Nicole Shoup Horsemanship

08/21/2024

At NSH we offer 24/7 turn out with free choice hay and mineral. Horses live in herds and pasture as the season allows. We also have a small dry lot.

Horses are on a forage based diet supplemented with Vermont Blend which helps balance their diets, promote healthy gut flora, and improve hoof health.

We have an arena and round pen with close access to trails. We are located close to Millersburg and easily accessed off of SR 39.

08/21/2024

So, you want to send your horse for training to Nicole Shoup Horsemanship. We offer groundwork for youngins, restarts, refreshers, and a path to your goals. Where do you start?

Step 1- Send me a PM or email and let me know what you're looking for!

Step 2 - Fill out this form. It will notify me when you complete it and then I'll get back to you! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QHy4DbZSnQZ4VObhEi5_GzotDfInINGMrNdDzoG9mE8/edit?usp=drivesdk

Step 3 - We will have a phone consult or a meet up discussing your goals. Before accepting deposit and committing to training.

Step 4 - Drop off your horse and we get to work!!!

We have openings this fall!

Located in Millersburg, OH and accepting clients from anywhere!

08/20/2024

Once a horse is trained doesn't mean they retain the same level of understanding, skill, or fitness years later.

Something I've noticed with Willow is how easily she has accepted catching, bridling, saddling, mounting, and general riding around. I presented things as if they could be "new," and she said, "I got it!"

I think a huge part of this contributes to her foundation. Someone spent time with this horse being sure that she's OK.

It gets me thinking about how so many starts are rushed and pressed under time. How many horses are just becoming obedient through force. So over worked and tired that they have no say. Scolded for every little thing.

That horse has no confidence. Nor are they truly learning how to accept the foundational pieces of horsemanship. Years later, it will truly be restarting.

With that said, horses do get rusty. With every interaction they're learning something. Whether it's what you want them to learn or something you would prefer them not to learn. Over time, those million little moments, become the horses new normal.

It is really nice when a horse comes back into ridden work and their foundation is strong. Knock some cobwebs off and remind them of boundaries and trust and boom you start developing a partnership!

08/19/2024

How to fix a bracing horse?

Brace is anytime the horse has a pulling or pushing feeling against you. Whether it's the rope in your hand, ribs against your legs, or a rigid back. These are all places that a horse may brace against you. It's a physical feeling but it comes from the mind as well.

One of the hardest things to over come is reacting to brace with... more brace. This is where a lot of common pressure and release goes wrong. The horse braces, the rider braces back, until the horse gives. Often times this creates is a horse that braces longer because they have sometime to brace INTO. When they give, it's often a snatching give without a feeling of finding center.

One of my fav sayings is "no place to brace." Let's say I'm standing shoulder to shoulder with someone. And they lean against me. If I stay put then they will lean further. If I move around they will either fall or return to their own balance... because there's no place to brace.

Ok- that's enough defining brace. We need some videos on this next 😵‍💫

Let's take a specific behavior where the horse tilts their nose to the outside and pulls. #1 they are angling this way because they want to get to something on the outside (food, friends, freedom), or whoever is on the inside isn't offering the place to be.

#2 The most important piece to fixing this is seeing it before it happens. If you can identify the pull coming on, you can change the position of your body, respond with feel and change the shape of what was just about to happen.

Oof no one likes that answer 😂 because it's not the answer of "just hang on!"

Now the horse still has to have clear direction of where to go. This is where the angle of my hand will change and it will squeeze. This gives a clear direction. But it still doesn't brace against (at least I work very hard not to).

Over time the horses body and mind soften. They aren't considering leaving as much and the behavior begins to extinguish. Sticking with this plan over time yields a soft, compliant, and more confident horse. They're more connected and they try to complete your requests with more willingness than before.

Like all things, it requires awareness and time to make lasting changes.

Pictured is early groundwork sessions with Willow. Unwinding and changing of direction is key to helping her soften up, follow the rope, and trust me.

