T.H.E. Ranch (Teaching Humans with Equine)

Home
United States
Prescott, AZ
T.H.E. Ranch (Teaching Humans with Equine)

Sentient Horsemanship and Equine-Assisted Learning...Naturally Natural Horsemanship and Riding Instruction

“The safest way to learn to ride is from the ground.

Whatever is learned in the ground work transfers to mounted work and builds a foundation not just of knowledge but also of trust and partnership between horse and rider.”—Bonnie Ebsen Jackson

T.H.E. Ranch endorses and teaches a natural approach to horse handling based on a grounded knowledge of horses’ psychology and their hierarchy of needs. Instruction is given in private, semi-private, and gro

up lessons. The typical lesson covers both ground and riding skills and costs $50 for 1.5 hours. Students learn how to ride with grace, rhythm, and fluidity, as well as how to help a horse respond to light contact. The result is a greater use of body and less reliance on tack. This basic foundation can then be applied to any discipline desired. What is Natural Horsemanship? Natural horsemanship seems to be a popular term in the horse world these days, intriguing to some and intimidating to others. Really, it’s quite a simple concept—the ability to enter a horse’s world and think and move in ways that communicate positively to them in “language” they understand. This idea can be applied to many species with which we share our lives and this world. For instance:

Natural dogmanship: Watch Animal Planet and National Geographic for tips on how to think like a dog. You will learn what a dog’s priorities are—what certain body language and sounds mean and, most importantly, how to become the “alpha” in your dog’s life. Natural catmanship: Understanding the domestic cat’s attitudes and habits has long been a source of humor, but much can be learned from the subtle ways in which felines create willing servants out of their otherwise assertive owners. Natural livestockmanship: Read the books of Temple Grandin ( Thinking in Pictures, Animals Make Us Human, Animals in Translation) to understand the importance of caring for pets and livestock humanely and with an eye to reducing the agony that meat animals in particular endure during their short and purpose-driven lives. To learn natural horsemanship, we start by understanding the psychology of prey animals and what is important to them. “Eyes in front, born to hunt. Eyes on the side, born to hide.” Or, in the horse’s case, born to startle, jump, and flee the area. To help a horse overcome their natural instinct to flee is to make a horse safer to ride. How do we do this? By accepting the limitations of a horse’s world (they cannot understand the limitations of our world) and offering them what they need and seek:

Safety…comfort…companionship…play

“A horse doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care.” –Tom Dorrance via Pat Parelli

If you take some time with your new, old, or borrowed horse, you will notice the things that are important to him or her. As you learn more about natural horsemanship, you will learn a language with which you can draw the horse to you as a leader draws followers. Some horses may have great skepticism about what it is you offer and will require even greater patience on your part. They may balk, walk away, or become dominating. When faced with this skepticism, resolve to:

Relax..Breath…Observe any emotions you feel. Put a smile on your lips
Keep offering the relationship
Think of the “Bigger Picture,” i.e., what is your ultimate goal with the horse? Being able to relax and see this “bigger picture” is what will distinguish you as a true and sensitive leader and partner, rather than just another predator coming out of the bushes. Establishing a relationship on the ground, through simple games and activities, forms a bond that will help you stay safer and find more joy in the saddle.

06/16/2024

Happy Father's Day, Dad...
I know most people will remember you as a geezer, but I prefer this pic of you at the start of your career. Thanks for teaching me about persistence. It's, you know, come in handy over the years.

06/03/2024

The best story ever! I can’t wait for when the movie… ❤️

LOOK AFTER YOUR FRIEND

A lot of years ago I got a call from a fellow who said he had been given a 5 year old TB that had just retired from racing in the country. He wanted help re-training it for his 12 year old daughter so she could take it to Pony Club. We booked the horse to arrive in a few weeks.

Arrival day came and what scurried out of the trailer was a pretty 14.3hh brown mare breathing fire. I told the owner and his daughter that I’d give it a few days to settle into her new home and probably start working with it on Thursday. Part of the deal I made with the owner was that he and his daughter had to commit to coming out to watch me work their horse and as the horse made progress I would encourage them to work with their horse under my supervision. It was a condition I placed on every client before accepting a job. If they were not willing to commit to coming out at least once a week I would not take the job.

We organized that Julie and her dad would come out each Sunday morning.

Cherry was a mess (full name was Cherry Ripe). Like so many TBs just retired from racing her mind had been scrambled by the pressure and a lack of clarity. I approached her training as if she knew nothing and I was starting her like I might a foal. She was a nice mare, but I did wonder if she would be suitable for a 12 year old kid or pony club.

Julie came out each Sunday to watch. At first, she seemed shy, but after a few weeks, she started to open up and ask really good questions. She was a smart cookie and watched everything with such intense seriousness. She absorbed everything she saw and heard.

After Cherry had been with me for about 5 weeks, it was time to start Julie doing some groundwork with her horse. I was so happy with how well Julie took to the groundwork even though she had minimum experience with this type of training. This kid had some skills and a nice way of being around her horse. I started to have hope that the relationship between Cherry and Julie might work out after all.

The weeks passed and Cherry was turning into a super fun horse. She was smart, focused and brave. Julie was working hard to progress as fast as Cherry. What is more, they were both falling in love. Even on Cherry’s worst day, Julie could not have loved her mare more. And when trouble struck Cherry began looking to Julie for help. It cheered my heart.

