Top to Bottom Horsemanship

06/21/2024

06/20/2024

The kids have started calling her "Cookies and Cream" and I think it's going to stick. She is still looking for her person, so if you know anybody looking for a project let me know. The last two people fell through.
In the meantime, we're playing with obstacles and jumping! Cookie is learning all kinds of new skills. Walking through the strings was a tough one for her. She has a bad habit of rushing though things, especially doorways, and pushing into and through people. We've had some serious discussions about invading my "bubble space" and I think she's finally figuring it out. We ended on a good note today backing into the strings, and then standing with the strings touching her.

06/07/2024

Cookie (formerly Kaliah) has been learning the ropes from Sage and has developed pretty good form over fences. We're only doing this from the ground right now, but I think she has great potential in the jumper ring.
What do you think?

Sage and Cookie (formerly Kaliah) popping over some jumps. I see a bright future for Cookie in the jumping world.

05/15/2024

Summer training spots available!

* Ground manners
* C**t starting
* Tune-ups
* Problem solving

PM Katie Wilson
OR call/text for more info 503-689-4162

05/14/2024

Casually putting out feelers to see if I can find Kaliah a.k.a. "Cookie" her forever home. Keep scrolling if you're looking for a short term or re-sale project. She is a 7 year old appaloosa mare standing at 14.3 hands. She is up to date on everything (7 way vaccinations, dental, hoof trimming, deworming).

She is NOT broke to ride. She is NOT for beginners. She is super quirky with lots of sass and nervous energy. She ties, stands okay for trims, loads in a trailer, has worn a saddle a handful of times, and can longe in a round pen or on a longe line.
Cookie is SUPER smart, but lacks confidence. This is why she needs someone with experience. I think she is capable of doing great things. She just needs the right person to bring out her full potential.

Very low carrots to the perfect home only. I would prefer a trial period or lease to make sure it's a good fit. PM for more details.

05/06/2024

If you're interested in gentling mustangs, you don't want to miss this!

✨ Come one, come all! ✨

Join Mild at Heart - Mustang Gentling & More and Lydia Dedera’s Horse Training for a day of fundraising, showcasing, community building, 🍽️food, and of course, 🐴 mustangs!

Before competition started, Sheona and I were talking about our goals for this year. We decided our goals should be focused on things other than winning—raising money for the program and bringing everyone together.

We’ve heard that there are quite a few “difficult” mustangs and/or new trainers in the Teens program this year. We decided to form a clinic series with the goal of helping trainers learn different methods/solutions for these horses. You don’t have to be a Teens & Oregon Mustangs competitor to come, we encourage all!

Some of the key elements that will be showcased this clinic are:

- ❤️Approach and retreat
- 🧡First touches
- 💛Recognizing thresholds/signs of learning
- 💚How to halter a horse you can’t touch (without a chute)
- 💙How to recover a shutdown horse
- 💜redirecting aggression

We will see you there!

04/26/2024

Who wants to join me? I'm excited to see what I can learn 😁

Next Client Education Incoming... Basic Equine First Aid with Sera Moran, DVM and Kelsey Palsgaard, DVM, cVMA.
Thursday, May 16th at 6pm - 31730 Sport Horse Way, Tangent, OR, 97389.
🐴➕🩺
Accidents, injuries, and illness can happen at any time, anywhere, for any number of reasons. This makes it essential that everyone involved with horses – riders, drivers, trainers, grooms – learn how to assess emergency situations, administer first aid, and keep everyone safe in the process. This course covers an overview of common health conditions horse caregivers may encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Topics include:
How to prepare an emergency plan and first aid kit for your farm
How to obtain vital signs
How to assess and bandage wounds
How to manage sudden and severe lameness
How to evaluate a horse showing signs of colic or choke
How to approach a down horse who won't get up

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/basic-equine-first-aid-tickets-880374442657

04/17/2024

Kaliah update!

