Alchemic Horsemanship

09/07/2024

One of today’s offices

07/24/2024

I started working with Ronna and 4yo Jessie in November 2023. Jessie was and is a big guy, with a solid start and an amazing owner willing to put the work in to accomplish her goals. And her goals sounded fairly simple; she wanted to trail ride, ride confidently, and be the partner her horses deserved.

Over the winter we spent time helping this gangly boy learn balance and connection with ground work, and this spring Ronna spent time developing her seat. Adding in awareness of her mindset, finding levity and maintaining perseverance. Fast forward to this summer and this horse and rider combo are accomplishing goals at record pace.

This work will never cease to amaze me in what humans and horses are capable of given the right support. Jessie Boy has some solid abilities now (not limited to the original goal of trail riding) and is able to do them with the confidence his owner needs.

It is the goal of riders to bring the unconscious systems of mind and body, into consciousness. From there we fine tune, develop feel, and return conscious systems into automatic unconscious movements. And boy, is it a ton of work. Proud of this pair ✨

06/18/2024

Long days, exceptional horses, students progressing, “offices” with the best views and my gratitude is overflowing.

My work with horses is ever-evolving, as it’s meant to. Every horse, and student, show me the pathway to being a better horsewoman and human. And I’m ridiculously grateful to participate in the evolution of the horses in my world. This particularly pretty boy is leveling up his knowledge, and growing as an equine partner. Growth is simple, but not easy. Experiment - potentially fail - try again - progress. Again, and again.

And here is is, maintaining curiosity and try. Does your horse maintain a sense of curiosity when you’re going through challenging growth spurts?

❤️

06/02/2024

Got to begin working with this cutie this afternoon.

Mini’s often get a bad wrap for being more difficult than regular sized horses. And it’s not the case. Large horses are often required to learn more for many reasons, with an emphasis in education around our safety. We as humans, understand more readily that an unwilling and non-cooperative 1200lb animal is dangerous. Minis, like small dogs, can fly under the radar for those same required behaviors, and are often left with holes in their knowledge.

Spud’s journey will be one of filling those gaps with relaxation, connection and trust. Today was the beginning of a new conversation with humans; and his future is that of answering the questions posed by the humans around him with confidence.

How do the holes in your horses knowledge show up?

05/23/2024

While all the horses I work with currently have a special place in my heart, this boy might take the cake this week. Such a good brain contained in the prettiest boy!

05/10/2024

Grateful for the moisture as always. Mid may snowstorms are almost predictable out here, and the horses are down to their summer coats. So, an extra bit of loose hay to get their bellies warm was called for!

03/04/2024

✨✨ Now serving the San Luis Valley and Salida! ✨✨

Do you have goals for 2024 that you need help with? Or are you needing to boost confidence in your riding + groundwork abilities?

Reach out now and develop your skillset!

01/31/2024

Let’s be real. Getting in shape after the winter can be hard and taxing on the body. While I work with Winona on getting that very round physique into something a bit more muscular, I’m focussing on a few things:

✨ rhythm and relaxation of the mind and body
✨ suppleness of movement
✨ clarity in her understanding of my questions
✨ awareness of her body in relation to questions
✨ engagement of her back and hind end
✨ connection and confidence in me

Courtesy of .official each session begins and ends with connection to myself in the form of breathe work, and hands on connection to her body. All these pieces put together leave me a horse that looks at me like this post work session. The journey of horsemanship is never ending, and I find myself so grateful for the current part of it I’m in.

01/28/2024

Today's funny.

01/17/2024

Welcome Rogue and Janie! .horse.circle

Janie came to inquire about boarding for her lovely mustang mare back in November and she finally arrived last night. She’s settling in and will join the main herd soon. So excited to get to know Janie and Rogue more!

With Rogue’s presence here, we are officially waiting list only for boarding. Cheers to 2024!

01/13/2024

Headed into a -20 degree night, already experiencing 30mph winds I had to remind myself of this frequently during evening hay refill. Spring has to arrive at some point 😅

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas from my herd to yours! I’m grateful for everyone who utilized my services this year and am excited for the year to come!

12/21/2023

Happy Winter Solstice! Horse owners rejoice, the sun is returning! Even as my mind prepares for many long days ahead, I can’t help but feel immense joy for more sunlight.

12/14/2023

Yesterday was many things. Our first real snow accumulation, the national day of the horse, and more importantly, the welcoming of two new boarders Shakti and William, and their lovely owner Sarah. Sarah has been a student of mine for a good portion of this year and will continue her education while her horses enjoy their time here. I am so glad to have them here!

12/02/2023

Happy December!

11/25/2023

Can’t do chores without being bullied into getting an “equestrian french tip manicure”. Grooming is one of my favorite equine social behaviors that we as humans can offer connection through. Go find your horses itchy spot!

11/24/2023

As winter finally starts emerging here in Southern Colorado, I thought I'd share a checklist for severe weather changes. Domesticated horses, while incredibly good at surviving tough weather and cold temperatures, do benefit from our support. I've found these things time and time again to help my herd feel their best, even when I wish I had a few more layers.

✨ Constant access to quality forage, and by that I mean hay. Equine hind guts are excellent at taking forage, fermenting it, and creating heat! The standard rule is 1.6-3.2% of their body weight daily. The colder it is, the closer to the high end of that measurement. Think of your horse's belly as a furnace that needs fuel to keep going in the cold. I use slow feeding hay nets that allow them to have access to feed 24/7, and supplement with loose hay if needed.

