Amy Allen Horsemanship LLC

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Amy Allen Horsemanship LLC

Horsemanship and Ecole de Légèreté Trainee Teacher
Hoof Care Practitioner
Daughter of the King as well as at offsite locations.

Amy Allen teaches horsemanship, classical dressage and is a former PHCP Mentor. Training, Lessons and clinics are offered at Allen Acres in Shelton Wa. Barefoot trimming encompasses mineral balanced nutrition, a lifestyle of movement, a balanced trim, a 4-6 week trim cycle and protection using hoof boots, as needed. Healthier hooves and a healthier horse allow us to reach more of our horsemanship

goals. Photos on the Amy Allen Horsemanship Face Book page are not to be removed without permission, unless you are the owner of the horse.

“True greatness is not measured by what you achieve in life, but how you live your life.” Job 1:8

12/11/2025

Amanda and I enjoying a beautiful sunset ride on Chloe and Max.

11/11/2025

Today's training session with Beau and Sandy. Beau really enjoys being ridden, as long as he has a confident, consistent leader.

10/11/2025

Sandy and Beau's training session today.

06/11/2025

Sandy and Beau

01/11/2025

Training Beau

After our ground work in the arena, near the scary forest and far from his BFF, we worked under saddle. He does join up, want to be with the human, looks to the human for comfort and also learned that when hes afraid, however jumping into my bubble when hes afraid, is not allowed. Hes only tried to do that once since arrival, any other attempts were blocked or redirected. When it's allowed, the human gets hurt, thats why I started working him with the flag right away.

Under saddle, hes really crooked, his leading (near) side is his short side, the offside is his long side. This is very common because we often lead horses only on their left. To create a more balanced (straight) horse, lead on both sides, and then, lead the horse more often on the side that needs it.

Im working on a few things here. Its raining, and hes scared to be in the arena, so I'm working outside and then going a little inside. Its like encouraging a child to dip their toe in the water and they run back up onto the beach because they are afraid. They think about it, that was scary, but fun, I want to try it again, and they run back to the edge of the water and stick in a foot. Rinse repeat until they are confidently in the water. Now to a horse, this isn't fun, this is life or death, because to a horse its about surviving. So I'm riding him part way into the arena, then bending him and riding out of the arena. And I'm doing this on both sides. Because his off side has not had the same amount of work as his near side, he wants to counter bend. He also wants to look for monsters, instead of trusting the human leader. So I'm asking him to bend that offside by lifting my rein and moving his shoulders. I keep repeating this, with a random pattern so he cant tune me out, until he gets softer and more flexible, on both sides.
There are moments where he wants to speed up out of the arena and the wrong answer is to pull back and stop him, I instead lift the inside hand and bend him. This teaches him that he cant move my feet, I move his. Over time he will start to respond (think), instead of react (flight or fight). There are times you will see him swish his tail, that him resisting my idea but thats as far as he goes. Im not forcing him, Im directing his feet. There are moments, where I ride him straight, but if he picks up speed, I dont pull back, I prepare and then bend him.
His mouth is still busy but not chomping as hard as it was when we started.
This is a process and done with correct timing and feel, his confidence and trust grow.

29/10/2025

Training Beau

Sandy worked with her horse today, we started on the ground, after I did a little demo refresher of groundwork. They worked the most on the ground, to build their relationship. Beau needs confident leadership, and more work on the offside than the nearside. He bends nicely on the near side but wants to counter bend, and look for the monsters on the offside. The solution to this is bend the horse in, but move the shoulder out. Beau showed he accepted her good leadership and correct aids, and understand what she was asking. They used the whole arena, going to the not so scary places, which allows the horse the time to let down think and process, then move back into the harder places, in the arena nearer to the forest, and build the trust as he looks to her for leadership and comfort.
His chomping of the bit is all anxiety, and it goes away when he relaxes, which he does.
Before getting on I had Sandy rub, pet all over, and move the saddle stirrups, tap the saddle, etc, all desitizing work, to show us how he feels about it and its not a surprise when she swings a leg over.
Once she was on I had her love on him some more, then do flexions both ways. Flexion to the right is harder for him, it is on the ground also, and he has to move his feet. As she rode him around he revealed his, I'm not going forward, and I'm taking you over to my friend. So I had Sandy prepare him before he got to the spot when he wanted to take over, and ride him more like a green horse that doesnt understand body aids. This helped and she was able to keep him going where she wanted him to go. He will plant his feet and refuse to go in a trailer, lead and going forward under saddle. These are all related. So where do we fix it first?, on the ground.
His backing is nice and soft.
Beau is a sweet boy that has a lot of try.

28/10/2025

Training Beau

This was our second training session with the flag and he was much better.
The first time I used the flag he was terrified, he just stood in place, afraid to move and he trembled. And when he did finally move he wanted to attack the flag, kick it violently if it came near his hind end and hind legs. So we worked until he understood the flag isnt something to be afraid of, its just a tool like anything we use on a horse. When I wave the flag a horse should be able to stand still with confidence. When I ask a horse to move using the flag, my body aids are also asking him to move, and he should walk off confidently, without fear. When I touch him with the flag it should be as if I stroked him with my hand. He only tried to kick at the flag twice today and it wasnt as strong a kick.

After the improved work on the line we worked at liberty in the round pen. At first he took flight, and after I directed him a bit (be a leader not a dominator) he started to relax and got to the walk. He was soon trusting again, walking when the flag moved or touched him.

The last picture is Beau watching me work Max with the flag. While I rode Max I never got out of Beau's sight and he stayed in his paddock. Thats also progress as he thinks Max is fabulous, and he is, but Beau's very herd bound to him.
The reason I am working him with a halter under the bridle, which I never do, is because I want him to pack that bit around. He incessantly chomps and chomps on that bit, so I want him to learn to accept it, and not hurt his mouth, while we train with the flag.

24/10/2025

Edited: Beau's new owner sent me a message realizing she told me the wrong breed, he is a NSH (National Show horse), which is what you get when you cross a Saddlebred and an Arabian.

In for training is Beau, 7yo Standardbred Arabian gelding.

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http://www.allenacres.com/

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Our Story

Amy Allen teaches horsemanship and classical dressage. She is a trainee Teacher in Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) and is a Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners (PHCP) Mentor. Training, Lessons and clinics are offered at Allen Acres in Shelton Wa. as well as at offsite locations. Barefoot trimming encompasses balanced nutrition, a lifestyle of movement, a balanced trim on a 4-6 week trim cycle and protection using hoof boots. Photos on the Amy Allen Horsemanship Face Book page are not to be removed without permission, unless you are the owner of the horse.