Norielle James Horsemanship & Training LLC

10/18/2024

In the last year I’ve learned a lot about feet, and I am still learning more all the time. But this foot here, is more than just a foot, and I’ll tell you why ⬇️

This horse is so sweet and kind, but he’s always needed to be drugged for the farrier. The owner and I, for many health and body related reasons, made the decision to pull his shoes and get his feet healthy and hopefully, his body happy.

I’ve trimmed his feet twice now, with no drugs. 👏🏽 We give him breaks, and patiently work through some of his undesired behaviors, but overall, he’s been so good. 🥰

A combination of craniosacral therapy for bodywork and hoof trims/training sessions every few weeks has already made a world of difference. This boy hasn’t ran through the pasture bucking and playing and prancing around in nearly two years. His owner said after we did his first trim, a couple weeks ago, he started running and playing again 🥺🥺🙌🏼🙏🏼

Sustainably Balanced Equine LLC recently put out an incredible course, and over the last year has helped me immensely with being able to trim my own horses feet, and now, a few client horse’s that struggle to stand well for their farrier, like this boy.

I am so beyond happy for him, as he continues to make progress and we get him feeling happier and healthier. And I am proud of myself, because trimming is not easy, and working with horses that have trauma when it comes to the farrier is not easy either. But for my love of horses, I’m here to help horses like him ❤️

10/09/2024

The shorter the grass, the more sugar content!

Not a joke...

Have you ever wondered why you can have a 15 acre field and part of it is chewed down to nubs and the other part has grass a hand high, But your horse is constantly grazing in the chewed down part?

Grass 6 inches and taller has less sugars than grass under 6 inches.

For every inch drop below 6 inches, the fructan (sugar) content rises.

Grass under 6 inches is stressed like it's a Monday morning with a project deadline. It uses sugar to repair itself.

Stop mowing your fields short.

Stop grazing your chubbys on chewed down grass. (this is why grazing muzzles are so touted...they keep the horse from being able to get much short grass)

(We aren't saying let your fields be 3 feet tall, by the way. The optimal thing to do is keep them 6-8 inches tall and graze them in small areas there)

10/06/2024

🐴🐴 Calling All Parents! Unbridle Your Child's Passion for Horses!🐴🐴

Are you looking for an exciting, educational, and confidence building activity for your child? Look no further! Our program is designed to ignite your child's love for horses and create lifelong memories.

By joining our riding school (we only have a few spaces open), your child will become part of a supportive and vibrant community of parents and kids. We organize fun events, competitions, and special outings which help create strong friendships and unforgettable memories.

Getting involved with horses can boost self confidence and self- esteem as children conquer challenges and develop a bond with the horses. They can help teach responsibility and work ethic as children learn to care for horses as well as ride them. Riding horses gets your child out from behind a screen and into the outdoors.

We have programs for kids as young as 4 years old. Our experienced trainers provide top-notch guidance, ensuring your child gains a strong foundation for riding in a safe and supportive environment. Our well-trained and kind horses are perfect for beginners and more experienced riders alike.

Contact us today to sign up for an intro lesson with our special price of only $50 (regularly $70). Space is limited and once filled, we will be waitlist only.

Located in San Tan Valley, AZ

10/02/2024

KISSING SPINES FOUND IN 77% OF YEARLING THOROUGHBREDS

“Overall, radiographic abnormalities were detected in 79.4% (81/102) of the horses examined, 77% (37/48) of untrained, and 80% (44/55) of trained.”

“Being a Thoroughbred is a risk factor for the presence of radiographic abnormalities and back pain development.”

This is wild, but I’ve seen kissing spines be discovered in multiple Thoroughbreds now! If you have a TB, and have any inclination or suspicion of a problem that could be back or pain related, I would highly encourage getting their spine radiographed to check for kissing spines.