08/19/2024

This weather is so feeling like fall! NO FLIES! 🍁🪰

08/19/2024

Willow 🌿

Willow is a teenage paint mare here for training! Her owner hopes to comfortably trail ride her.

She hasn't been ridden in awhile, so we have started from the beginning. It seems she has had a solid foundation at some point in her life. She takes each "new" thing as if she has already seen it and already knows what to do.

She is friendly and curious. When she is confused or under pressure, she knows how to flip her nose and pull into the halter. We've been working on this.

But when she gets it, she really gets it! She is a smart cookie and I enjoy spending time with her.

08/15/2024

We limit our horses by labeling them and denying their capability.

You would be surprised how much a horse can change we you show them love, leadership, and calm confidence.

It's not to say that we shouldn't be aware of each horses preferences, but if we box them up with confining labels that limit their skills, then they truly will never change.

Each horses behavior is a product of their desire to stay safe. Whether that is to get out/away or to partner with a person and trust.

This begs the question of what makes a horse trust someone? Well, what makes the person trustworthy? This is what we need to ask. It's not inherent for a horse to trust, enjoy work, or want to be with people.

It's earned and developed. When they do trust and get along with us they can truly give us their whole heart. Which is an honor and NOT a right.

If you want your horse to be calm and confident, then you must also be calm and confident. If you want a willing horse that moves freely, then you need to let go of controlling every little thing.

You will always play a part in the equation.

08/13/2024

Today I'm headed to OSU ATI as apart of their Equine Advisory Committee. It has me recounting how all of this started.

I was just a horse crazy girl. Enamored with riding but curious about all things related to horses.

Somehow I was surviving just backyarding it and learning as I go. But I wanted to know more. I had a lot of interest in equine therapy but I didn't ever think I would be a trainer.

There wasn't an idea of apprenticing or working for a trainer- it was at the college fair that I locked in because they said I could bring my horse to school! When we visited ATI as a family, my parents immediately knew it was where I belonged.

There's lots of additional pieces to the story that got me to now. However, the catalyst was my experience at ATI. The time I spent at ATI was so meaningful because of the experience, the knowledge, and the relationships gained.

It filled in a bunch of holes but also exposed me to whole other worlds. Driven by the love for horses, I soaked up every drop.

Since ATI is so hands on, I learned a ton of science based information that is actually useful and was applied. I still use it today.

Pictured is teenage me 😂

08/12/2024

I've been experimenting with how I saddle horses for the first time. Whether restarts or c**ts.

I rope every single horse before I put a saddle on them. Feet, legs, belly, groin, under the tail, etc. They have to be okay with feeling the rope and the pressure of it in those places.

I also sack out with a Navajo blanket, first cinching with a surcingle, they carry my chinks, and all of these items together before the saddle. It helps prepare them by introducing the feelings of a saddle and the parts

Not only is roping prep for the cinch, it is also prep for any other time they might be caught in a bind. Whether it's being stuck in a fence, or being hobbled, or tangled in a lead rope.

I think every horse should know how to wear full tack- but do they need to go right to the heavy western saddle?

Maybe, sometimes, it depends, but never always.

So, for Jamie I got him comfortable with the baroque saddle, which is also comfortable for me, and then today we introduced the Wade.

He did great. Got a little hump in his back but it was nothing. I'm pondering just how helpful is it to start smaller with an English type and move on to a Western later? Depending on the horse? It would be a very similar concept as getting horses used to a ba****ck pad before real saddles (which I also do).

Only more horses will tell. Either way, every horse finds confidence with every saddle. And every horse will be a little different with a different story.

08/12/2024

Thank you to Nova Equine Renovations for another helpful session for my horse, Reno.

Grace has been seeing Reno for a little while now- maybe a year. He just melts in her hands and let's her in. We work on him in the space he is most comfortable which is the corral at his pasture.

