Reata Horsemanship

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09/05/2026

The Horsemanship Minute - The 4-Corners Rule 🐎

When I first introduce a horse in training to my arena, I make sure to do the ground work in all 4 corners of the arena.

Typically, horses in training or that are more prone to be spooky find spots in the arena they are not comfortable with. They will fade away or spook from those areas. 😏

So, to increase my chances of that not happening under saddle, I do all my ground work in the 4 corners of the arena, and also half-way between each corner.

I will continue my ground work until my horses are relaxed along all corners and sides of the arena. Once that’s accomplished, I will ride them.

What do you do to help your horse be comfortable with an area before riding, if anything at all? 🤔

If you enjoyed this tip, please share it with your friends. It will help them out, and will help me continue to publish these posts! ❤

09/03/2026

Trail Tip 38 - When you find a weakness, work on it!

The 2-year-old quarter horse gelding I’m riding today is Chili, and one of his greatest weakness is dogs running up to the fence. He jumped sideways at least 3 different times on 3 different occasions during his couple months of training with me.

So, my goal was to find dogs and ride along the fence line throughout my trail ride with Chili to help him learn to relax to them. Using the Stationary Serpentine exercise to move left and right along the fence line with dogs barking on the other side, I was able to help Chili relax to them and stop spooking sideways.

Our natural tendency as human beings is to avoid the challenging, scary, and sometimes dangerous things in life. We do this on the trail ride as well. It’s up to us to be purposeful about recognizing and addressing our horse’s fears out on the trail.

Work with your horse until he or she is much more relaxed to the thing they’re afraid of, and they will dramatically improve their capabilities as a safe trail horse. You’ll begin to enjoy your trail rides so much more as well.

08/31/2026

Luke Brown's Trail Tip - Steps for teaching water crossing 🐴

When helping your horse from the ground to cross water, the Pass Through exercise is number 1 at being able to do so. Your first goal should be that your horse step through the water.

Next, that your horse walk through in a relaxed manner. 😌

Lastly, your horse should be able to stop and stand still and be relaxed in the water. Your cue to tell your horse to stop is simply to lower your lead hand to neutral and reach up and rub him with your stick or flag in the other hand. If you only have a lead rope, reach and rub with your non-lead hand.

When your horse can walk through water, such as a puddle, from both directions, right and left, and can stop and stand patiently and relaxed as well, you’re well on your way to now being able to do it under saddle. 🌊

Does your horse walk through water relaxed and confidently? If so, how did you accomplish this? If not, this should be a prioritized goal.

COMMENT below on your experience with your horse and water, good or bad! 👇

08/30/2026

Overcoming Fear: Ellie Learns to Back Out with Confidence

In Part 2, Ellie starts letting go of her fear—and trusting the process. Trailer loading is never about rushing; it’s about timing, feel, and consistency.

🎬 Watch the progress unfold: https://youtu.be/o7V_UMze-lQ

08/28/2026

Claustrophobia to Calm: Ellie’s Continued Journey

Breakthroughs don’t happen overnight—but they do happen. Ellie’s Day 2 progress is a win for trust, patience, and skill.

👉 Watch it unfold: https://youtu.be/o7V_UMze-lQ

08/27/2026

Winning Wednesday - Work on weaknesses. Don’t avoid them. 🐎

It’s natural for us as humans to avoid facing and working on our weaknesses.

We do the same with horses. Our horse is afraid of water, so we avoid water. Our horse isn’t comfortable with a bit in his mouth, so we avoid bits. Our horse doesn’t like a section of the arena or trail, so we avoid going there. I could go on and on… 😌

When we will address cracks in the foundation of our horse and our life, we will build a stronger foundation to weather the storms that come.

What is a weakness in your horse or in yourself that you will commit to working on this week? Comment below! ❤

08/24/2026

Motivational Monday! 🌅💛 The warmth we share will always come back to us 🤝✨

If you’re feeling like you wish others would do something for you, or maybe you’re feeling a little sad and forgotten 💭💔, take charge of your life and go help someone else in theirs 🙌

Do something positive 🌱

Share a smile 😊, a kind “hello” 👋, or support someone in need ❤️

When you provide warmth to others, you will receive in return 🔄💛

Don’t do it for that benefit—otherwise it’s not true warmth.

Have genuine intentions to help someone else, and life has a way of giving back 🌟

Have an awesome week! 💪😄

08/22/2026

**Trail Tip with Luke Brown 🐴 – The One-Rein Stop**

Before riding out on the trail 🌲, make sure your horse is really good at the **One-Rein Stop** exercise from a walk, trot, and canter.

I often see trail riders attempt a one-rein stop after a spook and bolt, or a buck, only to learn their horse cannot do it. 😬

Pulling laterally on a horse when he’s bolting down the trail, if he doesn’t understand the one-rein stop, is a recipe for an accident. ⚠️ If a horse is racing down the trail with his head pulled laterally, there’s a good chance he could trip and fall. You would probably be safer just hanging on.

However, if you’ve taught your horse the one-rein stop in a controlled environment 🐎, usually you will never—or rarely—have to use it in an emergency. If you do have to use it, your horse will know what you’re asking and will bend and stop as you planned.

Not only do I prepare my horses in the arena by teaching the one-rein stop, but I also practice it often out on the trail. 🌿 Remember to practice right and left stops to help ensure balance of both body and mind.

**Can your horse do a one-rein stop from both directions and at all speeds? 🤔👇**

08/19/2026

Trailer loading starts long before your horse reaches the trailer.

See how Luke prepares Sunny for success in Part 2.

What's your biggest trailer loading challenge?

🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5QM4wuf9Ck

08/17/2026

The Horsemanship Minute - Why I Round Pen some horses first 🐎

A question I get a lot is why I Round Pen some horses at the start of a session—and not others. 🤔

Simple answer:
If I turn a horse loose and she leaves me, I’ll Round Pen until she hooks on and chooses to stay with me.

If she stays with me right away—and already understands turning in, changing direction, and speed—then I usually skip it 👍

It all comes down to connection and where the horse is at.

Do you Round Pen your horses? Why or why not? 👇

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