Upon request I have created a video to demonstrate the rein sequence I created after years of fixing horses and their confidence issues with the bit. Ideally this sequence would be implemented when very first introducing contact with the bit! In the video you will see a horse who was conditioned to believe the bit was a barrier, and, something …
The Swing in Balance
~The Swing in Balance ~ By Marie Iserbyt There is a lot to say about balance. Micaela Love inspired me to think about it from the first day we met and it kept coming up during the time I studied with her. When I think about balance I think of harmony. There is no fight or struggle in true balance. …
Pre-Flight Checks for Every Horse & Rider (VIDEO)
If you have ever taken a lesson with me then you know the emphasis I put on going through a “pre-flight” list at the beginning of each riding session. The purpose first and foremost is to be SAFE and develop the muscle memory needed in your body to diffuse a dangerous situation. As the relationship grows, our pre-flight checks can …
The Sideways Dance (VIDEO)
Put your Seven Games to the test by incorporating them into this flowing pattern! The “Sideways Dance” is a great way to build connection, test your horse’s yields and most of of all, build YOUR leadership and tool savvy! Enjoy and forgive me for the poor audio quality:)
The Falling Leaf Pattern (On-Line)
Below you will find a video that shows one of my go-to patterns. The Falling Leaf Pattern is one I encourage my students to build as a rote skill. This pattern is a powerful arrow to have in your quiver should your horse becomes excitable and need to move his feet in a productive way you are playing with a …
LITTLE Difference = BIG Difference
This month enjoy a post written by Annemarie Meerkerk! Annemarie is a dedicated student of the Parelli program and is visiting from The Netherlands. She has been here for four weeks and goes home at the end of February. It has been such a treat to have an assistant with such a high skill set and character; making my days …
Giraffe Head Syndrome: Fixing Biomechanical Problems in the Foundation
A few weeks ago, Tessa and her horse Casper trailered from the Santa Cruz area to come into training for her winter break between semesters. Tessa’s goal is English pleasure, but despite hours of working on her freestyle skills and having a fairly nice foundation, she wanted her horse to carry himself well as she began to work on Level …
Partnering with Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center
When I moved back to California in February I made the decision to keep my horse, Quest, at a facility in Loomis which is approximately 30 minutes from where I live. Although inconvenient, there were several reasons why I made this decision. I knew the financial investment of boarding him somewhere else would hold me accountable to making him a …
A Clinic with the Master
Last weekend my Dad and I had the honor of riding in a two day Master Class with Pat Parelli! To be totally honest, my favorite part of the whole weekend was having quality time with both my Dad and Martini. My love of horses, and now career with them would never have taken off without his support and shared …
Putting The Fun in Performance!
I was recently asked by to write an article for Parelli Natural Horsemanship’s Blog on showing, and how to keep it fun and positive for both the horse and human. With that prompting, this article was created…..
Creating Confidence with Contact
Upon request I have created a video to demonstrate the rein sequence I created after years of fixing horses and their confidence issues with the bit. Ideally this sequence would be implemented when very first introducing contact with the bit! In the video you will see a horse who was conditioned to believe the bit was a barrier, and, something …
The Swing in Balance
~The Swing in Balance ~ By Marie Iserbyt There is a lot to say about balance. Micaela Love inspired me to think about it from the first day we met and it kept coming up during the time I studied with her. When I think about balance I think of harmony. There is no fight or struggle in true balance. …
Pre-Flight Checks for Every Horse & Rider (VIDEO)
If you have ever taken a lesson with me then you know the emphasis I put on going through a “pre-flight” list at the beginning of each riding session. The purpose first and foremost is to be SAFE and develop the muscle memory needed in your body to diffuse a dangerous situation. As the relationship grows, our pre-flight checks can …
The Falling Leaf Pattern (On-Line)
Below you will find a video that shows one of my go-to patterns. The Falling Leaf Pattern is one I encourage my students to build as a rote skill. This pattern is a powerful arrow to have in your quiver should your horse becomes excitable and need to move his feet in a productive way you are playing with a …
LITTLE Difference = BIG Difference
This month enjoy a post written by Annemarie Meerkerk! Annemarie is a dedicated student of the Parelli program and is visiting from The Netherlands. She has been here for four weeks and goes home at the end of February. It has been such a treat to have an assistant with such a high skill set and character; making my days …
Giraffe Head Syndrome: Fixing Biomechanical Problems in the Foundation
A few weeks ago, Tessa and her horse Casper trailered from the Santa Cruz area to come into training for her winter break between semesters. Tessa’s goal is English pleasure, but despite hours of working on her freestyle skills and having a fairly nice foundation, she wanted her horse to carry himself well as she began to work on Level …
Proud Ambassador of Goode Rider Clothing
I am proud to announce that I have recently been selected to act as an Ambassador for the equestrian fashion brand, GOODE RIDER!!! If you know me outside of the barn, you know that I have always had a passion for fashion. With Lorna Goode and Kristin Calandra’s mission being to create clothes that you take you “from the barn …
Putting The Fun in Performance!
