Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses

I've got some happy horses in my barn who work hard and play harder. This Andalusian goofball is Zultero and he loves water. Lovingly owned by Christine Gibson <3 #horseplay #libertyhorse #mmhorsemanshipacademy #horsetraining #phoenixhorses #horsesforlease

Teaching beginner riders from ground zero is not something that I'd say most trainers like to do. It is hard work and it is tedious at times. It takes MUCH patience. BUT it is SO rewarding too! This is a young rider out of the roundpen for the first time. I know that our dedication--hers and mine is moving her forward, one session at a time. We can share in that success and growth together. Historically, I have made all my own riders, not taking them from other trainers. I've seen them from "never touched a horse" to "can train a horse to be better" typically in the span of around a year and a half. Yes, I'm proud of these things and the happiness and growth that I see in students, not just in horsemanship but in character growth. I may not been seen at the big shows (YET) and what I do isn't glamorous, but there is freedom in not having the pressure and still creating success <3 Contact me about my MM Horsemanship Academy and learn how I can help you meet your horsemanship goals one session at a time. #mmhorsemanshipacademy #horsetraining #horseridinglessons #horsemanship #youngriders #purebredarabian #horseforlease #reiningtraining #ranchriding #westernriding

Become a member of MM Horsemanship Academy and learn Riding and Horsemanship in a friendly environment while making new friends! Contact MM Horsemanship Academy today to book your intro lesson for only $75! Located in N. Phoenix 480-290-1317 #mmhorsemanshipacademy #horseridinglessons #horseforlease #arabianhorse #horsetraining #Horsemanship #youngriders #summercamp Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses

Want to connect with a horse but not ride? You may enjoy some interaction with a horse at Liberty. For one reason or another, riding a horse is not always an option but you can still enjoy horses and enrich their lives through a connection at liberty. Here is an introductory Liberty lesson featuring Carla and Amira. At these early stages of Liberty, the horse and human learn to communicate using body language and levels of energy while building a rapport. Contact me for more info on Liberty lessons <3 480-290-1317 #marissamendozaperformancehorses #libertyhorsemanship #libertyhorse #phoenixridinglessons #arabianhorse

I had a fun week doing an intensive camp for some visitors to the area. My program involves techniques I've developed which result in accelerated learning. Seeing the confidence and knowledge gained through the 3 day intensive riding camp is so exciting and rewarding to witness. Do you know an adult or kid who is coming to visit and dreams of learning how to ride? Text Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses at 480-290-1317! #phoenixridinglessons #horseridephoenix #horsebackriding #marissamendozaperformancehorses

One of the keys to keeping an Egyptian Stallion happy is don't keep him stalled up all day. Let him get out and boss something around for an hour or 2.This always makes his day ;) #horsementalhealth #egyptianstallion #horseplay

It's raining like crazy. Good thing I got everyone out already earlier. The horses are all tucked in their dry stalls with feed and don't mind all the noise. Stay safe on the roads, my local friends! #Arizonarain #horsetraining #Arizonawinter #Phoenixhorses #horseridingschool #mmperformancehorses #horsebarn #marissamendozaperformancehorses

Got a little time to do a little liberty play with Zultero the Andalusian (now proudly owned by Christine G. :)) after my lessons today. As some of you may recall, Zultero is a recovering, abused dancing horse. Whips really trigger aggression and a fear response in him. I can't blame him for feeling that way since they were used on him so harshly. This has meant that I train him at liberty a bit differently than I have with others. The whip is a more subtle part of the practice and as you may notice I am primarily using hand motions and vocal cues to communicate. I have also utilized some intermittent, positive reinforcement which seems to disarm his defensive tendencies. Anyway, gotta love spending time playing with a horse on a beautiful day. More liberty practice and videos to come! Be on the lookout for more from my Western States ILHA Liberty Club via our page. #libertyhorsemanship #marissamendozaperformancehorses #horsetraining #ridinginstructor #andalusianhorse #Whitehorse #horsebackriding #libertyhorse

Another beautiful day for lessons. I LOVE the days when it's cool and quiet at the ranch. I also love this dedicated Friday morning lesson group! <3 Contact me to inquire about Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses Horsemanship Academy 480-290-1317 #marissamendozaperformancehorses #arabianhorses #ridinginstructor #horsetraining #horseridinglessons #mmperformancehorses #libertyhorsemanship

The best times I have are just me and a horse. They are so great just at being themselves. Zultero is now owned by a client and I am so happy for them <3

All the loveable goofballs in this video have been rehomed to people who were thrilled to have them. In the last year I have sold more horses than ever have before and I'm proud to say, I have peace that they all went to good homes who would appreciate them and do right by them <3 #funnyhorse #arabianhorses

Some of my favorite times during my work week is when I get to just pause and watch them do "horsey" things in a herd. #mares #arabianhorse #paint #quarterhorse #MMPerformanceHorses

I have trained many Arabians in the last few years and I find that they more frequently canter incorrectly in the hind end more than any other breed I've worked with--particularly on the lunge line. I also find when riding that they don't as easily carry their hip in when asked. This may be because of having one less vertebrae or maybe their hind ends just aren't as strong as what I'm used to in other breeds. I also find that they switch their hind end when they're distracted or fresh. In any case, I make the horse practice correctly to work on muscle strength and memory just as seen here. I see improvement. Also, it's important to be sure there isn't soreness in hocks or stifles. Just something interesting I've observed from working with a number of Arabians now. #Arabianhorses #horsetraining #purebredarabian #horses

Happy snappy horses--What happens when they stay in for a day and the weather is chilly.

Getting out in the rainy weather with students to practice is such a joy. I've been finding that just the context shift of weather can help advance a student's horsemanship skills as they adapt to their horses behaving differently in different conditions. It was a fantastic day and I so love facilitating the subtleties of growth in my students!! #mmperformancehorses #horsemanship #horsetrainer #horseridinglessons #phoenixhorsetrainer #personalgrowth #equestrianlife

One of my greatest joys these days is putting my horses out and observing their social time. I have done a lot of new introductions of new herd mates in new groups in the last couple months and I love observing their interactions. It tells me so much about them and then after their time together I feel how it changes their moods and sense of being. Interesting stuff. Horses are so present and don't care about big picture stuff. They live 100% in the present and it helps all of us do the same when in their company. #horsebehavior #libertyhorsemanship #libertyhorse #horseriding #horsetrainerphoenix

Day 1 of Fall Camp today at HoofbeatZ: Horses & Humans in Harmony, my co-founded, non-profit horsemanship school. We had a great group of kids out today learning leadership skills and confidence through horsemanship. Keep an eye out for more camps throughout the rest of the year! #kidscamps #phoenixkidsactivities #horseridinglessons #horsemanship #leadershipskills #leadershiptraining

Another installment of "mares will be mares." Gotta love em lol I have a 6 month old reining filly and she was saying hello to my Andalusian gelding and her usually passive girl friend said "we hate your face!" #mareface #horsebehavior #arabianmare #painthorse #andalusian #horses Cracks me up

Session 3 of +R liberty training with Zultero, an Andalusian recovering from abuse trauma. Today we went into the big arena and brought some energy into the session. He is getting more and more relaxed and trusting of our time and my handling. It's really cool to see. #marissamendozahorsemanship #phoenixhorsetraining #positivereinforcement #positivereinforcementhorsetraining #horsetraining #libertyhorsemanship

Session 3 of +R liberty with Zultero, an abused Andalusian. See my page for full post and follow for news on clinics, training and more! #marissamendozahorsemanship #libertyhorsemanship #positivereinforcement #andalusianhorse #phoenixhorsetraining