She has been a critical piece to restoring his body as we work through some nerve issues in his head as well as some interesting drainage. His body has been changing a lot as we have been going through lots of different change this year.

I so enjoy chatting with Grace while she works on Reno as she is so wise, cool, and open. I learn so much from her in more than one way.

Thank you Grace, for giving of yourself for the healing of others!

08/05/2024

Jamie 🪅🎉

Jamie is moving along in his training. I have him for awhile so I'm trying to move gradually. I've found a couple things about his response to the bit or hackamore aids that will take time to retrain.

I've also been working on finding the most balanced herd for him. This is something that I think is critical for all horses in training. A balanced herd gives each horse confidence and helps them find peace.

Without a balanced herd the horses are more likely to be worried, insecure, and watchy. When we had some herd changes at the end of last month, it rattled Jamie!

The balance of the herd, handling that encourages balance, and a calm and confident rider is key to help these horses learn.

08/01/2024

To Be Remembered By a Horse

Held together by tight reins and the desire to stay on her feet
A whip meant go as fast as she could
Hike the knee, show us your flash!

She hollered for someone to listen
Anyone
Even when the horses and people were right there

She lead the herd
A mare that really knew herself outside of the bounds of humans

Her emotions are alive. Beeming with certainty.
She knows herself.
She trusts herself.

The rest of you don't mean squat.

To earn her trust was the hardest work I'd ever done
Letting go of the reins by letting go of control.
Allowing her to find balance.

Honoring through kindness
Respecting by understanding
Conveying her own thoughts about herself through my hands

The sun set on a cool spring
When I arrived again, the trees were bright green
And you put my hand in your nostril
Breathing in my scent. Remembering. Softening.

A great honor is to be remembered fondly by a horse.

07/30/2024

Can you imagine having this many bridles 😵‍💫🤪

07/29/2024

As a growing business, legitimizing my online presence is huge.

It's my goal to help horses, help riders, and pursue my purpose in this life!

If any of you fine folks are interested in leaving me a review, that would be much appreciated!

Go to my page and click Reviews. There will be a button there to write a review.

When finished with that, feel free to copy and paste to my Google page! It doesn't have any reviews yet so it could use some love! Link below!
https://g.page/r/CbZ4supG-6arEAE/review

Maybe if you have a business I can return the favor. ❤️

Thank you all!!!

07/28/2024

I am headed to 2 awesome clinics in August that I would recommend for all horseman. The best thing about these teachers is that they give you the opportunity to take horsemanship as deep as you want to go.

They hold you accountable and help you be better. They are extremely knowledgeable about their specialities. They are detailed and kind. And they are both unique in their own ways.

Together they bring important knowledge, skill, and information to us. It is so incredibly valuable that they give us the opportunity to learn from them!

Brent's has spots available and I believe Phil's has 1 spot (if it hasn't been filled). Auditing is always available and encouraged if you can't participate.

Check out the links below to learn about each event.

Brent Graef Horsemanship
Truth Based Horsemanship

Phil Oakes Truth Based Horsemanship Clinic

https://www.facebook.com/share/ZudbkbYiMKzKP5mP/?mibextid=9VsGKo

07/23/2024

Consistency over inconsistency will always win. Add a little more each day or each session. What are you doing today to grow your horses confidence?

07/23/2024

Star is headed home in a couple days! She is a sensitive 2 year old who had never been off the farm when she came in. This was a big adjustment for her! She started guarded and insecure and has now opened up.

My goal was to give her the beginnings of her groundwork education so she can be prepared for the future. She has a super owner who sees value in this hence the reason for sending her in the first place.

