Heritage Stables

11/14/2025

11/12/2025

Humility, perspective, and a sense of humor.

All these things are free, and very valuable: though I feel it's safe to say they often come at great cost.

A life well lived can give us these.

Humility comes from experience, and spending ample time around those far beyond our capabilities. Humility comes from accurately assessing our own skills due to hours upon hours in pens sorting colts, loading tough horses in trailers, putting first rides on babies, and developing horses into a refined way of going. Hundreds upon hundreds of these will teach us all we don't know - what we thought works for most won't work for some outliers, and so humility is born.

Perspective, again, comes from that same well - teaching enough people to realize they don't all think like you (and shouldn't). Seeing enough horses to realize the staunch views you held just don't hold up, and developing some new views as a result. It's gaining flexibility to the moment, and yet greater adherence to the principle that drives you. Perspective is born over time, through a humble outlook on the work, and on life.

And finally, a sense of humor can be born. It's just not that serious. You are not that serious. And though everything is important, nothing is. There is nothing to prove - it is all exactly what it is. And that leads to a lot of things being pretty dang funny. A sense of humor gives you a whole lot of freedom to move through life, to enjoy people you didn't think you could enjoy, to work and develop horses you didn't think you could work with, and to live a great life: a quality life where you are open enough to give back.

These are free - anyone can have them. They don't belong to some mystical guru on top of a mountain, they belong to you. But they come at the loss of much: rigidity, self importance, and the desire to prove oneself.

As they say in the movie Fight Club, my favorite line - "It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything."

It's not so serious as we think, this life - in fact, once you let go of "being" anything, it's pretty damn amazing.

11/05/2025

Student: Master, what is suppleness?

Guru: Suppleness is the horse’s way of saying, “I trust you.”

It is not merely bend or looseness, it is permission.
A supple poll is a whispered yes.
A soft ribcage is the horse opening a door and inviting you in.

When the horse releases tension, he is telling you he believes you will not misuse what he gives.

Suppleness is not flexibility of the body; it is faith made visible.

Student: But how do I create suppleness?

Guru: You cannot bend that which is braced against you.
Instead, offer the horse a reason to release.
Soften your jaw; his poll will echo you.
Unclench your thoughts; his back will uncoil.
Suppleness begins in the rider, and the horse only answers.

10/29/2025

Happy Halloween from our barn to yours🎃

10/28/2025

Every day there are clinics and riding lessons and round pen demos all over the world. There are lectures and videos and books about riding, how to ride, how to train.

But I think what any rider needs most can be encapsulated in just two words, "seat" and "attitude."

One is a physical skill. The other is an emotional quality.

When a rider has what is called "a good seat," or "an independent seat, " that rider's seat meshes with the motion of the swinging back of the moving horse in a harmonious fashion.

When a rider has achieved an independent seat, that rider can have soft, independent arms and hands. The rider with an independent seat and arms and hands will be able to be virtually a part of the moving, breathing horse in ways that do not interfere with or hinder or unbalance the movements of the horse.

The other word, "attitude," refers to whether or not the rider is in control of his or her emotions and thoughts. A "good" attitude describes the rider who is patient, and empathetic, and stays calm, who does not get frustrated or have issues with temper, and who tries not to use force or coercion, and tries to become educated in better ways.

If a rider has a good seat and a good attitude, the horses that rider rides have little to fear. If a rider lacks either of those, it doesn't matter how many clinics they attend or lessons they take or books they read or videos they watch, because in so many cases they already know what they need, and are simply trying to avoid the reality of having to achieve them.

(Photo--Klaus Balkenhol and Goldstern)

10/26/2025

What an awesome surprise! Thank you Casey💖

10/23/2025

Bubba is having the retirement years that every horse deserves. A pile of hay, a room with a view and a friend 💙

10/18/2025

The arena turned out really nice with the big load of sand added one wheel barrel at a time! We are ready for winter riding🐎

10/18/2025

10/14/2025

We sure have fat ,shiny and happy ponies ❤️