Forever West Performance Horses LLC

06/24/2024

CLOSED

06/07/2024

Last summer camp for FWPH we will not be doing anymore. But what a way to go out!

05/19/2024

Day one Wyoming clinic. These 2 ranch ponies took to the program basics like a duck to water. It's good to be home again.

05/09/2024

For personal reasons Lia has decided to take a full step maybe 5 backwards from training and lessons. This decision doesn't come lightly as she loves to help students and riders. Health and personal reasons have completely taken her motivation. So she is handing the reins to the more than capable Bobbie Clack for lessons from beginner to advanced.
FWPH has the upmost confidence in Bobbie taking over, no worries on this wonderful women.

05/01/2024

Been very sick the last few weeks, so today was wonderful to be out.

03/22/2024

AMAZING trip to Diablo Canyon today. If anyone knows me they know finding water to play in churns my butter!

03/14/2024

Another one in the books!

03/13/2024

A bit chilly in the Galisteo today but we rode on! Love meeting new people from around the world!

03/12/2024

A great photo of our out-of-town trail riding guests! Hailing from Dallas' concrete jungle, what a way to start their Santa Fe vacation. Book your trail ride today by texting 307-389-0875!

03/11/2024

Santa Fe Area Trail Rides officially underway!

02/21/2024

Start booking your trail rides now! Sandia not available until late may to June. Galisteo, Diablo and Los Cerillos only at this time.

01/29/2024

Welcome to the barn Party ponies! Once trained up a bit will be available for birthday parties as a petting, grooming and treat giving joy at local birthday parties! Philip and Lilian or Phil and Lil our own Rugrats!

01/01/2024

New years day tradition riding just for fun with clients, family and most of all....friends.

12/31/2023

We wish you a happy and safe New Year. Here's to looking forward to 2024!

12/28/2023

Never fails

🤣

12/28/2023

People want color and flash. You hear "no sorrel, no bay" all the time. I have so many sorrel and bay horses and I'll take them all day to the pretty colors. MOST of the best horses in history were sorrel or bay... secretariat, man o war, seabiscuit, the list is endless... here are my top babies who are yours?

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas from our Stable to yours!

12/21/2023

A few ponies that have crossed our path over the years

12/20/2023

Happy Holidays everyone!

Wondering what to get the horse enthusiasts on your list? How about riding lessons!

Here at FWPH we teach beginners to advanced.

Taking new students starting in January! Sign up today and start the new year right!
Please text 307-389-0875

12/13/2023

Equestrian tips 😂

12/12/2023

Please watch this series, it answers many questions about lessons to riders and parents.

945 likes, 88 comments. “Here’s a small insight of what it costs to keep those lesson horses going and available for lesson kids.”

12/12/2023

Please watch this series, it answers many questions about lessons to riders and parents.

280 likes, 29 comments. “Final part: what to do if you want your kid to ride but on a budget.”

12/12/2023

Please watch this series, it answers many questions about lessons to riders and parents.

541 likes, 75 comments. “Why are the low commitment/recreational barns not around any more?”

12/12/2023

Please watch this series.... answers many questions new riders and parents have about lessons

2268 likes, 112 comments. “Parents, its expensive because you can only do it cheaply if you cut corners on horse care. And that ain’t right.”

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from our table you yours!

11/23/2023

- If your torso is collapsing to the right, your hips slipped to the left
- If your right leg keeps creeping up, or you lose just the right stirrup, your hips have slipped left
- If you find it easier to ride to the left, than to the right, your hips likely slip to the left.
- if you find yourself clinging to the right rein, while practically forgetting that you have a left one, good chances are that your hips slept left
- If your left hand is higher than your right hand, it’s possible that your hip slipped to the left
- If cantering counter clockwise, feels okay, but cantering clockwise feels awful, I’m gonna say your hips slipped left.
- if you can leg yield your horse to the right (off your left leg) pretty well,  but cannot lead guild to the left to save your life, your hips are probably chronically slipping to the left.

So many times, when a rider or is collapsing to the right, their coach tells them to fix it by stepping into the left stirrup. 🤦‍♀️ Like, I’ve heard of very famous coaches, giving this instruction.
And the thing is, it does look a little better, because at least when they step into the left stirrup, it gets them to straighten up their entire body -the problem is they are still off-center.
 I think the coach then typically gives students other exercises that bring them back over to the right (like twisting the shoulders to point a little to the left would help), but what I can tell you is these students then talk to me about their ride and they have absolutely no idea how to reproduce whatever straightness they may have accomplished during that clinic. 

The number one, needs solved now, issue in the rider in this sketch is that the hips fell left. I don’t care that the rib cage is collapsing to the right, or that the right leg is creeping way up. All of that will be fixed once the Rider brings their pelvis back to center.

This person is also riding with the left hip forward and the right hip back, but that will also likely resolve once you get this person to scooch over to the right.

 I would tell this student to put their left butt cheek in the middle of the saddle, high centering it, and drop the right butt cheek down into the hole that creates.

Another great exercise (on a trotting horse) is to drop the left stirrup, go clockwise, and posting trot utilizing just the right stirrup. This will feel horrible at first- to the point that I often have to let students try the exercise the opposite direction with the opposite stirrup so they realize how easy it is on their “strong” side. 

If you really struggle to keep from slipping left, it can also help to turn your chest to point a little bit to the left (while traveling right). This can be very effective at putting your weight into your right leg. You can stand up, assume a position similar to riding, and then twist your torso, one way, and then the other. Not all, but definitely most people find that when they twist to the left, it shifts weight into the right foot and vice versa.

Btw- I do virtual video review lessons! Very little tech knowledge needed. $65/lesson.