Violet Skye 💜
Some days, I do actually realize that we are living the dream. These are the "good old days"
#connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #violetskye💜🐎
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom🤍
Jesus is Life Bible Camp 2024
#connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #biblecamp #morethanliberty #spiritledhorsemanship
Marla and Flicka
2024 Franklin County Fair Horse Show
Liberty Performance
#connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #flicka #fcfhs2024
Rocky and Rosena
2024 Franklin County Fair Horse Show
3rd place In- hand Division
#rockytop #connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #obstaclecourse
"It's a partnership, not a dictatorship" ~ Kevin Horst
#connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #twtc2020 #dreamingofvictory🤞 #hoofbeatsofhope #spiritledhorsemanship
Did you know that a horse is worth more than the ride they can give you, the miles they can run, or the speed they can canter? They are more than the job they can do, the checks they can win, and the maneuvers they get fluent in.
When we let ourselves look past all of our pride and ego, past the people we are trying to impress, and the image we are trying to create, we start to see what our horses are really created for.
We allow ourselves to be still and quiet, and we start listening instead of talking all of the time. We stop running everywhere we go, looking for the next fun thing before the current thing is barely past, and we just be. Be quiet, be still, be real, and learn to be soft. So soft that we feel our horses' thoughts while they are yet thinking them. So soft that they feel our thoughts before we even ask the question.
And we begin to feel why we loved horses in the first place. Why we were drawn towards their fiery gentleness. Why we saw the light in them when we were losing sight of it in ourselves. Why we would be willing to give everything to keep that relationship with our horse safe.
Because that space where your horse meets you is holy ground. It's safe and shielded from the fiery darts of unrighteous judgments. It's a place of perfect unconditional love. Where you are fully accepted exactly where you are and as you are.
If you allow yourself to go to this place, your heart begins to open. The perfect love that exists in that space starts melting the walls you had placed to protect you from more hurt and pain. And as your heart heals, the walls disappear, and the real you begins to be found.
Being found is what we truly want, and when we allow ourselves to be found in this powerful way, we begin to move towards the light that is on the other side.
Not every horse is created to carry a rider. Not every horse is called to be a safe space for every person he meets. Not every horse is here to make someone a paycheck.
The heart that y
First trail ride of the year🌱☀️🌻
#connectioniskey #neverjustahorse
▪︎Always Another Chance▪︎
Somedays, I wonder what he was like when he was younger. Was he able to trust then? Was there ever anyone that he carried on his back willingly? Did he ever believe that people were inherently good? What happened between then and now? Why does he hold the memory of that pain so tightly? Will he ever choose to let it go and live fully again? Or will it forever cloud his vision, changing his perception and affecting his choices?
I don't know if he will ever be ridden again. I don't know if he will ever not startle at new things or not be wary of new people. I don't know if he will ever freely give trust.
But what I do know is that I am committed to seeing all of it through with him. It will get messy, painful, and often overwhelming. We do sometimes lose sight of the light on the other side. But with a little help and input from others, we always get through, and we will always get through.
Not many things worth having are easy, but he's definitely one of the things worth fighting for.
#alwaysanotherchance #connectioniskey #libertyhorsemanship #neverjustahorse #horsesofinstagram #horsetrainersofinstagram
When a mini is your best friend -a series
Episode 2- No work, just play! with Violet Skye
#violetskye💜🐎 #miniaturehorsesofinstagram #connectioniskey #neverjustahorse
💜EPISODE ONE💜
Ryan's favorite part of the day is when him and Violet are learning together♡
#positivereinforcement #clickertraining #violetskye💜🐎 #whenaminiisyourbestfriend💜🐎 #connectioniskey #pedastalwork
□conversations happening□
Do you ever hear the stereotypical phrase "mare stare" or "mare face"? Referring to the "b**chy, dominant, bullying attitude that most horse people believe is common mare demeanor.
Believe it or not, Flicka is one of "those mares". She has a strong dominant personality. She doesn't like other horses in her personal space, and she tolerates zero negative energy. When another horse gets into her space, there will be pinned ears and bared teeth and possibly flying hoofs.
There was a time I thought that this was a bad attitude. That it was my responsibility to change it and tell her that she isn't allowed to be protective of her space or tell other horses off. She must be sweet and gentle at all times and ignore all horses who choose to get too close. Because she doesn't get to have an opinion in the matter, simply because I said so.