Finally, it came time for Julie to take Cherry home. We arranged that we would keep up the lessons every couple of weeks. The work and the relationship were going from strength to strength with only a few hiccups along the way.

Then one day Julie said, “There is a club competition in 4 weeks. I want to enter Cherry into her first dressage test. Do you think she is ready?”

I replied, “I think you could give it ago. If she is not ready, just treat it as a picnic outing rather than a competition.”

“I’m a bit nervous. Will you come and watch me, Ross,” she asked.

“Sure,” I said, “but it will cost you a hotdog for my lunch.”

She wrote down where and when the event would be and I said goodbye, promising to be there.

The event was on a Sunday which meant I had to cancel a few of my regular lessons. I was running a little late and when I got to the pony club ground I saw Julie was already riding Cherry in the warm-up area. I parked the truck and hurried over to see her before it was her turn to go into the ring.

“How’s she doing, Julie,” I asked.

“She’s all over the place. She won’t settle. We have to canter in both directions in this test and I think she’ll lose her mind if I ask her to canter. What should I do?” She sounded desperate.

I said, “Look after your horse. That’s your job. Look after your horse. As long as I have been alive they have never run out of competitions. There’ll be another competition next week, next month, and next year for you to win a ribbon. But you only have one friend like Cherry. Look after your friend.”

Julie’s dad came over and we watched her ride together. I think we were as nervous as Julie. Cherry was truly wound tight, but she was holding it together. I looked at the test on the sheet of paper Julie’s dad handed me. I knew the canter was coming up. I didn’t think Cherry would handle being asked to canter and I was getting very nervous for her.

As Julie and Cherry came to the marker that called for a canter, Julie stood up in a 2-point position as if she was about to ask Cherry to jump over a fence. She then reached forward with both arms and began gently stroking Cherry on either side of her neck. As she did this I noticed she was talking to Cherry in a whisper. Reassuring her. Calming her.

They continued trotting past the marker where they were meant to canter. The judge rang the bell for a disqualification, but Julie ignored the bell and kept stroking. They trotted a lap and a half before Cherry’s trot started to relax and she began to stretch a little. Julie and Cherry then retired and left the ring.

Julie was smiling. I was smiling. Even the judge seemed to be smiling.

Julie’s dad said, “What the hell was that? She should have cantered. You can’t win ribbons that way.”

I didn’t say anything. I was speechless and so proud. I had not told Julie what to do. She figured out all by herself how to look after her friend.

When Julie dismounted it took all my willpower not to run up and hug her. I couldn’t have been more proud of her. It was hard for me to believe a 12 year old had the maturity to forget she was in a competition and take care of her horse.

Julie looked at me and asked, “Was that okay? Is it okay that I chickened out of doing the canter and I messed up? I just thought Cherry was already trying her hardest to hold it together and I didn’t want to upset her even more.”

I said, “Julie, you had the best ride of anybody here today. I couldn’t be more proud of you or Cherry. You and Cherry deserve the blue ribbon more than anyone.”

I finally said I needed to get back for a couple of afternoon lessons and said goodbye. As I turned towards the truck Julie said, “Ross.”

When I turned back to her she handed her dad the reins and stepped towards me and hugged me.

“Thank you, Ross,” she said. “I’ll see you next week at our lesson.”

Even after all the years, when I think of what it takes to be a good horse person I think of Julie.

But Julie, in case you are reading this, you still owe me a hotdog.

Photo: I’m glad to know Pony Clubs are still going strong.

01/13/2024

Interested in Equine-Assisted Learning? Message me.

04/11/2023

Look at those little digits! 🖐️

"One of the cutest beings on this planet, an opossum, also one of the most misunderstood. They are marsupials, they do not transmit rabies and are indispensable for pest control, they are naturally docile and gentle, and when scared they show their teeth and hiss to appear menacing, but when they are terrified they don't "play" possum - they quite literally faint from fear - so do not harm them!" If You See An Opossum In Your Yard, Let It Be
Here is why: https://homemaking.com/hannah/surprising-benefits-opossums/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ci

03/16/2023

Great story!

“So this happened in Montana. I'm on my way to go to my interview this morning when I get pulled over by a police officer.

I am native American and my friend that was with me is black. Just saying.

Both brake lights decided to go out this time.

As he walked to the car and I was pulling out my stuff, he quickly said,

"Don't worry about pulling anything out. I just want you to know that your brake lights are out."

So I'm immediately upset, because I just got them replaced like last month.

So I explained to him how Firestone wants to charge me $600 just to run a test on the wiring of the car.

He looked at me like 😨 and told me to pop the trunk.

He checked the lights in the trunk and tapped them, but they didn't come on.

So he told me to pop the hood to check the relay box then asked me to get out to check the other one.

Then worked on the wiring under the dash.

He could've easily given me a ticket, but Officer Jenkins stepped out of officer role, and into mechanic role, and human role to make sure I was straight.

By the way HE FIXED THEM. Not everyone is racist, or a bad cop.”

03/02/2023

Good Lord, it's a blizzard!

12/16/2022

Three Ebsen Sisters + Horses = A Legacy for the Ages

11/18/2022

Sadly, been there.

What it should have been just a regular day at the office for a policeman and his loyal horse partner, turned into a completely nightmare. ...

Address

Prescott, AZ
86338

Telephone

(928) 899-5088

Website

http://www.t-h-e-ranch.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when T.H.E. Ranch (Teaching Humans with Equine) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.