It's been a game of three steps forward, two steps back, but we're making progress. When Kaliah showed up on my doorstep (so to speak) she was a bundle of nerves. She weaved, she chewed through boards, would not go near hardly anything in the arena, and she was not a fan of human contact. She was difficult to halter, tensed up anytime she was touched, would shake and quiver when I held up either of her hind legs, and did NOT give to pressure. In fact, when any pressure was put on her she would try to jump into my lap (or in some cases just plow through me).
NOW...
She comes up to me to be haltered. I can trim her feet without her panicking. She loads in the trailer, and will back out (we're still working on doing it calmly and perhaps gracefully). She went to the vet yesterday with Sage to get her vaccines, and teeth floated. She didn't take well to being poked by the needle, so we have some homework to do there. Last but not least... she jumps! It took quite a while, and some support from Sage, to get used to the barrels and poles that I use for jumps. When I introduced her to them she about had a hernia, but she's getting accustomed to it. I think she will make a cute jumper in time.

03/18/2024

UNDERSTANDING HOOF ABSCESSES
Sooner or later (and especially at this time of year), nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean? The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

03/14/2024

Full Board Isn't Full Service
*Original post by Autumn Charm Sport Horses, for some reason I couldn't share the original post directly to my page...

A friend asked me to write this a while ago..and I have been thinking on it for several months. So here is a go.

Full board Isn't full board. The average boarding farm with anywhere from 5 to 40 boarders is so much work. Just the daily grind of getting up, feeding, haying, checking water takes up a significant amount of time. Stalls, another massive chunk, then repeat pm feed.

Then you want the boarding farm to do blankets ( something I refuse to do. I worked for a QH trainer in the 90s and spent hrs every morning and night reblanketing all the horses under lights ...cured me ) , meds, you want night check. You want their weight and physical appearance monitored through their blankets.

Now all the extras : tackroom swept, aisle perfect, walls hosed down, no rodents, cobwebs , working washrack with drain that never clogs...

Then perfectly manacured fields , mowed, fertilized, weedwacking. Fences repairs etc....

Board or bored...when your horse is in the stall more for inclement weather , you need to get there to exercise it and prevent colic ( motion is lotion for guts and joints ! ). Full board doesnt cover checking every single inch of the horse ( though most of us do take a quick look, i have trained myself to look at all 4 legs both side every day ) for bumps, bruises, shoes with sprung heels , mysterious fungus that appears on its flank. Owners need to be present, take responsibility for their own horse, make coming out to groom that retired horse on a schedule....and always always be accessible for emergencies.

When you see something needs done, just do it instead of complaining about it. We have all seen the posts about the costs of boarding and basically, if you are paying less than $1000/ month, someone is subsidizing your board. So pick up a rake, a broom, be present. Run a hose, scrub the tub. Triple check your horse. Check on the horse whose owner is ill ( with their permission ) . Leave things better than they were.
Many barns have a person or 2 that randomly helps with some stalls....I guarantee you the barn owner appreciates that person. I used to have a students father who would clean many stalls while his daughter rode. I know I'll never forget him.

Holidays....most barns have 1 of 2 ways of thinking. 1. Don't come out at all. 2. If you do come out, plan to help with feeding, haying, watering turnout and stalls. I can speak from personal experience...I havent had a holiday off since pre 2001 except for 1 Christmas, an exceptional student did all the work as my gift. I'll never forget that act of kindness. Nurses get double time for major holidays ( and still get to take off a day for Christmas , heck even the local convenience store pays double or time and half on major holidays) , barn owners get nothing, most of the time not even a thank you... I recall a colleague who boarded horses ( and of course taught lessons, trained horses, sold horses and ran shows because boarding doesnt pay the bills ) saying one day she realized her life was like the movie Ground Hog Day....and that she has done the same thing every morning every night for decades. Her farm went up for sale and she now boards her own horses.

