Miller Equestrian Farm

05/26/2023

“Gabe” is a 10 month old Gypsy Vanner. He is being prepared for his first ride which won’t happen for another year or two, but don’t tell him that😉 He thinks I’m about to hop on and he seems very accepting to the idea. Patience is the real key to success.

Gabe is experiencing someone above him for the first time, pressure on his back, passive energy around his head and body, and he follows a soft feel on the rein(lead rope). Great start!

09/19/2022

09/07/2022

Representing MEF at Ryan's Hope 11th Annual Golf Classic along with Mike "Moose" Watson, long drive golf champion! Raising money and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer one long drive at a time.

08/24/2022

Bindi’s Progress

Here’s a montage of various “firsts” in this session with Bindi. We continue to work on building confidence, relaxation and willingness.

I direct her without moving my feet.
She is seeing a human in both eyes from above her.
She feels a leg around her girth and over her back.
She lowers her head to accept a snaffle bit.
She experiences ground driving with two drive lines, one line over her back.
She then experiences ground driving and feels one line behind her hindquarter.

Slow and steady makes faster progress by keeping Bindi in a learning state of mind (parasympathetic nervous system). Good stuff!

08/23/2022

Marley and "Bou" (Boujee)

Bou is learning that she has speeds within the
gait and not just walk/trot/canter. Marley uses
light cues to communicate her request for a
faster walk. Marley uses those same light cues
with a different intention to cue for a trot. It
looks invisible to the observer, however Bou
hears her loud and clear.

Marley maintains softness with a "spongy
elbow" on the lunge line(rein). No hard hands
or wrist flexion! Watch how she uses a half halt on the lunge line to drop down from the trot.

I don't know who I'm most proud of, Marley or Bou!

08/19/2022

A day in the life of a young equestrian 🐴

08/15/2022

Foggy day at MEF!

The learning continues for both horse and trainer. Every horse is an opportunity to improve my skills and be a better communicator for the next horse.

Training horses is like a puzzle. I'm trying to figure out all the pieces in just the right way to create a beautiful picture. Each horse has different levels of needs that must be satisfied, but the needs are the same for every horse.
1. Safety
2. Comfort
3. Play

Safety. Satisfy their need for a leader that they get from the herd.

Comfort. Encourage relaxation through proper use of the aids, both natural(body language and energy) and artificial (whip, bridle, lead line, reins, saddle, spurs).

Play. Understand their need to be curious and exuberant without judgement.

The more you know...

08/11/2022

There's a lot more going on here than you would think. As a beginner student, Karis learned to ride on a lunge line with only a soft halter on the horse. She had to develop an awareness of her seat and hands before moving to solo riding with a bridle.

After many hours of instruction and determination, here she is killing it with Star! Let the horse tell the story of Karis's work. Notice how quiet and relaxed Star is. Karis keeps her seat in rhythm with the horse with quiet hands. Oh, and she's carrying a crop! So much to think about! What a lovely ride.

Karis will continue her education as she advances towards connecting with the bit through the reins. Just as the horse receives foundation training, the same goes for the student.

08/09/2022

Meet Bindi! Bindi is a 7 year old Arab mare who is receiving training for the very first time. Bindi's initial evaluation revealed a high level of concern and tension to any change in her environment. She is a friendly mare and although she does not have a bad opinion of humans, she does not find safety or comfort in the company of humans.

The first order of business is to begin to sack her out to various situations and to various things. By doing so, we are enabling Bindi to go from her sympathetic nervous system(fight or flight)to her parasympathetic nervous system(rest and digest). As long as a horse is in the sympathetic nervous system, no training is possible.

This is Bindi's first session. She is wearing a surcingle and dragging a lunge line. Everything we do is done with a purpose in mind. The lunge line is getting her used to ropes touching her legs and seeing something dragging along beside her. As an animal of prey, the legs and belly areas are very vulnerable. The surcingle is in preparation for ground driving and eventually a saddle.

Watch as Bindi learns to lunge and see if you can identify when she switches from her sympathetic nervous system to her parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic is high alert and concern and Parasympathetic is relaxed and comfortable. She will switch back and forth between these two states.

07/15/2022

The dogs of MEF starting out their morning 🐾

07/10/2022

Spa Day at MEF!

Keri Haldeman, equine and human chiropractor, worked her magic on Star and Manny. Both horses received good reports after their adjustments!

Good training that focuses on physical and mental softness and relaxation allows the horse to live a happy and healthy life. High heads and hollow backs are signs that your horse's physical and mental needs are not being met.

Help your horse find his/her happy place through good training practices. Your horse deserves it!