Heart Centered Horsemanship

02/21/2025

Nothing is like a blank white canvas. On this background, the mark of our action is clear. If we are constantly doing something, we have a big scramble of marks that are difficult to discern.

I encourage my students to go deeper and deeper into nothing, remaining mindful of letting go of unnecessary tension and finding a place of inner stillness.

This is a state of relaxed awareness, of being ready to do what is necessary while actually doing nothing.

In this state, riding and horsemanship become a meditation, a way to focus the mind. Just as meditation brings us into the state of awareness that exists beneath all thought and emotion, we can become like the blank canvas, where each action is done with clarity, intention, and effectiveness.

02/06/2025

I consider teaching children one of the most important things I can do. I’m not interested in teaching them to control horses. I want to teach them kindness, the power of service-based leadership, the importance of self regulation, and the value of joy. Riding lessons can be a lot of things, for me it’s an opportunity to

02/05/2025

With horses, leadership is a common theme. In my work I often discuss styles of leadership and encourage people to choose which feels better for them. When feelings are the priority, I find people prefer to lead with connection and consent rather than force and dominance.

Growing up, I was taught how to make a horse do something even if they didn’t want to. It was for the win, the ribbon and prestige, not the emotional benefit.

These days, I prefer to be guided by what feeds my soul. This means engaging with horses in a way that considers their emotional and physical well being as opposed to one that uses them for personal gain.

I feel like I’m still in the minority in the world of horses. Dominance is still admired and sought. It seems so strange that people would prefer this.

I believe that deep down, we all are the same. We all seek happiness and joy. True joy isn’t found in using others for personal advantage. True joy is found when everybody is benefitting from the experience.

THE MOST IMPORTANT WIN MAY BE INVISIBLE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LESS REAL

02/01/2025

On Saturday, May 3, I will be at JL Winding Road Farm Reidsville, NC to offer a Mindful Movement for Riders clinic. This unique opportunity includes:

Mindful movement on the mat, where we will explore subtle and intentional movements that we can use to communicate with our horses with clarity while riding.

Horsemanship on the ground: covering topics such as nervous system regulation, "speaking" the horse's language, releasing unnecessary tension, softness and attunement, and developing connected movement.

Lunch included: Q&A/discussion during lunch

Semi-private sessions that focus on creating unity with our horses while riding. Each session will be customized to meet the needs of individuals. For those choosing not to ride, additional groundwork is also an option.

Click the link below for more information or to register!

A clinic for those seeking an enjoyable and cooperative relationship with their horse through non-aversive methods and clear communication.

12/29/2024

Bringing a little extra magic to the holidays with a day at . It is an honor, privilege and blessing to spend days like this giving children an opportunity to play with horses 🎄🎅💖

11/26/2024

Zella and I had a lovely class yesterday with our fabulous teacher Mary Debono! If I have to describe what Mary teaches in a word, it would be QUALITY. She is always challenging us to notice the quality of each movement, and through the work to improve the quality of each experience.

The horses love Mary's lessons, which are rooted in her training for humans. I believe in adding value to our horse's lives so that they choose to be with us. This is absolutely one of my favorite ways to connect with them, and an ideal approach to developing connected movement.

11/23/2024

I am fortunate to have such a wise coach!! When I started my business many years ago my focus was on trying to please the owners who brought horses for me to train. In my attempts to create the outcome that people wanted, sometimes what I was doing didn't sit right with me. I realized I wanted to work with horses in a way that felt good to me, and that if the horse wasn't feeling good, I wasn't feeling good.

I named my business Heart Centered Horsemanship not because it was something I had mastered, but rather it was something I aspired to. I wanted to figure out how to both get horses to cooperate AND ensure they consent to the process and benefit from the arrangement.

What I teach now is so vastly different from where I started, and that's okay. If we aren't evolving, what are we even doing???

11/22/2024

The first thing we have to do to hold a space of safety for the horse is to keep ourselves safe. I teach my students right from the beginning to make sure they can keep themselves safe by setting clear and effective boundaries, even if that means the horse moves away from them. Ideally we begin where the horse has that option. If a horse is pushy, a swinging rope or a wand can be very helpful in making personal boundaries clear.

I have met plenty of people who did not want to set boundaries for their horses. They felt that swinging a wand or rope to hold personal space was somehow mean. While they may have felt they were being kinder and gentler, they lacked the ability to hold a space of safety for their horses.

Horses are incredibly perceptive, and if we can't maintain a space for ourselves where we can be calm, take a deep breath, and release tension, there's no way we can offer that to our horses. Without boundaries that the horse responds to, there's no way we can hold that space for ourselves.

When we can keep ourselves safe, then we can start to help the horses feel safe as well. And that, ultimately, is what they really want.

11/21/2024

Be the tree! My students hear these words often, and for a reason. When we are solid, strong, grounded and calm, the horses will organize around us. It’s not about making them do anything, but about how they experience us.

Does your horse feel you as strong and solid, like a tree? Or something that can be easily pushed and pulled? This is no training trick, but something they learn through every interaction.

11/20/2024

When we think of providing a safe environment, most of us probably think of physical safety. Of course we want to make sure nobody gets hurt. But, what about emotional safety?