Here is what she has learned-

✅️Catching confidently
✅️Halter and unhaltering softly
✅️Tieing
✅️Intro to ground tie
✅️Standing while grooming
✅️Shifting weight to pick up all 4 feet confidently
✅️Confidently following the lead rope
✅️Understanding of the flag as support
✅️Lunge circles walk, trot, canter
✅️Unwind both directions from a stand still and in movement
✅️Back up
✅️Yield all 4 feet to the rope
✅️Accept rope toss
✅️Roped barrel, flank, groin with calm responses
✅️Accepted a surcingle, pad, and full tack
✅️Moving around wtc with tack
✅️Crossed the pipe, tarp, and lariat rope as obstacles
✅️Trailer loading
✅️Exposed to stalling alone
✅️Exposed to being pastured alone for short times
✅️Integrated and met approx 5 horses
✅️Exposed to therapeutic touch and bodywork

And other things I'm probably forgetting! All happening across daily consistent work.

Star has a very bright future!

07/22/2024

Hello from Jamie! 🪅

Jamie is a 6 yr old Quarter horse here for training! His owner would love to trail ride him!

He has some education but hasn't been ridden in a couple years. So, we are starting at the very beginning! Covering all of the bases and being sure we are ready for each progression.

He is a sweet boy with a friendly attitude. A little insecure, naturally with young age and time off, but he learns fast!

Aren't his wide ears SO cute!

07/20/2024

We had a really fun day showing at Jagged Ridge Mountain Trail Series! I brought my 3 yr old, Harley, and did the Rookie and Green In Hand. She got 1st in Rookie and 2nd in Green. I'm sooo proud of her as she continues to gain confidence. I am having so much fun challenging us and pushing those comfort zones. She is so handy with her feet and eager!

I also brought my gelding, Reno, who I've had forever but he has been on a long vacation! Lol. He's been in more work since January this year although not much lately. All I had hoped for us was to step up to the challenge with courage and allow him to try.

The biggest win for me with him today was his ability to sink deeper into relaxation despite some nerves and tension after traveling, a new place, and separation.

The atmosphere at these shows is relaxed and supportive. I believe it's a good style of competition to work on being precise while growing your partnership with your horse. We can't make the August one, but maybe you could!

07/19/2024

Wooooo for 650 followers!!! 🥳🪅💃

07/18/2024

The cool thing about horses is that it doesn't matter how you think it feels or what you think it means- they will tell you how it feels to them.

I was on a phone call last night with a really thoughtful horseman. I was chatting about first saddlings and throwing a saddle up on a c**ts back for the first time.

We talked about some things to change or add and she reminded me about feel and meaning.

It reminded me that I needed to adjust my mindset. I had been thinking that all of the prep went perfect so the saddle is next and it should be easy.

When my presentation changed (standing in place and holding this heavy saddle and preparing to move it) the feel was different and the horses alarms sounded. Ugh- it didn't matter that I thought it should feel fine. Because the horse told me that it did not feel fine and that the meaning was confusing.

It didn't matter what I thought... the horse told me how it felt. And that's how the horses will always teach us.

07/15/2024

It says in my Google photos that I downloaded this photo on January 25, 2022. I don't remember why I did specifically.

It wasn't until that summer that I learned more about functional anatomy when I took JK Inspired LLC - Jillian R. Kreinbring in person course. That course greatly affected my trajectory as a horseman.

Something that needs to be known is that this photo is NOT MINE. The artist is Kuppamanta who has an active Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==.

I'm grateful they created this image. My favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because it's a horse moving freely and balanced 🥰

07/14/2024

We have access to SO MUCH information on the internet and through social media these days.

A couple of years ago I went through an information dump, a knowledge jump, an influx of good information that I didn't know what the heck to do with. It was goooood stuff and made a ton of sense.

I started doing very little tiny sessions with my horses. Not much challenge. Etc.

I got pretty good results. The horses where calmer and felt good in their bodies. However, i was simultaneously freezing. Why? Because with that info dump came a lot of worry and questions and therefore my confidence shrunk. Am I doing this right? Am I ruining my horse 4ever? No one else is doing this... is it wrong?

This is how it worked for me- didn't have to go this way for you.

That confidence took a crap because I was worried about doing the WRONG thing because I had all of this RIGHT information. When I detoured my life and went down a different path there was no time for worry and non-doing.

