Tag Archives: natural horse

Happy New Year!

Freezing rain and ice-slick roads confine us to the farm tonight… and there is no place we’d rather be! Mark and I play with the horses well after dark. I trim Grace’s hooves and start teaching her a new trick, … Continue reading

Posted in Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flymasking the Un-halterable, Headshy Horse

You remember the story of belling the cat. We were handed a similar scenario… The challenge: To put a flymask on a horse who is not halter-trained and is known to be headshy. The solution: Clicker Training to the rescue! … Continue reading

Posted in clicker training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Natural Horsemanship Training with Cavaletti

Natural horse trainers look for creative ways to use their environment to help train their horses. Cavaletti, also called ground poles, are unsung heroes in creating a bridge between horse training equipment and the horse’s environment. Cavaletti, the Italian word … Continue reading

Posted in Horse Training Basics, Sport Horses... Naturally!, Tack and Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saturday Afternoon With Grace

Grace has spent the week hanging over the fence watching me work clients’ horses.  “Am I next?” she seemed to ask continuously.  Despite the bitter chill, Mark and I brought her out today for some quality family time. While I … Continue reading

Posted in clicker training, Friesian Horse Pictures, Natural Friesian Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forage Alternative in a Changing Climate

I just learned about a highly nutritious grass that may be suit itself to a warming climate. Teff

Posted in Natural Horse Care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome Luna

Luna and her soon-to-be-born Gypsy Sport Horse foal joined our family on winter solstice this year. Luna had been through four owners since April, through no fault of her own. Luna is a 4 year-old Spotted Draft mare, small despite … Continue reading

Posted in Luna | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Barefoot Trim

We tackled Luna’s hooves today, beginning what we hope will be an uneventful recovery process.  When we first looked at her, her owner told her reluctance to move forward was due to the added weight of pregnancy.  Forget the foal, … Continue reading

Posted in Luna, Natural Horse Care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Horsemanship Practice… At the Mall!

Kathy made my day today!  During a break in her lesson she told me she’s taken up walking at the mall.  Today she walked two miles.  More importantly, she confided, “I kept thinking about what we’ve been practicing in our … Continue reading

Posted in Balanced Seat Riding, Challenges, Ideas & Exercises, Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Dressage... Naturally!, Horse Training Basics, Horse Training Philosophy, Natural Horsemanship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Jessie Doernberger, Globetrotter

In 2007, I left the country for half a year, forcing me to find a barn for my four-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Volly. As I’d owned this horse since he was a fetus, I was outstandingly picky: he needed tons of … Continue reading

Posted in Testimonials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment