Tag Archives: natural horse training methods

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 turnout; he needed a place where he would be cared for properly, and he needed correct, classical riding that would keep him progressing towards being a respectable dressage horse without pushing him too hard. Also, I needed to be able to afford board.
I had no idea where I would find such a place, until I had the idea of tracking down Kirsten. She had taught me from when I was eight until I was eighteen, from when I couldn’t canter until I could comfortably perform in eventing, dressage, and showjumping. I had always respected and enjoyed her methods of teaching both horses and riders, and I knew she was someone I could trust to provide superb care for my horse and to train him excellently.

I managed to find Kirsten, and I shipped Volly from Connecticut to West Virginia so that he could stay there for the half-year I was away. (In the end, he stayed closer to a year). The first time I visited him, I was thrilled: he was soft, responsive, and full of impulsion; he was receiving correct, balanced training; he wasn’t being asked to do more than a four-year-old should. Most importantly to me, Volly was obviously incredibly happy: he was calm, composed, and confident.

I’ve recently had to move Volly so that I can ride him more than occasionally. Because of his time with Kirsten, he is now a pleasure to ride: light, responsive, impulsive, correct, and, most importantly, happy to do his job every day.

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Used Saddles For Sale

The key to natural horsemanship and balanced seat riding is to be able to freely balance and control your various body parts.  A saddle can make that easy… or downright impossible.

A saddler once measured my femurs and discovered they were 2 inches longer than they should be for a person of my height. That explains a lot of my personal riding challenges. It also makes it tough to find a saddle that actually fits me!

I’ve decided to clean out the tackroom and sell saddles I’ve accumulated trying to find ones that fit me or a particular horse.  Each one is good for balanced seat riding in English disciplines.  I know that they will be a a vital part of someone else’s harmony and success with their horses!

Are you looking for a new used saddle to take you and your horse to the next level?  Read the following posts. I may have a saddle for sale that will fit your needs and your horse!  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section. As always, I’m committed to win-win-win situations where you, me and the horse all come away happy!

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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 faster when they receive food rewards? Hahaha, horsemen since the dawn of time could have told them that!

My tip brings even more impact to the power of treats. When a new horse first comes to the farm, we teach them a “bridge signal.” They learn to associate a clicking sound with a treat. More importantly they learn that whatever they are doing at the exact moment of the click is what they are getting rewarded for. This way, we can reward them “in the moment” no matter how far out of carrot range they are (great for liberty training or speed work.)

This has infinite applications! We have taught a horse who hated having his feet handled to stand in a bucket of warm water and epsom salts to soak out an abcess. We have taught rowdy youngster to quietly hold their hooves on a hoof stand so one person can trim their feet without needing a second handler. We made horses who refused to be dewormed look forward to the dewormer. We have taught flying lead changes to an off the track TB who would only take one lead, and curiosity and courage to a “chicken-heart” who spooked at anything and everything. The list is endless!

The photo shows a recent– and FUN–success. The mare in the photo is an off the track TB. We brought her to a medieval equestrian reenactment. In no time she accepted the flowing, jingling costumes, the swords and lances swinging around her head, the loud cracks of impact and flying targets–all through the power of associating the click for the right behavior with the treat that says “well done!”

lucy jousting the quintain at a medieval equestrian reenactment

Check out the contest and vote for our tip!

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Welcome Diego!

Our horse family has grown by one! We welcome Diego to the farm. Diego (until he reveals his REAL name) is a 16 month old Friesian Percheron Paint cross.  He was raised by a small breeder in upstate New York. Her care for her horses shines through in his amazing disposition. That alone gives him a huge jump-start in our horse training program!

friesian percheron paint and appaloosa

He lay dozing his first morning here as “Uncle” Pete, the wise Appaloosa, kept watch. Diego watched me slowly approach, but remained reclining, relaxed in his trust in humans.

As I cuddled with him, I looked down:

lucky four leaf clover

I consider that four-leaf clover a good sign :-)

Diego settled right in. He is now out with the geldings learning about life and appropriate horse behavior from the herd. He will grow strong running our rolling pastures. He’ll learn partnership with humans through natural horsemanship principles. Eventually he’ll be started with classical dressage and go on to eventing, medieval reenacting, and horse shows… with lots of trail riding thrown in!

