Obie & Melissa
So proud of this little pony, who we just took out of semi-retirement & his handler Melissa!!
Melissa has been in my Grounded Horsemanship less than a month & done so well with Obie, that I decided to kick it up a notch this morning 😁 She nailed this and made great progress on some other exercises I threw at her!!
Working with these women & horses is the best part of my day!! 🩷
#GroundedHorsemanship #leathermanlane #horses #areyougrounded #Obie #pony #Horsemanship #obie1thepony
Crummy weather means we get creative with our Grounded Horsemanship sessions… This morning we worked on coming to the mounting block and both Luke & Gretchen did great!! #rainday #mountingblock #groundedhorsemanship #horses #leathermanlane #horsemanship #aqha
Every now and then a woman comes into my program that wants more than just groundwork, she wants a relationship! She wants a horse that she can share something special with and have something deeper than just a ride. This is another of those stories, and definitely one of my favorites!
Gianna Tulio came to me at the beginning of 2022, wanting to learn everything there was to know about horses, with the goal of owning one “someday”. She wanted to start at the ground and work her way up into the saddle, feeling out different horses until she figured out what the best fit for her would be (mare or gelding, gated or not, etc). I’ve had several women come into the Grounded Horsemanship program to feel out this very thing and find what’s right for them. I love helping people learn valuable skills and different techniques along their journey & feel honored to be part of something so special!
After her initial assessment, we decided to start working with Chief. This is a horse I usually use when I work with women who have experienced a trauma, have anxiety, or when I’m just starting to teach breath work. Chief LOVES to do this type of work and has fallen asleep several times when the women he is working with really find that deep breathing and relax into this strange technique. More than once, he fell asleep with Gianna & even though they no longer work together, he will often come up to her in the pasture when she is doing breath work with Bo, just to be part of that peace.
We switched to Sampson next, who is a more forward horse. Sampson is usually the alfa of the herd but loves connection & people. I love using Samps to teach the draw cue to the women I work with & he was perfect for giving Gianna the confidence she needed with this new technique!
At our next session we worked with Bo. He is a calmer horse than Sampson, but not as trusting or experienced. We had a session picking his feet, grooming him, and worked on the head down cue, while continuing t
Practicing our dance moves with Mara during our Grounded Horsemanship session the other day… It isn’t perfect, but its progress & it sure is pretty!
Calcifer & Gretchen's 1st roundpen session
So blessed to have this Grounded Horsemanship program here at Leatherman Lane! These gorgeous horses and beautiful women are the perfect start to my day 🤎
Grounded Horsemanship- Maxime
Maxime came into the Grounded Horsemanship program wanting to reconnect with her childhood roots and love of horses, but also to learn more about herself and how to communicate with these majestic creatures.
Max is the perfect example of how quickly you can breeze through the groundwork when you already have a background in horses and getting into the saddle is your ultimate goal. She will also be the first to tell you that what she’s learned on the ground is invaluable and one of the best decisions she’s made with her horsemanship!
Here is a little about her journey in our program and the transition into the saddle with Lauren Beck Horsemanship
Its never just a walk in the woods...
Heading out for a walk in the woods on a cold winter morning is a beautiful way to start the day! Here, it’s also a learning opportunity for one of our newest horse owners and friends.
Yes, walking in the woods should be relaxing, but it also needs to be safe! Kimberly Wojewodski has worked so hard to form a bond with Foxie and continues to learn and grow with her daily. This morning, she showed me just how far she has come in controlling her horse’s feet and her own emotions.
I couldn’t wait to share her progress (and the beauty of the morning) with all of you!
Grounded Horsemanship - Genevieve
Genevieve Husak came into the Leatherman Lane family as a boarder almost a year ago. Her horse Coco was a senior horse, with some special needs, that blessed our barn family until her passing.
We were so happy to hear from Genevieve (after some time had passed) inquiring about our lease program and expressing her desire to be around horses again. We discussed the different options we had available at the barn and decided that the Grounded Horsemanship program would be the best fit for her.
Though she has only been in the program a short time, the progress she has made (both personally with her confidence and on the ground with her horsemanship) has been wonderful!
Kimberly & Foxie
Kimberly Wojewodski started our Grounded Horsemanship about 4 months ago, having very little experience with horses but wanting to learn and eventually lease a horse here. What she found was a new passion in life and an equine partner to start her journey with. Just 6 weeks into our program, the horse she had been working with became available and Kim decided to buy her. Their bond grows with each session together, as does Kimberly's confidence in herself and skill working with Foxie! We are so proud of them both & excited to have them as part of our barn family.
Leasing horse at Leatherman Lane
Grounded Horsemanship arose from the lease program at Leatherman Lane. We do lease horses (on both a short and long term basis) but do not do daily or per ride "horse rentals" here. Leasing a horse at Leatherman Lane starts on the ground. Whether you've been riding your entire life, are just starting out, or are looking to get back into horses after some time off, it's all the same to start… with your groundwork. Once that’s where it needs to be, you move into the saddle with one of our trainers. Once they sign you off, you can ride at your leisure under a full or partial lease of the horse you have been working with.
Now, I also work with women who just need to “get grounded”. They may not even be looking to lease a horse, or ride for that matter, but are just needing "something more" in their life and want to find that with a horse. Horses, and this type of work with them, can bring balance, focus & peace where it may be lacking.
We will be posting a video with more on our Grounded Horsemanship program for you soon, but for now… Here’s a video on our lease program, which will give you some insight into life at Leatherman Lane and the foundation of our getting grounded program. ENJOY!
Are you GROUNDED? Being grounded is SO important in life, and even more so with our horsemanship! I want to be grounded, well balanced, practical & realistic!
