Stepping With You Equine Behavior and Training

18/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19m17Anz6K/

18/09/2025

Meet Mouse and Quinn.
Mouse is a 21 yo mare who came from a rescue. Her owner didn't know much about her other than she had been a trail horse in the past. She was said to be a QH cross. Her owner Danielle, reached out to me about a year ago. She was having trouble getting Mouse to move undersaddle. Upon her evaluation I noticed we needed to address her diet and nutrition along with getting her to a weight that could comfortably fit a saddle. We went back to the basics with groundwork and light lunging in straight lines (no small tight circles). Danielle also adjusted her diet to add vitamins and minerals. We added stretches and surefoot pads before their exercise routine.
Fast forward about few months and we welcome Quinn to the herd. Quinn is an 18 y/o Suffolk Haflinger cross mare. She came from a lesson barn. Quinn had become ring sour at her current job and she refused to work. Danielle kindly took her over and gave her a soft place to land at home.
Upon Quinn's evaluation, we decided to follow the same diet, exercise and PT protocols as we did for Mouse. Quinn was very shut down and grouchy. We let her express herself as long as she was safe about it. Fast forward several months and this girl is doing amazing. Super happy to come greet anyone with happy ears instead of pinned. She is no longer shut down and looks for direction. Her and Mouse are always asking and looking at us for guidance. Now that Quinn has lost some weight (still more to go). We have gotten a saddle to fit where she is comfortable to be ridden. Both girs are happy to move forward in the ring and on the trail now.
Keep in mind, I worked with these horses and owners 2 times a month. Most of the time horses don't need to be in constant work to be happy. They need their basic needs met (aka..diet, nutrition, medical issues addressed ect...). If a horse needs to be constantly worked "to be happy or well behaved" its becaus they are trying to avoid something else that is physically/medically or mental going on. There's still more work to do with these girls but we are taking it one Step at a time! Great job to Danielle and her family for putting their horses needs first! Happy owners and horses all around 🥰.
Now on to the next task. Trailer loading. Stay tuned!

14/09/2025

Ruby is a 17 h draft cross who is around 6 years old. She was a rescue said to be an Amish horse. Who could ride and drive. Her owner who recently bought a farm loved her at first sight. Rachel never owend a horse before but wanted to have her and the family experience owning horses. So she rescued Ruby and a beautiful, older Morgan mare. The Morgan mare Tilly is amazing with the kiddos. but Ruby needed more TLC and confidence building. After a vet check for Ruby, she was referred to me to help out.
Upon my evaluation, Ruby was very reactive and showed signs of trauma. That also told me there was more going on. We made some headway with training on the ground. Then Ruby had some medical issues that were addressed to no fault of her new owner. A few months later..this girl is doing amazing. Training once a week with good quality training is all some horses need. Ruby is a trooper. Looking forward to future training sessions.

08/07/2025

06/07/2025

Sometimes the crash comes AFTER the stress

You bought a horse that seemed sound, well adjusted and well trained. You get it home and the poor thing is lame and crawling out of its skin.

Were you conned ?

Maybe

But there are two other possibilities

1- the horse was adjusted to a certain routine, manner and frequency of riding, diet, etc and is now struggling outside of that routine that has helped to keep going - now the horse might feel like a border collie in an apartment without enough opportunity for movement.
(lots of articles have been written about this and it’s well worth looking into)

2- the horse was under some form of stress that has now ended and turned into another -
The stress of decompressing.

Brains are wired to keep us alive. Bodies are made to keep going.
Horses are incredible survivors - they can keep going and being pretty athletic under incredible duress. They are wired to not stop and say ouch at every pain and tweak, even with lameness and developing dysfunctions - because they NEED to. They can look sound when they are under stress. All you need to do to understand this is imagine a lion chasing a horse and know they will run until they are caught or free - and if the lion is the training, the lifestyle, the expectation, they will hold together until they can’t anymore .

So then they are purchased and pulled from this intensive lifestyle and now living in the lap of luxury - they have no reason to be stressed, so we think -

Now they face the lengthy decompression period. Compensation mechanisms are falling away and the horse is left naked here. They don’t know what to do. What to expect. Everything is upside down. The compensations that have kept them tight kept them safe too, and now they are wobbly, insecure and naked.

This is where they need HELP, not just supplements and bodywork and kindness. They need time, sure, but they need guidance. Not knowing what to expect can drive a horse half crazy.

They need some form of structure. A stable herd. A stable guiding hand that can clearly show them the new ropes. Not too fast in expectations but don’t wait too long to show them the new ropes either.

Your language is likely very different. Maybe your goals totally upside down from the training they’ve had. You might be changing everything from head to toe, thinking you’re offering a soft landing, which you likely are - but think of the confusion in their upside down experience - help clarify, guide, explain, show, and support.

And of course, continue giving them supports- maybe the gut needs help right away, or some dietary changes. And of course it can take time, but there are some things that can be helped and should be helped right away.

04/07/2025

Haha! More pictures of Crixus who I owend and trained from a yearling to 12 years old. I sold him 4ish years ago to a beginner owner and rider. This horse is absolutely the best Appendix Quarter Horse/Solid Paint ever! He was a non breeding Stallion till the age of 6. He has taught his owner so much! Best sale ever. I get awesome holiday pictures and get a call when they need help with something.

04/07/2025

Happy 4th everyone!

Crixus (now known as Sonny) is modeling his personality for us on this beautiful day. Still waiting for the picture of him finally facing the camera. Lol this boy is amazing, he has so much love and personality.

25/06/2025

Diana's first time getting her feet done (without sedation) was a huge success 🙌. Shout out to Nadyan for helping train Diana in-between my training sessions and Julie for trusting us with her beautiful, sweet mare!
Thank you Jordan Keto for your unconditional patience and professionalism. We couldn't do it without you!

19/06/2025

https://youtu.be/yOy8An41g4Y?si=SQHlbx9PPGwTXkaH

This uplifting, independently-funded film focuses on Dr. Jay Komarek’s work with Dizzy, an abused horse at the Prasad Foundation Horse Rescue in Oregon. When...

28/05/2025

There’s a difference between a horse that responds because it has to… and one that responds because it wants to.

When a horse begins to offer a transition, a stretch, a moment of softness without being pushed or corrected into it, that’s true progress. It means they’re understanding, they’re engaged, and most importantly, they feel safe enough to participate.

This is where training transforms into communication. It’s not about perfection, it’s about willingness. That little offer, freely given, says: “I trust you. I’m with you.”

That’s the moment every rider should aim for, not control, but connection. 💫