I was discussing blocks to joy with my yoga students, and one that was mentioned was toxic people, basically those that make you feel bad. I thought about how easily I too could be one of those people. Without meaning to, my words or actions could cause pain to another.

I was probably drawn to horses because they offer a space of emotional safety. I never worry about what they might say behind my back, or whether they will betray or cancel me. For a highly sensitive person with a past full of heartbreak, this is much needed relief!

Holding spaces of emotional safety for each other means providing the possibility of experiencing love, joy and happiness. I am making an effort to be mindful of my words and actions, so that I may hold such a space for myself and those around me. Yet another lovely lesson we can learn from the horses.

11/17/2024

More than anything else, I want to contribute to a world that is kinder, safer, and more empathetic, where people care about each other and work together for mutual well-being. While there are plenty of examples of people and communities where these values are prioritized, I still feel like I live in a pretty cold, hard world much of the time.

I want to live in softer world, one that feels good and makes it easy to maintain a state of joy, love and gratitude.

The horses can teach us how we can hold such a space for ourselves and for others, and how wonderful connecting in this way with another being can feel. Horses don't tell their students what to think, instead they give them an experience that shapes their perception of the world. They show them that compassion blended with awareness and personal responsibility is the recipe for partnerships that really work.

I am a firm believer that the lessons horses have to teach can make the world a better place for everyone.

11/15/2024

In my work I seek to create joyful spaces. I believe that true joy comes from situations where everyone is having a good time. When having fun for some means creating suffering for others, that isn’t joy. Joy comes from feeling safe, from loving and being loved, and generally having fun in a sustainable way.

Horses can be such abundant sources of joy! But to get to that, they have to be having a good time too ❤️

11/14/2024

Looking for the perfect gift for the young horse lover in your family? Gift certificates are available for Holiday Horseplay Day at LaBelle Equestrian on Monday, December 30. Limited spaces are available, reserve yours early!

A day of fun, play, and meaningful learning for children ages 6-14. Children learn to communicate the way the horse naturally understands - through body language, connected movement, and nuanced detail - so they can respond to the horse in the moment, during every moment.

11/13/2024

This week a lot of attention has been drawn to the treatment of women, and sadly I have seen some examples of men defending their right to dominate and control women. Hopefully most people would disagree that this is acceptable behavior, but it got me thinking about how prevalent domination still is in the world of horses.

If you've ever known, or been, a woman overpowered and disrespected by a man, you may relate to the anger and helplessness many horses feel when subjected to what are still commonplace training methods. If you know you will be hurt for expressing your true feelings, it make sense that you would get quiet, get small, and do what you're told.

I have known many horses who have come from situations where they were kept submissive by dominating people. It's no wonder that when they have the opportunity to express themselves, anger and rage come out. This explains why so many people bring home "perfectly behaved" horses and then wonder what the heck happened when their behavior goes south.

Current events are motivating me more than ever to teach the power of partnership and mutually beneficial relationships. If we truly treat the horses as we would want to be treated, how would that change the shape of the horse world??

11/07/2024

Horses remind us of a dimension that is timeless, a beauty that is eternal, a love that is constantly within us. I tell my yoga students that the practice teaches us to become a presence of equanimity, to hold a peace so strong nothing external can shake it. It’s not about controlling circumstances, but meeting them from a place of grounded strength and compassion. All can be healed and we can return again to the eternal dimension of peace and love. There will never not be challenges, but with each one our resilience can grow stronger.

11/01/2024

Sharing a short clip of yesterday’s session with Henry, a 6 year old Appaloosa who recently moved to LaBelle Equestrian. Henry came with a lot of anxiety and standing still is a challenge. I want to use touch to help him relax, but his current response to touch is to move away. Nevertheless, I’m finding ways in to create connection and help Henry feel safe so he can enjoy his time with his people 😊

10/30/2024

I had a teenage boy in my yoga class ask me why I didn’t do all the “hardest” poses, as if being a teacher meant that I necessarily must achieve at the highest level. I explained that yoga is not a competitive sport. It isn’t about being able to do all the hardest poses, but rather the wealth of benefits that come from simply practicing in a way that feels good in the body and mind.

Driving home, I thought about how that applies to my horses as well. As a kid I loved competing and lived for horse trial weekends. These days, my horsemanship and riding feel more like my yoga practice. I am mostly interested in sinking into the deeper levels of awareness that can come from perfecting the simple things, rather than pushing the limits of performance.

I have had to overcome a conditioned mindset that validation comes only from competing. I mean, do I even DO dressage if I can't answer the question of what level I ride at? For a long time I felt like I was somehow deficient as a horse professional because I didn’t compete, but these days I embrace it. There is a freedom that comes from enjoying an experience for itself and pursuing an intention of well-being, without knowing exactly where it will lead.

I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with competing, just that competition doesn’t have to define the value of our experiences with horses.

10/24/2024

Emotional regulation is a huge theme in my sessions, whether they are specifically therapeutic, equine assisted learning, or horsemanship/riding lessons. I believe that horses have much to teach us about being better humans ❤️

This is spot on.
📷 Dr. Nicole LePera, seen at Dr. Mark Hyman