Helping horses and equestrians connect
Training options
Horse training for emotional balance and performance
I offer horse training that prioritizes emotional regulation as the foundation for learning basic skills or leading to performance. Whether working with a young horse or refining skills, my goal is to help each horse develop confidence, focus, and trust. I apply these goals whether the horse is in for groundwork, starting under saddle or learning a discipline specific skill. By addressing the horse's emotional state first, we build a partnership based on understanding and clarity. This creates horses that are willing and responsive, but also mentally balanced and ready to succeed in any discipline. Even when horses enter my program that are already riding and/or competing, I will spend time teaching them groundwork exercises to help their mind and body.
Groundwork only - 30+ days
This option is for any horse needing to improve their skills on the ground. Groundwork is a broad term used to describe any handling done from the ground instead of from the saddle.
My program places a large emphasis on groundwork as a tool to teach emotional regulation, help a horse understand and access their body in healthy ways, and create safer handling techniques. Some of the very basic skills I teach are:
- haltering
- proper leading (from both sides)
- sending
- trailer loading
- basic stretching
- walking and trotting over poles
- walking on planks or bridges
- walking down the road
Depending on the goals of the owner, I also teach horses to maneuver a multitude of obstacles in hand, use ground poles and step ups to assist in stretching the body, start basic liberty commands, and can include off property training.
Under saddle training - 60+ days
I am a firm believer in building a horse's body up from the ground before asking them to be skillful under saddle. Whether a horse comes in to be started under saddle for the first time or simply to have a refresher, my strong recommendation is a minimum of 60 days. This allows a horse the time to settle in, have their body and current skills assessed by me, and build an achievable plan going forward.
My program is very inclusive in the way I approach training. Your dressage horse will also learn to be safely ridden down a quiet road. Your western ranch horse will also learn to competently ride over poles. I do not define my program as one discipline, as I myself have competed in a variety of English and Western disciplines. A well-rounded horse is going to be safer, better balanced, and happier! As I enjoy the sports of Eventing and Working Equitation, I have a variety of objects and obstacles available for training. Owners will have the option of horses being taken off property for extra learning at a variety of facilities.
Although not mandatory, I strongly recommend that horses coming to my program have bodywork done within the first 2 weeks of arrival. Working with other professionals to get a baseline of how the horse feels in their body allows me to make a more knowledgeable program suited to their individual needs. While I have an understanding of basic biomechanics and how to help a horse access their body in appropriate ways, I am not a professional in that field and rely on others for deeper assessments. I can recommend two locally who will travel to my facility.
There are a few options for hoof care while at my facility. I maintain my own horses hoof maintenance with the assistance of a respected farrier. I expect horses to see a farrier every 6 weeks while in training, every 4 weeks would be ideal. Owners are welcome to have their farrier maintain care while the horse is here but there will be an additional fee if I need to hold horses for outside farriers. For my farrier, or myself, to take on the hoof care while a horse is here, their groundwork needs to be exceptional.
All horses coming in need to have proof of core vaccines and negative coggins. Knowledge of their last date and type of deworming is also important.
** It will be only under specific circumstances that I will take a horse in for 30 days of 'under saddle' training. This will only be agreed upon after an assessment of their groundwork and ridden skills by myself.