Kylie Bartel

08/03/2026

A Gentle Passing of the Baton

Grief is a funny thing. It’s hard when it crashes into you like a wave and takes you by surprise. It’s also hard when it creeps in slowly like the tide that you are powerless to stop. These days, my journey with Misty feels a bit like the tide coming in. Misty turned 26 this year and while her spirit is still bright, her body is slowing down. Her joints and soft tissues can’t climb mountains like we used to and while I’m always striving to do my best for her health, our vet has compassionately shared that Misty is a saint for trying as hard as she does with the physical limitations she has going on. I don’t take that information lightly, especially considering that when I first got Misty (age 9), she had very little interest in trying anything for me.

The grief sneaks in now when I realize how far we’ve come. I used to be afraid of Misty because she was so anxious and even reared under saddle. But now I trust Misty more than any horse I’ve ever known. No matter what the challenge is before us, I know Misty will do her very best to take care of us both. Even if she spooks or struggles, she never bails on me or tries to dump me. She actively considers my input and we find a way to come out the other side together. I’ve never felt more safe in the saddle than I do with her, and the realization that those moments on the trail together are slowly fading away is a new kind of heartbreak for me.

I’ve thought a lot about getting another horse, but I just have this sense in my spirit that a new horse isn’t the answer yet. Right now, my job is to love my dappled golden 💛 girl to the best of my ability in her golden years. To turn toward the immense gratitude I feel for every trail ride, clinic, summer camp, cattle drive, and expo she has embraced simply because I asked her to. And to lean into the truth that while our relationship is slowly and irreversibly changing, it is still worth showing up for.

So these days we get creative about how we connect. We do more liberty work and I learn more about integrating dog training during my time at the barn. And Harley warms the space with her presence. It’s a gentle passing of the baton.

08/01/2026

Summertime = horse time! Hooves & Heroes founder & president Sonia braved the elements with Oso at the Brent Graef Horsemanship clinic in Camano, WA this weekend. Oso is one of the main horses that veterans, first responders, and their family members get to work with in the Hooves & Heroes sessions offered in Stanwood, WA.🐴

Brent Graef is a cowboy from West Texas and has a passion for finding ways to give the horse a better deal. Brent focuses on seeing things from the horse’s perspective and communicating with horses in a way that develops a relationship of unity based on trust. Clinics like these are a great way to build a horse’s confidence and set them up well for working with people. It’s also cool to see that as we train horses to move with more physical balance, they tend to develop more mental and emotional balance as well. We often see a similar phenomenon with people: when we teach people tools to become more centered and balanced in their bodies around the horses, their mental and emotional states become more balanced too.

If you or someone you know is a first responder in WA and would like to work with Oso and the horses at Hooves & Heroes, session registration is live for the 2026 season! Visit hoovesandheroes.org for more info.

07/13/2026

Many of you have heard me share about how I went searching for a "masters degree" in horsemanship and spent a year (2019-2020) living in Alberta and learning intensively with Josh Nichol Horsemanship. Josh, Cindy, and the Nichol family welcomed me with open arms and facilitated a year of learning with horses that was nothing short of life-changing.

Josh recently suffered a tragic accident and while it was not life-threatening, his injuries are significant. Those of us who are self-employed in the horse world know how hard it is on you and your family when you are injured and cannot work while you recover. If you would like to help Josh and his family while he heals, a GoFundMe has been created for those who feel compelled to do so. You can also support them by purchasing a membership on www.joshnichol.com. More details are included in the Facebook post on the Josh Nichol Horsemanship page.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DokZ6PCYJ/

For those who may not have seen our update in our private community, we wanted to share what has happened here on our public page as well.

Last week, while riding a young horse, Josh asked her to transition from the walk to the trot. She unexpectedly jumped forward and, as she landed, another powerful jump created a perfect storm. The force of the collision resulted in a fracture of his p***c symphysis, separating the pelvis.

He was taken to the hospital in Athabasca, where initial X-rays were done before being transported by ambulance to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton for a CT scan. Thankfully, although there was some internal bleeding from the impact, it was controlled and there were no other major injuries.

After consulting with the orthopaedic surgeon, surgery was not recommended. While surgery was an option, it would not have shortened his recovery and would have carried significant risks, including infection and the eventual removal of the hardware. Instead, Josh will be recovering naturally, with time, rest, and rehabilitation.

