Alchemic Horsemanship

05/09/2026

Grateful for all my students who put the work in around refining the basics and developing feel.

Staying power, or tolerance for tedious -

I’ve taught the initial introduction lessons to about a million people: teaching people to straighten out their horse, to understand rythm, to feel the difference from their tight, wiggly nervous horse to a calmer, happier horse that breathes deeply.

This part is exciting: the changes happen quickly usually, and people want more.

But then it becomes tedious. It turns away from magic and changes into work. This is where the focus is on how the rider uses their leg, handles their rein. This is where you repeat over and over a new habit until it gets ingrained- the focus is not on progressing the horse but creating better habits- this is where it gets down to the nitty gritty of their expectation of the horse, their patience for re developing a poorly laid foundation in the horse and their own riding. This is where people drop off.

I’ve had very few get past this point - when things get tedious, people turn to self doubt, get emotional, think they can’t ride or don’t know what they’re doing and so on. This is when people are likely to look elsewhere for quicker or easier solutions, though I’m sure they’re not consciously doing this.

Many will be called, few will answer, as the saying goes. I don’t believe it’s because these people are incapable or not gifted. I think mainly it’s because we no longer have tolerance for tedium.

I think about the way I grew up riding and understand - in no time I was cantering, and jumping, long before I had the seat or hands for it. Many are taught this way too- a result oriented way of learning, instead of a layering in of a foundation: you can’t jump until you can control your leg and hand, and if it gets messier, you go back to the basics. But people see this as a punishment, not a support, and take it personally.

We don’t have the tolerance for tedium anymore , and so I wonder if not now, when will we ? And if we don’t, what will we be capable of developing with our horses?

Photo by Laurie Lampe

05/07/2026

Another new (ish) face around here is an addition to the lesson string. She arrived early last month.

Welcome Primrose (Prim)!

She is a young AQHA mare who will be helping to ease the growing waitlist for students. She is a sweet, people loving quiet personality and I’m excited to see what her future holds here.

05/05/2026

Welcome this gorgeous mustang Katana! Here for the summer for training.

05/02/2026

Last lesson of the day yesterday had quite the beautiful view! Grateful for the students, horses, and spaces that make this work possible.

04/29/2026

Tired of wasting hay?

A huge factor in hay management here is preventing hay waste. And that includes what blows away in this windy valley. With hay prices likely to go up this year here are a few tips:

✨ Keep hay in a feeder or a spot where it won’t turn into a urinal or bedding
✨ Give your hay a wind buffer
✨ Only feed what they will eat completely and then feed often (3-5x per day depending on the horse)
✨ Net your big bales to prevent hay lost to wind or overeating
✨ On average horses eat around 20lbs of hay per day. Weigh your hay and keep track of how much they are actually eating

I use HayChix nets with the smallest holes, and for my easy keepers those are doubled up if needed. One senior warmblood and one mini donkey on a 3x3 lasted just a day short of 5 weeks. And this was the leftover amount for today’s bale change before the snow moves in tomorrow.

Horse ownership comes with a never ending learning curve for management of health and resources, which change depending on where you live.

04/25/2026

A silly little Ember update

03/01/2026

Excited to be speaking at the upcoming San Luis Valley Equine Expo. This year has another round of great educators to help you and your horses feel your best. See you there!

02/27/2026

Ember’s first back-cinch session and her first ride with a saddle today. She was a superstar.

I almost exclusively work with older restarts, so when I bought this mare in August my goal was to learn. I wanted to take a relatively untouched horse and see what holes I had in my awareness and take what I learned and apply it to future horses. Now I was hoping for a simple even sticky type of personality. 😅 But we get the horse we need, not the horses we want.

Ember is a very reactive, super aware of everything, and incredibly intelligent, try hard girl. And in her limited exposure to training before me, had learned (very very quickly) that round pens are for explosive airs above ground. I’d describe her as very low window of tolerance, with a record high try.

In my mind I’m constantly reminding myself that reactive horses are responsive horses when trained. She is incredibly sensitive to all cues, wants to please and requires the opportunity to find relaxation before I layer too many questions.

Three days after she came home I sprained my ankle really badly. I’m only now able to bear weight in a stirrup. But looking back I’m grateful for the required time to explain to her the difference between “Pressure.” And “Pressure?”. The ride today was simple, short and sweet and every interaction I can feel her window of tolerance building.

In my next teaching post I’ll explain about the differences between “Pressure.” And “Pressure?” And for today I’ll be grateful for the opportunity to continue learning.

02/16/2026

With spring right around the corner it already feels time to start talking fly control!

Our facility is blessed with no mosquitos in the summer but over the years I’ve taken steps to remedy biting flys. They drive the horses, students and me crazy. That being said a common feedback received is how few flys we have even when we only used the simple steps below.

We’ve used Fly Predators for two years now with increasing success, and this year all horses on site will also be fed a feed through fly-control as well starting March 1st.

But here are some simple Fly Management things we do, that you can do without a ton of extra products:

✨ Remove manure from paddocks daily (or as the weather allows) and start a compost pile.

✨ Drain or divert standing water when it gathers.

✨ Dump and rinse water buckets at minimum every other day.

✨ Store hay off the ground with ventilation and clean up uneaten or soiled hay and put it in your compost pile.

✨ Fly spray when needed. I’ve found Ultrasheild EX to work best for our horses.

✨ Fly boots, fly masks and fly sheets when needed (only Pedro needs extra support this way with his fashionable boots modeled below)

What other tips and tricks have you found to work for your herd?

02/14/2026

Happy valentines day! Go love on your horse today, and if you’ve worked with me long enough you know about the importance of your elbows!!!!

02/09/2026

Another review was added this week. Thanks so much Meg!