Hollow Valley Farm

06/04/2026

Re-wiring an anxious horse takes time, so when you find something that sparks their curiosity, you go with it. I’ve recently been riding Glenda on a long rein and letting her wander the fields - truly wander with very little input from me about pace and direction. Today she relaxed enough to shift from anxious to curious. Such a win!! As she sniffed poo, I remembered being told as a child, “don’t let them do that” and probably for practical reasons. But what if letting them sniff poo (or splash in the creek, or whatever sparks their curiosity) is intentional on your part? Maybe it builds a bridge to a deeper bond by meeting their needs even while riding.

06/04/2026

Grass is high, coats are in full bloom. I love this time of year. It’s a little breathing window of ideal conditions before the summer grind kicks in.

06/03/2026

Having a little field ride here to work on self carriage. My horses tend to move more forward in the riding field, so I use this to my advantage. I love that Bivvers is finding an uphill balance in the trot while I focus on posting up and down from the exact same spot in the saddle. If she gets heavy feeling, I lift my hands a touch and mentally bring her momentum into my belly button. The slight incline in the terrain and the deep grass help me get a really nice transition into canter as both require her to step through a little bit more with her hind end. Just a little way to train smarter and use your horse’s natural instincts to set them up for success. 🌱✌🏻

06/02/2026

The “new” girls are looking sleek and shiny their first spring on the farm.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

.lisa gave a masterclass on stretching and bodywork for soundness and alignment at Hollow Valley Farm this weekend. More videos coming soon so you can help your horse feel their best 🌱

05/31/2026

The Aligned Horsemanship day retreat was an amazing experience. We focused first on our breath, physical alignment, and mind-body connection through yoga before turning to the horses to explore the same with them. Participants worked with HVF horses on the ground and in the saddle and it was inspiring to watch their progress - and smiles - throughout the day.
equine led the riding sessions and helped riders find smooth transitions through their breath, seat, and energy.
lisa gave a masterclass in equine stretching and bodywork for alignment and nervous system regulation.

guided participants through groundwork techniques while using learning theory and behaviorism to create a willing partner.

Morgan Ilgen started the day with a yoga flow to align our spines, breath, and energy.

catered the clinic and kept us nourished all day.

Many thanks to all who came together to make this happen and share in this learning community. There’s so much room to grow with this 🌱

05/17/2026

Join us on May 30th for a day of learning with horses at the Aligned Horsemanship Day Retreat at Hollow Valley Farm in Julian, PA.

Registration link ⬇️
https://www.thelearningherd.com/book-online

This experience brings together three trainers who prioritize listening to the horse, a yoga coach, and delicious, healthy food.

Horses are provided :)

**Auditing discounts available for 4H, IEA, and groups of 4+

Prices:
$65 / Auditing + yoga + lunch
$140 / 2 groundwork lessons + yoga + lunch
$200 / 2 groundwork lessons + 1 riding lesson + yoga + lunch

05/16/2026

If you’re riding a horse that feels like it might misbehave (buck, balk, spin, drop a shoulder), chances are they need to be more forward. It can feel counterintuitive to ask this type of horse for more energy but their antics are likely evasions to going forward.

Glenda is a great example of this. Riding her with plenty of forward momentum in a big open space helps her move out. Fewer turns and bigger circles make it easier for her to balance and less likely to get crooked. I just have to be ready for a dose of rocket fuel when I ask her for more 🚀

05/16/2026

The herd is ready for Yoga with Horses, Sunday 5/17 at 1 pm ☮️🪷💐

We’ll be moving and breathing our way to a calm state with yoga coach Morgan, and then learning how horses and humans exchange energy.

Very limited spots remaining… sign up on our website to attend.

https://www.thelearningherd.com/book-online