Michelle Jerry Heart and Hooves Horsemanship

09/05/2026

🐴📅 WE’RE PLANNING 2027 — AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 📅🐴

It’s that time of year again! We’re already working on our 2027 schedule, and we’re excited about everything we have in store!

Clinics, shows, classes, special events, traveling, and all the things! ❤️🐴

And we’re not just planning events here at Heart & Hooves — we’re looking at where YOU would like us to go too!

Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to work with individual riders, barns, 4-H groups, Mounted Patrol units, riding clubs, and other equine organizations. We love being able to tailor what we do to the needs and goals of each group.

Interested in hosting a:

🐴 Horsemanship Clinic
🐴 Ranch Riding Clinic
🐴 Liberty Clinic
🐴 Ground Control/Groundwork Clinic
🏆 HHRRA Ranch Riding Show
🍀 4-H Clinic or Educational Day
🐴 Mounted Patrol Training
🐴 Or something designed specifically for your group?

Let’s talk!

If you have a facility, club, organization, Mounted Patrol unit, 4-H group, or simply a group of horse people who want to learn together, we’d love to visit with you about bringing Michelle Jerry Heart and Hooves Horsemanship to your area.

Our 2027 calendar is starting to come together, so now is a great time to start the conversation and get a date on the schedule!

📞 H&H Office: 218-244-2328
🌐 www.hearthooveshorsemanship.com

👇 Where would you like to see Heart & Hooves in 2027? Tag your barn, club, group, or organization below!

09/05/2026

🐴 What a Weekend in Embarrass, MN! 🐴

We are so thankful to the Embarrass Regional Fair for welcoming HHRRA and allowing us to be part of such a great weekend!

We kicked things off with a Ranch Riding Clinic, and it was a great success! Riders came ready to learn, work with their horses, and grow together.

Then came our HHRRA Ranch Riding Show! We had a wonderful group of competitors, made so many new connections, caught up with familiar faces, and had the opportunity to share what HHRRA is all about.

❤️ Michelle was also able to do a few demonstrations throughout the weekend, sharing some of the things she works on with her horses and hopefully inspiring others to see just how much is possible when you build a strong foundation, communication, and connection with your horse.

And yes… she even rode bridleless! 🐎🙌

For us, it isn’t just about what you can teach a horse to do — it’s about building the kind of relationship and communication that carries into everything you do together.

We are so excited about what the future may hold at this location and hope this is just the beginning of many more opportunities to come together in Embarrass!

And because we weren’t quite ready for the fun to end… we stayed an extra day and got to do a little gaming with our horses! 🤠 It was the perfect way to wrap up a great few days.

Thank you to everyone who rode, competed, learned, helped, supported, stopped by, or simply came to watch. We are incredibly thankful for the connections made and hope to see everyone again in the near future!

📸 Check out all the photos from our time in Embarrass:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oV7cQdWcg34asZdB6

❤️ Heart & Hooves Ranch Riding Association

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09/04/2026

❤️🐴 FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — SHOW US YOUR HORSE! 🐴❤️

It’s Friday, and we think our feed could use a whole lot more HORSES! 😍

So today, we want to see YOUR horse.

The fancy ones.
The muddy ones.
The youngsters.
The old faithful ones.
The pasture ornaments. 😂
The show horses.
The trail partners.
And the ones who somehow manage to keep us humble every single day!

They don't have to be perfect.

They don't have to have a fancy pedigree or a wall full of ribbons.

If they're special to YOU, we want to see them. ❤️

👇 Drop your favorite picture of your horse in the comments and tell us their NAME!

Bonus points if you tell us the one thing about them that makes you smile every single day. 🥰🐴

Let's fill this Feel Good Friday with HORSES!

09/03/2026

🐴❤️ THURSDAY THOUGHT — YOUR HORSE IS ALWAYS LEARNING ❤️🐴

Every time you're with your horse, you're teaching them something — whether you realize it or not.

You're teaching when you catch them.
You're teaching when you lead them.
You're teaching when you saddle.
You're teaching when you mount.
You're teaching when you ride.
And you're teaching when you simply stand together.

Training doesn't start when you step into the arena and it doesn't end when the ride is over.

Those little everyday moments matter.

Does your horse respect your space?
Do they wait patiently?
Do they pay attention to where you are?
Do they look to you when they're unsure?

Great horses aren't built in one big training session. They're built through hundreds of small, consistent moments.

Be intentional with those moments.

Because every interaction is an opportunity to build the horse you want tomorrow. ❤️🐴

What are you teaching your horse today?

09/02/2026

🐴❤️ SPEND LABOR DAY WEEKEND WITH US IN SOUTH DAKOTA! ❤️🐴

We’re heading back to Split Rock Equine Centre in Sherman, SD for our 3-Day Labor Day Horsemanship Clinic — September 5, 6 & 7!

Three full days to slow things down, focus on your horse, and really dig into your horsemanship.

Throughout the weekend we’ll work on:

🐴 Groundwork that builds respect, control, and connection
🐴 Creating softness and responsiveness
🐴 Foundational riding and better communication in the saddle
🐴 Building confidence in both horse AND rider
🐴 Working through the individual issues you and your horse need help with
🐴 Giving you tools you can take home and continue using long after the clinic is over

This isn't about everyone doing the exact same thing. Every horse and rider are at a different place in their journey, and we work with the horse and rider standing in front of us.

Whether you're working through a problem, trying to strengthen your foundation, or simply want to become a better horseman or woman, come spend three days learning, riding, asking questions, and growing with us.

📅 September 5, 6 & 7
📍 Split Rock Equine Centre — Sherman, SD
📞 H&H Office: 218-244-2328

Limited rider spots are available! Reach out to us to reserve yours.

