Holistic Equestrian LLC

12/28/2024

It takes a top notch team to help horses become their best selves. Thank you, Tara Kolesar and Dr Hannah Mueller for being part of my team!
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12/20/2024

Long-reining (aka, long lining, ground driving, double lunging, whatever you want to call it) is a really useful tool that I utilize regularly in my program of reconditioning horses with asymmetries and soundness issues. But, it's not a beginner friendly tool. It requires feel, timing, and a lot of physical coordination to prevent some potential disasters if the horse gets spooked or confused...

Here's a tip that I use every time I start a horse on the long reins, if the horse is feeling particularly fresh, or the first time teaching a student to use them: I attached the inside line like a lunge line, and the outside line normally. That way in an emergency I can drop the outside line and keep the horse on the circle until it settles again.

I also frequently connect the lines to both the bit and the halter, to prevent the horse from getting a nasty yank on its mouth if something does go wrong. And, with horses, something will inevitably go wrong. 🤪

Hopefully this will help give someone the confidence to try this awesome tool for building their horse's topline and teaching and/or correcting contact issues.

11/07/2024

Horses come to me from all different backgrounds, with unknown traumas, and training usually from a variety of places, and always unrecognized pain somewhere in their bodies. They come with resistances, evasions, defenses, often times having come to the conclusion that nobody will listen to them unless they scream as loudly as possible. Sometimes they are simply shut down and don't want to interact, aren't interested, will look everywhere but at me. It's an interesting thing to observe.

What I do notice, though, is that once they realize that a) I can show them how to be relaxed in any situation, and b) I listen to their small communications and they don't have to scream, the transformation is profound and remarkable. They become interested, they become confident, they communicate, they engage, and they start enjoying using their bodies. They come to me when I go to get them from the pasture. Sometimes they even try to help me put their halters on. 😂 It's inevitable and it's dramatic.

And yet, for some reason I'm always amazed and awed that it works, every single time. 🤷

10/28/2024

Thanks to Equestrians Institute and Cindy Reichel, I had the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful weekend symposium with Sabine Shut-Kerry. It inspired me to write a blog about a topic I've been thinking about for a very long time. I hope you enjoy it.

This weekend I had the thoroughly delightful opportunity to attend a symposium featuring Sabine Shut-Kerry, sponsored by the Equestrian's Institute and ...

10/22/2024

We have an opening for full training coming up in the next month or so. If you need help with your horse's soundness, fitness and conditioning, tension and spookiness, and/or preparing for next year's competition season, this is absolutely the right time to take advantage of this opening. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity! Message me right away!

10/21/2024

Holistic Equestrian has another very special horse looking for an equally special person.

Name: Ziva (Zealous Zoey)
Breed: Thoroughbred (not raced)
Gender: Mare
Age: 10
Height: 15.3hh
Color: Solid Bay, small white star
Location: Monroe, WA

Ziva is a very special horse with some physical maintenance needs, seeking her perfect person.

What makes Ziva truly special is her incredible brain and desire to engage with people. She is beautiful, athletic and wicked smart. Ziva is an enthusiastic ground work, liberty, R+ horse. She LOVES attention, LOVES being engaged in things that make her think, and is 100% ready to learn tricks and show them off anytime, anywhere. She also LOVES to jump, although it is harder on her body than it should be, so we are looking for a non-jumping home. She is not affected by external factors when she is at "work." She is not spooky or hot. Even if she's physically uncomfortable, she will find something to distract herself with so she can stay calm.

However, while Ziva is as absolutely sound as she can possibly be, she gets quite uncomfortable after being ridden. For this reason we are not willing to send her to a home where she will be expected to be ridden. Ziva's owner has gone above and beyond to give her the best chance at being comfortable and happy, but needs to find her a new home where she can thrive doing what she loves and not be forced to do things that cause her pain.

Ziva, unfortunately does not play well with others. She does best when friends are close but separate, so she wouldn't make a good companion horse.

Ziva has emotions and thrives with a person who is patient, steady and non-reactive. She doesn’t have a mean bone, but sometimes needs help to maintain her Zen. She’s very honest, though, and her biggest emotions are almost always related to pain somewhere in her body.

We are more than happy to share the details, x-rays and vet records for serious inquiries.

Free jumping:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/62gdr8xvrq63pomj4bwe1/20240728_122611639-3.mp4?rlkey=4jrmv8sz3723154jiwq54l671&st=1xuotwjx&dl=0

Targeting:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qcyr1p2e51fucjerju4lm/20241013_1225377321-5.mp4?rlkey=kkf7bp8ir36jf5sn28n3pvxxu&st=o1zvcxrj&dl=0

10/13/2024

Another very important facet to "Holistic Equestrian" is cross training. There's nothing like popping a jump saddle on and riding over jumps for opening the horse's back and refreshing the gaits!

The advantages of doing regular free jumping meant that Cindy Reichel's Giselle was relaxed and confident to go through the little jumps we set for her. Cindy, of course, had an absolute blast and did an awesome job! 😁🥰

10/01/2024

Ground work pattern sand art. 😎

09/24/2024

Little Ziva: May to September. Who says you have to ride a horse to build their topline? She is not comfortable carrying weight (she's getting her girl parts checked), but in every other way she's a very happy girl!

09/20/2024

I'm not entirely sure Adam would approve me posting these pictures of him in his blissed out state, but he most certainly *does* approve of his weekly bodywork sessions with Fiona Boardman (Open Stride Equine Therapy).

08/28/2024

Never, ever, ever give up!

08/08/2024

Ahhh, the beauty of a freshly drug arena. 🥰

07/29/2024

I'm seeing quite a few of these bits on the Olympic 3-day horses. Even on the cross country. That makes me happy. 😊