Hannah Catalino Liberty Horsemanship

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Hannah Catalino Liberty Horsemanship

I'm a wild horse trainer, passionate about developing a confident and willing partner.
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I've been training mustangs and competing in Makeover events since 2012 and traveled the World teaching clinics on Liberty techniques.

23/12/2024

Resza (pronounced like Risa), arrived the other day on the winter Solstice! So far she seems very reasonable and a thinker even when she is unsure of the situation. Really loving what I see from her so far! She's from Triple B, Nevada which is the same HMA as my 2013 Mustang Million mare, Sitara who was the first ever horse I started under saddle. Although she's much different than Sitara, I still see some similarities as well. Resza is only the second Triple B I've worked with.

17/12/2024

Our 2025, ten day European option for our mustang workshop in Montana is filling up! It's a great way to gain experience working with a wild horse while learning liberty. Packages for Europeans interested in adopting their mustang also available.

Email [email protected] for more information.

16/12/2024

Welcoming PORTA-GRAZER and Omega Fields on to the team to best set this new mustang up for success. Also very thankful for past sponsors, Montana Premium Forage and EspanaSilk Grooming Products for their continuous support through the years and into the next

I also wanted to reveal her name! Sonresza or "Resza" for short. Count down of five days until I meet Resza and we begin training for Mustang Spectacular in Lexington, Kentucky in June.

15/12/2024

Dates for next years Global Wild Horsemanship Adventures!

Participate in one or more! Last year four participants booked for multiple countries to double and triple the learning and adventure.

There are options for people looking to adopt the horses after the workshop, people who just want to learn how to train, and for people wanting to both train and adopt their wild horse.

If you'd like more information on our wild horse workshops email [email protected].

13/12/2024

Nothing like visiting my once wild girls on their winter pasture and having them come right up for scratches. Not only that but they also lined up for teaming even though this trio has never worked together. Maybe they are trying to hint towards something. ♡

12/12/2024

Dates for next years Global Wild Horsemanship Adventures are set! This is your opportunity to join us in taming wild brumbies in Australia, Kaimanawa horses in New Zealand, and American Mustangs in Montana.

Contact [email protected]

10/12/2024

Next weekend can hardly come soon enough to finally meet this girl in person! While waiting for her arrival to Montana, as part of bring others along this journey, I wanted to share a bit about how I came to pairing with her for the Mustang Spectacular.

Contrary to popular belief, I did not pick her because she’s a grulla. If anything, my first reaction to her was that she is not the ‘right shade’ of grulla.

Still, that’s not a good reason to discount a horse completely! Although hard to judge just off a video, based on what I saw, her nervousness, flight demeanor, and sweat marks on her body, were things that did not put her on my original list as an ideal ridden partner.

Initially, I had a bay mare and a bay gelding at the top of my list. However, through working with both wild and domestic horses at liberty for years, I have gained a heightened awareness of the unseen realm that encompasses energy. Once I knew the more narrow list of horses I could select from, she ranked third for me at first.

Using intuitive guidance we have been working on figuring out how to select horses. There is an art and science to it, and we are still sorting the best formula. It was concluded that the gelding or this young mare and I would match well together. The gelding was selected first in the draw, which made it all the more clear that for this new adventure, she and I were meant to be paired together.

Will she be easy? Although she could prove me wrong I don’t nessicarily she will be the most straightforward horse. Our findings show she has a lot of grounding to do to help her out of her dissociative state. There is only so much I can do as a trainer with her mind if the body and spirit are out of balance. So that is my first priority with her, making sure her needs are met to build an optimal connection. Physically, it seems she will take some slow development, something that I don’t mind.

Nevertheless, there is a lovely soul beneath the fear and uncertainty around her that I become more drawn to every day. I look forward to helping her become more and more embodied in her true self, which is what is at the heart of these transformative makeovers. To do that she's going to require me to do my own inner work so we can bring the best out of eachother.

With her, I want to focus on the journey, not the destination.

In the past, I have felt an equal share of both heartache and success in ridden Makeover Challenges. My intention in joining is to wholeheartedly enjoy the process and show at the best we can, whatever that might be at the end of our six-month timeline together. I’ve learned in the past that getting tunnel vision around the competition simply is not fulfilling or enjoyable, which has lessened my interest in competing in the last few years.

