In the world of horsemanship, there is a powerful concept that resonates deeply with my heart and my budding relationship with my young horse, Kaya: consent and boundaries. As I prepare Kaya for her first rides, I am reminded of the importance of clear intentions and mutual agreements in our partnership.
Every step we take together is a delicate dance of trust and understanding. Just like in any relationship, both parties must be on the same page and in a good place emotionally before we progress to the next steps. This process is not only crucial but potentially dangerous, and it is my utmost priority to ensure both Kaya and I are confident and ready for the journey ahead.
🗝️ Consent: An Unspoken Promise 🗝️
Kaya's journey into riding is a path we embark on together. I believe that consent in horsemanship is about more than just getting a nod or a signal—it's about building a profound connection, where unspoken promises of respect and consideration form the foundation. It is my commitment to listen to Kaya's signals, honor her needs, and acknowledge her feelings throughout our partnership.
🚧 Boundaries: Protecting and Empowering 🚧
Boundaries play a vital role in every relationship, and the same applies to my journey with Kaya. I understand that respecting her boundaries is not only essential for her well-being but also empowering for our partnership. With a high degree of self-preservation for both of us, we can confidently progress, knowing that our journey is built on trust, safety, and mutual understanding.
🌟 Seeking Connection and Growth 🌟
As I nurture my partnership with Kaya, I am inspired to share the profound lessons I've learned in horsemanship with others. If you're seeking a compassionate and empathetic approach to equine relationships, I am here to guide and support you in building a strong foundation of trust, understanding, and consent with your own equine partner.
Together, we'll unlock the magic of partnership, where e
Using complex movement to gain connection.
What are some ingredients to achieving our goals with our horses?
1. Build a strong relationship with your horse: Spend time with your horse on the ground, grooming, hanging out and bonding with them. This will create a foundation of trust and respect that will help in training and riding.
2. Provide proper care and nutrition: Ensure that your horse is receiving proper nutrition, veterinary care, body/ energy work and exercise to maintain their health and well-being. If they have chronic pain or discomfort, it will be difficult to convince them to enjoy the training.
3. Develop a consistent training routine: Establish a consistent training routine that includes a variety of exercises, but follows a well thought out plan to develop your horse's physical, emotional and mental abilities. This will help your horse become a confident and well-rounded athlete.
4. Set clear goals: Set clear goals for yourself and your horse, whether it's to compete in a specific discipline, improve a specific skill, or simply enjoy trail riding together.
5. Practice patience and persistence: Horses are individuals with their own personalities and learning styles. Be patient and persistent in your training, and be prepared to adjust your approach as needed. If their needs are met, they will be trainable.
6. Communicate effectively with your horse: Learn to communicate non-verbally, but effectively with your horse through body language, voice cues, and pleasing aids. This will help your horse understand your intentions and respond appropriately. The goal is for the conversation to be pleasing.
7. Seek professional guidance when needed: Don't be afraid to seek guidance from a professional trainer or instructor when you need help with a specific issue or skill. We all need mentors. Having someone available for questions on a regular basis can help you avoid getting stuck and taking unnecessary sidetracks.
8. Reduce perfectionist tendencies. Perfectionists may stick rigidly to a se
Energy influences energy in the sense that every thing that exists emits a certain frequency of energy, and this energy can affect the energy of other things in existence. In the case of humans and horses, the energy we emit can have a significant impact on our interactions and relationship.
For example, if a person is feeling anxious, stressed or even just distracted, they may emit a contracted/dense frequency, which is of course detected by the horse. This can cause the horse to feel uneasy,agitated, or defensive which can lead to negative or unproductive interactions. On the other hand, if a person is feeling calm, relaxed, and joyful they may emit a more expanded and light frequency, which can be sensed by the horse. This can help the horse feel more comfortable and trusting, which can lead to more positive and productive interactions.
Energy influences energy through non-verbal communication. Our body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions can all convey a certain type of energy or emotion. Horses are highly attuned to these non-verbal cues, and can pick up on our emotions and energy through them. There is some research that is indicating that our frequency expands from our body up to 20 feet. Quantum physics provides evidence that our energy has no physical limits and that we are all connected and affecting each other energetically.
For now all that my brain can handle is that my energy influences my horse’s energy in that it either attracts or repels her. We are either in resonance or dissonance. When working with horses, it's important to be aware of the energy we are emitting and how it may be affecting the horse. It is up to us to learn to be deliberate with our frequency and take responsibility for how we are affecting others with our thoughts and emotions. By practicing mindfulness and intentional energy development, we can create a more positive and harmonious partnership with our horses.
If I want to lead this dance, I must be worthy o
Are you being clear and pleasing?
Teaching Kaya to be responsive.
What knot do you need to know? #horsegirl #horselover #happyhorse
I have had the best day! Gina’s “good” rides are coming more frequently. And her “bad” rides are not so bad. It got me thinking about where we started and where we are today.
Gina came to me nearly 4 years ago. She is very sensitive and sceptical. She had a late start to her riding career. She spent the first 7 - 8 years of her life as a broodmare with no riding. She then went off to try to be a show jumper. It did not work out for her there. She developed a propensity for bucking and came to me with a lot of fear.
I had at least three so-called mentors tell me that she wasn’t worth my time, and insinuate that they didn’t think I would have what was needed to help a horse like her. I was repeatedly asked, why would I want a horse like that? But there was one mentor that believed in us both, Linda Parelli.

Gina and I are not ready to ride off into the sunset. We’re not learning about classical  dressage like I had hoped to be doing by now. But we are making progress and I feel so grateful for Gina and my mentor Linda Parelli. A big thank to my friend Avery Gauthier for bringing her into my life!
#happyhorsehappylife
#howtotalkhorse
What do young horses need to know?
Did you know that the cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement? It also goes offline a bit when we are triggered into defensiveness. We get less coordinated. The cerebellum can be strengthened by developing more complex forms of movement. How many different ways can you get your horse to go sideways?
Release to a stop versus release in motion.
It’s important to gradually be able to rev the engine and then give it time to throttle back. This will help your horse learn to separate effort and emotions.
#horsemanship #horsegirl #happyhorse #horsemanshipcoach
Working on power while trying to maintain relaxation.
#horsegirl #happyhorse #horsetraining #grullamare
Being conversational with horses can be challenging. It is much easier to bark orders.
#horsegirl #happyhorse #horsetraining #grullamare
Ground skills can build a foundation that leads to harmony.
#horsegirl #happyhorses #horsetraining #grullamare
It can be so easy to take the most common things we do with horses for granted. Is your horse a willing participant?
#coachkristi #happyhorse #horsetraining #grulla
Connection, Relaxation, and Responsiveness
#horsegirl #happyhorses #iowa #dutchwarmblood
This mare challenges my skills and knowledge every single day. Some days I fall short of what she needs. These moments of understanding are extraordinary.
#horsegirl #happyhorse #horselover #dutchwarmblood
Horses do not have the neural circuitry to deliberately give us a hard time.
#horsegirl #happyhorse #coachkristi
