What to Expect

I board horses for training, ultimately to fine tune and develop gaited horses' natural gaits. I also provide other types of training, depending on the horse and your needs. When you bring your horse to me for the initial consultation, we'll spend around an hour getting to know one another in the safety of an arena.  We'll discuss your goals and determine if the three of us (your horse, you, and I) will be a good fit.

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Proper tack is important! If your saddle or bridle isn’t comfortable or correct for your horse, we won’t be able to work safely and achieve results. I’ll evaluate the fit of your tack on your horse and make suggestions and adjustments as necessary.

 

Once your horse is settled on the ranch, training begins! First I work on relaxation and communication in the arena. When I work with your horse, safety is paramount, which means making sure they're mentally present and focused. A horse that demonstrates insecure or pushy behavior toward humans will need additional work to correct that before we can ride. 

 

Under saddle in the arena, I'll begin by encouraging a smooth, even gait, again fostering relaxation. Then I’ll ride your horse on the dirt road for a few miles at a time to strengthen and condition those gaiting muscles, concentrating on an easy rhythm. When your horse is ready, I'll ride in the mountains right behind the ranch. There we'll add in conditioning for their muscles and lungs, as well as promoting confidence in varied mountain terrain.

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Most horses stay for 4-8 weeks and are gaiting easily and correctly by the end of that time. They should be able to carry themselves naturally and effortlessly, making the ride smooth and enjoyable for their rider. I insist that you stay for a lesson when you pick up your horse, so you can learn how to use the fresh techniques to empower you on your journey!

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Training sessions can last anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, once a day or a few times a week, depending solely on your horse’s disposition and our objectives. Herd bound behavior, spookiness, and other minor issues can be rolled into training as well.

 

I have many tools in my training "toolbox", but no tricks --- I prefer direct, honest, and respectful communication. Like people, each horse is an individual with their own experience and learning style, and I always tailor my training to their individual needs.