Honorable Horsemanship LLC

29/07/2024

Introducing Starlight ✨

Starlight is out newest lesson horse. She is a registered APHA (American Paint Horse)

Starlight is SO sweet. She is comfortable at all gaits. She rides English and Western.

I can't wait for you to meet her!

18/07/2024

I have been having major tech issues this week. My homepage has been blank all week...and messages are playing hide and seek; but mostly hiding.

I am so sorry if you've tried to reach out, or if we've chatted but then I haven't responded.

I'm working on it! I appreciate your patience and understanding! Hoping for a quick solution with tech support. 🤞

13/07/2024

What a beautiful morning for an Open House!

No need to RSVP, pop in if you can and say hello!

05/07/2024

This rider has gained so much confidence over the past month. They're learning new skills and gaining knowledge and becoming a wonderful partner.

26/06/2024

👀🐴 Announcement🐴👀

Honorable Horsemanship LLC is moving locations! After many wonderful years at our current location, our lesson program is moving to The Double D Ranch & Equestrian Center. Join us for an OPEN HOUSE to see the new property, meet our new lesson horse, and get a lay of the land.

We will have fun and games planned as well. Bring your friends!

Light refreshments will be served.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p7gGQUu4Rm5stQX3/

25/06/2024

Exciting changes are on the way!

23/06/2024

ISO: Beginner friendly horse for a small, laid back lesson program. Horsemanship focus, not a showing program.

🦄 Primarily English lessons
🦄 Leadline through beginning canter
🦄 Great Brain
🦄 Patience with the newbies
🦄 14.2 - 15.2, able to carry kiddos and adults
🦄 12 years or older, age appropriate maintenance ok
🦄 Mare or gelding

I can provide a safe, loving home

30/04/2024

📣📣 SHOUT OUT 📣📣 HUGE thank you to my chiropractor ! After hearing about my updated MRI results, they asked if I wanted my knee adjusted. Of course! Why not?

It was a weird sensation and I wasn't sure how I felt about it...but afterwards, I had a riding lesson and then taught 6 hours of lessons. My knee held up wonderfully!

Last night was the first night in over a year where there wasn't significant pain. Tired and sore? Sure, but no pain. This morning, same story.

Now, are my riding muscles sore? You bet! gave an amazing lesson and challenged me in all the right ways.

I am thankful for my medical team, my chiropractor, my rolfer, and everyone who has played a part in my recovery. Rehab is a pendulum and it's not always sunny and bright and encouraging, but today it is and I'm thankful.

20/03/2024

Kisses and smiles for miles 🤍

09/03/2024

Havasu wants to remind everyone that clocks move forward 1 hour overnight. ⏰

Our first 7:00 p.m. sunset of the year will happen as well! 😎☀️

19/02/2024

I can't believe that summer break is only 4 months away! That being said, the dates for summer camp are up!

I have FOUR summer camp options available! This year I am offering an ADULT riding camp. It is a 2 hour session in the evening.

Dates:
- June 10-13 - Youth Riding Camp
- June 10-13 - Adult Riding Camp
- July 22-25 - Introductory Horsemanship Ages 10+
- August 5-8 - Introductory Horsemanship Ages 5-9

To indicate interest and for more information, please fill out the following Google Form. https://forms.gle/J9mGdY6pudp6rfWbA

12/02/2024

27 days until the first 7pm sunset of 2024!

As much as I love the colder weather, having the ability to lesson outside is most desired!

05/02/2024

Why do we ride? If, at the end of the day, it's not about partnership and the love of the horse, then it's for the wrong reason.

04/02/2024

It is 11:15 in the morning and the fog is still rolling through.

Stay warm and safe today!

02/02/2024

I have amazing clients who want to learn everything and their goal is to ride perfectly. I admire their dedication but have to remind them that perfection isn't possible. (Let's be honest, it's something I have to tell myself and be reminded of by my instructor.)

The pursuit of perfection is the death of progress.

One might say, Melissa, isn't perfection the goal? Nope! Perfection isn't possible.

In fact, the human brains uses failure or mistakes to learn. A recent study from the University of Iowa states, "The brain exhibits prolonged activity after recognizing a mistake, signaling a period of internal communication to avoid repeating the error."

If we only accept perfection, we will be stagnant in our journey. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Allow it to be ugly. We must avoid getting caught up in "not getting it" and becoming stiff and upset at ourselves and allowing the negative mindset to rule.

