Coach Kristi

Coach Kristi Developing a horse lovers lifestyle and helping others to do the same through horsemanship education and real estate.

Confidence doesn’t come from pushing the pace. It comes from honoring the process.Two years ago, I started taking steps ...
01/07/2025

Confidence doesn’t come from pushing the pace. It comes from honoring the process.

Two years ago, I started taking steps toward putting the first rides on my young mare, Kaya. Not because I intended to ride her right away—but because I wanted to prepare her (and myself) thoughtfully and thoroughly.

Today, we hit a fun little milestone. I was able to put a foot in the stirrup and bounce around a bit. I didn’t swing a leg over yet—and I’m okay with that. I know some folks would be riding her by now. But this isn’t a competition.

Kaya is just four. We’ve got all the time in the world. Our path is about building and maintaining confidence—together. It’s about growing without rushing, staying progressive without feeling pressured, and choosing connection and readiness over deadlines and comparisons.

There’s no race here. Just a partnership unfolding at a pace that feels right for both of us. 💛

The pond was still and quiet on my walk yesterday morning, but the mist rising off the surface told another story—one of...
29/06/2025

The pond was still and quiet on my walk yesterday morning, but the mist rising off the surface told another story—one of contrast. Cool air meeting warm water. Discomfort that can yield clarity.

It reminded me how often physical discomfort is part of the process of mental well-being. Like exercise, hard conversations, or facing fears—choosing short-term challenge can create long-term peace. Avoiding the discomfort might feel good in the moment, but it rarely leads to ease in the long run.

Growth can rise from pressure if you choose the kind that transforms.

Sometimes the feedback is subtle. Other times it’s… not.Mid-task commentary from your horse is valuable—if you’re humble...
25/06/2025

Sometimes the feedback is subtle. Other times it’s… not.
Mid-task commentary from your horse is valuable—if you’re humble enough to hear it.

Every step we take together is a conversation.Not about perfection.Not about control.But about clarity, connection, and ...
24/06/2025

Every step we take together is a conversation.
Not about perfection.
Not about control.
But about clarity, connection, and trust.

Vannah reminds me daily that leadership isn’t about being loud or forceful—it’s about being present, consistent, and emotionally available. When we show up with intention, our horses do too.

This moment is a reflection of hundreds of small choices:
To listen.
To adjust.
To keep learning.
To keep trying.

Progress doesn’t always look flashy. Sometimes it looks like a soft eye, a shift in weight, or a horse choosing to stay connected when they could walk away.

If you’re on the journey, keep going. You’re not behind. You’re in process—and that’s a beautiful place to be. 💛🐴

Small steps. Big change.Whether you’re developing a horse or yourself—mentally, emotionally, or physically—progress happ...
23/06/2025

Small steps. Big change.
Whether you’re developing a horse or yourself—mentally, emotionally, or physically—progress happens the same way:

👣 Show up
🔍 Pay attention
🔄 Adjust your approach
🔁 Repeat

Horses don’t respond to words. They respond to energy and gesture.
So your thoughts, posture, and emotions matter. They are the conversation.

Here are 3 small things you can do today to improve your horsemanship:
1️⃣ Study the How To Talk Horse program (it’s a game changer)
2️⃣ Move your body with intention—ride, walk, stretch
3️⃣ Practice emotional awareness—your horse will feel it

My horses inspire me to be my best self—because when I show up for them, they can show up for me.

✨ If you’re ready to grow, I’d love to help.
You can:
🏡 Ride with me in Iowa
🌍 Host a clinic or camp
💻 Join my OnLine Protégé Program

Let’s get started.
💬 DM me or tap the link in bio to learn more.

Day 3: Obstacle Course Complete!We wrapped up our final day by putting our fundamentals to the test—using the obstacles ...
22/06/2025

Day 3: Obstacle Course Complete!

We wrapped up our final day by putting our fundamentals to the test—using the obstacles to confirm understanding and prepare for riding. The How To Talk Horse program helped us shape connection into confidence, and responsiveness into relaxation.

In the arena, we explored impulsion and bending, building on everything we developed over the past two days. The result? Horses that felt with us—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Huge thanks to Jen, Kathy, and Wendy for your trust, your trainability, and your willingness to lean into the process. It was such a pleasure to have you back at Whispering Woods Haven. Here’s to the kind of learning that lingers long after the weekend ends. 💫🐴

Day 2 of the Obstacles CourseThe weather brought the heat, but so did the humans—in the best way. Today wasn’t just abou...
21/06/2025

Day 2 of the Obstacles Course
The weather brought the heat, but so did the humans—in the best way. Today wasn’t just about navigating obstacles, it was about noticing. Adjusting. Leading with empathy instead of ego. Every horse gave us honest feedback, and every human rose to the challenge of listening. When we meet our horses’ mental, emotional, and physical needs, they become willing partners. That kind of progress can’t be measured by how many tasks we complete—but you can feel it in the harmony that starts to build.

Day 1 of Obstacle Camp is in the books!The storms did their best to steal the spotlight today—with thunder rolling and s...
21/06/2025

Day 1 of Obstacle Camp is in the books!
The storms did their best to steal the spotlight today—with thunder rolling and skies shifting—but we stayed just nimble enough to dodge the worst of it. ⛈️💨

Between the raindrops, we put the obstacle playground to good use—giving the horses purposeful challenges that brought the How To Talk Horse principles to life. Every maneuver had meaning, every pause held a conversation, and every success—no matter how small—was earned through connection and clarity.

Here’s to brave horses, thoughtful humans, and a day that reminded us how much growth can happen in the in-between.

Can’t wait for Day 2. 🌦️🐴🧠

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take a break. Gina and I hit a wall a few months ago—progress stalled, and I f...
17/06/2025

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take a break. Gina and I hit a wall a few months ago—progress stalled, and I felt more wrung out than inspired. So we stepped back. Not forever, just long enough for me to find my center again and let my horsemanship catch up to the horse I knew she could be. Coming back after a break isn’t failure—it’s faith. And now, with clearer communication and renewed energy, we’re finding our rhythm again. The basics feel good. The connection feels right. And that’s more than enough.

We said goodbye to Hank today. Twelve and a half years wasn’t nearly long enough.He was steady, loyal, and full of heart...
16/06/2025

We said goodbye to Hank today. Twelve and a half years wasn’t nearly long enough.

He was steady, loyal, and full of heart—everything you hope for in a dog and more. I’ll miss our hikes together, the way he’d bound into the woods with purpose, and the joy on his face every time he swam in the pond. That was his favorite place—water, wind, and freedom.

He was a good dog. A great dog. And his absence will be felt forever.

Thank you for everything, Hank. You were so loved.

🌿 How Horses Talk (And Why Most Humans Aren’t Listening)Horses don’t use words. They speak in energy, breath, and the sm...
15/06/2025

🌿 How Horses Talk (And Why Most Humans Aren’t Listening)

Horses don’t use words. They speak in energy, breath, and the smallest of gestures—a flick of an ear, a wrinkle at the eye, a shift in weight. Every movement is a message. Every reaction is feedback.

But most people miss it.

Not because they don’t care, but because they’ve never been taught how to see it. So horses either give up—or get louder. That moment of hesitation becomes a refusal. The small brace becomes a buck. The conversation breaks down, and people call it misbehavior. But really, the horse was trying to talk all along.

In my Protégé Program, I teach you how to notice the quiet moments—the ones that matter most. You’ll learn to recognize communication before it escalates, and respond in a way that builds trust, willingness, and true connection. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present—and willing to grow.

If you’ve ever wished your horse would talk to you… they already are.
Let me help you learn to listen.

🧭 Ongoing mentorship.
🎥 Video coaching and feedback.
📆 Bi-weekly live Zoom calls.
🌱 Growth that honors both you and your horse.

🖱️ Ready to learn more?

Growth doesn’t live in the comfort zone.It lives in the space just beyond it—in what I call the Window of Trainability. ...
12/06/2025

Growth doesn’t live in the comfort zone.

It lives in the space just beyond it—in what I call the Window of Trainability. That’s where real learning happens, for both horses and humans.

But here’s the catch: that zone is rarely comfortable. It’s the place where mistakes happen. Where things feel clunky. Where we’re not quite sure what we’re doing. Where horses give us feedback that makes us feel bad if we have any resemblance of empathy for their experience.

And that’s exactly where we need to be off and on.

Mistakes are not a problem. They’re part of the process. When we reflect, adjust, and stay curious, mistakes become the stepping stones to something more advanced and beautiful.

It’s easy to make up stories that hold us back:
“My horse can’t handle this venue.”
“My tech won’t cooperate.”
“I don’t feel up to it today.”
Sometimes we’re just scared to stretch ourselves and our horses.

Horses are more adaptable than we think. And so are we.

So go to the clinic. Send the video. Ask the question.
Get comfortable walking the line between what’s easy and what’s possible.

Learning is hard. But growth is so worth it.

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Horsemanship Is For Everyone!

I have loved horses my entire life and have always wanted to understand them and have interesting and dynamic interactions with them. It can be difficult to learn how to do that unless you happen to live in a location that has someone to learn from. I grew up and continue to live in the cornfields of rural Iowa. There are not a lot of great horsemen in my area unless you are passionate about a particular sport or performance. My passion is trail riding and so for a great deal of my life I had been on my own to experiment. What I mostly learned in my childhood and early adulthood was how to tolerate prey animal behavior.

I was introduced to Parelli Natural Horsemanship in the mid 90’s. What I love about this program is that there are resources for everyone to learn from no matter where you live. There is support for trail riders, performance folks, talented and challenged alike. Parelli Natural Horsemanship teaches us the skills and habits needed to turn our horsemanship into a fulfilling and satisfying experience for both you and your horse, regardless of your horsemanship goals.

I will use this page to share what has been shared with me.

Coach Kristi