In finally breaking the ridden makeover hiatus, the only competition I’m interested in is with myself to improve my skills in a way that aligns with what is most supportive in the industry to elevate horse and human relationships. I look forward to the wealth of discovery that comes with each new wild horse. Hopefully we will get to showcase this transformation in Kentucky this June.

07/12/2024

I signed up to join the Mustang Heritage Foundation Mustang Spectacular! It's been a few years since I've done a ridden Makeover challenge and I really wanted to show support for the extended six month time frame. This lovely filly from Triple B, Nevada is who I'll be partnered with. I'm looking forward to meeting her in a couple of weeks and begining our journey together.

26/11/2024

We had a lovely session working on stillness and presence while shifting some energy with the help of Elsa Janney . As she facilitated, I was asked to connect heart to heart with Bagheera with the intention of safety in mind. He laid down for over an hour in a deep processing sleep. Then Ario came over to join! And of course Fable had to check out his favorite trail riding pal.

Eventually I joined them on the ground. While Bagheera dozed away, sweet Ario got up partway through and stood over the both of us for quite some time. It was a special interaction with all of them.

It's easy to get so focused on training and doing that just simply being can get overlooked and forgotten. To optimize my relationship with them, I really want to aim more time with these guys not just in the doing but the being as well. ♡

14/11/2024

In one and a half hours we will be continuing the begining stages of Liberty at EQUITANA.
In this session I'll be introducing the idea of clicker training and sharing how impactful postive reinforcement can be as a tool when used mindfully.

14/11/2024

One of the best parts of events like EQUITANA is meeting incredibly inspiring people and crossing paths with familar faces. My fellow judges for the first day of the Australian Brumby Challenge were Chloe Phillips-Harris and Kelly Wilson, two very accomplished horse women in the wild horse industry.

In the mornings, Kelly and I have also a shared time slot teaching how to begin the foundations of liberty. I feel very thankful for the huge privilege to have such an opportunity. We are really pleased with the turn out so far.

The brumby we are training at liberty proved to be a great sport even with the less than ideal space of a lush grass filled round pen to train in. I can't say I have ever done a first session with a horse in such a situation. The unique challenge is forcing me to dig deep and explore new ideas which has its own rewards in the chance to further explore what is possible.

31/10/2024

I need to do an over due update post on some mustangs of mine that got placed this summer and fall.

Arlo found an amazing home as a future personal horse of someone who guides trail rides and will be spending time between Montana and Virgina.

Stanza found a home in Germany where he has a lovely new owner and quarter horse companion.

Dreamy found a dream home in Canada with someone who joined and adopted a mustang from our gentling workshop.

Tahi was also adopted to someone in Canada who hopes to one day do working equitation with him and is already an accomplished rider.

And lastly but certainly not least, Bloom found a great Montanan family familar with c**t starting and have the future hope is he will get to become an all-round kids horse with time. He suprised me in how well he took to the kids.

It's not always easy seeing some of these horses move on to new homes but when it is a good fit, updates on them is a worth while reward. ♡

30/10/2024

While still in New Zealand, I've had the opportunity to join a Healing Touch course for Equines. Earlier this year a friend introduced me to the Masterson Method of body work on horses which really seemed to help develop more feel than I expected. I've also increasingly had more and more exposure to the Emotion Code and Body Code through self-study along with a few other alternative healing techniques.

Taking the course has helped in bringing all that I've learned so far together. I'm looking forward learning more and seeing the difference that these skills can make with the wild ones. Especially with the more challenging horses, as a trainer, I've felt limited to how much I could do with the mind of a horse if their body and spirit weren't in harmony. For a while now, I've had interest to learn and finally it feels that it's truly begun.

28/10/2024

Before Junnali was turned out onto winter pasture I dressed her up in my long distance gear, day dreaming of future adventures together. Although my first long riding attempt did not go to plan, the dream hasn't faltered. I had her offered up to the right home, however, after starting her first six rides completely bridleless I knew that I could not see her leave. She is just too perfect for just about everything I would like to do. ♡

Also it's been a moment since I've noted some of my friends and sponsors who have made so many past, present, and future dreams possible.