The reality is that recovery from this type of injury is measured in months, not weeks. For now, Josh is focusing on managing the pain, taking short walks with crutches, and allowing his body the time it needs to heal.

As difficult as this season is, we're incredibly grateful. It could have been so much worse, and we don't take that for granted.

To everyone who has sent messages, prayed for our family, shared words of encouragement, or simply checked in, thank you. Your kindness has carried us through some very difficult days.

We know many of you have also been asking how this will affect clinics, memberships, webinars, and other events. We're working through those plans one step at a time and will continue sharing updates as decisions are made.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for being part of this incredible community. We appreciate each and every one of you.

Cindy 💔

[ADDITIONAL NOTE FROM KYLIE]

Those of us who are self employed in the horse world know how hard it is on you and your family when you are injured and cannot work while you recover. If you would like to help Josh and his family while he heals, a GoFundMe has been created for those who feel compelled to do so:

https://gofund.me/77c1bbb64

If you would prefer an alternative to GoFundMe, e-transfers in CDN dollars can be sent to [email protected]. Thank you all for your continued kindness, generosity, and support. Your notes, thoughts, prayers, and understanding are deeply meaningful in this challenging time.

06/19/2026

Day 1 of the Buck Brannaman clinic in Spanaway, WA is off to a great start! One point that already stands out is the importance of balance. Balance is your horse’s lifeline; if they stumble or fall in the wild, it can result in their imminent demise. You lose credibility in the horse’s eyes quickly if you are not aware of their balance or if you ask them to do a movement that is incompatible with their footfall. Learning the proper way to set up a horse’s balance not only makes the horse more athletic and available; it makes you someone worth listening to from the horse’s perspective.

Buck will be teaching in Spanaway, WA at the Tacoma Unit Horseman’s arena from June 19-22, 2026. There’s plenty of room for auditors on the grandstands in the indoor arena ($30 / day).

05/12/2026

04/27/2026

04/12/2026

Just a snippet from my presentation on: Calm and Connected - Overcoming Fear & Anxiety with Horses at the in 2024. Catch the full demo replay on Facebook or YouTube. 🤠



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Special thanks to & for being incredible demo helpers! 💖

04/12/2026

Two years ago I got the opportunity to present at the Can-Am All Breeds Equine Expo in my hometown of Chilliwack, BC. It was so special to see friendly faces in the crowd but the thing that stands out to me the most was how honest and sweet Misty was to me that day. As I watch the video back now, I see places where I could have executed better groundwork and been more clear, but Misty was perfect. She reflected back the precise energy she felt from me and when I finally stepped into the space in a way that she could connect to, we finished our liberty circle without her leaving. Misty is 26 years old and slowing down these days, so memories like these are especially precious to me. I hope this video offers you some ideas that are helpful and also serves as an encouragement that you don't need to be perfect in order to show up and pursue something meaningful to you.

https://youtu.be/DanEvebMwlI?si=9pW-5e1VCoiAR7pj

Video cred: Stiles Productions

This is a replay of Kylie's demo with Misty at the Can-Am All Breeds Equine Expo 2024 in Chilliwack, BC. In this session, Kylie uses relational horsemanship...

04/08/2026

Really looking forward to reading this article by Josh Nichol! Also can’t believe my photo made a magazine cover. 🤩

I’m truly honoured to share that I was recently featured in Eclectic Horseman not only through an interview, but also on the front cover.

This means a great deal to me. Eclectic Horseman has long been one of the most respected publications in the horsemanship world, known for highlighting thoughtful voices that are helping shape where we’re headed.

The article, “The Next Paradigm Shifters: Josh Nichol—Teaching the Art of Awareness and Connection” by Katrina Hays, speaks to something I care deeply about supporting people in moving beyond force and into awareness, feel, and true connection with their horses.

For me, this work has never just been about training horses. It’s about understanding of the horse, and of ourselves. When we begin to develop awareness through things like body mapping and emotional presence, we can start to release tension, build trust, and create something far more meaningful than control.

I’m grateful to be part of a conversation that’s helping shift horsemanship forward.

Thank you to Eclectic Horseman for this incredible honour.



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03/27/2026

I dipped my toes into the corporate world of leadership with horses this week and it was an incredibly valuable learning experience for all, including me! Big thanks to Roam Consulting for having me out as a horse handler at Big Sky Acres.