Tag Archives: naturally

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

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Clydesdale Rides Trail! Putting the Natural in Horsemanship

Clydesdale Rides Trail! Putting the Natural in Horsemanship Yesterday was a story of turning bad happenings into good results. A bit of background: Much to both mine and Dolly’s chagrin, after spending the afternoon on Tuesday last week mowing the … Continue reading

Posted in Ally, Dolly, Lucy, Reenacting... Naturally!, trail riding | 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Horse Training Tips Contest

“Horse Training Success” is running a training tips contest.  We just submitted this entry: I love all the posts that include training with treats! Do you know they actually funded a study in France which “scientifically proved” that horses learn … 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