Always EspanaSilk Grooming Products is my go to for not just my horses and tack but also myself.

The beautiful and ultra comfortable endurance saddle Junnali is wearing is from Freeform Treeless Saddles

I was excited to see she fit the Cavallo Hoof Boots I had for Rosette and Bagheera.

Skito Saddle Pads works so great with the saddle I have but also with their super customizable options, they can meet any equestrian needs.

And her head gear is a great bosal I won back at a mustang challenge, made by Tabitha Smith of Excel Supplements

27/10/2024

A valley of wild horses is where I wish scientists, trainers, and horse lovers would spend more time trying to understand the equine species.

It was incredible to witness how quickly the energy shifted around a group of fifty or more horses with the arrival of just three rowdy bachelors when we went out to study the Canadian Wildies of Alberta.

I don't know that any one has yet captured all that there is to learn of the equine language, psychology, and motivations. When at the only true liberty that exists, (if one were trying to really define that word with horses) their interactions are so rich with unique intention, it feels that us humans really are only scratching the surface to all that there is to know about these wonderful creatures we are so drawn to.

Nevertheless, so much of observing is at the hands of human interpretation.

A while back, a popular wild horse behavior post was going around about how caring stallions are, taking in abandoned foals and protecting them. The sad reality was most likely they were observing a desperate stallion that probably stole a young filly from her family band. Or even if he did indeed find her, prevented her from returning.

And they don't just keep fillies. In Australia studying brumbies, we witnessed first hand, a bachelor group attempting to breed a young c**t repeatedly. The c**t could not escape and run back to his natal band. It was both shocking and disturbing. The wild ways of horses in freedom feels often distorted.

Still, there are some truly great stallions as well.

On one of countless tours to study wild horses around the world, my close friend, Kelly Wilson, came across a remarkable occurrence. She had found a mature wild stallion in Canada that faithfully protected his friend, an older stallion with an unrecoverable broken leg from harassment of other horses and predators alike. It was an old injury. Clearly bringing to attention that against the odds, in a land shared with a high population of wolves, grizzly, and cougars, he had a very loyal ally.

And in a course that I took ten years ago, studying the Pryor Mountain mustangs, an intriguing correlation seemed to be related to the stallions. They appeared to have a massive influence on the overall family's energy. For example, a more anxious stallion would disturb his mares causing them to become stressed as well. Likewise, a more confident and relaxed stallion tended to have mares who were more at ease. It would be incredible to see studies more thoroughly in this area of wild stallion behavior and dynamics more deeply for an extended duration.

The brumbies I shared earlier were what I would define as brutes, inflicting a lot of pain and suffering onto an innocent c**t for their own personal gain. The black stallion in the video I interpret as a good parent, setting a clear boundary on the c**t for his son's best interest and well-being. Even if the c**t only wanted to play with the older stallions, perhaps his band stallion knows of the danger they could be to him or that he is just not ready to hold his own amongst them. The desire was denied in a very clear and untraumatic way for all involved through pressure and release communication.

I say that as a huge believer in positive reinforcement and clicker training, which are massive tools in my own training. We ask far more from our horses than horses ask of each other and the extra clarity and reward can go a long way when used correctly.

Which is a great example of why I personally try to approach horsemanship like good parenting. Providing, educating, and relationship are so important. Especially when taking the role of preparing wild horses for new homes, I like to know that before they, "leave the nest" so to speak, that my horses have a wide range of skills to navigate the uncertainties of life.

That not only means learning to be open, engaged, and willing around people but also understand boundaries and how to work through difficult situations. Maybe I'm the idealist now, but I believe both are possible without compromising the interity of the other. And I strive to get closer to that balance each day.

It was such a treat to go back and find this footage along with so many fascinating interactions we witnessed. Every time I'm blessed with the chance to immerse myself amongst truly wild horses, I realize how much is unanswered and how much there is still to learn.

25/10/2024

This last year, I've taken notice of a rising trend amongst various individuals who are redefining some key words in both the liberty and reward based training circles. As someone who also actively seeks self growth, innovation, and thought provoking perspectives in my horsemanship, some of these trailblazers at the forefront of these ideas are people I greatly respect and admire. Nevertheless, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on where I have felt a lack of congruency in some of these idealistic teachings.

I realized that one area of notable conflict is that such high restrictions on a technique or discipline, vastly limits the niche or industry by making it exclusive vs inclusive. This potentially can discourage rather than encourage interest. For example, by proclaiming something along the lines that, liberty is not true liberty if a halter or sticks are used to teach in preliminary stages or implimenting that postive reinforcement is not actually positive reinforcement if a certain tool was used in the process, is almost like saying someone is not really a true jumper or dressage rider if they don't ride Grand Prix level.

These principles could be considered at the highest levels in their area or in the very least advanced concepts which in some capacity is amazing to aspire towards and bring individuals further on their journey with their horses. What has not sat well is the push to claim that only real or true way to actually do these things must fall with in the parameters of romanticized beliefs. Not everyone wants to put in what it takes to get to that level and that is okay. It should not undermine the level an individual is currently at and the enthusiasm they have towards their growing interests and newfound goals.

Nor does that take away from those who step away from more traditional ideas onto a new and more pure path that best aligns with their streamline values. Those who venture down that path certainly shouldn't be guilted or bullied into believing that their progress in the perspectively right direction, however small compared to others, is not real just because there is still further to go. Although these big ideas come from the best of intentions, they still can hold almost unrealistic standards for the average horse person, making the path more narrow than it is wide. Possibly doing the opposite of what the movements desire by perhaps giving less horses access to these evolving directions.

Not always but too often, I've noticed questionable exchanges with members in communities which are at times, disgracefully self righteous and often lack empathy towards their fellow equestrian. It's done in a similar manner that, theoretically, a vegan might judge a vegetarian for having some level of awareness of good intentions but still not going to the same extreme and dedication as the vegan. Rather than acknowledging the effort made to do their part to make, what they both believe (and agree) will help the world be a better place, one is instead, criticized for not going the extra mile in their lifestyle choices in comparison to the other.

We can sometimes be so quick to divide ourselves that we lose sight of our commonalities. For most of us in the horse industry, we love our horses and want what's best for them. How that looks can vary vastly but that is at the center of many people's relationship with their horses and yet oddly enough, where many opinions collide. We are also each on our own unique journeys alongside these creatures we cherish so deeply.

My intention in sharing these thoughts that have been brewing on my mind for many months now, is not to bring more division. Rather I wish to quietly point out another perspective that could easily go unnoticed in hopes of bringing some human connection back to some of these horse-centered circles. I've also expressed these thoughts in an abstract way to not direct to any single focal point but to widen the lense on the industry as a whole that so many of us care about.

24/10/2024

Before I left Montana to come over to New Zealand, I managed to fit in a wonderful trail ride on my b***o Kody. I believe it was only his forth or fifth time going out and all previously being three years ago. He was so fantastic and uncomplicated in this restart. I really believe these b***os can be so under apperciated. They are such lovely creatures and sometimes way more straightforward than horses.

23/10/2024

The team and I wanted to do a special highlight to one of our amazing sponsors, Montana Premium Forage. Not only are their hay pellets always in my treat pouch when training but also their product plays a key role with the mustangs.

Teaching wild mustangs to eat feed is not always easy, however very important nonetheless! Their daily soaked pellets gives us the chance to deworm, add dietary supplements, and ulcer treat them which is vital for their overall health and well being.

And I love advocating a local company who has hay fields just down the road from my facility. We are thankful for their on going support for many years now.

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Day 1 with Resza! The main focus was teaching her more about domestic life. She seemed to take everything really well and it looks like there is a bold horse under her reservations on people. Initally when I went in, all she wanted to do was duck her head and hide. Even her brand is in a position that suggest she might have done that during branding, so getting her to look up and engage with me was step one for building this new partnership. In addition to learning to touch the stick and come up for hay, she learned about hay nets, eating her Montana Premium Forage soaked hay pellets, about the chores routine of cleaning her pen, and was given a salt block. Making sure she has a good start on her general care. The hay pellets will allow me to get her on dewormer and supplements as needed, including ulcer treatment hopefully starting today. Normally I have to make a creative mixture of hay and pellets to get them to taste but Resza is a good eater and had no problem diving into her food! #mustangheritagefoundation #foreverbranded #emboidedequestrian #portagrazer #omegafields #montanapremiumforage #espanasilk

