Desert Mermaid Horsemanship

11/08/2025

I did it! I entered my first show outside of Mustang challenges! I chose to do this show circuit with two of my personal horses and what a day we had!!

Even though I OBLITERATED both patterns that were required, my girls did right by me in their classes and made me look good! I am so very proud of them and mostly, I’m proud of ME!! I stepped out of my comfort zone, and decided to be a part of the fun my best friends have of showing! I’m so happy I got to share today with my bestest! Jordan, it’s not letting me tag you! 🥴🥴

First two classes of the day where with my Pearl Snap;
2nd in Halter
3rd in Showmanship

The last two classes were with my one and only Arya;
2nd in Ranch Rail
2nd in Ranch Riding

Now, to be fair there was only 3 people in my classes but still!!! 😂 I can’t wait for the next one!

10/22/2025

10/10/2025

Ooooooo 😍

10/01/2025

Lacey girl got to go home to be with her lifelong owners today. She came to me for a restart under saddle, and what I thought was going to be a smooth easy process, ultimately reminded me how hard my job can be. 😵‍💫

This mare arrived buddy sour, barn sour, opinionated, unconfident and most of all IMPATIENT! She is big, athletic, forward, and was unsure on how to handle energy from herself and everything around her.

Here’s the kicker, nothing she did was bad, it wasn’t ever mean, she wasn’t “untrainable” she was just lost, she was never held accountable for herself and her actions. Her training has gone from her not being able to ride on all four feet to riding up and down the mountain on a loose rein.

Lacey has always been extremely smart, sweet, loving, and a willing horse that was clearly raised by loving hands. This made it easy for her to accept and understand what was being expected of her as she progressed in her training!

Lacey has been one I can say I’m VERY proud of not only because the work I put in but also because she actually helped me thru some periods of self doubt, and questionable moments. She was always willing to go where I asked, do what I needed, and trust me to guide her. Except for ponying another horse, she wasn’t about that life! 😂

Truly one of those horses that reminds us trainers of our passion and joy in our work, No matter how small the changes can be! She went from fat and sassy to fit and respectful! 😍

Her owners were very excited to bring her home today, to rejoin their family and start their adventures on the Arizona trails! I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings them!

09/19/2025

Truly something us trainers deal with on a day to day basis! It’s important to understand as an owner, there’s a reason we do what we do!

Here’s the answer to the age old phrase “He/She never did that with me!” Exactly, it’s because you never asked or expected that of sugarpuff! Now sugarpuff is showing you what she really thinks!

Today let’s talk about, what Layne refers to as, “sleepers”. This so much more common than most trainers are willing to talk about because of the backlash that comes with it. We used to get, generally, 1-2 sleepers in every set of 6-8 horses we took in for training.

These are the horses/c**ts that are raised and handled as pets. Owners talk about how NICE AND QUIET, CALM, KIND their horses are. “We’ve done all the ground work and quieting with them their whole lives.”

This is great. Quiet horses are nice. BUT let’s talk about what happens with these quiet horses “wake up” once they’re pushed out of their comfort zones that they’ve lived in their entire lives. The standard drill of the flag and buggy whip or lead rope thrown around the legs. Your horse stands quietly while doing the basic “groundwork”, no care in the world. He leads perfectly when you catch him. The list goes on.

Chances are, this horse hasn’t left their comfort zones and home their entire life, or for a good portion of their lives.

So… It’s time you send this horse to a trainer. They step into a new property, with new sounds, new smells, new animals, new routine. And NOW they’re being told what to do, when and how to do it.
In my opinion, a good trainer will get respect on the ground before all else. Yielding all four quarters, moving off pressure (not just following you because he’s caught- two very different things.), respecting personal space, etc, etc, etc. More often than not, this sequence of activity happens at a much quicker pace, with more authority and more expectation than most horses will ever receive at home.

Your horse gets offended that they are not “poo-poo’d” and respect is expected and demanded from them. You’re taking your c**t, a standard civilian, that has had minimum “training” and putting them into, what they probably assume to be, boot camp. They get confused by the change up, they get sore from the physical activity.

These horses WILL get offended 9/10 times by a newly set pace and standard. They start showing signs of a different personality than owners have ever seen. Seemingly to be more instinctual than the taught “quiet behavior”.

