Aligned Horsemanship

06/03/2026

What an incredible event. This post is so well written and it is interesting that I came across it now in two ways. One, I just had my first experience jumping bridleless off property and was on cloud 9 from that but at the same time struggling with another question.

The question that has been on my mind is how we balance our horsemanship values with our goals for progression, competition, and high level performance. I know I’m not willing to accept a philosophy where the end justifies the means if those means create unnecessary stress, anxiety, or sourness in the horse. But does that mean we have to give up ambitious goals? Or is there a better, maybe slower, but ultimately more sustainable path forward?

I’ve caught myself a few times saying, “This works really well for my horse in this situation, but I can’t do that at a show.” What if we challenged that assumption? What if the competition environment itself is what needs to evolve?

Why is allowing a horse the time and space to process a new environment before being asked to perform at their best is viewed as “alternative” or less legitimate? Our horses adapt to so much of what we ask from them and although I am not anti-competition in any way we have to realize that it’s strictly for the human not the horse’s benefit.

I know that when I’m nervous or in a new environment, I don’t perform at my best either (and I have the reasoning ability to know that I’m not actually going to die.)

Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves whether horse competition could become a little more horse-friendly. Perhaps true horsemanship and high level performance don’t have to be opposing goals? I would love to hear others’ thoughts on this! ⬇️

06/02/2026

Another great clinic learning from Kaylee and Luke Gingerich alongside some amazing women 🌟

The clinic pushed us up against thresholds that I didn’t know were there and that part was hard at times but 100% necessary. Growth isn’t always pretty or comfortable but we also had some really amazing moments like some of the best liberty and collection work we’ve had and our first time jumping bridleless in a new environment!
It was inspiring to spend the week alongside hardworking horsewomen, each bringing their own goals, challenges, and determination. Watching the progress made by both horses and riders over just a few days was remarkable.

Honey and I are leaving with new skills, a fresh perspective, and plenty to work on at home. Looking forward to continuing the journey.

05/20/2026

Someone messaged me last night and said my horses seem happy. They wanted to know what I do for their physical, emotional, and mental health. Here was my response:

“Hey! I’d say in general I try to make their lives more difficult. Which can be a tricky thing when you’re still trying to create a good life for them. I think of it a bit like I’m their fitness and life coach. Sometimes their life is difficult purely through doing a hard (but rewarding) workout. Other times it’s difficult because we’re challenging their comfort zones.

The easier and more comfortable we make their life on a daily basis the smaller their comfort zone gets. Horses seek peace. It’s hard for them to find peace when they are always worried because of a small comfort zone.

I do the same thing for myself. I try to work myself pretty hard and also do things that make me uncomfortable at times. I find that this is something successful people do. They might do a 5am workout followed by an ice bath. Then when you see them in public they’re cleaned up and their life looks easy.

I would like that when I go out in public with my horse I want it easy for him. If it’s easy then it might also be fun or enjoyable.

Imagine how you might build a mentally resilient human…if you were in charge of a human and needed them to be mentally strong what would you do? You probably wouldn’t give them everything they want, as soon as they want it. Would they do a 5 mile run at 5am? Cookies and ice cream when ever they want it? Would you have them face their fears or allow them to run and hide any time they got uncomfortable?

Creating challenges that they can overcome to gain confidence is the tricky part. We don’t want them to be worse off after going through something difficult. But also if they never go through anything difficult they will get mentally and physically softer.

Another major piece to my program is controlling the feet. Becoming a good leader starts with the ability to lead. If I can’t control my horse’s feet at a high level then it’s hard to develop them and guide them in the ways necessary. It also allows me to keep them safe regardless of the circumstances happening around us.

Hope that helps!”

There is a lot more to this…of course good living conditions and quality feed (we feed Triple Crown Feeds because they’re the best! 🙌🏼) But honestly most people do that part well nowadays. And they generally maintain an aged broke horse well. But developing a green horse is where they often struggle. They cause their young horse to be entitled and self serving.

I wish keeping a horse comfortable all the time worked. Man wouldn’t that be easy! It just doesn’t work. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It’s a short sighted strategy. And at times it’s the best way to get a horse through a situation they aren’t prepared for. But then we need to go home and get them ready for that situation, just in case we encounter it again.

And truth be told. Everything I wrote above won’t have much meaning unless you watch how I do it. When horsemanship is talked about it sounds like poetry. But in practice it’s a lot more real. I learn a lot from watching other trainers. I learn very little from listening to them talk about their training.

Want to get better? Go ride with the people you want to be more like.

05/10/2026

04/13/2026

What a weekend at Equine Affaire! For the first three days, we dealt with serious anxiety, and I really questioned my life decisions. 😆
We walked for hours each day around the grounds and did multiple groundwork sessions a day, doing my best to trust the process while not seeing much change in her mental state. But then we got to day four, the last day. We ended the event with a loose-rein ride and some great work on her piaffe in a demo with Ariana Sakaris. I wouldn't have dreamed that it was possible with the horse I had in front of me on day one, but wow! She surpassed my expectations big time! What a reminder of what a horse will offer us when we prioritize their mental state over anything else 🤎

04/11/2026

Day 2- a full day of seeing the sights and we met the infamous equine affair train 🚂😆

04/10/2026

We have made it to Equine Affair and Honey is all tucked in. Tomorrow will be a full day of walking her around the grounds to take in all the excitement and then participating in demos Saturday and Sunday with Ariana Sakaris. Can’t wait!

04/07/2026

This post really hit me in the feels today ❤️

Honey has been simultaneously the easiest and the most difficult horse I’ve ever owned. I have moments where I have to be very clear with her regarding boundaries, and then other moments where she is so sensitive and in tune with me that she reacts to my thoughts before I even move.
Bouncing between these two extremes on a weekly, daily, or sometimes even moment-by-moment basis is incredibly tough. The hardest part for me is changing my approach on the outside while remaining the same on the inside and being consistent in my energy and internal feeling, even if my physical aids have to change. It has been and continues to be a huge challenge, but it’s exactly what I need to learn, and I am so thankful for her.