✨Clean water. This may sound like a no brainer, but let me explain. When horses are consuming more forage, often they need similar increases in water. If your horse is being forced to consume dirty water, and understandably chooses not to drink, the risk of impaction colic can go up. And after 30 years of horse ownership, preventable emergencies and rough weather are my version of a waking nightmare. While it takes more effort from me, I use water troughs that can be regularly cleaned, refilled and checked for drinking levels rather than automatic waterers. If your horse is not a great drinker, consider adding salt to their feed to increase their drinking desire.

✨ Shelter. Now my herd live mostly outdoors, meaning no stalls. I do provide 3 sided shelters for them to get out of the wind and elements. When building the structures, I made sure to build according to the wind patterns in our area. This allows complete "dead zones" from the weather, even though they are 3 sided! Most often you'll see everyone hanging out outside, regardless of weather, but for those strong blizzards they make a difference. Here in Southern Colorado, I've often seen a dense thicket of trees be just as effective, but being on a treeless property, I had to plan accordingly.

✨As healthy body condition as possible prior to winter. The horses most at risk with severe weather are those that are already compromised. Think old, sick, or very young horses. A compromised system will struggle that much harder with temperature changes, precipitation and wind. Preparing for winter for me starts in the late Summer, and I'm verifying body condition and needs long before the first snowflake flies. Each horse is an individual, so make sure you have back up plans in place for each animal.

✨Clean, waterproof, well fitting blankets. Each horse on my property has their own blanket. I generally find, here, that they maintain excellent body heat with just a waterproof thin sheet. Horses, even healthy ones, can start to struggle if their protective thermal bubble created by their coat becomes soaked, like with freezing rain. With compromised horses, the need for blanketing is much higher. The key with blankets is to find the right balance of warm and dry, but not sweaty.

✨ Clean paddocks and run in shelters. Before snow starts hitting the ground I am tidying up all areas frequently. This helps in a few ways, it gives me less to do do when the snow melts, and reduces the amount of heavy wet manure I am cleaning. Clean shelters also give your horse a space they can rest comfortably in (hello sleep requirements) without resisting, due to manure.

✨No sudden changes to diet, exercise, or herd management if possible. Horses are incredibly, frustratingly, fragile in the wrong circumstances. Make changes slowly if possible, do not push your horse outside of what had been "normal". Now is a good time of year to catch up with your own education in theory, not that flying lead change you couldn't get all summer.

✨ Supplies to I like to have on hand are:
* Vegetable cooking spray for the bottom of their feet to prevent snow sticking
* Hot water kettle for adding warm water to grain to make soupy mash.
* Fully stocked veterinary kit.
* Blanket replacement parts, like leg straps or extra clips.
* The will to slog through each blizzard knowing Spring will come back at some point (kidding, not kidding)

Horse ownership comes with a plethora of challenges, and weather can be on the higher end if you are responsible for their care. Ask for help if you need it, be patient with your horse, and yourself. Horses give us a gift of following the seasons, so don't feel guilty if that means slowing down!

11/23/2023

Happy thanksgiving from my herd to yours! Horses offer so many unending moments of gratitude for me, and have often led me to irreplaceable people in my life. Now to feed, clean paddocks and give scratches.

11/21/2023

11/11/2023

The dressage training scale is a wonderful tool regardless of discipline for ridden and ground work based horses. The goal is to work through each level, building upon the last until you have a horse who carries themselves with collection. Remember, collection is not vertical flexion! Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a dive into each level of the training tree.

11/10/2023

Hello everyone! This is my new instagram business page for all things Alchemic Horsemanship. I’m Cerise, and am here to help bring unity to horse and rider using natural horsemanship and dressage fundamentals. I offer lessons with my herd or yours. All levels of horse and rider are welcome!

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11/08/2023

These images apply to flat style halters, as well as hackamores. A low halter mixed with a horse pulling back can easily result in a fractured nose. You’ll catch me adjusting halters anytime I see them too low!

11/04/2023

This months blog is about No-Stirrup-November and some exercises you can include in your riding. Check it out, give it a try and see if there's an area of your riding you could progress this month!

What is No-Stirrup-November? How can it help me and my horse? Learn more about the beloved exercises NSN has to offer!

11/01/2023

Today begins the start of no stirrup November! This month's blog is about the instructor beloved, and student dreaded month. Check out the upcoming blog for the how's, why's, and how nots of no stirrup work. Have you ever participated in No-Stirrup-November?

07/03/2023

This is a great little graphic about the signs of anxiety (or sometimes referred to as tension) in horses. Building confidence is a layering process, growing from previous positive experiences. Horses are incapable of manipulation, and are solely reactionary and need based animals. Were any of these surprising to you? How does your horse show its tension?

05/15/2023

Did you know horses and humans have such similar skeletal structure? This can be a contributing factor for why riding your horse with your whole body is key. Our shoulders can influence the movement and direction of theirs, and our seat bone placement and balance (or lack of) can directly influence the movement of their back and ribcage. A horse can often only be as supple and engaged as their rider. Can anyone name the singular functional bone we have, that they do not? The answer may surprise you!