Education. Do you know what horses diseases are, understand deworming, know what ailments to watch out for. When should the vet be called ? Can you wrap legs properly, handle an abscess, recognize fungus, spot a colic ? If not, pick up a book, watch some videos. Horse ownership means you love horses and you want to know everything about them.

Anyway...full care isn't day care you drop your "kid " off too and never pick them up from again. Be present. Your horse will appreciate the attention and the barn owner will feel relief that you are watching out for your horse.

3/27/23 update. 212,000 views. 1400 shares. And I have gotten a few nasty comments. I cannot understand the nastiness . Bringing awareness is a good thing. If it doesnt apply to you , then move on. Every barn has boundaries. Apparently some people are mad that I wont do blankets...not sure why, as none of them board with me ! Boundaries are made out of clarity and self respect. Every barn , I hope , has rules and boundaries ! Best wishes to all . Horses are my first and longest love.

( This post was made to bring awareness. At least in my area, boarding barns are becoming fewer to non existent. If we want them to stay, we must change . I have seen mostly positivity come from this...i particularly loved the person who shared it and wrote " I go a bit the other way . I try to help in some way every day that I am at the barn "
I , of course, want all the horses in my care to have good, healthy lives too. I would like to think we all do. )

03/09/2024

I was so busy I forgot to take pictures at my last two clinics. Thank you Sue Benjamin and Jazz Wixom for snapping a few! I'm looking forward to Showmanship on April 20th.

Are you wondering what the "Showmanship Workshop" is all about? Well... it's all about handling your horse safely on the ground. I will be covering safe handling practices when around other people and horses, general etiquette, and much more. Some other topics will include how to yield the forehand and haunches, backing up, sidepassing, and walking and trotting your horse in-hand.

This clinic is great for beginners as well as more experienced horsemen and horsewomen as a refresher course. Let me know if you have questions or would like to sign up!

[email protected]

03/08/2024

Good morning folks!

If you're in the market to buy a horse, I may know somebody who has what you're looking for. Please comment or email me if you're interested in any of the following horses. I will not share owner contact info if you're not seriously interested. Please specify which horse(s) you're interested in when you reach out.

Yearlings
2 fillys, 1 stud c**t (not gelded YET)
Varying levels of training from half gentled to very well-mannered. Likely quarter horses, but this is not verifiable as they are not papered. Excellent minds on all three, but the c**t has had the least amount of handling. I believe all three string test to around 15 hands or so.

5 year old QH mare
Supposed to be very well bred, but was raised on a large farm and then sold through an auction in Dufur. No papers. Excellent confirmation, and is definitely cow bred (think cutting). Current owner has been working with her over the last year and just doesn't have enough time to get her going well under saddle. She's been ridden ba****ck at a walk and has worn a saddle so far. Gentle on the ground.

14 year old APHA mare 13.2 hands
Kid safe (as much as any horse can be)
More whoa than go, super sweet and not mareish, easy on fences, gets along great with other horses, etc.
This pony is literally a unicorn. I might want this one for my kids.

6 year old mare around 14.2 hands
Likely appaloosa (based on coloring and where she came from) but has the personality of an Arabian. Very intelligent, very energetic, and has multiple vices. Would be a great project for an experienced teen with lots of time. She came into my training program with some baggage, but is starting to mellow out.
NOT broke to ride, but has worn a saddle. She got put on the back burner this winter.

3 year old QH *papered* c**t (will be gelded this weekend) should mature to 14.2 hh
Well bred cow horse prospect, will come with said papers. Started under saddle by a reputable trainer.

03/07/2024

An Equine Veterinary Clinic serving the Willamette Valley. We offer both mobile & in house services

01/31/2024

It’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s, thanks to continuous advances in nutrition and health care.

Horse owners have a big impact as well and can help their horses thrive in their golden years through proper management practices like those illustrated in the graphic. But remember: although there is much you can on your own do to keep your older horse happy and spry, some conditions associated with aging require medical intervention.

