Key13 Horsemanship

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Barrhead, AB
Key13 Horsemanship

Science-based horsemanship rooted in trust, clarity and partnership. Building willing horses from the ground up

10/31/2026

“The years have a way of softening your heart while toughening your soul. You learn to stand alone without feeling lonely, to find peace in the silence, and to understand that the richest parts of life were never things money could buy.”
— Sky Clark

The last three years have definitely shaped me.

They have been some of the most demanding and rewarding years of my life. And looking back, I am proud.

Proud of what I've built, the horses I've trained, and the people I've had the privilege to coach along the way.

I've learned more about myself in these three years than I did in the 37 years before them.

This life has a funny way of humbling you, making you miserable, and filling your heart with happiness, sometimes all in the same day 😂

The horses have been some of my greatest teachers. Every one that has come through my gates has left behind a lesson, a memory, or a little piece of themselves.

I've learned to read the wind, watch the sky, and understand the rhythm of the seasons. Living close to nature changes the way you see the world, and somewhere along the way, this land became part of me.

Three years ago, I came here with dreams of what I wanted to build. I never imagined how much this place, and the horses who have walked through it, would shape me in return.

I came here to build a home for my horses and my dreams.

Somewhere along the way, they gave me a place to truly belong. ❤️🐴

10/28/2026

🐴 TRUE OR FALSE?

🦖 Chestnut mares are just T-Rexes disguised as horses!

Dramatic, opinionated, stubborn, and apparently born with an attitude. 😂

We've all heard the reputation. But how much of it comes from the horse, and how much comes from our expectations?

When a gelding reacts, we look for a reason. When a chestnut mare reacts, we say, "Well, she's a chestnut mare!"

But here's the question: are we judging the horse in front of us, or the stereotype we've already created?

Every horse has its own personality, experiences, and education. Coat colour doesn't tell us the whole story.

💬 Are chestnut mares really different, or do we simply treat them differently?

10/25/2026

🔑 Finding the Key — Are we unintentionally discouraging curiosity in our horses?

Here's a yearling exploring a tarp, discovering its texture, movement, and sounds at his own pace.

No need to rush him or tell him what to do. Just giving him the opportunity to investigate, make decisions, and learn from the experience.

Sometimes, we're so focused on teaching our horses that we forget how much they can learn when we simply leave them alone.

Curiosity is an important part of learning, but it needs space to develop.

Of course, not every curious horse is a confident horse. Sometimes curiosity and uncertainty go hand in hand, and that's perfectly okay.

💬 How often do we interrupt our horses' curiosity without even realizing it? ❤️

10/23/2026

🐴 Trust goes both ways. ❤️

We often talk about teaching our horses to trust us, but what about trusting them?

When the herd starts loping around me in the pasture, I trust them to be aware of my presence and choose to move around me.

Of course, trust doesn't replace awareness or safety. Horses can still react unexpectedly.

But sometimes, trust means stepping back and letting them make their own decisions.

Because trust should go both ways. ❤️

💬 We ask our horses to trust us every day, but how often do we give them that same trust in return?

10/20/2026

🐴 TRUE OR FALSE? Can softness alone create a soft horse?

I often say that sometimes a horse needs a firm hand before we can achieve softness.

By a firm hand, I don't mean force or harshness. I mean taking the time to teach the true meaning behind every maneuver, from the preparation and the cues that announce it to the ex*****on itself.

That requires clear expectations, timing, consistency, precision, and knowing when to release.

Sometimes it takes a hundred repetitions to build a maneuver from A to Z. Because every letter is a stepping stone, and every stepping stone needs to be taught, understood, and connected to the next.

Take a rollback, for example. Before I even ask, my body position, balance, and preparation are already communicating what's coming. Sometimes my horse initiates the movement before I give the actual cue. Not because he's guessing, but because he recognizes the sequence and understands his role in it.

That's the communication I'm looking for. A horse that participates rather than waits for me to direct every movement.

But we also need to step back, allow the horse to think, make decisions, and show us what it truly understands.

That's when everything starts coming together. Riding one-handed, going bridleless, working cattle more efficiently... because the horse understands its job and becomes an active partner.

At the end of the day, it's not just about riding a horse.

It's about becoming a team. ❤️

💬 Can softness alone create a truly educated horse?

10/15/2026

SOLD

Freya 2023 registered in the heritage division as a half Gypsy ( Quarter Horse × Gypsy Vanner)
Expected to mature around 14.3 hh

Freya is a sweet, smart young mare with a great brain and a fantastic work ethic. She is always the first one waiting at the gate, eager to come with you, and learns exceptionally quickly.

She has been handled almost daily since she was a yearling and has been lightly started under saddle with a strong focus on foundation. She walks, trots, lopes, backs up, stops, and is beginning to respond to leg and seat aids while developing softness in the bridle.

Freya is a nice mover with more “go” than “whoa.” She has been ridden in an outdoor arena, fields, and along range roads, rides alone or with other horses, and has been exposed to a variety of obstacles and we roped a dummy on her back.

She is easy to catch, saddle, and bridle and has shown no buck, bolt, rear, or kick.

Freya is ready to go in many directions. She could make a great ranch prospect, all-around horse, or versatile partner for someone looking for a young horse with a solid foundation to finish their own way.

She is also very people-oriented and family friendly on the ground. She enjoys attention and is happy to be brushed and handled, although because of her age and current level of training, she is best suited to an intermediate or experienced rider.

10/11/2026

Lies horse trainers tell themselves during training season - Part 1 🐴

“Once the last training horse leaves, things will slow down.”

“We’ll have extra money at the end of the season.”

“We’ll finally clean and organize the barn this winter.”

“Next year, we’re taking fewer horses and booking less coaching and fewer clinics.”

“We’ll have more help next year.”

Same lies. Different season. 😂

Which one do you tell yourself?

10/09/2026

🐴 Teaching a Horse to Cede to Pressure — Part 3

Today, Flicka’s owner came to ride her, and what a difference a month can make!

Together, they achieved a relaxed lope, with Flicka willingly picking up the gait right on cue. We also noticed some blinking and lip licking along the way.

You’ll notice Flicka is wearing what looks like a tie-down. It’s actually a long, elastic aid that allows plenty of freedom for her head and neck. Its purpose isn't to force her into a position, but to provide a gentle reminder to lower her head and help her find better balance.

We've incorporated both the saddle and the elastic aid into a routine Flicka now knows well.Walk, trot, lope, then back through trot and walk, always reminding her to lower her head, regulate her pace, and find her balance without building unnecessary tension.

This is the result of a month spent figuring out how to help Flicka manage her anxiety, reduce tension, and build confidence.

Not by rushing or forcing things, but by finding what works for her.

This is only the beginning of Flicka’s journey. There is still plenty of work ahead, and many things left to figure out. But we've helped clear a path forward, giving Flicka and her owner a foundation they can continue building on together, as a team.

And to me, that's what training is all about. ❤️🐴

Address

Barrhead, AB
T7N0K2

Website

http://www.k13horsemanship.ca/, https://linktr.ee/Key13horsemanship

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