Abstract OBJECTIVE The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of radiographic abnormalities of the interspinous spaces (ISSs) in the thoracolumbar vertebral column of unbroken yearlings and to compare these findings with a group of older trained Thoroughbred...

09/26/2024

Please take a moment to review some of these signs that may indicate your horse might need some dietary intervention to prevent any conditions from escalating! Fall laminitis is spooky stuff!

It’s Fall! 🍁
Which means spooky time is upon us….

But as a hoofcare provider I am more afraid of fall laminitis than I am of ghosts 👻🎃

Recognize the early signs of Fall Laminitis!

* Sudden hoof tenderness
* Mood changes (grumpier than unusual)
* Struggling to stand for routine hoofcare
* Sudden soreness after a regular trim with no changes to how the trim is done
* Fat pads, especially in the neck (cresty)
* Prone to recurring thrush infections or abscesses in both fronts, resistant to treatment
* White line changes
* Bruising at the toe between the toe pillars
* Stretching of the white line between the toe pillars
* Waviness or curling of white line between toe and heel pillars (quarters)
* Sudden and dramatic loss of concavity and depth in the sole
* Sudden long toes in all four hooves despite regular management
* Extreme postural changes such as
* Goat on a rock/camped under on all four
* Stretching front limbs forward and camping hind limbs under
* Sudden bilateral soreness of hooves (typically fronts) after a regular trim with no other changes to hoofcare
* Soft, mealy feet (white line may easily pick up rocks)
* Dramatic hoof angle change from top of the hoof to the bottom of the hoof
* Extremely fast hoof growth (almost seems to be 2x as fast) out of nowhere
* Bounding pulse in veins at coronet band

What to do if you see these signs?!

* Limit or stop grazing especially in spring and fall
* Limit feeds high in NSC (non-structural carbohydrates) (this includes grain, processed feed, and hay)
* Check for and remove toxic plant materials such as acorns and maple leaves in horse areas
* Keep horses on a regular hoofcare cycle
* Protect the horse’s hooves with boots, casts, or shoes to ease discomfort

09/25/2024

Today, I traveled around locally and worked with five horses. It got me thinking not only about how lucky I am, but about how lucky those horses are. How lucky are they to have owners that care enough about them that they invested in not just a trainer, but a trainer that would take into account their overall well-being, their emotional state, their past traumas, their current physical limitations and more, and handle them with clear and kind intentions? I hope, if I ever come back in another life as a horse, I might be so lucky as to have an owner like that. 🙏🏼

09/14/2024

Lucy + Positive Reinforcement = Progress!

I adore this stout girl. She’s tried her heart out the last few weeks. Today we worked on getting into the water, one of her least liked things ever. 🤭

We kept it calm, relaxed, and went at her pace. She willingly and calmly decided to put two hooves in the water and stayed! She got lots of apple slices as a reward ☺️

We are so proud of Lucy, and I am so grateful for having learned about positive reinforcement. What a wonderful, calm, positive experience to have for both her and I 🤗

09/12/2024

September 11th. A day they said they would never forget. And yet, I’ve seen numerous posts today from parents who realized their kids were not taught what happened on this day, twenty three years ago.

We shouldn’t forget 9/11. We shouldn’t forget the numerous people that lost their lives, and the attack on our country, and the war that came after. I do think it is important to teach your children about 9/11, especially if their school is not.

I will never forget. I remember that morning like it was yesterday, despite my young age. 🇺🇸

08/26/2024

Positive Reinforcement (Clicker Training) has been a huge part of my equine journey over the last couple years. Using science based methods and emotional based understanding when training has also made a miraculous difference in how I handle horses and how they respond.

This weekend I was honored to teach several wonderful humans that make up the amazing team that keeps The HEART Center running flawlessly. What an amazing crew of people and horses; I can’t recommend them enough.

