Cactus Belle Horsemanship

24/01/2025

The weather finally cooperated enough for a first training session with Lady Noela, my OTTB restart/sale project. Who would be interested in video documentation style updates?

23/01/2025

The 21/90 day Rule.

"Let's be real. I'm really tired of 30 day c**t start requests. If it worked, I'd promote it. I'm also exhausted of the question of why is it 30 days and my horse has been barely rode and/or not all? Or why am I not seeing a lot of progress after the FIRST couple weeks?

It's the 21/90 day rule. Humans and horses I believe are fairly similar. It takes 21 days to form a habit, 90 days for a lifestyle change. I follow this rule in my fitness journey. Not saying it takes either/or that long but I do firmly believe this theory applies to horses in a fashionable timeline. How does it fluctuate? A horse that's 2 and not 5 yrs old. A horse that has been guided through the steps with trust or was it rushed? Was the foundation solid or were some unfavorable habits formed? What's the horses genetics? Are the genetics favorable in a born broke mentality horse or is he a little fearful in starting? This all plays to the 21/90 day rule. Timing is critical in horse training, just like the timing in your progression with life. I've had horses that progressed fabulously in a 30 day tune up, some I was barely riding after 30 days for a c**t start. Long story short, stop being in a damn hurry! Now I didn't say, get your horse so broke to the tarp, now hes dead to your energy. “Just make sure your horse trusts you when it's time to add the pressure."

Yours truly,
Lucia

22/01/2025

Sweet Cooper had his first ride on this very cold and windy 🌬️ day

17/01/2025

Chance doing some good processing and tension releases after his session this morning. This little two-year-old is a giant goofball and has been a little slower to mature, but he’s going to make a super fun trail and obstacle partner

17/01/2025

I truly believe that one of the cruelest things you can do in the daily handling of your horse on the training end of the spectrum is allow them to be dull and unresponsive.
Yes, there are horses that are going to be naturally more or less sensitive than others, but allowing them to have NO response to a soft ask is setting them up for failure throughout their life.
Settling for the excuse of , “they’re just lazy” it’s actually laziness on your end.
Having to constantly bruise up their rib cage, nag them with a riding crop, or sore up their mouths with the bit every ride … is abuse.
I often hear the excuse, “ all I do is trail ride, I never need them to get out of a walk.”
OK, well what if something happens and you need to sell them?
How can you guarantee if that’s going to be the next owner’s philosophy?
You can’t.
And you know what’s going to happen to your dull and unresponsive horse? They’re going to have to get beat up on until they become responsive because the average person and below average trainers don’t know how to get a response any other way. All because YOU made excuses and didn’t do your job to teach your horse to be a model citizen.
To teach them that a soft ask is the best deal.
How is that fair to them?
They only were doing what they’ve been allowed to do, then all of a sudden someone is raising their expectations and the horse’s entire world has been flipped upside down and they don’t understand why they’re now receiving an extreme escalation of pressure.
Do better.
Expect more.
Stop making excuses.

16/01/2025

We were told that 3,000 2nd graders from all around Polk County attended the Water, Wings, and Wild Things Festival at Circle B today and I’m pretty sure Clover was petted by every single one of them 😅
But I am certain she falls into a small category of horses to ever take a picture with a gator- Mr. Willie Bite, to be exact 🤣
Thankful for PCSO’s Mounted Unit for letting me be a part of this event! Such a fun way to introduce kiddos to ag and outdoor related jobs available in our community!

15/01/2025

One of my favorite training exercises to do with rambunctious young horse is to guide them out with the lead mare. She is there as a calm and quiet, confidence builder, but won’t tolerate any picking or nonsense. She’s there to do her job and she takes seriously. If you step out a line, you’ll be met with clear communication and a firm but fair consequence from your own kind.

14/01/2025

12/01/2025

Huge thank you to everyone that attended and audited my clinic today, as well as to Happily Ever Acres for hosting again!
Such a fun group with many laughs and a lot of progress made! Share your photos in the comments!
Stay tuned for the next one!

11/01/2025