But then, I began to think about it more. To actually truly think about it for the first time, really. Every action has a reason behind it. Why is she being so mean and grumpy? What if I would apply this logic to myself? Would I require myself to just be ok with everyone getting in my personal space whenever they want to? What if her strong leadership personality is who she truly is, and she just needs a little guidance on how to use it?
So, I started listening to what she had been trying to tell me all along. She really doesn't like other horses directly behind her on a tail ride. So, we now often ride last. She loves it in the back. If someone does want to ride behind or beside us, I tell them how close they can be. It is just as much her right to have them farther away, as it is their right to be close.
And as I began to accept who she is, and teach her how to be responsible and graceful in it, she could let go of the defensiveness and protectiveness that had come as a result of being forced to change who she was created to be.
And she softened into it. She no longer reacts so violently when a hor
This special boy is going home in a few days🥹💚
Jack
#rescuehorse #jack #connectioniskey #neverjustahorse
Sky's first ride here with us!
Sky is part of an amazing small rescue near here. He was sent here to be evaluated, and he is currently available for adoption!
He is very willing to please the people who are working with him. There isn't a hint of any behavioral issues that we have found yet. He stands tied to be groomed, tacked up, untacked, and blanketed. He stands to have his feet cleaned out and is patient while tied as well.
He leads quietly. Sometimes, he will want to go fast if he is excited, but he still pays attention then as well. He backs up willingly and quickly and is attentive to direction.
He lunges nicely on a line or offline in a round pen. He is easy to catch and so sweet and friendly. He loads and unloads from a trailer well.
He has not had many rides yet while here, but we do believe that he isn't new to riding. He has been ridden in a halter and bridle, both bareback and with a saddle. He is not fluent with riding, so a confident rider will be needed.
He stands to be mounted, waits for a signal to start walking or speed up, and stands to be dismounted.
He is happy in a stall or being turned out. He is such a fun horse to care for, as he is respectful of human space and pays attention to direction well.
If you are interested in applying to adopt him, send us a message, and I will put you in contact with the right people!!
#skyflyer #standardbred #rescuehorse #neverjustahorse #connectioniskey
It's Yukon, being the sweetest boy on the block 🥹
#Yukon #rescuehorse #connectioniskey #neverjustahorse #horsetrainersofinstagram
Getting a blanket on Jack for the first time was a 30 minute process. One of the nice things about this boy is that if you slow down when he gets worried, he will be ok in a few minutes.
#jack #rescuehorse #neverjustahorse #connectioniskey
"Just trust me" you say. And it sounds so easy. But what you don't know is that I did trust. It was easy. And then my trust was taken for granted and broken, over and over until it was in a thousand pieces on the ground.
"Trust the people that are in your life right now" you say. But the people who have been in my life up until now are the ones that threw my trust away. What makes these people different?
"Choose to open your heart again" you say. And I remember the pain that caused me to close it.
And I run because I don't want to feel the pain again. Why should I trust you? I don't know if I even remember how to anymore.
But when I stop running, you are still there. Inviting me closer. Holding out your hand to me. You aren't afraid of my pain, but instead, you invite me to go with you. Why do you care so much? Maybe you are safer than I thought.
And so I step closer. I feel your hand, it is soft and gentle. I lean into it, just a little. You are steady and strong. My fear and worry is almost gone.
"Follow me" you whisper. And we take our first steps together.
"My child, thank you for trusting me. I love you more than you know. Stay with me, and I will show you what you are made for."
This is Yukon. Today, we took our first steps together. The past few days, he hasn't let me touch him for more than a few seconds. Today, he chose to trust again, and now my heart is full🥹
#neverjustahorse #Yukon #horsetrainerlife #horsetrainersofinstagram #rescuehorse
day 1 of Rocky learning the bow
Rosena and Rocky
#freespirithorsetraining #neverjustahorse #rockytop #connectioniskey #hackneypony
"If you're praying for a change, you better not wait
Keep turning the pages, there's choices you make
Only once in your life"
Flicka's first ever sending circles at a canter🥹
#connectioniskey #libertyhorsemanship #flicka #neverjustahorse
♡she feels like home to me♡
#connectioniskey #shesmyheart #feelslikehome #flicka
there are those who can look beyond what is and see everything that still could be•
those are my favorite kind of people-
dreamers•
/topher kearby
The 2023 Horst/Fisher trail ride happened this weekend! Thank you to all you beautiful people who brought your horses in the cold rain and made it such a fun day! It is one of the highlights of the year, and here's to many more!🍻
#horstfishertrailride #horsetraining #trailriding #horsesofinstagram #mypeople #yallarespecial