Come ready to learn, work, laugh, and leave 1% better than when you arrived. ❤️🐴

Michelle Jerry Heart and Hooves Horsemanship

09/01/2026

🐴 TUESDAY TRAINING TIP — GIVE AN INCH, TAKE A MILE 🐴

We’ve all heard the saying “Give an inch, and they’ll take a mile.”

When it comes to horses, there’s a lot of truth to it.

It usually doesn't start as a big problem.

One step into your space becomes two.
Moving a little at the mounting block turns into walking off before you're ready.
Rushing through the gate once becomes rushing every time.
Ignoring a simple cue becomes deciding when they do and don't have to respond.

Horses are always learning — even when we don't realize we're teaching.

If we allow something today and correct it tomorrow, how is the horse supposed to know where the boundary really is?

This isn't about being hard on your horse. It's about being fair, clear, and consistent.

Set the boundary.
Follow through.
Reward the right answer.
Then move on.

The little things matter because eventually, little things become big things.

Good horsemanship isn't about correcting a horse all the time. It's about being consistent enough that those corrections become fewer and fewer. ❤️🐴

Give an inch, take a mile — so pay attention to the inches.

08/31/2026

🐴 Motivational Monday 🐴

“Ride the horse the way he needs, not the way you want.” — Petros

That one sentence says so much about horsemanship.

Every horse is different. Some need more confidence. Some need more direction. Some need us to slow down and give them time to think. Others need us to step up, be clearer, and expect a little more.

The challenge is putting aside what we wanted the ride to look like and paying attention to what the horse underneath us needs in that moment.

Your plan might have been to work on transitions, but your horse needs confidence today.

You might want more speed, but your horse needs softness first.

You might want to move on to the next step, but your horse is telling you there’s a hole in the foundation.

Good horsemanship means being willing to change the plan for the horse. ❤️

Listen. Adjust. Help them through it. Then build from there.

Sometimes the best ride isn't the one where you accomplished everything you planned — it's the one where you gave your horse exactly what he needed.

08/30/2026

🐴✨ 2026 HEART & HOOVES HORSEMANSHIP LIBERTY CHALLENGE ✨🐴

Connection. Communication. Trust. No lead rope.

📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM
📍 Heart & Hooves Arena – Lee Road, Deer River, MN 56636
🔥 Heated Indoor Arena

Our Liberty Challenge is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of the partnership between horse and handler. Liberty is about respect, engagement, body language, energy, and the draw. When the lead rope comes off, we get to see the connection and communication we have built with our horses. ❤️

And you do NOT have to be advanced to participate!

🏆 DIVISIONS
• Novice
• Intermediate
• Advanced

🐎 CLASSES
• Obstacle Course Liberty
• Individual Liberty Freestyle
• Team Liberty Freestyle – Two handlers & two horses
• Double Liberty – One handler & two horses

🏆 AWARDS
Champion & Reserve Champion in each division
Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion Overall
Special Awards for Team & Double Liberty

📝 REGISTRATION
💲 $50 per horse, per class
💲 Team/Double Liberty – $50 per horse/rider pair ($100 per team)
📅 Deadline: October 2, 2026
⚠️ Late entries accepted if space allows with a $30 late fee per horse.
🎶 Music selections must be submitted with Freestyle, Team & Double Liberty entries.

🐴 STALLS & ELECTRIC
• Outdoor stalls – $25/night
• Electricity – $25/day
• Stalls waived for Heart & Hooves Advanced Class riders
• Reservations must be made at registration

🥘 Community Potluck – bring a dish to share!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Spectators are welcome!

Whether you're stepping into the Liberty arena for the first time or showing a polished partnership, there is a place for you. Come challenge yourself, celebrate how far you and your horse have come, and enjoy a day surrounded by an amazing horse community!

📞 Questions? H&H Office: 218-244-2328

We can't wait to see you at the 2026 Liberty Challenge! 🐴❤️

08/29/2026

🐴❤️ SATURDAY SHOUT-OUT — WHO’S IN YOUR CORNER? ❤️🐴

Behind almost every horse person is someone who has helped them along the way.

Maybe it’s the person who…

🚛 Helps you haul to shows and clinics.
🐴 Holds your horse when you need an extra hand.
📸 Takes 100 pictures just to get that ONE good one. 😄
👏 Cheers for you from outside the arena.
💪 Helps with chores when you’re running behind.
❤️ Encourages you after a tough ride.
🤠 Shares their knowledge and helps you become a better horseman.
😂 Or simply makes those long days at the barn a whole lot more fun!

The horse community is about more than horses.

It’s about the people we meet along the way. ❤️

So today, let’s give those people a little recognition!

👇 Tag someone who has been part of your horse journey and give them a Saturday Shout-Out!

Tell them why you appreciate them — you might just make their day. ❤️🐴

08/28/2026

❤️🐴 FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — WHO IS OR WAS YOUR “HEART HORSE”? 🐴❤️

Most horse people have that one horse.

The one who wasn't just a horse.

Maybe they taught you how to ride.
Maybe they gave you confidence when you needed it most.
Maybe they challenged you more than any horse ever has.
Maybe they carried you through some of the best — or hardest — times of your life.

They might still be standing in your pasture today. ❤️

Or maybe they're the horse you would give anything to hug around the neck just one more time. 🌈🐴

A heart horse leaves hoofprints in a place that no other horse can quite fill.

They teach us.
They challenge us.
They forgive us.
They make us laugh.
And sometimes, they change our lives without us even realizing it until years later.

❤️ So for this Feel Good Friday, we want to hear about YOUR heart horse.

👇 Who is or was your heart horse?

Tell us their name, share a picture in the comments, and tell us what made them so special.

Let's fill the comments with the horses we'll never forget. ❤️🐴