Scheduling regular visits and keeping a good line of communication with your veterinarian will allow you to respond quickly to any ailments or injuries that could cause your horse a serious or prolonged set back. That means less worry for you, and a better quality of life for your old friend!

01/19/2024

Weaver Equine is doing a big giveaway! Follow the link to enter!

Our Ride the Brand site is your source for tack & saddlery, exclusive products, educational information and safety tips.

01/05/2024

Applications are OPEN! Looks like they're going to have a nice selection of horses to choose from. Trainers select their horses is in the order applications are received, so don't procrastinate!

Sneak peak of some of the horses selected for this year’s event - get your applications in!

12/21/2023

🎄Merry Christmas from Top to Bottom Horsemanship! I hope this season finds you well.
🎄I've settled in nicely at Dusty Meadows, and would like to offer more clinics next year! If any of the dates don't work for you, I also offer private lessons with my horse or yours. Lessons can consist of anything from ground work to refinement under saddle.

🎄If you have any QUESTIONS about my clinics, or would like to see a different topic on the list, let me know! If there's enough interest, I could even travel to YOUR barn for a private clinic.

10/05/2023

And that's a wrap! Summer is officially over and we're getting into fall weather. Blackjack, Oakley, and Jackie Chan are all settled into their new homes, and Joey and Gwen (now Aspen) have gone home after reaching their training goals.
I have a new horse in training. Everyone, meet Kaliah! It would seem that her previous trainer wasn't a good fit for her, so she's here for a different approach to help her become a contributing member of society. She's been with me about a week now, and I'm already seeing positive changes.

And for the last (but not least) bit of wonderful news... Sage is back! I'm planning to participate in the National Indoor Mountain Trail Challenge with her in less than a month, so we're practicing hard for that. She's also going to assist me with a few of my lesson students! She really is the true all-around horse that I always wanted her to be.

09/02/2023

Here's the second half of my Body Conditioning and Handling class with Blackjack today.
Again, I couldn't expect much better than what he gave me today. He did great with the trailer, slow and steady, even when he had to p**p 😜
He got a little wiggly when I tried to pick up his fourth hoof, and he wasn't fond of the "hug" from a stranger trying to put on his halter, but overall not bad. Because he's so tall, I normally reach under his head vs over to put his halter on, so that really caught him off guard when someone new to him tried it that way.
https://youtu.be/Ddrq1VAklJk?si=PI53hKM053rjVGJe

Tomorrow we have Showmanship and then Sunday he'll hopefully find his forever home through the Teens And Oregon Mustangs auction🤞

08/30/2023

Blackjack Update!
I took him on his first outing on Saturday to the T&OM Mustang Morning. Thank you to the Yamhill County Sherrifs Mounted Posse for hosting! Blackjack loaded up real easy into the trailer (see the video link below), and we had a blast! We did every single obstacle there from walking over bridges, poles, teeter totters, tractor tires and matresses, to walking through bubbles (from a bubble machine), pool noodles, and a box of cans and bottles. I was very impressed with how Blackjack handled himself in the busy and loud environment. There were at least 20 competitors there with their horses and everybody was doing obstacles at the same time. He was so calm and, having not most of these obstacles before, we took our time at each one. There were only a few that he wasn't thrilled about doing, but with a little persistence we did it all! His personal favorite was the tractor tires because he got to stop and rest for a bit 😅
Yesterday I completed his first trim, and I really can't complain about how he handled it. There were a few times he wanted to put his feet down or wiggle around, but I couldn't expect any better for his first time. I'll attach another video below. It's pretty long and boring, so don't be afraid to skip around.

All this to say I'm really proud of Blackjack (the gentle giant that he is) and I hope he finds the best home. If you're interested in him, please don't hesitate to reach out to me! I will happily answer any and all questions about him.

