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 inspires the most savage horse to willingly submit and perform any feat. People attributed this [...]

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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, much less do so with suppleness, impulsion and cheerful submission. Today was like no other. [...]

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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?”

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Back in the saddle again. Muscles screaming from sitting around hour after hour in the name of “the holidays” are stretched into relief. As I ride out towards the mown corner of the field, I go through some of the mounted rider exercises that make my clients cry and curse, and cause one student to [...]

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Happy New Year! Some semblance of peace has replaced the hubbub of the holidays: Denise and I actually took a trail ride the other day. And with New Year’s Eve looming, my thoughts naturally turn to resolutions. I pulled out my goal sheets from last year. I mentally checked off the “completes” as I read [...]

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Trina had her first groundwork lesson today. Her daughter shows hunt seat and has been riding with me for close to a year. This is their first focused foray into the world of natural horsemanship in ground training.

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“First of all, what goals did you achieve this horse show season that you set last spring? Krista and Laura, you both rode well and improved through the year. You won year-end championships while showing good sportsmanship. Kathy, you’re riding Tommy with confidence and control you couldn’t have imagined a few months ago! His behavior [...]

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The Knocks completed their final horse show on Sunday. In some ways, it has been a test of endurance as well as skill. Despite their great success this season, I think everyone is ready for a break. I’m ready too. Its my responsibility as their trainer and instructor to determine what will work best between [...]

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