements after just 12 days at EFEC and 9 days in training. I am upset that the TIP Program is being shut down but I am thankful I got the opportunity to TIP train at least one mustang! Lincoln has been the best first, and sadly last, TIP mustang 💗
Freestyle: 9th out of 12
Oh boy, our freestyle was rough. I let Lou hand graze for a couple hours then she took a nap so her energy was THROUGH THE ROOF in our freestyle. She did all of our obstacles set up but boy was she crazy in between each one. She almost got away from me once 😅 it was bad but I’m just thankful she waited to freak out until after I ground tied her and climbed under her 🤣 she tried for me in this but just had so much energy that she couldn’t contain. We didn’t score as bad as I thought we would but the top 5 freestyles scored INSANELY well, the winning freestyle was 8 points away from a perfect score 😱
Showmanship: 7th out of 12
By day two of showing, Lou was done. She was grump, tired, and baby brain kicked in. Our showmanship didn’t go as well as it could have, this is one Lou’s strong suits but she was too tired… she tried and that’s what matters! I’m still proud of her 💗
Trail: 4th out of 13
I am over the moon with this class! Lou was on it! Only bobble was backing the L, she was scared of the banner right in front of it so it was a bit rough. Other than that, I have zero complaints! We show in Showmanship and Freestyle today!
Handling and Conditioning: 7th out of 13
Here is Talullah’s Handling and Conditioning pattern from yesterday! It could have gone better but Lou did the best she can. Her ground ties were sloppy and she didn’t want to hop on the trailer but other than that, everything was typical Lou! I am not happy with 7th but I believe that is exactly where I should have been placed with this class! H&C is not my strong suit.
Sorry for the bad video, I have one of my lesson kids filming 😅
This is your reminder, IT IS NOT YOUR FARRIER’S JOB TO GET YOUR HORSE GOOD WITH THEIR FEET!! Take the time and put some work in getting your horse comfortable with their feet being handled, put into farrier positions, and the farrier tools.
Talullah and I have been doing tons of work with her feet to get her ready for her first trim! She’s done amazing.
💎 Don the Jeweler 💎
Bubbles has been doing so well in training. I’ve had my dressage instructor come out once a week to help me help Bubbles. In just 2 lessons, he’s a different horse! We’ve been working on getting him more forward and willing under-saddle and on the ground. He still has his moments but overall is much more motivated and willing to work.
Bubbles is not your average off the track horse; typically OTTB’s are better tracking left than right because they race to the left but Bubbles’ better direction is the right and he really struggles to the left.
We’ve not only been working on keeping forward movement, but also steering, establishing a bend, and strengthening his left side.
I’m excited to see what Bubbles and I can accomplish over the next 8 months. He is a good boy and is turning his stubbornness into willingness!
#tbmakeover
Don the Jeweler - RRP
I put Bubbles’ 4th post track ride on him last night! I think he has earned the title of “Laziest Racehorse”. I understand why he is with me and no longer on the racetrack 😅
Overall, Bubbles is doing very well in “training”! I’ve only worked him twice in the past two months but I’m trying to get him in consistent work. Right now, Bubbles is learning basic groundwork and under saddle work: consistency on the lunge line, desensitizing, etc., yielding to leg pressure, finding the go button, etc. Our biggest focus right now is that my leg is not a bad thing and it subsides when he moves off it🤣💗 I’m excited for our journey together and I cannot wait to see what Bubbles becomes after some time and work!
Stella-Luna is doing so well in training! She’s been here for about a week and is already a different mini. Most of Stella’s aggression issues came out around food. Anytime someone at the rescue came in with hay, she’d run at them with her ears pinned, turn her butt at them, and kick out at them. Today was the first day I went in with hay (we normally keep their hay in hay bags that we tie to the fence, no need to go in their pen). I walked in, she pinned her ears and chased off Johnny, but her ears came right back up anytime she looked at me. She kept her distance, didn’t get up in my space while I was walking in, and didn’t walk up to the hay until I put it down. When I put it down, she started eating and didn’t give me a single wrong look! I walked over and started loving on her and she loved it! So relaxed! Proud of miss Stella-Luna!
Waylon learning flying lead changes! This guy is so smart and always ready to learn. His momma sure did luck out with him!
🍁 Maple 🍁

Maple update! Maple was doing very well in training. She learned how to lead, and was starting to accept touch all over her body. Then something happened. Last Thursday I went in to work with Maple and couldn’t get near her. I couldn’t touch her, couldn’t walk up to her, nothing. She was terrified… The day before I caught her right away and she had an amazing session. I have no idea what happened, if I pushed a button without realizing it, if she got spooked that night, I just don’t know... so we’ve been working on rebuilding the foundation we started on! I can touch her again, after about 3 days of not being able to.
We will be taking things a lot slower, being sure to create a solid foundation and not one that can break as easily as the one we had built before. I am already seeing a big change in Maple’s demeanor. She is more willing and engaged in our sessions!
🍁 Maple 🍁
Day one with Maple! I had a very short session with Maple today as I was at urgent care all morning and the hospital all afternoon, nothing serious but it took up my whole day 🤣. I was able to get some first touches with Maple!
I always mold my method to fit the horse and their needs. Horses like Maple have been shown the bad things humans can do and their only experience with humans (up until they are rescued) is bad. So, I have a different approach with these guys versus, let’s say, wild horses, who have no experience with humans at all! I want Maple to know that she will never have to see a bad human again, that she is safe and doesn’t have to keep her wall up anymore. I still use some pressure and release/negative reinforcement but for first steps in her training, I will be using positive reinforcement and treat training! Maple is very food driven and loves to eat, so I will associate myself with something she enjoys, grain! That way she begins to associate humans with something good!
I go to pickup a horse in Kentucky tomorrow so she will begin real training on Monday. This girl is so kind and I cannot wait to help her tear down that wall and become the amazing horse we see behind those eyes 💗