Katie Wilson
503-689-4162
[email protected]

Trailer loading:
https://youtu.be/P7Y6599ua2A?si=VeuUJ7OJCdEQTFdv
Trim:
https://youtu.be/O5l69IN2oCw?si=S057_0ZcIzkOusX0

08/08/2023

Oakley got to try on a saddle and bridle today! I don't expect to ride him at the competition, but he's making good progress in that direction for his next person. 😊

07/28/2023

This week I practiced trailer loading with all my mustang projects, and got 3/3 in! I only got a picture of Blackjack all the way in, but I did get each of them in just the same. Jackie Chan and Oakley leave for Washington in just under two weeks, and Blackjack leaves in 5. Where has the time gone? I'm really gonna miss these guys...

07/27/2023

What can possibly go wrong with a horse photo shoot? Let Blackjack answer your questions 😆
The final pictures turned out really nice though.

07/24/2023

"Oakley" (sooty buckskin)
tag #7549, hip #502

"Jackie Chan" (bay and white pinto)
tag #7517, hip #308

Trainer: Katie Wilson
[email protected]
503-689-4162

07/23/2023

"When a wild horse 'startles' at a danger, his companions do not rush up to him with soothing noises: they look to see what the matter is. A horse expects this, and directs our attention to the source of his fear. If we behave as a horse would, and swing around to look, we can show by our calm and relaxed attitude that it is not a danger at all.

Calm treatment of panics greatly increases the horse's confidence in our leadership: finding mildly alarming but not dangerous situations and handling them well is a good way of establishing trustworthiness as a leader."

~Lucy Rees- The Horses Mind-1993

or to put in another way

"The problem is not the problem, your attitude about the problem is the problem."

~Cap'n Jack Sparrow- Pirates Of The Caribbean-2003

07/21/2023

Yesterday and the day before were "picture day" for Oakley and Jackie Chan. We have less than three weeks until the competition and auction. If you're interested in either one, don't hesitate to reach out with questions or to set up a day to meet them! I had a lady ask me if either one would be a good eventing prospect, so I took a video today of both of them jumping cavaletti poles: https://youtu.be/iiVo5z99YXU
There's a couple cute pictures of Oakley and Blackjack in here for your enjoyment, too.

07/14/2023

It's high time I introduced the newest member of our "herd." Joey is a 2 year old gelding in training for ground manners and to be started under saddle for his family. Joey breezed through "boot camp" and moved on to his under saddle training very quickly. Last week I rode him for the first time, and this week I ponied the kids around on him. There's very few 2 year olds I would trust with my step-kids, but he's one of them. He's darn near bombproof, and I've been very impressed with him.

05/01/2023

"Feisty" earned his new name today!
I have been looking forward to this moment for some time now. That's not a name I want him to live up to, but I wanted to wait until I removed his tag to make it official. In consideration of his athletic ability, charming demeanor, and stunning good looks, I present...
Jackie Chan!

I didn't think today was going to be the day, but when I saw his halter over one ear (almost off) I knew I needed to push him hard. I needed to get that halter back in place and to do so I attempted to use the string for his tag. It took me almost an hour standing with him, rubbing all over his face, to get to a point where I could touch his neck and untie his tag. I planned to use it to pull the halter in place, but after some trial and error I was able to reach over his head and pull the halter back in place over his ear! I'm so proud of this guy 🤩

04/25/2023

Meet the herd!
Starting with the "lead mare," my name is Katie Wilson. I got into the business of horse training about 3 years ago when a couple of ladies from my drill team asked me for help with their horses. It has since developed into much more (including lessons!) and I'm still working to expand it. I've dealt with many different breeds, including drafts and gaited horses, but I've always had a soft spot for mustangs. That's how I started doing the mustang challenges. You'll see that all of these horses are mustangs, not because I'm exclusive, but because I enjoy them and understand how their minds work. I also really enjoy problem solving and have tons of experience with "challenging" horses. That's how I got started riding at a young age, on a tough Appaloosa mare named "Glory."

