Equine LEAD, LLC

01/28/2025

📸 Lesson snapshots
Elaina practiced longing & began learning how to identify a posting diagonal 🐴
Raylee reviewed horse markings & 2 point trotted 🐎
Karis practiced longing, and boy did Apollo have some pent up energy! She rode his trot for the first time too 🤠
Myla worked on advancement skills including daily care, and learning horse body language 🙌

01/26/2025

🌈 On January 19th our handsome gentle giant, Jet, crossed the rainbow bridge to be with the horse ancestors. ✨

Jet would have been 23 years old this May, and was with us since August of 2017. Our farrier recommended him as a possible lesson horse due to his laid back personality and smarts. After sharing the following story with me, I knew I had to meet him: Dean shared an experience of trimming Jets hooves, and his son insisting he move away from Jet as there was a swarm of wasps coming out of a fence post. He states that Jet stood steadily, just bobbing and weaving his head without panic. This story really captures Jet’s presence: strong, steady, calm in the face of danger, resilient, brave, and a natural leader.

Jet absolutely loved being groomed. He’d lean into the brush, making playful faces, and his mane, especially where the white and brown met, was a favorite for students and campers to braid. We always joked that he was so in tune with his role, he had an “auto-pilot” mode. He remembered his students and what they were working on—if I attached the longe line and they were focused on cantering, he’d set himself up, ready to go!

On a personal level, Jet was a constant, steady presence that was incredibly healing. After a serious fall while horsepacking in Yellowstone in 2021, which left me with an arm injury, it was Jet who helped me regain my confidence and work through the trauma of that experience. I knew I could trust him completely—his calm strength and intuitive nature guided me back, offering both comfort and insight as I navigated the recovery process.

As I shared the news with students this past week, I have set up a memorial on his stall to share messages, stories, and pictures. My heart is filled with immense gratitude for Jet’s life—what he meant to everyone he encountered, and the deep love that surrounded him.

His herd mates—Bud, Moon, and Honey—are adjusting well. Bud, in particular, has been quite sensitive to the loss of the herd's patriarch and leader. I plan to offer healing energy to the herd and bless the land today. As I continue to process Jet’s sudden passing, I’m filled with gratitude and overwhelmed by the love and support of our community. 🙏

01/24/2025

✨Friday Feature✨
Student: Harper

How long have you taken lessons at Equine LEAD?
7 years

Who is your favorite horse and why?
Reba (because she is) ornery.

What is your favorite memory with Reba?
Play(ing) in (the) open pen.

What have you learned about yourself through riding lessons?
I am patient.

What do you hope to gain through lessons at Equine LEAD?
To learn hopefully how to own my own horse someday.

01/24/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
Gigi worked in balance exercises trotting and patterns 🐴
Crystal rode for core strength & recreation 🤠
Paisley learned quick release knots, pampered Moon & began her Novice advancement check list of skills 🐎
Avery learned daily horse care, feed & began her advancement check list of skills 🙌

01/23/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
Angela learned how to care for horses with daily chores & nutrition education.
Elliot learned how to attach the cinch and secure a saddle 🤠
Opel & Hazel learned saddle & bridle parts for their new advancement level 🙌
Kenzley learned about horse face & leg markings, and ID them with the herd 🐴

01/22/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
(Not all pictured)
They learned daily horse care, hoof anatomy & care, and body parts today 🤠 Babe is also getting a lot of love as everyone meets her this week 💛

01/20/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
Today students focused on horsemanship goals including learning daily horse care, cleaning tack, disassembling & reassembling tack, and testing knowledge on markings & colors. 🤠

01/20/2025

We welcomed Babe, a new boarded horse, & the Gosnell’s to the herd over the weekend. She’s a sweetie 🥰

01/18/2025

🎉 Fun Fact: Honey the Haflinger is an adored boarder horse. Did you know the breed originated from Austrian Tyrol during the Middle Ages? The first Haflingers imported into the USA was in 1958 by Temple Farms in Wadsworth, Illinois!

01/17/2025

✨Friday Feature✨
Student: Raylee

How long have you been riding at Equine LEAD?
5 years

Who is your favorite horse? Why?
Teddy (because) he had one (brown) eye and one blue eye.

What can you tell others about your experience at Equine LEAD?
It’s fun and exciting!

01/17/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
Gigi worked on balance and body awareness at the walk & trot 🐎
Violet learned about the gaits & observed Jet work at the walk/trot/canter 🤠
Avery learned all about her lesson horse Apollo, including markings, height & weight, and more! 🐴

01/16/2025

📸Lesson Snapshots
Charlotte learned about colic symptoms, care, and types 👩‍⚕️
Elliot learned how to lead and pick hooves 🤠
Elaina learned about feed types & identifying good vs bad quality 🌾
Kenzley learned more about saddling, and the balanced body position 🐴

01/15/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots
Harper worked on sequencing together a series of patterns 🤠
Natalie & Sarah practiced longing & then went for a ride through the snow ❄️
Norah learned horse face & leg markings and ID them with the herd 🐴
Annalea officially finished her beginner horsemanship goals completing her anatomy skill set 🙌
Marshall learned about horse body language signals to understand how horses talk to us 🐎

01/14/2025

📸 Lesson Snapshots:
Raylee learned to jog in hand using body language cues & energy regulation, and quick release knots. 🐎
Karis learned common equine body colors, and face/leg markings then applied her learning to Apollo & Jet 🐴
Myla learned equine anatomy and then labeled Apollos body parts 🤠

01/12/2025

"...bringing horse wisdom to social service agencies supporting the homeless, the elderly, and people in crisis."

As an Eponaquest Instructor with Connections 101 training, you can explore and achieve the benefits highlighted by participants in the following article, both in your personal life and within your professional or business setting at Equine LEAD! As a healthcare worker, I am deeply passionate about helping others in the field develop practices that reduce burnout, enhance leadership skills, establish healthy boundaries, and boost emotional agility.

https://eponaquest.com/happy-new-year-from-eponaquest-worldwide/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00Vzbsywq-OX7y6r7RwlHhimZs9p4KJzT01ppBusr7TZaReRLNC-t9aVQ_aem_KkixDZtFjPTgjkIqpoMqAQ

In this edition of the Eponaquest News, learn how founder Linda Kohanov is bringing horse wisdom to social service agencies supporting the homeless, the elderly, and people in crisis. “Over... More »

01/11/2025

😂

01/10/2025

✨Friday Feature✨

This is a new series we’re unrolling to start the year! This week I began asking students questions about their experiences at Equine LEAD. For the students, it is a way to reflect on their learning and passion for horses. For the community, I hope it will be a fun way to learn about Equine LEAD through the students perspective. 😊

This week I’d like to feature Natalie. I’ve literally watch her grow and mature in so many ways, and I’m so proud of the horsewoman she’s become! 🤠

How long have you taken lessons at Equine LEAD?
8 years

Who is your favorite horse and why?
Jet (because) he is kind, gentle, and patient.

What have you learned about yourself through riding lessons?
I’ve learned confidence.

What can you tell others about your experience at Equine LEAD?
I have learned so much!

*I’ll share more questions/responses from Natalie in future posts* 🐎

01/10/2025

Apollo, our Norwegian Fjord, says this is the most wonderful time of the year! ❄️🐴