Stay in the Saddle LLC, Janel Brookshire

06/16/2025

It’s okay.
No matter how long you’ve had horses, or in what capacity, or where or anything… it’s okay if you don’t know everything about horses. Or about your horse. Or about tack. Or about fencing. Or about… etc etc etc.

Listen, I’ve been driving for close to 40 years and while I can figure a lot of things out… I’m still pretty clueless when it comes to automotive repair. I realized this in all the questions I send to my marvelous mechanic. And he never makes me feel stupid for asking. If there’s something he doesn’t know (which is rare), he knows where to look or who to ask. I am thankful for him AND his experience.

So, if you don’t know everything and have to ask ~ it’s okay! Really really.
No one should be made to feel less than. And I do not expect you to be the walking equine encyclopedia when you arrive.
🐎 Let’s jump in together.
My experience and observations over the years do not qualify me as knowing everything… but I’ve seen a thing or two. 🤓
And if I don’t know, I bet I have a resource or two to find out.
That’s what’s great about a network. Having connections. Not having to be an island.
And this is why Stay in the Saddle is a success ~ because once you realize who and what we are, you’ll feel right at home. A safe place to ask questions, make mistakes, learn, laugh and network with good people. 💯

05/17/2025

Chiropractor Day! A fave for the animals of Stay in the Saddle + a few friends!
We had 7 horses and two dogs adjusted yesterday, a few being first timers.
😳There’s always a little nervousness at first, but when an animal realizes the immediate relief of an adjustment ~ you can see the relaxation in their eyes (and entire body).
☺️ For those getting regular checks ~ they know exactly what they’re here for. And they LOVE it!

05/09/2025

Little bit of this.
Little bit of that.
And a whole lotta horses!

04/26/2025

Last practice today on our phase 1 roping. A very special thanks to Jeff and Jodie coming out to meet and greet, and give homework (groundwork) before phase 2 begins!! 🙌🏼
A nice way to spend a rainy afternoon! 🌧️🌧️🌧️

🤠 Phase 2 with Jeff and Jodie Morrison will begin soon (May?) ~ watch for details!

04/15/2025

For those who’ve asked this very question ~ or those looking to buy ~ or that horse you bought that is *suddenly* acting up.
Like it or not: coaching works.

Beginner safe???
Instead of asking if a horse is beginner safe, maybe we should be asking how many days in a row a horse is expected to stay beginner safe?
Lots of horses are beginner safe for a ride or two on good days, but that doesn’t mean a beginner could handle them and ride them day after day without that horse stressing out and losing his beginner safe status!!!! And that’s assuming an instructor is still present and deeply involved!!!

Pictured is Lise and Jenn with Dudley. On a good day Dudley is a great beginners horse. On a bad day Dudley can see dead people- and he’s not cool with it. Jenn would probably struggle with Dudley on her own, but with Lise’s help, she can ride Dudley even on his bad days. I have two other students who can also pilot Dudley on his bad days with my help.
They sometimes ride Dudley when I’m not there, and they know that if he’s tense that day, maybe they should not canter, but they are competent enough to do well with him walk and trot.  As long as those three are working with him I don’t have to get on him to work through anything. If any of those three riders owned him and worked him on their own without help, long term, eventually bad things would happen. That said, when this guy is good, he’s great, and we can put certain beginners on him.

Out of the eight horses I am currently using for Lessons, there is only one that I think would deal with a beginner day in and day out for a year or more before I think it would all fall apart. I have horses here that failed other lesson programs, but flourish here…. Because Lise and I know how to keep the horses happy. If we see a horse is getting a little bit beginner sour, we put an advanced student on them and work specifically on  whatever that horse needs to get back into a stable, emotional homeostasis again. (This also is amazing for our more advanced riders because this is real life! Helping horses emotionally regulate is the number one thing that makes a rider a good rider!)

I’m not exactly sure how to quantify all the skill sets that someone should require before riding a horse daily, without instruction, and expect to be sustainably safe, but certainly you should at least be able to walk, trot, and canter competently, have some idea of bending walk and trot, and be able to speed up and slow down off seat ON MULTIPLE HORSES before thinking you should own one and ride it regularly without an instructor there.  

04/13/2025

A great day to rope a dummy! 🤣 We had fun yesterday and got comfortable handling our ropes and throwing from a horse.

Last practice: April 26th. Time TBD. Stay tuned!

After this, we will move on to Phase 2 for those who have participated and are ready. 🙌🏼🐎🤠

04/10/2025

Next Roping Practice!
This Saturday, April 12th, @1-3pm.
All are welcome!
🤠We will review all skills from the start.
🤠Opportunity to rope a dummy from a horse.
🤠If you’re comfortable ~ you can bring your horse to start acclimating them.
(Bringing a horse is not necessary to this practice.)

Let me know if you plan to attend ~ for better planning!