Lupine Horsemanship - Vanessa Shultz

Lupine Horsemanship - Vanessa Shultz Thorough—Correct—& Humane horse training, with the horse’s well being at the core of the program.

The weather was a bit questionable last week so we hit the indoor. Love that we have the access to haul the horses out t...
08/29/2025

The weather was a bit questionable last week so we hit the indoor. Love that we have the access to haul the horses out to various different places!

Try. A word that can mean the difference between progress and regress. Knowing how to reward a horse for their efforts, ...
08/19/2025

Try.

A word that can mean the difference between progress and regress.

Knowing how to reward a horse for their efforts, fuels them to search for more reward. Encourages them to learn, be brave, put forth more effort.

You can influence a horse to be one who wants to learn, or one who wants nothing to do with what we offer.

“The horse doesn’t like to XYZ”
“They don’t like ABC”

“This horse has no work ethic”
“They don’t like a job”

Often times these horses aren’t being taught or encouraged to like *insert particular thing*

We get ahead of the game. And ask for more, push harder, get frustrated, clam up. Because we fail to realize or reward the small amount of try.

The horse makes an effort, it isn’t good enough. We correct them, ask for more.

Therefor, the horse becomes opposed to that particular thing or task.

Reward for small tries.
Associate some sort of positivity to the task, release or relief.

It’s easy to focus on how far we have to go, and in return we lose mindfulness to how far we have come.We mustn’t get so...
08/18/2025

It’s easy to focus on how far we have to go, and in return we lose mindfulness to how far we have come.

We mustn’t get so lost in our goals, that our accomplishments are left behind

We must always remember that our journey ahead is always changing, growing, extending. It’s normal to see this and feel discouraged, but we have already proven we are capable of mastering great things… for, we are already here.

Weekend forecast: 100% chance of horse kisses. 💋
08/16/2025

Weekend forecast: 100% chance of horse kisses. 💋

Give me a break.Your horse is doing that thing again that just really gets under your skin.They’re dancing around when t...
08/14/2025

Give me a break.

Your horse is doing that thing again that just really gets under your skin.
They’re dancing around when their buddy isn’t in sight anymore.
They’re a little apprehensive to cross that creek, that they’ve crossed a dozen times.
They’re still a little nervous about the hose, the flyspray, they take a second to load into the trailer.

We’re frustrated because they still “don’t get it”

And we want better.
We demand they hold still, like a statue.
We expect they leap right into the trailer without a second thought.

We expect perfection.

All the while, many of these issues get better or even disappear if we just accept that they’re not going to be perfect, for now.

Give your horse a break.
Stop expecting perfection.
Stop condemning them for not fitting into your mold at every moment, at new things, at things they haven’t had a chance to even process.
At old things that they are making honest attempts at conquering

We work with dozens of different horses a month, all with various issues.

Often their issues are resolved by rewarding them for their efforts, and not nitpicking at every single thing they do.

Today we were working with a young horse who was getting a bit dancy when he thought he was being left behind.

You know what we do? Let him be in his thoughts. We didn’t shank him, we didn’t get angry, annoyed. We just let him be a young uncertain horse.

We later reminisced about another young horse we have who used to be the same way, actually worse.

He would panic, paw, drip in sweat, and tremble. Whenever he thought he was going to be left behind.

In that exact moment as the new young horse danced. That other horse (same age) stood completely still in confidence.

The repetition of allowing this horse to be in situations where he wasn’t perfect, but was allowed the ability to work through his uncertainty has enabled him to be confident, to stand quietly, and to be still.

We didn’t pester him, over correct him, and try to micromanage his every step.

Horses are allowed to be horses at the end of the day.
If we want them to be the best version of themselves, we have to give them the space to be imperfect for the time being.

That does not mean they are not expected to have standards, guidelines, and expectations.
It just means we must posses the ability to know when they are doing the best with what they have, and rewarding them for the efforts they’ve putting forth.

