Category Archives: Horse Training Philosophy

Pick the Perfect Horse Trainer

Spring is the traditional time for young horses to get started under saddle, or mature horses to get a pre-season tune-up. Spring must be coming soon because my horse training roster is full and the waiting list is growing! With … Continue reading

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Horse Domestication Reconsidered

Findings from Krasnyi Yar, the Kazakh site inhabited by the Botai culture, suggest that domestication of horses occurred 1000 years earlier than previously thought.  Traces of milk and meat in unglazed pottery and evidence of bit use on jawbones date … Continue reading

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Losgelassenheit and Natural Horsemanship

Breakthrough day for June!  This formerly stiff-as-a-board but quick-as-a-whip little mare learned to release to the pressure of the bit.  We’re not talking turn or tuck her head.  We are talking release negative tension throughout her entire body. This elementary … Continue reading

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Thoughts on Natural Horsemanship and Horse Whispering

The Horse Whisperer. Both history and the pop culture notion of natural horsemanship paint an image of the silent, mystical horseman whose mere presence calms the wildest equine outlaw. By using skills invisible to the average human, the horse whisperer … Continue reading

Posted in Horse Trainer's Mindset, Horse Training Philosophy, Horses and Life, Inner Natural Horsemanship, Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Natural Horsemanship and Cavalry Mounted Shooting

Natural horsemanship pops up in the most unexpected places! Mark and I stopped in at the National Conservation Center for their Autumn Conservation Festival. The Center is located almost next door to Mark’s house, which we’ve been prepping for sale … Continue reading

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Antietam Battlefield Ride

I had the horse trailer hooked up and loaded by the time Mark got home from work. We grabbed the horses and a chilled bottle of Monavie and headed down the road to meet Scott and Noel at the Antietam … Continue reading

Posted in Dolly, Horse Training Philosophy, Lucy, Monavie, Natural Horsemanship, Natural Trainer On The Road!, trail riding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Since You Asked…Horse Questions Answered

Today’s question is from Jeannie and Chris of Hedgesville, WV.  “If a horse isn’t a natural leader (on the trail), can you train him to be one?”

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Study Supports Clicker Training

A French study recently reported that use of food rewards in training horses leads to faster results and a better relationship with people.

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Lyons, Parelli and Clinton, Oh My!

The first time I visited the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park, one of the directors asked me, “who’s your guru?”

Posted in Horse Training Philosophy, Inner Natural Horsemanship, Natural Horse/ Horsemanship Trainers, Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Feral Horse Training

Whitney, our natural barefoot trimmer, was out today. I always feel like a pioneer of old hosting a wayfarer on farrier days–what news do they bring from the far-reaching corners of the horse world that they frequent? Today’s news centered … Continue reading

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