Bella Peregrina Ranch

24/04/2026

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How do you develop a relationship with a horse?

With the changing of the culture of horsemanship, more people now are interested in developing a connection, which is a great direction to go in

But I find that in this search, we often find a romanticized fairy tale approach that focuses on the butterflies and rainbows aspects of horse ownership, and leaves out the nitty gritty.

It doesn’t help that we’re bombarded with videos of videos showing the highlights, like bridleless flying changes, kissy face photos, laying together in a field…. But we don’t get much of a view or conversation about hours spent perfecting our technique and timing so we can feel inoffensive to a horse.

There aren’t many popular reels of learning to pick up a hoof with respect to a horse, or handle a lead rope quietly so you don’t feel like a wild caveman to your horse.

So what does it take to develop a relationship?

There’s no way you can buy it, you can’t bribe it or force it.

A relationship is formed by being a trustworthy, stable and calming influence in the horses life

And to do this requires you have the skill to guide
The awareness to keep your horse out of trouble
The understanding of his needs to support his health and wellbeing
The mental flexibility to adjust the goals as needed and not get rigid
The discipline to stick to it when it gets hard or you meet resistance
And the balance in yourself, emotionally and physically, to guide the horse to a better balance too

So you see, it is an act: it’s not just something you voice as a desire, it’s not something that just spending time together gets you:

It’s active and ongoing work, starting with you -

And the horse’s response continually gives us the truth about ourselves and what we offer -

A peaceful relationship with a horse comes from a person who can guide and support, actively, frequently, and quietly. This daily act does not make for exciting online content, but it’s the only way to really accomplish a connection.

Photo by Jasmine Cope

17/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Md9fXXqz/

“Are you having fun?” I asked.

A conflicted silence followed. One beat, two beats. My client gazed into the middle distance. As if they were wondering if they were indeed having fun with and around horses. I could feel and imagine the internal monologue.

He asked if I am having fun.
Which means I am supposed to be having fun.
What does having fun look like?
Is it ethical to project my idea of fun onto a horse?
I don’t think I am having any fun.
I feel ashamed now for not having fun.
I shouldn’t say No, he wants me to say yes?

I stepped in.

“That sounds like a No. Or a probably not. It’s ok, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Horses are difficult animals to care for, and even trickier animals to succeed with in training. Sometimes it feels like a black hole you never see the end of. But it is important to remember that this is supposed to be, a recreation. For most of us. This is something we do for pleasure.”

And this is the crux of it.

There is a lot of romanticising of pain and suffering in the horse world. Scare a horse, intimidate a horse, suffer along side them a little bit? That’s worthy of our celebration. Because Real Horsepeople are hard. Tough. Mean. Resilient.

And that’s fine if that’s someones choice to embody that. None of my business.

But my business is guiding folks and their horses back to something that is enjoyable. But something that’s enjoyable for the horse too, which is often the harder part to ensure and that’s why we focus on the horse first.

In that process, some folks find they cannot put their horse first, because they have not taken care of themselves first. Self care is the deep breath you take before you dive under the water and swim. Your self care is the first preparation that fuels your ability to focus on the horse. These things blend and intersect.

Yet, we focus on the horse.

And this should be fun. And fun is relative to every single individual, it isn’t a singular monolithic fun you’re supposed to do to fit in. Having fun is about fitting in with you and your horses.

It has been a long time since I had no fun around horses. A long time.

08/04/2026

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There were maybe eight of us in the arena that morning.

Just a handful of his most devoted students, standing quietly by the rail, watching the old man walk across the dirt toward the mounting block.

He was 83. Maybe 84. I can't remember now. What I remember is the way he moved. Slow, deliberate, like every step cost him something but he was willing to pay it.

Quatar was already tacked. A big bay gelding, 20-something years old, with kind eyes and a neck that had learned to arch without being asked decades ago.
___________________________

We all knew what this was.

His last ride.

He'd been saying it for months, but none of us believed him. Men like him don't retire. They just keep going until they can't anymore.

But that morning, standing in the early light with the arena dust hanging in the air like fog, I believed it.

One of the younger students, maybe 19, still green, still hungry, whispered to the woman next to her: "What do you think he's going to do?"

Linda, the older woman, didn't answer. Just shook her head slightly.

I wanted to tell the girl: He's not here to perform for you.

But I didn't. She'd figure it out.
___________________________

He mounted from his step with the help of one of his grooms.

Took him a full minute to settle into the saddle, adjust his reins, find his seat.

Then he nodded and the groom stepped back.

And he walked.
___________________________

That's it. He just... walked.

No warm-up trot. No collected canter. No piaffe, no passage, no extended anything.

He walked a 20-meter circle. Slowly. Quietly.

Quatar's ears were soft, flicking back toward him every few strides like they were having a chat no one else could hear.

The old man's hands were still. His legs barely moved. His seat, my god, his seat, it was like he'd dissolved into the saddle.

One lap. Two laps. Three.

The young student shifted her weight. I could feel her confusion radiating off her in waves.

This is it? This is the last ride of a man who trained Olympic horses?
___________________________

But Linda, she understood.

