Monique Horsemanship

11/15/2025

It’s hard enough to learn to ride fluidly with a seat that follows a horse

It’s even harder to ride fluidly without blocking the horse with a seat that DIRECTS

Now add riding fluidly with a seat that directs and hands that can help shape without blocking the seat or horses back

Now add riding fluidly, with hands that shape but don’t block and riding ACCURATELY

Each one of these is a separate skill. A separate piece

Sometimes you test the waters and jump up to find in your accuracy, you lose all fluidity. Or in your fluidity things turn a little bit to slop.

Sometimes you gotta add some spices into the soup and stir - little by little -

it’s pretty hard to take out too much once it’s added, but it’s not too bad to build on good layers of flavor

11/15/2025

Something I find really interesting—and something I’ve learned from my unique experience of being able to work in so many different barns and with so many different trainers—is that most trainers don’t actually get the opportunity to work with other trainers. Because of the way barns and barn dynamics are usually set up, trainers tend to stay in their own bubbles.

What I’ve noticed is that a lot of the feedback trainers get about each other comes from clients. And it’s no knock on clients, but sometimes clients misinterpret what a trainer meant, how something was intended to be said, or the context behind the instruction. That misunderstanding can create a skewed idea of what actually happened.

Then trainers end up harping on each other—like, “Well, this trainer told my client to do this”—and it creates this toxic dynamic between trainers. My advice is: talk to other trainers. Ask what they actually said, how they explained something, or how they taught it. Watch other trainers work if you can.

It’s genuinely funny how often people call me and say, “Hey, did you teach my student this?” And I’m like, “No, that’s definitely not what I said.” Their student either misinterpreted it or completely misunderstood my explanation.

If we, as trainers, had each other’s backs a bit more, it could make a huge difference. Having a little grace and assuming that maybe the trainer didn’t say something crazy or that they actually saw the same issue you’re seeing, but the client misunderstood could really improve the relationship dynamics between trainers, especially in our local community.

11/13/2025

A horse handleable by all?

I believe all horses, as much as possible, should be safe to handle in an emergency or in our absence. Someone should be able to go in and halter them, lead them out, put them on a trailer, or some simple thing.

I have helped teach horse handling to first responders in classes of large animal rescue (the rescue of large animals in emergencies) and quite often these first responders - the ones who will be leading your horse out of a barn fire or trailer accident - are not horse people. It's imperative that your horse be safe to handle in these situations, and that their training is not so complicated that an unrefined tug forward of a halter cannot be understood. A firefighter is not going to understand or even think about some complicated system of targets and pulleys and buttons -

BUT

Does this mean your horse needs to tolerate, on a regular basis, poor feel or rude handling? No, I do not think so. And in fact, I think this makes them harder to handle.

I am extremely protective of who handles my young stallion and how. I do not run a petting zoo, and so he (and my other horses) are not available for public entertainment. People have a way of approaching very rudely and for their own needs to be met and creating behaviors out of a horse who objects, which they then punish. I can remember a time a woman, who was asked to not pet my one eyed horse, approached him on his right (eyeless) side and poked him right in the mouth. He opened his mouth in alarm, and she immediately said "oh, what a nasty boy, he bites!" --This is why I do not allow the public to smear themselves rudely over my horses. I don't need them to have to defend themselves from rude touch, and I don't need them to learn how to avoid or go after people (even if those people deserve it).

I'm quite confident my young stallion would be easily haltered and loaded by a stranger. In fact, I have proven this by having him transported across the country by someone I had never met, who had never met him, when I was unable to be present. He got nothing but good reports for behavior. This was not created by a million sloppy and rude interactions with strangers - but quite the opposite.

He never learned how to nibble on people, push on people, or use his strength against people because there never was a necessity for it. And so it was not in his vocabulary - Could it be pulled out? Absolutely. But we don't need to do that. It's not fair to him.

I think it's very fair to expect your horse to be handled on a basic level by most. I do not think it's fair to expect your horse to tolerate ALL handling, especially when it is not necessary.

Think about it: there are levels of relationship. A basic handshake (halter and leading), all the way up to marriage. I can ride and produce from my own horses a certain level of feeling we have developed TOGETHER, like a marriage. I do not expect them to be robots for any and all people, just like I would not expect some sort of wife swapping to produce emotional intimacy. They are gentle enough that someone could ride them without being tossed, and get in the general direction they want - but the rest you have to earn. And I think that's more than fair, its their right.

11/13/2025

Posture is very important. Reading into and discovering pain signals is important too

But I’m finding the current climate is so unsure, so tentative, backing off for every potential signal of discomfort either physical or emotional, that horses are actually worse off for it.
If you never put the horse straight, they will BECOME painful. If you back off EVERY time the horse has a question, often interpreted as resistance, the horse WILL break down.

Why? Because without some guidance, some straightening, some questions and answers, horses and people will never get anywhere.

Imagine going to a fitness coach. Imagine he backs off every single time you’re remotely uncomfortable, a little sore, a little unsure, not perfectly comfortable. Imagine you need this for PT to recover from an injury.

Not only will you never get fit, you’ll actually become more anxious and more lame. Why? Because you have no guidance through and forward. Your coach will be feeding into, and building anxiety and weakness.

This is what I see in the world at large now- a well meaning attempt to create comfort in horses is actually building more lameness, more body pain, more anxiety.
Of course we need to address and solve sources of pain and discomfort.

Get good fitting tack, learn to sit WELL, and learn to ride straight. I’m not saying don’t listen to the horse - but don’t become so tentative you’re no help.

A lot of people are capitalizing on people’s good intentions to create confusion, dependence, and mystique. This stuff isn’t new - it’s been around for ages. We’ve known how to straighten horses and keep them sound for a long, long time, but suddenly it’s like the Tower of Babel out there and nobody knows what to do.

Calm; forward, and straight. Soundness is actually quite simple. Get your seat right, your tack right, and then ride them forward and put them straight.
—obviously there are some horses with lameness or congenital issues that this will not apply to. But a qualified vet or other professional will be the best help, not every Facebook post or forum you can find

Almost all of my horses came to me unsound. At a certain point I decided they were either going to be ridden to soundness or retired. And wouldn't you know it, they are all sound now. Sometimes you just gotta go for it.

11/08/2025

11/06/2025

Monique Horsemanship at the Lazy Sum B is looking for two reliable stall cleaners to help with daily barn chores.

We’re excited because we’ve expanded — but that means we need more help!

Job includes:
• Cleaning stalls
• Turning horses out and bringing them in
• Other general barn duties

Details:
• $55 per day
• 7 days a week (split between two people)
• Flexible timing, but consistency and reliability are a must
• Horse experience required

If interested, message me for more details!

10/29/2025

This is one of the most educational things I’ve ever been to. I highly recommend.

10/17/2025

10/04/2025

You are invited!

🎃 Spooky Scary Stuff Clinic

📍 Lazy Sum B Bar Ranch

📅 October 25th | 1:00–4:00 PM

💵 $275Emily and Monique will be hosting this fun, Halloween-themed clinic. Desensitize your horse while having a blast! Learn how to use spooky objects to improve your horse’s ability to handle new and unexpected situations.
✨ Extras:
Costume contest 🎭
Games & prizes 🏆
Raffle 🎟️
Snacks & drinks 🍂
Spots are limited—don’t miss out on one of our most popular fall clinics!

🔥 And back by popular demand — our fan favorite!
🤠 Roping Night returns November 1st!
No horse needed. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn to swing a rope and get the basics down in a fun, low-pressure setting.

Check out our event on Saturday, Oct 25, 2025.

Click here for event details from Monique Horsemanship!