Valkyrie Ranch

02/07/2025

01/31/2025

We'd like to re-introduce you to Debbie Romero and Optimal Posture:

Debbie offers Alexander technique to people at True North by appointment and can be heard on the podcast Horse Geeks with fellow host Kirsten Nelson.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLATIAoytMZD0RzFelef8V2dAJ_haRVpF1

Contact us for an appointment or to schedule a 4-6 person clinic at your barn!

01/30/2025

The knowledge is SO important but it can never replace feel. Always keep studying but don't let yourself get so bogged down with books & theories that you're afraid to actually do something. Go ride that horse!

In a recent conversation with my friend Jim Groesbeck Horsemanship about the current state of horse training, he came up with an analogy that perfectly describes today's new horse training process. Jim is one of the most educated and experienced horsemen I know. This insight of his is so sadly true.

Jim's analogy parallels a hypothetical way of teaching an art student how to paint a picture. The analogy begins with a requirement that before the student can start painting a picture, they have to completely understand the chemistry of paint.

Prior to painting a picture students have to study all the scientific elements of paint that include the pigments, binders, solvents, additives and the other ingredients of paint. Art students must understand all the science of how the chemicals interact, how they facilitate the flow of the paint on the paintbrush and how the combination of these chemical elements determine colors.

Only after this complete study of the science, can a student be prepared to dip their brush into the paint and put the brush to canvas.

I totally get Jim's analogy because I read so many posts and comments from young horse trainers who go on and on about the biomechanics of the horse, the horse thoracic sling and the science of behavior and pain. These scientific horse trainers seem to have replaced the skill or experience involved in training horses, gained from many years working many horses, with a concept of "relationship training" combined with their focus on science.

This "do the chemistry lab work first" approach to horse training lacks the feel for movement and balance in a horse. There is no mention of the use of mutual balance in training to open up all the possibilities of shared movement. Science based horse training is based on intellectual understanding instead.

Jim's summary was, "At some point we have to just get on the horse and teach it something useful." Call me stupid, but that is what I too have always thought training horses is about, getting on the horse and discovering its unique movement and balance, then improving it. Horse training is not at all about a science lab.

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01/18/2025

Where my niche humor people at?

01/07/2025

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12/31/2024

12/30/2024

A hard to handle reality is that in order to become highly proficient in many pursuits, someone has to put in the hours of practice, and horses are not available to most people.

Want to get good at playing the violin? You start by getting hold of a violin, which is expensive, perhaps, but nothing like as expensive as getting a horse, and once you have the violin, you don’t have constant work and expense to maintain it, you don’t have a $250 vet bill for a simple routine visit, nor bills to pay for food and care.

Which means that becoming a good rider is not in the cards for anyone who, FOR ANY REASON, can’t be in a place where he/she has access to enough horses to put in the necessary practice hours.

How many great downhill ski racers live in Florida?

So, no, horses are not for most. They just aren’t.

A person has to be in the right place, and that is either because of circumstance, like living down the street from a boarding barn, or from birth, or because, if the circumstances are such that no horses exist nearby, the person can somehow move to a place where they are. And for most, that isn’t possible.

But NONE OF THIS changes the reality that in order to become a good rider, a person must spend many hours riding a horse.

When truths are hard, that doesn’t make them less true.

12/16/2024

Sadly the time had come to help Fortnite cross over peacefully. Those of you who have been frequenting the ranch already knew that our overly friendly barn cat/ welcome committee/barn mascot had been going down hill recently; but he really took a turn for the worse last week and we knew it was time to help him escape his discomfort & pain. He has been a permanently underfoot fixture here for over 5 years, at least since we've been open for business here in Virginia.
I started back at the very beginning of my phone camera reel hoping to find just a couple pictures of him but was pleasantly surprised to find so many. It shows just how much he was intertwined in all the activities here at the ranch.
Feel free to share any other pictures or stories if you like. I am planning on having a little memorial plaque made to put out by the barn or tack room.

12/04/2024

https://mailchi.mp/2cf47c74103b/horses-for-sale-lease-upcoming-events
Horses for Sale & Lease, Upcoming Events....

12/03/2024

"Hickory" 2023 Arabian X Welsh Pony C**t
Black base turning grey. Go with the flow personality makes him a pleasure to work with. Has had plenty of handling & ground work for his age- goes through an obstacle course, ponies on trail, ties, loads in a trailer, etc.
Sire is 14.3 and is competitive in endurance, western dressage & sport horse. Dam is 13.2 and work in our lesson program as a kids hunter/jumper pony. We expect Hickory to stay small, closer to his moms size.
We are expecting our first human baby in a couple months so are looking to downsize the herd and lighten my load going into winter.
Located in central Virginia
https://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?horse_id=2251935

12/03/2024

BY DAPHNE THORNTON OF TWO BIT TRAINING When it comes to riding lessons, I understand that riding is the overwhelming desire, as well as the underlying principle, guiding most participants. However, sometimes riding is not possible, or even advisable. On those days, I am a fan of unmounted lessons.....

11/26/2024

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