I was recently asked by to write an article for Parelli Natural Horsemanship’s Blog on showing, and how to keep it fun and positive for both the horse and human. With that prompting, this article was created…..
Going For The Gold! Again………
LATE NIGHT REFLECTIONS OF AN AWESOME DAY:
I just returned from a “launch party” for dressage rider and Para-Olympian, Lauren Barwick.
I first met Lauren in 2009 while studying with Pat Parelli in Pagosa Springs, CO. This was just one year after Lauren won gold & silver in Beijing with her beautiful mare, Maile. There was no time wasted for Lauren! She had hitched herself to Pat and was gearing up for the next Olympic games.
A Lesson with Herwig Radnetter
For over a decade Valhalla Farm and Herwig Radnetter, of the Spanish Riding School, have been in cahoots. I never got the exact story of how the two came together, however, it was reasoned that this distinguished teacher has been making his way across the Atlantic to Wellborn, FL for the past sixteen years!
The Swing in Balance
~The Swing in Balance ~ By Marie Iserbyt There is a lot to say about balance. Micaela Love inspired me to think about it from the first day we met and it kept coming up during the time I studied with her. When I think about balance I think of harmony. There is no fight or struggle in true balance. …
LITTLE Difference = BIG Difference
This month enjoy a post written by Annemarie Meerkerk! Annemarie is a dedicated student of the Parelli program and is visiting from The Netherlands. She has been here for four weeks and goes home at the end of February. It has been such a treat to have an assistant with such a high skill set and character; making my days …
Giraffe Head Syndrome: Fixing Biomechanical Problems in the Foundation
A few weeks ago, Tessa and her horse Casper trailered from the Santa Cruz area to come into training for her winter break between semesters. Tessa’s goal is English pleasure, but despite hours of working on her freestyle skills and having a fairly nice foundation, she wanted her horse to carry himself well as she began to work on Level …
Dirty Barn? Clean it up with this months EO blog!
Dirty Barn? Clean It Up! A natural horsemanship barn needs natural products for themselves and their horses, right? Well good news, you’re reading the right article! Here are some ways to clean it up; literally! Use Thieves Household Cleaner for: • Cleaning buckets, brushes, barn tools • Bath time – Healthy Coat Shampoo Recipe • add 1 cap Thieves Household …
Essential Oils – DIY Fly Spray
Do It Yourself – Natural & Safe Equine Fly Spray The fly sprays available through our favorite equine supply companies contain chemical substances meant to kill and repel insects that are constantly being reformulated to keep ahead of the resistance these buzzing buggers keep building. With increased potency of these synthetic components toxic chemical reactions occur in ourselves and our animals. …
Essential Oils For Joint and Muscle Pain
Let’s talk joint & muscular issues. Whether you have a horse in work who’s muscle sore and you’re looking for a more natural liniment or rub, or you have an older horse with arthritis who requires more of a regimen, essential oils are here to help.
Getting Through Colic With Essential Oils
Enter: a more natural, organic method for treating colic; essential oils.
There are only 3 Young Living Essential Oils recommended for horse owners when dealing with a colicing horse:
Putting The Essential In Essential Oils: Thieves
In the world of essential oils and natural healing, nothing is more synonymous with winter than Thieves®; for people and horses alike.
Young Living’s Thieves® essential oil was created from research based on legends about a group of 15th century thieves who rubbed oils and aromatics on themselves to avoid contracting the plague while they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. When apprehended, the thieves were forced to tell what their secret was and disclosed the formula of the herbs, spices, and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for more lenient punishments.
Putting The Essential In Essential Oils: The Basics
Upon visiting Parelli University in 2009 I was introduced to the many benefits of essential oils. They were a remedy many students on campus used and boasted about on a daily basis. Like I have said in the past, I am a hard sell on most “airy fairy” products. However it became very apparent that my skeptisism was causing me to be the one missing out.
Sideways on the Circle
In this video you will learn the pieces (sideways + halt on the line of the circle) to develop “sideways on the circle”… This exercise is relevant for any horse, of any age, geared towards any discipline. Not only does this sequence challenge the horse’s mental connection, but also their impulsion (Go = whoa) and begins introducing softness in the …
Developing Your Horse’s “Balance Point”
“Balance Point”… This idea of a horse being on the balance point has been a huge focus for me in both my horse develop program and my teaching! Please take five minutes to watch the video above, give it a try with your horse, and message me with your results and questions!
From Start to Stardom
Words do not describe how proud I am after last weekend’s dressage show at Rancho Murieta Equestrian Center! For this competition I took Soulman (a Right Brain Extrovert horse who was given to me last July due to his “lack of trainability” and issues with the contact) and Wajiro (a Left Brain Introvert and direct son of the famous Hanoverian …
Creating Confidence with Contact
Upon request I have created a video to demonstrate the rein sequence I created after years of fixing horses and their confidence issues with the bit. Ideally this sequence would be implemented when very first introducing contact with the bit! In the video you will see a horse who was conditioned to believe the bit was a barrier, and, something …
Keeping the “Sweet Spot” SWEET!
View PostEvolving Connection from the Ground up!