I saw it happen.

Her face went still first. Then her eyes filled. Then her hand came up to cover her mouth and she turned away so no one would see her cry.

But I saw.

Because I was crying too.
___________________________

See, here's what that young student didn't understand yet:

After 65 years of training horses, 65 years of piaffe and passage and Grand Prix and podiums and students and lessons and competitions, you don't need to prove anything anymore.

You don't need to remind people that you were once great.

You just need to walk with your horse.

Just two old partners who've spent decades learning how to talk together, saying goodbye the only way that matters.
___________________________

He only rode for maybe 15 minutes.

Then he halted. Sat there for a long moment, one hand resting on Quatar's neck.

His horse stood perfectly still. Not tense. Waiting for the next command that would never come.

Just... there.

Together.

The old man dismounted, slowly, carefully, with the groom's help again and stood next to his horse for a minute, forehead pressed against Quatar's shoulder.

None of us moved.
None of us spoke.

What the hell do you say after witnessing something like that?
___________________________

Finally, he turned and walked toward us.

The young student opened her mouth, maybe to ask a question, maybe to say something polite, but Linda put a hand on her arm.

Don't.

The old man stopped in front of us. Looked at each of us, one by one.

Then he said, voice quiet and rough:

"It was always about the walk."
___________________________

When he left, the groom led the horse back to the barn.

We stood there in silence, watching him go.

The young student looked at Linda and asked, voice shaking:
"Why are you crying?"

Linda wiped her eyes. Laughed a little.

"Because I just spent twenty years trying to make my horse do something impressive," she said. "And I just realized I never learned how to walk."
___________________________

I think about an 83-year-old man choosing to spend his last ride doing the simplest thing a horse and rider can do together.

Walking.

Not because it was easy.

Not because it was all he had left.

But because after sixty years of making horses dance, he finally understood:

The walk was never the beginning.
It was always the destination.

04/04/2026

PSA:
It will always cost folks less to book us directly than through Groupon. And we have many more good deals off Groupon than on Groupon.
Contacting local merchants directly to match a Groupon rate often secures a better deal for you and more profit for them. Since Groupon typically takes up to 50% of the revenue, merchants are often eager to bypass the platform, giving you the same or better discounts—especially for services like salons, fitness classes, or specialized local activities.
Why Calling Directly is Better
More Money for the Merchant: Merchants often only receive 40-50% of the money you pay to Groupon, making it a low-profit or even losing venture for them.
Better Incentives: When you call directly, businesses can offer better rates, complimentary upgrades, or simply appreciate supporting local directly, as they don't have to share revenue.
Better Customer Service: By paying the business directly, you avoid issues with complicated Groupon voucher redemption or strict refund policies.
How to Do It
Find the service or product on Groupon.
Locate the merchant's website and call them directly.
Say: "I saw your deal on Groupon, but I'd prefer to pay you directly. Can you match the offer for me?"
This method works best for small, local service-oriented businesses rather than national brands.

03/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18W7FhrDUx/

Our students of all ages ride bitless without whips and without spurs until such time as it becomes absolutely necessary for them to ride with bits, whips and spurs. And with our horses - well bred, well trained, perfect dispositions and temperaments - those are rarely if ever necessary, for riders of any age.

Why can kids only get a drivers license at 18 ( in South Africa) or 16 (in he US)?

There is a huge responsibility that comes with driving a couple tons of steel around at speed. It takes time for kids to truly understand cause and effect, not to mention to build the focus necessary to stay safe driving a car.

Somehow we forget all this when the vehicle is only 600kgs and fluffy.

I am all for building responsibility, with the tasks and consideration, that come with horse interactions, but I think that we are often doing to opposite.

When we strap a kid to a 600kg prey animal, with their hands that don't understand consequences, attached to a piece of steel in he most sensitive part of the horses body, and hand their impulsive fingers a weapon ( crop/whip) to inflict their will upon the animal, we don't teach responsibility, we teach sociopathy.

I love teaching kids. I have a few loyal kids who enjoy my lessons.
Most parents move their kids to a different instructor, after a couple months of me sticking to supervised basics until the kid shows understanding, compassion and rhythm. I am okay with this. I get a few months to instill empathy and the gravity of the privilege of sittijngon these magical creatures. The hope is that when things go wrong down the line, they know there is a different way, and don't walk away from horses forever.
I have a long list of adult clients coming back to horses after quitting because of the lack of safety, or ethical concerns about how horses are treated. I do hope I can provide hope for the little kid version of those people before they away from horses. None of us start out falling in love with ribbons. Before we ever thing of riding we fall in love with horses, then the industry tells us that in order to love them, we have to be " achieving something' with them.
In those few months of lessons before they inevitably move off, I prioritize getting riders to understand they can love a horse without ever striving for achievement.

They move on to an instructor that has a clear timeline. The kid WILL be trotting by week three and do their first show shortly after.

I have friends who instruct like this and many know it's ' not ideal', but if Dad is paying for lessons he better see ribbons, or princess is changing instructors. The instructors ability to warn a living is attached to this productiin line. I completely understand why it happens.

