Cairns Ranch-Equestrian Division

04/20/2026

Let Them. Let them make the mistake.

Let them pick up the wrong lead. Let them drift. Let them lose their balance or miss the distance. Not because you don’t care but because that’s how they learn.

Horses don’t learn from everything going perfectly. They learn when something doesn’t work… and then you show them a better way.

A lot of good riders turn into really good babysitters. Every stride is held together, every mistake prevented before it happens. It looks nice. It feels smooth. But underneath it? The horse isn’t actually taking responsibility.

When a horse has been “helicopter ridden” their whole life, they never learn to carry themselves or fix their own problems. And when they end up with a rider who isn’t holding them together every second, they fall apart. Not because they’re bad but because they were never truly taught. They were just managed.

Part of real training is letting the horse be responsible for their own choices. Give them the chance to try, even if they get it wrong. Then correct it in a way they understand. That’s how they start to think and take ownership.

And the best trainers aren’t avoiding mistakes—they’re just really good at breaking things down. They take big, complicated movements and turn them into small, simple steps. Then they build it slowly, one piece at a time, ride by ride, until the horse understands.

Let them make the mistake so you can show them the answer.

Let them feel it, so the correction makes sense.

Let them get it wrong so they can learn to get it right. That’s real training.

Because a truly trained horse doesn’t need to be held together every stride. They know, because they’ve been trained, what to do.

03/26/2026

My best horse — my horse of a lifetime — doesn’t have papers.
He’s a little wiry, definitely falls into the plain category, and he was never the kind that would turn heads in the sales ring. He’ll be with me for life, and I’m thankful every day that I have the means to make sure of that.

He’s also a reminder that some of the most talented horse trainers out there aren’t the ones who only end up with the perfectly bred, perfectly built, perfectly colored, six-figure prospect.
They’re the ones who take the one-off horses… the overlooked ones… the “too small,” the “too plain,” the “wrong color,” the ones with quirks, limitations, or a story behind them. Not the broncs and outlaws everyone expects to need fixing — but the outcasts, the ones who simply never fit what the world thought they should be.

The horses that don’t fit the mold.
The horses people aren’t sure what to do with.
The ones that come with a disclaimer instead of a highlight reel.

Great trainers see something anyway.
They don’t try to force the horse into what everyone else thinks it should be — they meet the horse where it’s at, and build from there.
They adjust, they listen, they work with what they have instead of wishing for something different.

Those horses are a lot like people.
Not everyone fits society’s idea of the perfect prospect.
Not everyone starts with the right build, the right background, or the right opportunities.
Some just need time, patience, and someone willing to believe in them as individuals.

So here’s a big kudos to the trainers who are truly gifted at developing the ones that don’t fit the picture —
the misfits, the late bloomers, the rehabs, the plain ones, the complicated ones, the ones nobody lined up to buy.

You’re not just training horses.
You’re changing their whole story.
And that kind of talent can’t be measured on paper.

02/19/2026

Bloom where you are planted. 🌱🐴

In the equestrian world, it’s easy to build a list of reasons why we’re stuck. The weather is terrible. The footing isn’t ideal. Lessons are expensive. I need a better job. My horse isn’t fancy enough. I’m too tired. I started too late. The list can go on forever if we let it.

But here’s the truth: every rider you admire has faced limitations. Not everyone has the perfect indoor arena, the imported warmblood, or unlimited time and money. What sets some apart isn’t perfect circumstances — it’s perspective.

I learned a long time ago that happiness in this sport is a choice. Progress is a choice. Gratitude is a choice. When you decide to spread your wings right where your nest is — whether that’s a windy outdoor ring, a quirky horse, or a busy life — something shifts. Instead of focusing on what you lack, you start maximizing what you have.

That “wrong type” of horse might teach you feel, patience, and timing better than a push-button ride ever could. Limited lesson time can make you more intentional and prepared. Crummy weather can build grit. A tight budget can sharpen your creativity and horsemanship.

When you stop waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect horse, or the perfect situation, you start growing. And growth creates opportunity. Confidence builds. Connections form. Doors open. Not because everything suddenly became ideal — but because you did.

The riders who bloom where they’re planted are the ones who last. They’re resilient. They’re resourceful. They’re grounded in gratitude. And they understand that joy in this sport doesn’t come from having it all — it comes from making the most of what’s already in your hands.

Your arena, your horse, your season of life — it’s enough to begin. Spread your wings there. 🌸

02/12/2026

As a rider and coach ages, you can’t help but think about the next generation. It’s taken me a few months to ponder this and get it out in written form.

Back at the end of November, I hosted our rider’s Christmas party. About 25 of my riders gathered around the table — laughter, stories, barn memories, and (of course) plenty of horse talk. 🐴✨

As I sat there that evening, something really struck me.

Five of us at that table — myself included — are coaching riders of our own.

Five.

It was one of those quiet, powerful moments where you realize succession doesn’t always come from a formal plan written on paper. Sometimes it grows naturally from supporting people well, from encouraging their goals, from mentoring beyond just riding skills, and from creating space for leadership to develop.

What makes it even more meaningful is that every one of those coaches still takes regular lessons with me. They are committed to continuing their own education while pouring into others. That’s the culture I’ve always hoped to build — one where learning never stops and where we lift as we climb.