Sharing the science behind the horse and clicker training, and then watching every participant learn and grow as the horse’s learned and came to life was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

Thank you Chelsea Harden for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge with your team, and to ultimately help me help as many horse’s be as happy as possible. The horses really ate up the new training style yesterday, literally 😂

07/21/2024

What a sight this was yesterday morning 🌈

06/12/2024

Craniosacral Therapy is a very effective modality that horses benefit from immensely. It assists the central nervous system, cerebrospinal fluid, fascia, cranial bones, organs, physical and emotional tension in the body, and more!

CST was discovered by an osteopathic physician John Upledger over forty years ago, and has been extensively researched and is commonly utilized in the medical world on humans as an effective holistic method.

Equine CST has been used successfully to assist with Headshakers, TMJ imbalances, Head Traumas, Nerve Restrictions, Facial Nerve Paralysis, Behavior Problems, Balance & Posture, Teeth Grinding, Lameness & Transition difficulties, Stiffness & Tension, and even with Acute Injuries.

Any horse can receive CST! Great candidates for CST:

A horse that has endured Head Trauma (pulling back, falling, etc), as well as those in heavy training (tight nosebands and consistent collection can strain the muscles, fascia, and cranial plates and require rebalancing to correct).

A horse with reoccurring behavioral problems is also a great candidate for CST, as many of the equine’s structures can also affect their pituitary and pineal glands and CST can also work directly with the nervous system.

A horse that has had Dentistry work (teeth floating) recently is a great candidate for CST. Bracing against the speculum that keeps their mouth open can cause excessive tension, a shifting in their cranial structures, and possible nerve impingements.

Horses with undiagnosed/indiscoverable lamenessess or problems with their hindquarters, stifles or hocks can also benefit greatly from CST.

Newborn foals go through the birthing canal which is traumatic to its entire body as well as to its mother’s, and therefore they can both benefit from CST too.

CST treatment frequency fluctuates depending on the individual horse’s situation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions and your horse’s story, or to get your horse scheduled for a session today!

*Please note, there is no physical manipulation to the bones. All work is done energetically and the horse’s are very responsive to it.

06/08/2024

We had an amazing camp yesterday! ☀️

The kids loved riding Hunter and Apollo, as well as drawing on them and giving them baths. 😁

They learned to clean stalls, how to understand horse’s body language, how to safely move around the horses, and learned about facial and leg markings. We studied horse body parts, painted some rocks with glow in the dark paint, and reviewed lots of important things to know about horses, riding, and safety.

We can’t wait for next week’s camp day!

05/16/2024

☀️ HORSEMANSHIP SUMMER DAY CAMPS are coming up!! ☀️

Come join us for a fun filled morning riding horses, playing games, learning about horse care, tack, feet, disciplines, breeds and more! Every camp will include different information so each one is informative and unique! And yes every camp will include horseback riding and games!

Join us from 7-11am on one or more of the following dates: June 7 (Fri), June 14 (Fri), June 21 (Fri), June 22 (Sat), June 28 (Fri), June 29 (Sat)

We accept ESA/ClassWallet (we will have you submit an invoice for the camp(s) cost), as well as Zelle, Cash, Check, and Venmo.

A nonrefundable deposit of $35 is required to hold your child’s spot. Each camps sign up will close 5 days before the scheduled date so sign up soon!

To sign up for our day camp(s) please use the link in the comments or text 520-975-7939 for the link, or with questions.

Location : San Tan Valley, Arizona

05/13/2024

Key aspects of learning to ride well ⬇️
Up first we have ⭐️ BALANCE! ⭐️

Learning to balance on the horse using your body posture and strength is really important. This helps keep the horse balanced and teaches the rider how to control all aspects of their body posture, and how to use certain muscles in specific ways.

This also helps riders learn to ride independently of their hands, so they are not balancing on the reins, which would mean they are balancing on their horse’s mouth. Ouch! We don’t want to do that to our horses!

Practicing correct balance on horses can also help with a rider’s everyday balance, posture, strength and coordination!