For through our mistakes we can develop muscle memory for correctness. When we have made positive adjustments, we develop a feel for the situation.

I would rather my riders have goals of riding with elasticity, accuracy, and flexibility.

Perfection is a myth. Learn and grow. Trust the process.

Ride on my fabulous riders!

30/01/2024

I can't believe that summer break is only 4 months away! That being said, the dates for summer camp are up!

I have FOUR summer camp options available! This year I am offering an ADULT riding camp. It is a 2 hour session in the evening.

Dates:
- June 10-13 - Youth Riding Camp
- June 10-13 - Adult Riding Camp
- July 22-25 - Introductory Horsemanship Ages 10+
- August 5-8 - Introductory Horsemanship Ages 5-9

To indicate interest and for more information, please fill out the following Google Form. https://forms.gle/J9mGdY6pudp6rfWbA

22/01/2024

Aspen is enjoying a nap in the sun!

The weather this week is a welcomed relief from the bitter cold we've had.

20/01/2024

This is an awesome opportunity!

Vaulting is an amazing equestrian discipline!

I've heard amazing reviews of Mile High Vaulters !

Our 2024 6-Week Introduction to Vaulting courses are on the calendar!

12/01/2024

Stay warm out there!

The horses are getting extra hay and those that need blankets will get them. All of the horses have access to automatic, heated waterers and shelter.

We have a great team!

10/01/2024

🥶🥶🥶

Not my ideal riding weather...

Perhaps a trip to Arizona is in order...🤔🌵🐴

10/01/2024

*Sound on*

The winds are howling at a steady 25mph and are forecasted to reach 35mph+ by the afternoon.

Stay warm everyone!

03/01/2024

For anyone looking. This guy is awesome!

01/01/2024

25/12/2023

Hagrid is wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you all the peace, love, and joy that this season can offer.

I have the most amazing clients. Thank you for supporting my small business. I appreciate you all.

Happy holidays

14/12/2023

Happy to my three fabulous partners.

Havasu, thanks for teaching me about patience and expectations. You're my big, red goober

Aspen, Anna Maria Mama's girl, thanks for helping beginner riders step up and gain confidence.

Molly, thanks for being a sweetheart. You're so patient with my riders.

Love you all to the moon and back. There can't be horseback riding without horses... Thanks for being the amazing teachers you are. I'm honored to partner with you!

❤️🐴❤️🐴❤️🐴

08/12/2023

As a follow up to yesterday's post, don't let comparison steal your joy.

Your riding journey is your own. Maybe the other rider in the ring is working on their 3rd 10,000th hour. You may closing in on your first 100. Celebrate that!

When someone makes riding look easy and effortless, please know that they have experience and time on their side.

We all know that riding is simple: a human sits on a horse and they walk on. However, it is far from easy to do well.

Our body must work independently but collectively: soft hands, balanced seat, secure lower leg, just to name a few.

Set your goals. Spend time in the saddle. Lesson or hack as much as possible.

Take a deep breath. Ride on my fabulous riders.

My job as your instructor is to teach you what I can and help move you towards your goal.

07/12/2023

When my students start riding, I always ask what their goals are. It could be trotting, jumping, trail riding, general horse knowledge, galloping on a beach, or one day becoming a professional in the industry.

No goal is too big or too small.

I want to take a moment to talk about those who dream for riding professionally or in the Olympics. However, this absolutely applies to all aspects of this sport.

It has been said that it takes 10,000 hours of correctly practicing a skill to become an expert.

Let's set up a scenario of yearly hours in the saddle. For this example, each lesson or ride will be counted as an hour. Let's use 48 weeks per year with the thought of taking a vacation, or getting sick, or having other life commitments come along...even though most professionals I know may only take 1 or 2 days off per month.

Weekly lessons/rides to reach 10,000 hours:
1 would take 208.3 years
2 would take 104.1 years
3 would take 69.4 years
4 would take 52 years
5 would take 41.6 years
10 would take 20.8 years
15 would take 13.8 years
20 would take 10.4 years
25 would take 8.3 years
30 would take 6.9 years
35 would take 5.9 years

(Obviously, lessons start at once per week and students will add them over time. This is a linear example.)

Those first 10,000 are difficult to reach. There is a time, money, and social sacrifice to reach your goals, but it is doable.

How do you get these hours? Take lessons. Be a barn rat. Ask to warm up or cool down horses. Put in the time. Learn. Be a working student. Be coachable. Ask questions.

Ride on my fabulous riders!