What an honor to have the opportunity to teach alongside one of my mentors, Ezra Marrow! On July 22nd Ezra and I will be leading a 1-Day clinic (presentation and lecture on July 21st 5:00-7:00pm) at Evolution Equestrian Center on Lone Star Rd. in Auburn, CA. Ezra has worked deeply over the past 10 years to specifically apply what …
Pre-Flight Checks for Every Horse & Rider (VIDEO)
If you have ever taken a lesson with me then you know the emphasis I put on going through a “pre-flight” list at the beginning of each riding session. The purpose first and foremost is to be SAFE and develop the muscle memory needed in your body to diffuse a dangerous situation. As the relationship grows, our pre-flight checks can …
The Sideways Dance (VIDEO)
Put your Seven Games to the test by incorporating them into this flowing pattern! The “Sideways Dance” is a great way to build connection, test your horse’s yields and most of of all, build YOUR leadership and tool savvy! Enjoy and forgive me for the poor audio quality:)
The Falling Leaf Pattern (On-Line)
Below you will find a video that shows one of my go-to patterns. The Falling Leaf Pattern is one I encourage my students to build as a rote skill. This pattern is a powerful arrow to have in your quiver should your horse becomes excitable and need to move his feet in a productive way you are playing with a …
Pura Vida!
View PostPre-Flight Checks for Every Horse & Rider (VIDEO)
If you have ever taken a lesson with me then you know the emphasis I put on going through a “pre-flight” list at the beginning of each riding session. The purpose first and foremost is to be SAFE and develop the muscle memory needed in your body to diffuse a dangerous situation. As the relationship grows, our pre-flight checks can …
The Sideways Dance (VIDEO)
Put your Seven Games to the test by incorporating them into this flowing pattern! The “Sideways Dance” is a great way to build connection, test your horse’s yields and most of of all, build YOUR leadership and tool savvy! Enjoy and forgive me for the poor audio quality:)
The Falling Leaf Pattern (On-Line)
Below you will find a video that shows one of my go-to patterns. The Falling Leaf Pattern is one I encourage my students to build as a rote skill. This pattern is a powerful arrow to have in your quiver should your horse becomes excitable and need to move his feet in a productive way you are playing with a …
LITTLE Difference = BIG Difference
This month enjoy a post written by Annemarie Meerkerk! Annemarie is a dedicated student of the Parelli program and is visiting from The Netherlands. She has been here for four weeks and goes home at the end of February. It has been such a treat to have an assistant with such a high skill set and character; making my days …
Up the Ante on Your Figure 8 Pattern
I hope this gives you a new perspective and empowers you to up the anti on the Figure 8 Pattern with your horse!
Lana April Update
I have been having so much fun with Lana! If I could assign her a Valhalla team award it would be “most improved player”. She has come such a long way since I started with her in December and has shown the biggest shift from extreme to centered.
When I first started with her she had the least handling, and, due to her extroverted nature, was very pushy/impulsive. Now, she is grounded, thoughtful and so connected.
We have been beginning to play at liberty and I had Jerome document our initial introduction.
Enjoy,
WEEK 5: LANA: RBE
DAY 20: Lana has had five days off…
We started back in the round pen and revisited her hindquarter and forequarter yields, as well as her ability to transition between gaits on the circling game. The past couple of rides she has shown opposition in both the halt and back up. This is completely understandable as she is an EXTROVERT and those aids can cause her to feel trapped. With this awareness I have been finding creative ways to use the squeeze game where pressure is added in front of her (zone 1).
WEEK 5: LAMARCK LBE (VIDEO)
Lamarck is doing really well! Like the others, I can see him maturing and becoming more and more confident as a learner each and every session. He is much less reactive and feels like he is settling into my leadership and the dynamics of our relationship.
DAY 20: Lamarck has had four days off. Regardless, we went right back to it and proceeded with our grooming and saddling in the barn. It was glorious outside so we played in the sunny pasture on the 22’ line. This is not a field we have played in before. So, I began with the touch it game and allowed him to become accustomed to the new place. Once he was calm we played with our sideways game along he fence and then I used the trees to reinforce his ability to “follow a feel”. The biggest hole I feel with Lamarck is his brace in Zone 1 (hi nose/mouth) and thoughts to have opposition reflex when pressure is applied here.
WEEK 5: DASHING RBI (VIDEO)
Once we picked up the trot he began to blow out immediately and was more connected to the pattern. This is day 3! His halts where dead on in the center and I really felt like he connected to the sweet spot. There was one time that he blew past the center but instead of pulling on his face I just backed him up the 10 or so feet until we were in the center of the cones.
BELOW YOU CAN SEE DASHING AND I RIDING THE CLOVERLEAF PATTERN
WEEK 4: A TOTAL FUDGE
Week four was a total fudge on my part and I did not journal AT ALL! So, I am going to give you an overview instead of a step by step on each of the horse’s progress all in one post. Like I said before, I am hoping and planning to do more videos each week! As you can imagine, this takes a lot of time and effort, not just from me but from my amazing husband/camera man/web designer & supporter in all things.