Back when I was starting Junnali, she really exceeded any and all expectations! In five rides, we added bridleless trot and canter to her list of achievements. As lovely as she is, she was not exempted from being a little senstive to a rider bareback in the canter so to make that smooth and set her up for success I added a bareback pad. Typically I will even transition to a saddle at this point but I wanted to try and see if I could still stay semi bareback to some extent. She did attempt to turn things a little western. Not having much mane to hold on to also added to the challenge but we quickly managed to work through it and have nice confident strides each way! And for those wondering, no, I fortunately have not had any unplanned dismounts in all our rides together. In the past, I've had a lot of fears around riding and colt starting in general that I've spent a lot of time working on. Although unexpected happens even with the best of preparations, my goal is to do things as safely as possible without letting fears over shadowing my passion and desire to learn to be the best horsewoman I can be. I'm thankful to Junnali in her willingness to help on this quest and all the many individuals who also are a part of my support system.

Clips of Junnali's 6th ride which was probably about two miles ridden and still bridleless since her very first ride. The most technical portion of the trail I walked her in the neck rope just to set us up both for success. She got biggest reward of winter pasture turnout with Rosette and Amadora. And I head out today to make it to Equifest in New Zealand. Then next month, Australia's EQUITANA .

Junnali has really exceeded any and all expectations! In five rides she now has added bridleless trot and canter to her list of achievements. As lovely as she is, she was not exempted from being a little senstive to a rider bareback in the canter so to make that smooth and set her up for success I added a bareback pad. Typically I will even transition to a saddle at this point but I wanted to try and see if I could still stay semi bareback to some extent. She did attempt to turn things a little western. Not having much mane to hold on to also added to the challenge but we quickly managed to work through it and have nice confident strides each way! And for those wondering, no, I fortunately have not had any unplanned dismounts in all our rides together. In the past, I've had a lot of fears around riding and colt starting in general that I've spent a lot of time working on. Although unexpected happens even with the best of preparations, my goal is to do things as safely as possible without letting fears over shadowing my passion and desire to learn to be the best horsewoman I can be. I'm thankful to Junnali in her willingness to help on this quest and all the many individuals who also are a part of my support system.

Highlights from Junnali's first trail ride. It was so lovely to see her carry the same softness and connection from the arena, into the forest. This was also only her fourth ride and somewhere around an hour combined time of having a rider in her pervious rides. And so far they have all only been bareback and bridleless.With that said she's had a good bit of ground preparation including walking on the trail in the neck rope on the ground. With that said, just a few months ago she had a hard time just leading on her own in these same woods. I've spent the last couple weeks in my time home finally working on that issue. However I still had no idea we would do a solo ride bridleless out there any time soon! She is a very exceptional young mustang, passing my pre bridleless test with flying colors. Although I rode in a lead rope as a neck rope, fully prepared to dismount and school her if needed, I did not have to get off once to show this blue-eyed curly girl anything. ♡

A fall bridleless ride in the mountains with Rosette. ♡

Highlights of the end of Junnali's third ride which was her very first ride in the arena and with obstacles. After the first two rides were mostly focused on body control, I decided to use the obstacles as a way to create a visual for forward and a clear task of why forward is needed. Junnali pieced that together very quickly, overcoming each one that I presented to her. In the past I typically also ground drive before the first rides, so she didn't have that extra skillset prior to trying it out but that did not seem to slow her down at all. She did amazing.

Junnali's second ride! This time we focused on full hindquarter yields and full pivots before putting too much forward. She did excellent even with asking big questions of her. Also in this second ride, she gained more confidence with forward, plus softening more with the neck rope in her stops and back up.

Junnali's first ride! She really amazed me in how much she offered today. Yesterday was her first time coming to the mounting block and the first with me sitting on her. Typically I break up the body control into separate sessions, however when she nearly flawlessly offered all the correct answers on the ground, I decided if she seemed confident I would let her excel forward. She backed beautifully off the neckrope, yielded her hind end, moved her shoulders, and also offered lateral! And not only did she do body control but she also started putting forward and stop together. An amazing filly she is. The total of the ride was less than fifteen minutes for her to piece together so many buttons and ideas.♡

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