I have a spot available starting in Jan 2025
*not offering colt starting or consignment at this time.
A little rope work with Charlie. The video is a little long but I didn't want to miss showing the details.
I spent the week before teaching Charlie to halt and wait for me to either remove the pressure (rope or whip) or tell him to continue through it. That work has paid off. Charlie's owner wants to do a lot of camping, playing with cows, Working Equitation, and anything else fun that might come up. He is going to be in situations where branches might smack into him, get his foot caught in some bramble, or find himself needing to be hobbled.
So, it is important for him to be used to ropes (and other stuff), flopping on him, at him, or possibly "catching" him. It is important that your horse be able to stop and think when everything in their nature tells them to panic and run. These things may never happen to him, but as a trainer who cares about the success of my client (and the horse), I align my training to their needs (and goals).
I just love this horse's mind. He is always trying to figure out what he is supposed to do.
He is an excellent example of a good-minded Arabian.
Blue is the sweetest Paint (we think) ever. Hes a bit of a couch potato physically right now with all the beautiful grass but he tries pretty hard. His rider has been doing a wonderful job getting him into a program that will help keep him sound. I wasn't prepared for how smooth he was!
I dont really hop on other peoples horses often. My passion is to empower riders to train their own horses, but every now and again its worth it <3
Here we arent doing anything grand or fancy. Just simple stabilization of the shoulders and straightening. Lots of potential here!
I hope your trainer doesn't give you what you want.
I DO hope your trainer gives you what you need, more importantly...what your horse needs.
There will always be someone willing to do it faster and flashier. There will always be someone willing to get you into the show ring on your time line instead of your horses. There will always be someone who will tell you only the things you want to hear. For the right price, there will always be someone.
I don't want that kind of someone...not for me and not for you all either.
So, choose your someone carefully.
Choose someone who values their process enough that they can't be swayed from it by demands and dollars. They know where they've been, where they're going and all of the things they've learned between. They put your horse first and show you the value in work that is centered around what the horse needs. They are your biggest supporter while remaining honest and realistic about what it takes to achieve your goals. The only promise they make, is that your horse will get better...and you will too. You pay them but at the same time, who they are at their core can't be bought. They live their truth each day, honest and humble.
That type of someone is priceless...
- Tarra, Concinnity Farms
People often ask me about lunging and groundwork. For me personally, if it doesnt have to do with correcting a dangerous problem, it NEEDS to be something that will mean something important to the horse. It needs to be something that benefits its mind and body. It also should be something that will mean something later when under saddle.
Here is just one of those exercises. You dont need cones, but for the purposes of teaching it to someone who is new to it, they really help.
These specific movements benefit the entire neck (especially the lower Cervical) and the shoulder girdle. They also benefit the entire back, ribcage, and pelvis but for the sake of keeping things simple, we are focusing on the shoulders.
There is a LOT of moving parts. The handler needs to find their space, center, timing, and feel. They also have to have a clear understanding of what they are asking the horse to do, if we dont understand the purpose, it will not be as useful. The horse needs to accept being led in a new way, needs to relax, needs to slowdown (balance), and needs to find a rhythm with the handler. As they get better, only their bodies energy and intention will be needed to "dance" around the entire arena doing whatever patterns and movements they want.
Not only does this bring the pair into a soft "feeling" state, it also prepares the body to be physically available for self carriage. After you get the hang of it, its really quite fun. We also can then teach them how to do this with a bridle and then under saddle - this is how you build an educated horse amd rider on one exercise. From the ground to high levels under saddle. Imagine that much layering if applied to everything we teach ourselves and our horses.
With this exercise, you can evolve into shoulder-in/out, sidepass, leg yield, renvers (haunches out), travers (haunches in), half pass, and pirouette. The neck and shoulders can be maneuvered in a lesser or greater degree depending on what benefits e
Empowering another horsewoman... it's where its at for me!