Trainers check in with owners and give them the update. “Hey he’s doing okay, showing a little aggression/ anxiety towards (X,y,z) but that’s typical and we’re not too worried about it.”
A lot of owners immediately get defensive and offended and go to blaming trainer for being abusive, pushing the horse too hard, etc, etc. Horses buck, horses bite, horses kick or strike, they run away. And it’s because the people that did the original ground work never pushed them past their point of comfort. They never taught them that above all else, respect and following lead EVEN WHEN they don’t trust the situation at hand is the most important part in a horses foundation.

Some owners have even pulled their horses from training and took them home and put them right back to the quiet, comfortable routine the horse is used to and “have no problem with the horse”. Furthering the distaste in the training program.
90% of these horses DO come out at the end of their 60- 90 -120 days extremely well mannered, well rounded, well exposed and experienced. You just need to be willing to put the time, money and confidence in them first.

If you’re not someone willing to SAFELY put horses in and properly GUIDE them through new, uncomfortable, scary situations while setting their foundation… you’re setting them up for a lifetime of potential blow ups each time they enter an uncomfortable situations.

The horses from our program are well known for their manners, their solid mindsets and trustworthy foundations.
It all starts by forming new habits and building trust that no matter the new, scary situation- you’re going to get through it safely, quietly and respectfully.

09/05/2025

🔥🔥SOLD🔥🔥

Lady Wade Saddle

Corriente Wade style association saddle, size 15’ seat, very comfy and not super heavy! Bucking rolls, and rear cinch will be included……no stirrups!

Has got lots of different horses, especially those mutton withered mustangs, great condition, just dusty from use!

Located in Benson, right outside of Tucson/Vail area. Willing to ship or deliver at buyers expense! Asking $900 OBO

08/30/2025

I’m so excited for this gorgeous soul I’ve had the chance to have as my pretend daughter for the last 10yrs!! Such fun and sweet little items that I’ve been using now and love! Get loaded up for the upcoming holidays!

Give her page a follow! Allison Slaughter

08/28/2025

“Slow things down!”

There is absolutely nothing wrong with slowing things down for your horse. There is such a stigma within the training world around time spent on your horse as being negative if you slow things down.

Have you ever thought that slowing things down may just be more difficult for your horse and the way they process information? Well I’m here to tell you it sure can be!

Here is a perfect example of this, Lacey is one of those horses, she is an extremely forward horse, some would consider “hot” the faster you move her feet, the less she thinks! She has been accustomed to just running around, but when asked to think things through and be responsible for her own reactions she can NOT handle it.

I know it may not seem like a big deal what we are doing in this video, but to her, we moved mountains! Being soft and following any type of feel for Lacey was never a part of her vocabulary! Anytime pressure was put on she would tighten, rush her feet, mentally travel to her happy place where she could hide! She would run thru her shoulder, chomp the bit and not stop, become super stiff in a turn or a circle!

Here you can see, her keeping a circle and following the feel at a simple walk, but can you notice her softness? That’s what I was striving for! All at a walk, calm, cool, collected, and thoughtful!

So go ahead, try and slow things down for them and test if they can handle it, if they can carry out the task calm, cool and collected! Your horse might appreciate the option!

08/15/2025

Sweet boy, fun ride, smooth gaits! He can go all day and tackle all terrain!

08/07/2025

Let’s talk about the word “WHOA”

You’ve heard it, you’ve used it, but what does it mean to you? What does it mean to your horse?

Is your definition of it clear to you and your horse? It’s very easy and common for it to get mottled for your horse, but why? Easiest answer is, it was mottled for you first.

Talking to your horse isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a way of communication for many in addition to your body language and your energy! Between two people it’s easy to realize how the one person means it based on just the vocalization of it, but to your horse, it’s mixed into your energy, body language and your vocalization. It’s important we make sure these all don’t get mixed up as it leads to confusion, and frustration!

Here is a clear visual of mottled meaning in a horse! To me the word “whoa” means exactly that…..WHOA, STOP, BRAKES, HALT!! Not, slow down, go easy, walk instead of something else!

The red mare in this video, never had the clear meaning of this word and it’s hard for her to figure it out! She is definitely getting it as it has become a very clear option with me! As powerful and fast as this mare is she always needs to have that “shut off” button and understand it.

Something so small and what can be considered normal is one of the largest issues in the horse world, if you say it, mean it, expect it and work towards making it happen! Remember whoa means whoa! 😂