There's been a lot more building upon skills and knowledge in the last while and it has been so wonderful. I'm still figuring out a lot of what TO DO. But I'm sure as heck in a better place than I've been in the past.

What's so cool is all those years I spent hillbillying around with horses, college, riding full time, mentorships, and now business owning has been worth it. Because I can bring it all together and just be me. Accepting where I'm at right now. But reaching for those stars every day.

07/13/2024

It's time for a Star update! 🌟

She is doing so good and takes every single new thing well. We are practicing our basics of groundwork but layering in things like being roped, working with feet, hobbles, the surcingle, and tying.

We've worked on some obstacles and other exposure things as well. You can see more of the work she's been doing in my Reels.

She's walks up to me to catch or allows me to approach her.

We are now in the stage to bring her a little further before she leaves. We are also beginning the required lessons between her and her owner.

When she goes home, she will be due for a break and then continue her training this fall.

She has been an absolute pleasure.

07/12/2024

The problem with softening the horse too much in the bridle before stabilizing the hind end is not only a biomechanics problem but a safety problem.

I just got done riding a new horse for the first time. Based on the weak hind end and bulging in the neck in the wrong spots, I had a good feeling he would break behind the vertical quite frequently.

When the horse breaks behind the vertical, it drops the back and negates correct use of the hind end. Over time, the horse becomes weak and wobbly while simultaneously developing painful arthritis and fusions.

So, that's the basics of the biomechanics problem.

The safety aspect is that a horse that is too light in the bridle and breaks behind upon first contact does not have the correct relationship with the contact. I believe the reins should connect to the feet and aid in correct flexion and bend.

When the horse evades the bit, you've got nothing. Sorry pal- this ain't a safe place to be.

This is why often horses that are taught this require a lot of holding together by riders that are used to riding in such a way.

And if you want to improve the horses relationship with contact, then be prepared for a long haul of conditioning and riding with little rein.

It can be done, but it should be done with knowledgeable riding with no time constraints. It's a whole thang.

Edit to add:
This photo is NOT mine. I'm grateful it was created and my favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because of how freely forward the horse is 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==

07/12/2024

07/10/2024

There's a storm coming in and it's windy... might want to think twice about your plans with your horses today 🪁

07/08/2024

It's Sunday night which means cue the planning for the week ahead. It's got me thinking about growing and expanding comfort zones- because that's going to be a big theme for this week.

You'll hear me say "risk it for the biscuit." If you're young and hip you probably say it, too. 😆 Sometimes it morphs into risky for the bisky. Lol whatever I'm embarrassing. Here's the point!!!

Us horse trainers take risks all the time and if we never did there would never be growth.

But there's some folks who are riskin it for the biscuit and it's just plain dumb. It's dumb because there's no plan, no safety, no forethought.

So- put together a plan. Figure up the equipment you need. Figure up the time you'll need to devote. Ask questions. And get out there and work with your horses this week.

Pictured is a really scary stump.

07/06/2024

Forever an auditor?

I've spent numerous hours watching clinicians, private lessons, c**t starts, and other horse events. The information is good and useful. There is often stuff I take away and apply at home.

I've been around other horse people as well that are knowledgeable. They easily engage in deep discussions. They've read lots of books, watched videos, and audited clinics by skilled horseman.

But when does the time come for you, us, or I to just.... do it?

It can be disappointing when riders talk the talk but have not walked the walk. It discredits them and doesn't instill trust.

I understand that naturally the concern of doing it wrong and staying safe plays a big role here- but I can't say I never learned something when I tried.

So, were half way through the summer. This is your reminder to get out there and ride WITH that teacher you've wanted to learn from. Try your hand at that exercise that has always seemed above your level.

Learn by reading and watching but solidify it by DOING.

I've been here and I AM here with some stuff. But I'm not staying here. (Cue Dory "just keep swimming!)

07/06/2024

This is your reminder to lead your horse from the off side today! 💃