Seeing my students step into leadership while staying connected to the program felt like the greatest compliment, not just as a coach but as a horsewoman.

Succession isn’t about stepping aside; it’s about building something strong enough to carry forward.

And that night in November, I realized we’re doing exactly that.

01/06/2026

Just doing horse things………

11/29/2025

🌟It takes an iron will and a soft heart🌟

Some horse trainers and coaches who stay in this business for the long haul aren’t just tough—they’re forged from grit, passion, and an iron will to make a difference. They’re the ones who spend their nights replaying training rides in their minds, planning new approaches, and searching for the tiny adjustments that might unlock a horse’s understanding or help a rider finally “get it.”

There is no switch that turns their brain off. Caring this deeply costs something.

Because the truth is: this industry is not kind. It demands far more than it gives. It asks for early mornings, late nights, emotional energy, and physical sacrifice—and it seldom repays that effort with money. Most days, the real paycheck isn’t financial at all. It’s the quiet triumph of a horse trusting again, a once-frustrated rider smiling ear to ear, or a breakthrough that took months to earn. Those moments don’t pay the bills, but they keep devoted trainers in the saddle.

The long haulers are a different breed. They give up evenings out, weekends off, family gatherings, sick days, and holidays—because horses don’t understand calendars, and progress doesn’t pause. They learn to balance burnout with responsibility, passion with pressure. They learn to protect what’s left of their time and energy. They learn to say no—sometimes to clients, sometimes to opportunities, sometimes to the version of themselves that would give everything away.

Over time, they become both tougher and softer—tough enough to withstand the weight of the job, soft enough to still care deeply. They guard their heart because they’ve poured it into countless horses and riders who may never fully understand the sacrifice behind their success.

Here’s to those who stay. Those who hold the line through exhaustion, doubt, and the quiet moments no one sees. Those who keep showing up with sweat on their brow, patience in their pocket, and hope in their hands.

You’re the backbone of this industry—not because you make a living in it, but because you give a life to it. 🐴💛

Photo of my problem child horse. We have been together 28 years. He was a dream come true and a headache all at the same time. He was terrified of his own shadow and took years to get confident in the show atmosphere. He went on to help my son learn to ride his first changes. Today he still graces my pastures but he is slower and no longer worried about anything except whether or not I have the right flavor cookies in my pocket

11/16/2025

A great equestrian coach leaves a legacy far beyond the arena. Their true gift isn’t just what they teach riders or horses — it’s how they shape the next generation of coaches. 🌟🐎

The best coaches understand that their knowledge is meant to be shared, not guarded. They mentor with intention, guiding others to find their own voice, their own style, and their own confidence. They teach not just what to do, but why it matters. They cultivate patience, empathy, and horsemanship that can be passed down through countless hands and hearts.

And as the years pass, there is a special kind of joy only an aging coach knows — the joy of watching a former student step into their own power, spread their wings, and take flight. It’s seeing their lessons echoed in another’s teaching, watching their student shine in moments where they once needed guidance, and feeling a quiet pride in knowing that the flame they lit now burns brightly in someone else. It is one of the greatest rewards a coach can receive.

Great coaches?
They create leaders. They build teachers. They plant seeds of wisdom that keep growing long after they’ve stepped back.

Their legacy is the coach who teaches because they were once taught with care.
The rider who becomes a mentor because someone believed in them.
The horses who continue to benefit from knowledge carried forward.

Here’s to the coaches who don’t just build riders — they build the future of our sport by mentoring the next generation to take the reins. 🤍🏇

10/03/2025

I’ve got plans for each of my horses, but right now I’m just loving where we are. 🐴✨ The little wins—a soft transition, a ride that feels balanced, a quiet moment in the barn—are what make it all worth it.

Progress will come, but I don’t feel in a rush. For now, I’m just grateful to enjoy the rides, the lessons, and the time I get to spend with them. 💛

♥️ Love these two red heads ♥️

08/16/2025

For all my Alberta friends, Krystl Raven is the very best saddle fitter out there.

Looking to do a day of fitting in Wainwright area. Please contact me if you’re interested. Looking at either August 27 or 29th. Travel fee split between all clients seen on the trip.

08/16/2025

Branding Day Comicals 🐂💩

Every branding day comes with a little dirt, a lot of cows, and usually a dash of chaos… but this year, I managed to supply the comedy act too.

We were moving the herd across a field thick with grass and alfalfa into the branding trap when I decided to show off a little hustle. I stepped off my horse to get to the gate next thing I know, my spur hooks onto the pull tab of my other boot, hog-tying myself mid-stride. One second I was running like a ranch hand, the next I was eating dirt like a rookie. 🤦‍♀️

And not just any dirt, mind you. Nope—straight into the freshest, cow-patty-flavored patch Mother Nature could serve up. 💩 Olympic-level face-plant. Gold medal performance.

My husband and sons? Let’s just say they’ll be telling the tale for years, because apparently watching Mom yard-dart herself into cow p**p is peak entertainment. 🤷‍♀️😂

So while the rest of the crew came home bragging about roping calves, I came home fertilized, humbled, and officially crowned the slapstick queen of branding day.

Moral of the story: ranch life will always keep you grounded… sometimes face-first. 🌾🐄 sometimes with a boot in need of repair 👢