My lessons have a different focus, and I make this clear before parents sign their kids up.

The highest priority is that kids learn empathy and understanding of the animals they partner with.
This sometimes means me taking the reins away, so that sentient being doesn't have to deal with unbalanced hands and seat.
For as long as it takes.

I teach fetching and haltering the horses as part of the lesson, but never unsupervised. For the sake of both the horses welfare, and the kids safety.

I feel we need to reconsider how much ' kids independence' we expect our horses to deal with safely.
I know 10 year olds that have a hard tine keeping track of both shoes. Is it really fair to expect them to care for a living animal without supervision? Is it ethical to leave an animal at their mercy?

That doesn't teach responsibility, that teaches that their wants and desires mean more than the animal they use for their entertainment. It reduces the value they see in that living, breathing creature.

It teaches them that their enjoyment means more than an animals suffering.

These are values that they carry into every aspect of their lives. You know how they have conclusive studies about serial killers starting with harming animals?

It might be time we reconsider how we teach our children to interact with animals.

02/04/2026

Book your Bluebonnet Trail Ride now while supplies last!

Join our 2 hour Willis Creek Lake Granger bluebonnets and lake ride 6 pm - 8 pm Saturday April 11 for $145 per person! Or book your own Bluebonnet ride, now through the end of April!

Top spots to ride our horses through Texas bluebonnets include Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area (Spicewood), Willis Creek Park (Granger), and the Greenbelt trail in Aubrey. The peak season is late March through April, with the Highland Lakes area, Brenham, and Ennis offering the most scenic, expansive landscapes for equestrian wildflower riding.
Top Equestrian-Friendly Bluebonnet Spots
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area (Spicewood): Often described as a "purple-blue ocean" of bluebonnets, this is a prime spot for riding along the riverbank with massive bluebonnet fields.
Willis Creek Park (Granger): Features an equestrian trailhead that is often full of bluebonnets in the spring.
Greenbelt Trail (Aubrey): A great spot in North Texas that offers equestrian trails with bluebonnets and paintbrushes.
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails: While mostly for viewing, the over 40 miles of trails in Ennis offer plenty of rural road riding opportunities through bluebonnet fields.
Willow City Loop (Fredericksburg): This 13-mile trail winds through scenic hills and fields filled with bluebonnets, offering beautiful trails in the heart of Hill Country.
Lake Brownwood State Park: Known for good equestrian trails and wildflowers.
Best Practices for Horseback Riding
Peak Timing: Late March to mid-April is generally peak bloom time.
Avoid Main Highways: Stick to county roads and designated park trails to ensure a safe ride for you and our horses.

01/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18cG8Thk9D/

Not everyone sees it…
The beauty. The timing. The little moments that feel like something bigger is at work.

But the ones who do?
They’re not lucky.

They’ve just decided to believe there’s more waiting for them.

Magic isn’t found…
It’s felt by the ones who refuse to give up on what could be.

And somehow… it always meets them there ✨

🐴 Comment BELIEVE if you know there’s something more meant for you

31/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14VwvLdZfQT/

We're seeking both professional trainers and amateur horse lovers to be part of our 2026 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. We're starting to assign horses to those in the professional divisions now, and we'll be assigning horses for the non-pro/amateur divisions soon.

For those not familiar with the Training Challenge, it is an event where professional trainers and amateur horse lovers work with a Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society horse for 4-5 months and then come together to show off what the horse knows and help them find an adopter.

We have divisions for kids and adults to work with a horse in hand, a division for amateurs to work with a horse under saddle who is at least green broke to ride, and a division for professionals to start a horse under saddle who either isn't broke to ride or has behavioral problems (we disclose what we know). And we have two youth scholarships!

We offer $12,000 in cash and prizes plus another $12,000 in cash and prizes for our Elite Professionals (those who have served as clinicians in previous Bluebonnet Horse Expos or have placed in the top 3 in the pro division in previous Challenges).

This year assignments are made in March-May and the competition is October 3 during the Bluebonnet Horse Expo in Taylor, Texas.

Rules and application available at https://www.bluebonnetequine.org/challenge/apply-to-compete/

Why should professionals participate? Professional trainers who compete get promoted on our website, social media accounts, and at the event. When we need to send a horse to a professional trainer outside the Challenge where we pay the trainer, we give preference to previous Challenge competitors. We also recommend professional trainers when an adopter needs a trainer. Many Challenge trainers have seen a boost in their business, have formed new business relationships, and have made friends by being part of the Challenge.

Why should non-pros/amateurs compete? You'll be making a difference in the life of your Challenge horse: you learn about what they like, what they don't like, and what they know. Those things help us find them the right adopter match. By talking about your Challenge horse on social media (we set up pages for each horse), you can help them catch the eye of his perfect person. You can challenge yourself to grow and learn alongside your Challenge horse. You can also meet other horse people in your area, make new friends, and find someone new to ride with - or at least gush about how much you love horses.

This is your year - come be part of the Challenge. Change a horse's life, change an adopter's life, and change your own life - all for the better.

Rules and application available at https://www.bluebonnetequine.org/challenge/apply-to-compete/