The more we focus on the good, the less we see of the bad.
The more we get of the good.

A horse will never have another “first” at something. Whether it’s their first trailer ride, first time meeting the farr...
08/13/2025

A horse will never have another “first” at something. Whether it’s their first trailer ride, first time meeting the farrier, or first time wearing a saddle — that moment leaves a lasting impression.

Horses learn through association. If the first time they encounter something is rushed, frightening, or painful, they can carry that fear forward for years.

That’s why we focus on introducing new experiences slowly, fairly, and with the horse’s understanding in mind. A calm, confidence-building start means:
• Less stress for the horse now and in the future
• Safer handling for everyone involved
• A willing, trusting partner who approaches new experiences with confidence.

The old saying is true — you only get one chance to make a first impression. For a horse, that chance can be the difference between a lifetime of cooperation… or a lifetime of anxiety. We choose to make that first time count. 🐴💛

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe
08/11/2025

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

One of the big benefits of our training program is that your horse doesn’t just learn in the arena — they get a broad sp...
08/08/2025

One of the big benefits of our training program is that your horse doesn’t just learn in the arena — they get a broad spectrum of experience.

While they’re here, horses are hauled regularly to trails, arenas, and new environments. They learn that trailering isn’t stressful, it’s just another part of their life.

This sort of experience really helps to build confidence and create well rounded horses.

In a world that demands instant results and instant gratification, the horse is pleading for time.Here, we listen.We pri...
08/07/2025

In a world that demands instant results and instant gratification, the horse is pleading for time.

Here, we listen.

We prioritize the horse’s well-being first. That means we don’t rush horses beyond their own physical and mental abilities. We respect each horse’s individual timeline and meet them where they are — not where someone expects them to be.

Training starts with the foundation: groundwork, trust, and emotional regulation. We focus on giving horses the tools to think, to process, to seek the right answers without fear.

This is not a shortcut program. It’s a horsemanship-first approach that creates lasting change — not just obedience, but true understanding.

Today’s try is tomorrow’s transformation.
08/06/2025

Today’s try is tomorrow’s transformation.

“I didn’t give up because of you.”In the past several months. I’ve had a few people reach out to me who had previously s...
08/05/2025

“I didn’t give up because of you.”

In the past several months. I’ve had a few people reach out to me who had previously sought out my advice for some horses they were struggling with.

They wanted to fill me in on the progress they’ve made. They wanted to share with me the big hurdles their horses had overcome.

They told me that I was the reason they didn’t give up.

My ego would like to believe that to be true. But I know that the truth is that these people didn’t give up not because of me, but because of what they believed in the horses they were working with. They believed their horses had the ability to do and be better.

Belief goes a long way. Hope goes a long way.

What I did was offer them some expertise, and let them know that success and break through is always around the corner. Sometimes that corner is further than you might like it to be, but it’s there.

It’s really easy to feel defeated with our horses. It’s especially easy when you don’t have a good support system to encourage you along.

Most of our issues can be solved with understanding, patience, determination, and consistency. And that goes outside of Horses… that’s in our everyday lives as well..

Change that comes from the heart is different.When we work with our horses from a place of passion, empathy, and underst...
08/04/2025

Change that comes from the heart is different.

When we work with our horses from a place of passion, empathy, and understanding the impact we have upon our horses is different.

I believe that a big deal of the work we do in working with horses, has to come from a place of heart.

Has to not only involve the skill, understanding, expertise, and ability. We should also be bringing our soul with it.

The horse knows how we feel long before we begin our session. Long before we put the halter on.

They can read us from across the pasture.

They know when we are rushed, angry, forced, uncertain.

So when we care, when we bring our hearts and passion to the arena, to the roundpen, to the pasture—we automatically bring space for real change to be made. For good progress to be made. For growth.

Address

Staunton, VA

Telephone

+15404872796

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