04/07/2024

ISO another part time instructor / summer camp helper for an established horseback riding lesson program in East Queen Creek ‼️

⭐️ Must have horse experience & thorough knowledge of horses, good horsemanship, and riding abilities!
(for example, knowing leads, horse & tack parts, how to post on the correct diagonal, how to use legs to steer, understand horse behavior, know how to care for horses, know how to lunge etc)

⭐️ Must be good with kids. Must be good with beginners. Must be very aware of their safety at all times.

⭐️ A responsible multi tasker with focus on the horse’s well being and the safety of all students while teaching them about horses both on the ground and in the saddle. Must be a team player, take feedback well, and be willing to handle horses and teach students the way we request.

⭐️ Must have your own reliable transportation. Must show up on time. Must be reliable (if you tend to sleep thru your alarms, this is not the job for you). We want someone that takes pride in their work and responsibility for themselves and the role they play in business they represent.

⭐️ Summer schedule will be split between early mornings and later evenings (roughly 6-9am and 6-8pm plus set up before lessons and break down after lessons). You must be available for either am or pm or a combination of both a few days of the week, and able to work a couple Saturdays per month.

⭐️ Wages will depend on experience. If you stay decide to stay with us more long term, increases are possible after a performance review. Starting wages are 💲1️⃣7️⃣-2️⃣0️⃣ per hour.

⭐️ Check out our page to see what we are all about. If interested, please send me your resume and a thorough explanation of your horse and teaching or children experiences. If you have riding videos, feel free to send those too. Please let me know if you have any questions as well 😊

03/29/2024

⭐️ Equine Craniosacral Therapy ⭐️

JoJo is an older horse that was becoming increasingly aggressive… controlling of his herd, attacking other horses over the fence or while out on walks, extremely riddled with separation anxiety and nipping at his owner constantly. Before we applied any training to assist him with fixing some of those behaviors, we did a Craniosacral session and WOW did he benefit immensely!

He doesn’t have to be within just a few feet of his herd mate constantly anymore, he is curious about other horses and no longer insanely reactive and aggressive, he is resting more often and going for nice calm walks, and the biting has decreased drastically.

First photo - Before and After an Equine Craniosacral Therapy (CST) session (look how inflamed his face is, and how shifted to his left it is in the before pic!)

Second photo - Before CST (this was as relaxed as he would stand even after us standing talking about his behaviors for twenty minutes or so).

Third photo - After CST (this is how he now carries himself the majority of the time, so much more relaxed!)

Fourth photo - Hand walking him a week after his CST session (level, relaxed head and body carriage).

Fifth & Sixth photos - Messages from the owner noticing some of the very drastic changes in her horse’s personality in the week following his CST session. What a win!

JoJo will be receiving a few follow up CST sessions to continue helping his cranial bones, spinal flow, and nerves to stay balanced and free of impingements. He will also continue to receive groundwork training to help him understand what our safety boundaries are and encourage developing new habits that include acceptable, safe behaviors.

02/07/2024

My first attempt at trimming my mare’s feet, with the guidance of !

Four weeks prior we pulled this mare’s shoes and began her transition to going barefoot. Combined with a few equine craniosacral therapy sessions, she’s more sound now than she’s been in months.

We have a ways to go, both her feet and my farriery skills 😅 but this is the journey we are currently on, and I felt it was worth sharing 😊


Thank you Sustainably Balanced Equine LLC!

01/24/2024

✨ 1,000 FOLLOWERS!!! ✨
I can’t believe it! You are all amazing! Thank you for following my page! 🤩

01/20/2024

It’s up to you when to and when not to blanket. But how does your horse stay warm without a blanket? ⬇️ Check it out!

FUN FACT FRIDAY! Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?

🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice, good quality hay is so important in the winter.

💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.

🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.

⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.

🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.

🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.

👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
•
Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/12/2024

I have a HUGE but SMALL favor to ask 💗! And if you’re following my page already, THANK YOU!

Go to my business’ page Norielle James Horsemanship & Training LLC and press on the 3 little dots … on the right side of page

- Hit “Invite Friends”
- Select "Invite All"
- Done

You just SUCCESSFULLY supported my business for $0.00 and less than 1 minute of your time. ✊🏽

Thank you for supporting small and local businesses.

Copied but wanted to share as this is an amazing way to help us small business owners for free.

*I highly encourage my small business friends to copy this and use it!* Everyone

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! 🎄✨

We hope everyone has a wonderfully fun and safe holiday season 🎁 and Thank You for supporting NJHT! 🥰

12/18/2023

💫 You’re never too old to learn new things! 💫

I am always striving to learn more about the numerous aspects of the horse in order to understand them better, help them better, and spread good knowledge to others.

I attended Sustainably Balanced Equine LLC barefoot trimming and body posture workshop and learned so much about the feet, how the feet can change a horse’s entire body posture, and how to trim a foot correctly. It was an awesome experience with a group of incredible ladies and horses.

I plan to continue learning about the hooves, posture, and trimming so that I can confidently offer “Training for Trims” as a service to my clients who have horses that are struggling with their feet being handled by farriers. It’s a very common problem, and farriers appreciate your horse behaving quietly during a trim, as their job is much harder than it looks! With my training knowledge I believe I can help your horse work thru their fears or frustrations to become calm and comfortable for your farrier. I’m excited to have found another way to help you and your horses have happy and comfortable lives ✨

12/15/2023

My lesson program is growing, which means we are ISO 1-2 Part Time Instructors!!

💫 Located in east Queen Creek/STV.
💫 Needing coverage during the day and in the evenings on weekdays (a few days a week of availability is fine).
💫 We focus on providing great quality Horsemanship from the ground up with an emphasis on being kind to our horses, understanding their behavior, and learning how to ride with good equitation and soft cues. Our goal is to give riders an ultimately thorough foundation with horses both on the ground and in the saddle that includes knowledge of tack, horses, care, and an introduction to multiple disciplines. We primarily teach beginners, but we also welcome intermediate+ riders.

💫 Looking for someone that is kind, responsible, and respectful to both humans and horses.
💫 Must be good with kids, and attentive!
💫 Must be reliable, have your own transportation, and understand that you are responsible for showing up to teach your lessons or you must provide adequate timely notice if you need coverage/will be unavailable.
💫 Must be good at following directions, and open to teaching along the parameters I request. (I’m not going to micromanage you, I’m laid back about some things, but there are certain things I want my students to learn and I want my horses treated/trained/handled a certain way).
💫 Preferably with extensive horse knowledge, tack knowledge, or a thorough understanding of horses and tack with the intention of learning more.
💫 Preferably with experience in teaching, and/or having good observational skills, horse handling skills, awareness for safety and details, and the skill to break things down into smaller steps.
💫 Open to feedback, and having frequent discussions about students, horses, and lessons.
💫 Check out my page for more posts and videos on what my business is all about! Please feel free to message me (Norielle) with any questions. Thank you!

10/20/2023

My wonderful new instructors and I are SO excited to start offering horseback riding lessons on our horses at a beautiful facility in East Queen Creek 🤩

We want to share good, quality Horsemanship skills with you, both on the ground and in the saddle!

Please PM with any questions or to Book a Lesson! We have availability in the mornings through midday, and in the late afternoons/evenings on most days.

(I will still be accepting mobile clients for training and lessons at the convenience of your home/barn in QC and nearby areas until my schedule is filled).

10/09/2023

I had the most amazing time learning about equine craniosacral therapy, and had the privilege of meeting some wonderful women. Although it was pretty cold for an Arizonan native like myself, the scenery was beautiful! I can’t wait to fly home this evening so I can warm up, and then start practicing and keep learning! 😁