We would like to thank our instructors, staff, and students for prioritizing health and safety in 2020 and beyond. Our program has always focused on safety, so that you can have fun and achieve extraordinary results with your horse. We also emphasize the importance of having a plan but staying flexible enough to adapt to…
Tag: horse lessons
What is your focus this winter?
Winter is a good time to play with the “little things” that make so much difference for your horse. Just hanging out together, without a task to perform, gives you both a chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Making games that you can safely do in a small area such as the barn…
Trail practice is good for mind and body
During the summer months, we try to get the horses out on the trail a few times a month. For horses that are new to us or worried about things, we start with the trail course here on the ranch. As they get more comfortable with the various obstacles and events they encounter here at…
Trail riding time
Several of our students list trail riding as their favorite equestrian pastime or as their ultimate goal. As the rainy season gives way to summer and fall, we often take our lessons outside the arena and help students (and their horses) develop trail skills. Our ranch provides a number of opportunities to practice the obstacles…
No ropes? No problem!
Pat Parelli says that when you take off the halter and lead, what remains is the truth. “Liberty” is the practice of engaging with horses without the aid of ropes or halters. If your horse decides they don’t want to be with you, well, you can’t make them do it. You have to learn to…
You’re not too unfit, too old, or too ‘newbie’ for horsemanship
If you’ve always been interested in horses but hesitant about whether it’s “okay” to reach out … now’s the time. We can’t think of a better way to get fresh air, healthy movement, and a total mind-body-spirit uplift than playing with horses. Of course, as life-long horse lovers, we’re biased. But that doesn’t make us…
A program for horse lovers
One of the things people love about our program is that we celebrate all aspects of the horse, not just riding. Our students learn how to care for horses physically, mentally, and emotionally. They learn how to listen to horses, how to understand horses, and how to interact with horses in a way that promotes…
A matter of tack
You’ve probably noticed in our photos and videos that our students ride in various kinds of tack. On any given day you’ll see us using bareback pads, English saddles, dressage saddles, Western saddles, endurance saddles, hybrid saddles, and sometimes nothing at all — just the warm, soft back of the naked horse. We ride in…
What kind of riding do we do?
We often get this question when new students find us online or come to the ranch for a tour. Typically, they are asking if we do “Western” or “English.” Sometimes experienced horse people ask us if we teach a sport or discipline, such as reining or jumping or cowboy dressage. The answer is – we…
Youth learn trail skills with the buddy system [video]
You’ll often see our students riding with a buddy, especially on their first rides out of the arena. A little ground support goes a long way toward helping riders (and horses) build confidence. Plus, it’s just fun to take a herd hike around the ranch.
Building curiosity and confidence with Inflatable Flamingo
River, Rockstar, and Regina enjoyed some liberty time with Inflatable Flamingo. Rockstar had never seen it before, while River was an old pro — this was her third time giving it a ride. How do your horses do with unusual objects? Our program helps you learn how to develop your horses’ curiosity and to be…
Video: Youth horsemanship demo
Six of our youth students collaborated in a horsemanship demo at our Open House in September. Each student-and-equine pair showcased the power of communication and partnership as they played with obstacles and performed various patterns. You’ll see quite a range of activities in the video — circus pedestals, weave patterns, jumping over barrels (look at…