We can’t wait to share his development… naturally!

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Welcome to the Family

We have a  new member of the family!  “Diego,” as we are calling him until he tells us his permanent name, is a 16-month old Friesian Percheron Paint cross.

new friesian paint percheron cross with appaloosa

 After I greeted him, I looked down in the grass:

lucky four leaf clover

We take that as a very good sign!

Diego is out with the geldings now learning the ropes.  He will grow up in our green fields.  He’ll be started using natural horsemanship principles.  He’ll most likely enjoy the variety of dressage, eventing, trail riding, and medieval reenactments, with some horse shows thrown in.  We look forward to posting his progress!

 

 

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Congratulations, New Horse Owner!

Congratulations are in order to Cappy from Albany, NY. Cappy is Zydeco Boogaloo’s proud new owner.

Boogie traveled “like a lady” to her new home. Her new name will be “Adrianna.” We can’t wait to hear updates!

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Horseback Trip Cost Calculator

Nothing beats trailering to off-the-farm field trips for increasing a horse’s confidence and competencies… and nothing is more fun!

We just discovered this trip cost calculator.  How cool!  Our F350 didn’t show up in their automatic fields, but they allow you to enter your own information.

Before you hitch up your horse trailer and load your tack and your horse for a clinic, horse show, or trail ride, plug in your stats. You’ll find out how much fuel you’ll use, how much it’ll cost, and even where to find cheap gas and diesel along the way!

What’s big horsey adventures are YOU planning?  Share your plans in our comments!

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A New World on Horseback

I am juiced to start the day after a phone call with Kathy. She called to touch base on today’s training sessions. Christa wanted to add Ebony to the list, to develop her canter transitions. We agreed it was too windy to practice trailer loading, which is the next hurdle to their updated goal of trail riding in new places. The last thing in the world an unconfident horse new to trailer loading needs is swinging gates and banging doors!

“This is so cool!” I exclaimed while we were plotting strategy. “Your world just keeps getting bigger and bigger!”

The Knock horsewomen have been dedicated to growing their natural horsemanship skills. Over the past few years they have built a solid foundation for enjoying their horses in limitless situations. Instead of hitting the glass ceiling of reaching a goal only to find there’s no place new to go, the Knocks realize that the world of horsemanship is infinite. Yes they can horse show… and they can trail ride, and perform dressage tests and quadrilles (drill team), and three day event and dress up for medieval reenactments, and endurance race, and play polo and polocrosse, and show jump, and team pen… the possibilities pile up!

What a great world to explore in partnership!

What have been some of YOUR a-ha moments?  What skill opened a door for you and your horse that expanded YOUR world?

Click “Comments”  below and  share with our community!

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Recent Anne 340 Photos

Tonia, Gracie’s breeder, is a wonderful correspondent! These photos of Grace’s sire Anne 340 greeted me from my inbox this morning.

Tonia bred Hillie, Grace’s mom, back to Anne 340 last spring. We agree it is a wonderful cross!

anne 340 friesian stallion

Anne 340 Friesian Stallion

anne 340 friesian stallion trot

Anne 340 Trotting Loose

anne 340 frisian stallion spanish walk in hand

Anne 340 Spanish Walk In Hand

anne 340 friesian stallion spanish walk

Anne 340 Spanish Walk Bareback

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Natural Horse for Sale Sites

While updating our resource of “Horse for Sale” websites over at wvhorsetrainer.com, we found a new site showcasing classified ads of naturally trained horses.

We’ve thought about hosting free classified ads for the natural horsemanship community here at Horses…Naturally! I’m always reluctant to feature anything I haven’t seen “with my own eyes,” and this includes thousands of strangers’ horses!

On the other hand, it could be a valuable resource to connect natural horsemen and women with their equine partners-to-be, and to help good horses find homes fluent in natural horsemanship.

So, dear readers, sound off! Would you like to see a corner of our site dedicated to naturally trained horses for sale? We could We love to hear your opinions!

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