Category Archives: Horses and Life

Before the Fire: Planning for Emergencies

Ive been keeping an eye on the most recent California wildfire, dubbed the Lockheed fire, which at the time of this post has burnt some 6800 acres. Fires out there are commonplace, but this one, of all of them, is … 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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On quality education…

It’s been a while since Ive taken the opportunity to post here. Silly, really, since I’m the guy who keeps the virtual places virtually intact :=) I had some really nice observations the other day as Dolly and I were … Continue reading

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Family Trail Ride: Horse Dreams Come True II

The family was finally ready to live their dream of a family trail ride. I trailered the ever-dependable Lucy over to join them. While the family was tacking up, Lucy and I fully enjoyed playing in an actual ARENA. Our … Continue reading

Posted in clicker training, Horses and Life, Lucy, Natural Horsemanship, Natural Trainer On The Road!, trail riding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Horse Training Tale of Threes

Today’s horse training success story came in a trilogy.  No small wonder, God kinda favors threes 🙂 Got the kind of call midday every trainer dreams of: “you probably don’t remember me but…”  “Of COURSE I remember you, you’re Cassidy’s … Continue reading

Posted in Balanced Seat Riding, Dressage... Naturally!, Horses and Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fire at Southern States Feed Co-Op

The leading edge of the storm raged violently enough to wake us around 3:30 am. The sky glowed like daybreak and thunder rumbled and crashed continuously. We marveled at the window as the storm grew more powerful. We had no … Continue reading

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Gift From A Horse

Like any young horse in training, Wally the Warmblood has his good days. He has his not-so-good days and he has those frustrating, tear-out-your-hair days when he seems to forget how to put one foot in front of the other, … Continue reading

Posted in Balanced Seat Riding, Centered Riding tm, Dressage... Naturally!, Horses and Life, Inner Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eclipse From The Round Pen

Hoofbeats soft on snow. Nickers beneath the eclipse. There! A shooting star!

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New Horse for Training. The More Things Change…

…The more they stay the same. Wally the warmblood arrived safe and sound for 6 months or so of training board while his owner is out of the country. His owner’s goals: use Centered riding, natural horsemanship and classical training … Continue reading

Posted in Centered Riding tm, Challenges, Ideas & Exercises, Dressage... Naturally!, Horses and Life, Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment