Five Star Horsemanship

These small tiks in time of out-of-character random affection and thanks from horses I met only an hour before are the moments that lift my soul and carry me for days.

First day of Greg Eliel clinic in the books. Here Greg is telling Mo what he needs to improve on!

Woohoo! This will be a great clinic. I'm riding the afternoon class. This clinic is fun with a great group of people. See you there!

Auditors welcome with prepaid reservation! Email Olympia to reserve your spot. [email protected]

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I drew a horse to hang in my office. I really love this drawing technique. It is a reminder to me that the light always finds the beauty in the unknown. Black horse on black 9x12 paper, 5 colored pencils, and several hours over the last couple weeks.

Thank you Julie Carpenter for your incredible advice and leadership. Mo and I are on a path together learning more and defining our relationship. He's coming along nicely!

How long is a rope? That depends.

In the past, those two words made groan with exasperation. I was a great student. I thought my parents or teacher should just give me the answer and I would do it. It seemed so much easier. Right? Maybe, sometimes, just doing the “thing” is easier and becomes rote. I brush my teeth every morning, but I do not think about how or why I do it. It has just become an action I perform.

But, alas, our horses are living entities, not machines. If all horsemanship is based on rote action, we risk abandoning not just our horse but also ourselves. There is no thinking or awareness of the current and present situation. The connection between us and our horse becomes diminished, and we miss out on the best parts of horsemanship; the softness, the feel, the exhilaration of directing all four feet with fluidity. If you ask your horse to think and do its job, then you must offer the same.

So, to clarify the “that depends” quandary, first turn on your inner Sherlock Holmes and start assessing the situation in the present moment. Learn to assess your horse and know that the answer will be different in different situations. The goal may be the same but the journey to it can change over and over. Have several options in your back pocket to choose from. And to be long term effective, start from your horse’s point of view.

Bigfoot is alive and well in the PNW.....

You can lie to others and you can lie to yourself but you can not lie to a horse.
-Grant Golliher

Horses are highly empathetic beings. They have to be. Their bodies and minds are hardwired for 24/7 assessment of their world. Their survival depends upon their ability to decide whether to stay or leave. This means that a person can not act one way and think another with a horse. They can read that incongruency a mile away.

So, when you go to your horse, leave your troubles at the gate. Many times, I will stand and breath for a moment and pull myself into the present before I begin work with a horse. Not only does the horse benefit from my "being present", I do also. It keeps me safe, helps me assess my situation clearly, improves my response time, and keeps me focused on our intentions.

Being present requires a clear intent and acceptance of the relationship and situation today. This state of mind encourages trust from the horse. When you pass through the barn door or pasture gate, take 3 big breaths, clear your mind of the day, and be aware of your environment. This is your litmus test. You must be present to be yourself. This focused act of awareness has endless great possibilities. It is your gift to your horse and yourself. Can you do it?

Now this is how I want to be greeted everytime I open my car door. Thanks for the cuteness!

Are you the teacher or the student?

In order to understand our horses more clearly, we have to remember how to learn. If you always think of them as dumb animals, you will never have the opportunity to learn from them. It takes a mutual respect and the belief that the horse can be a teacher.

Horses teach the very lessons that help us become better humans. But it is not their responsibility to try and teach us. It is our responsibility to learn to recognize the lesson and respect it.

It is humbling to learn from an animal. The more we recognize as lessons, the more we realize we do not know.
Every horsemanship tool that you grasp and apply, opens up so many other endless possibilities. Every new piece of knowledge we add to our horsemanship brings light to the many new doors we have to open. And, the layers of learning become deeper as we begin to recognize and use the concepts within ourselves and with others.

But first, we must be able to see our horses point of view and learn to respect them as the teachers.

This sizable chunk of jawbone has officially qualified as the weirdest thing I have ever cleaned out of my mare's hoof. It was perfectly lodged in the groove next to her frog. She was not lame and the bone was incased in dry earth. We spotted a tooth sticking out and so I cleaned it. I want to know what animal it is from!

My office view. Giving lessons on horseback is my favorite.

This last week was fantastic! Another clinic with Greg Eliel in the books. I learn new things everytime. He is coming back to WA in September. Join us for a great few days of ground work, riding, learning, and a lot of fun.

Order your own Five Star apparel now! Available to order till 5/26. Available for pickup or shipping 6/12. You can message the order via FB or text. Or print and fill out the form. Order today!!!

This picture makes me smile. He started his ground work session bothered and full of anxiety about the world around him. He wanted to bowl over the top of people and hold his head high looking for danger around every fence post. A little listening, consistency, and allowing him to calmly move his feet with intention, and he was following me around, head down, stepping confidently, and waiting for rubs and attention.

This picture is about a half hour after returning him to his paddock. Fast asleep and snoring!

I was going to work my own horse today but the sun got in my eyes. So I sat on the ground, listened to my pony pulling up blades of grass, and felt the warm air float over me like a hug. I was so grateful for the peace, comfort, and kindred connection at that moment.

I hope everyone has their day when the sun is in their eyes, a comfortable seat, and their horse near.

The best compliment is when the horses give kisses

Fantastic day yesterday. Can't wait to do more of these clinics!

Great opportunity to start out the riding season! 🌷🐎

*Join us April 20th in Arlington, limited spots available.*

Anna and I are offering a clinic in a 1:1 format to be able to tailor sessions to individual horse and human pairs. This is a day focused on bodywork, feel, connection, biomechanics, and emotional regulation.

Is your horse holding compensation patterns?

Why do they struggle with certain movements on the ground or under saddle?

Are they struggling to balance?

Are they able to emotionally regulate?

These are a few of the questions we can help with!

Have questions? Or would like to sign up? Feel free to shoot either of us a message. 😊

Today filled my heart to give a lesson to Kristen and Whirley. They did such a great job. Whirley, for those of you who have taken a lesson on him sometime in the last 12+ years, is still his usual funny loving trustworthy self. I miss the days when he introduced the world of horses to children and adults in my lesson program. Way to go you two!

This is the best way to end a lesson; relaxed and with great releases! Diesel gave his all for Michael and Ben.

I hope everyone enjoyed the wonderful winter holidays! I'm grateful for the sunny days and warmer than usual temperatures in January. But when it does get really cold, thanks to the best husband ever, I now have an Ororo heated vest. I love it and highly recommend it! Why did I not get it sooner!

The horses and clients were great this week! The week started out sunny and went to cold and wet. I have to do whatever I can to stay warm. Damp frozen weather seeps into my bones. So for your pleasure I have put up a picture of my professional oompa loompa look. I throw a Cozi brand blanket/sweatshirt over the top of all the other layers.... your welcome!

I love the way he put this in his words. Sounds about right…..

"The reins should feel like silk in your hands. There should be a float in them. You should feel weightless.
See how little you can do.
Bring the horse to a walk without using the reins. It should be in your body.
See how slow and soft life can be without letting things die.
Now pick up a feel and speed your horses up. Don’t sit there like a gut shot bird.
Your legs are more important than your hands.
When I’m on a horse he becomes my body, feet and legs.
The reins are really hooked onto my feet and the horse is between my legs, arms, and hands.
Don’t brace in the stirrups or he’ll brace back...............and there’s usually a buck in that brace." - Ray Hunt

Image of Ray is by Mindy Bower.