"Sage" is a 13 year old Warm Springs tribal mustang. She's done it all and seen it all, and was the first horse I started under saddle. I think the only thing she hasn't done is driving (she's more than capable, I just don't have the equipment). Sage is a true all-around horse, and recently moved to a barn in Damascus on a lease to give riding lessons. She is my "heart horse" as some might say, but that doesn't change the fact that she's spent most of her time lately "sitting" in her stall not getting much attention. So... I made the hard choice to lease her to someone who can give her the attention she deserves.

"Amazing Grace" is a 5 year old BLM mustang from the Palomino Buttes HMA. She was my winter 2022-23 Teens and Oregon Mustangs challenge horse. She went through the auction at the end of the challenge and my barn owner purchased her and gave me the opportunity to regain some of my losses (sale prices were crazy low) by rehoming her. So... Grace is currently looking for her forever home. She's been started under saddle, but got off to a rocky start and I'm working her through that. I think she would make an excellent dressage or cow horse prospect.

"Gwen" is a 2 year old BLM mustang from the Stinkingwater HMA. She was reserve champion of the 2022 Teens and Oregon Mustangs challenge platinum division. She was purchased by a new client of mine who has contracted my services to continue her education with the goal of her being a trail horse. She's been wearing a saddle, bridle, and bit, and just started line driving!

"Oakley" (3 y/o South Steens HMA) is one of my current MYWY challenge horses (Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth). He's a pretty quiet, level-headed fellow but slipped his halter off before I could teach him to lead or be caught... so I've had to change my approach to try and get one back on him. Now I'm "roping" him with my longe line so I can teach him to yield to pressure, and I can use it to encourage him to come closer to me. If he were to pull back it would slip off, but it's long enough I can stand in the middle of his pen and still hold both ends. He also just lost a tooth! I found it in his feeder this morning.

"Feisty" is my second MYWY challenge horse. He's 4 years old, also from South Steens, and will be renamed after I get his tag off (Feisty isn't a name I want him to live up to). He's been really skittish from day 1, and is a SUPER sensitive guy. He's just starting to turn a corner, allowing me to catch him (with a long drag rope), lead him from his stall to the arena and over poles, and will let me RUB his nose. I know it doesn't seem like much, but the first time we touched he bolted to the other side of his pen, so this is a big deal for him. You have to count the victories, no matter how small.

"Blackjack the Brave" (4) is my current Teens and Oregon Mustangs challenge horse. He's a really cool dude! He's 15.3 hands tall (HUGE) and super quiet. He's definitely more of a thinker than a reacter. Blackjack walked off the trailer when I brought him home like it was no big deal... a lot of these mustangs jump out or scramble around. He's not bothered by horses being ridden or worked in the arena near him, and even lays down and rolls while things are happening (a big sign of relaxation in horses; they won't lay down or eat if they don't feel safe). He's not a big fan of me approaching yet, but he will come up and eat out of my hand or sniff me. When he does get bothered... he wanders away. That's it! No running or nonsense. It's going to be hard to let him go.

*Oakley, Feisty, and Blackjack will all be available through the challenge auctions in August/September. Stay tuned for more details!
I'm also looking for sponsors to help with the upfront costs for these three. Large donations are tax deductible if made through Teens and Oregon Mustangs or MYWY. Both of these programs promote the adoptability of wild horses and help match them with good homes.
Thank you Juli Funrue for helping me clean stalls so I can put more training time into these guys!

04/17/2023

I picked up Blackjack (Tag #7852) today in St. Paul for the Teens And Oregon Mustangs challenge. I'm super excited for this guy! He's calm, he's big, and he's stunning. He went into the trailer without too much fuss, and walked right out with zero hesitation into his pen. This guy reminds me a lot of Penny from last summer. She's giving pony rides to her family's 7 year old kid now. Such a steady girl!