Callie Fulmer

09/23/2025

October Newsletter! Yay for cooler weather!

09/02/2025

Which wolves do you feed?

www.infocushorsemanship.com/blog/the-wolf-you-feed

“In every human being, there are two wolves constantly battling. One is love and the other is fear. The wolf that wins the battle is the one you feed. Always the one you feed.” ―

08/23/2025

The Atreyu diaries-day 6

Atreyu had a week off, because my injured finger isn't healing as easily as I wish it would. My doc straightened it last Friday. If that sounds painful, believe me - it was worse than that. I am seeing a hand specialist next week, because the X-ray say no fracture. Ugh.

So he had a week off. I rode him today. He was delightful. There was a little whinnying when his ladies went over the hill, but no problem resulted from that.

We went with impulsive flexion today, and he was quite a bit more forward than trying to drive him. So we will stick to that until I can feather in the leg aids.

I cleaned out the trough when we were done, and he came over for some more attention. He really is a character, lol. If you zoom in, you can see the fox he drew my attention to after we were done.

08/13/2025

The Atreyu diaries- day 5

We ended up not working yesterday, but that's not a big deal. I often find that working young horses 2 days in a row followed by a day off seems to keep them from getting sore, and also they come back with a better understanding.

Case in point- last time I was up we didn't really get going forward. Atreyu is NotAThoroughbred TM, his motor isn't always warmed up and ready to go. We had a few tentative steps like a drunken sailor, and he would run out of gas.

Today, we managed a whole lap around the round pen at the walk! He felt much more balanced, like he was starting to work out how to move and carry me at the same time.

He stood absolutely still at the block, like an old hand. It is so lovely to feel so secure swinging one's leg over any horse, but especially such a green one.

The bosal experiment is going well. It definitely seems to be helping him rock back on his hindquarters more than the ones I have started in a snaffle. I am suspicious that the one I have is a little too flexible and narrow for this stage, but I am not worried about it at the moment, though if I come across a bigger, somewhat stiffer one I may pick it up.

I have at least figured out how to shape it to his face. That was a learning curve all on its own!

08/11/2025

The Atreyu diaries- day 4

Well, we did it! We had a little sit upon. He stood quite well for me to get on. He took one step back as I swung my leg over, but it was really no big deal.

He did very well bringing his attention back to me when I asked, and he stayed totally calm when the other horses noticed I was on him and they came trotting over to join the fun! It will take us a few tries to be able to really go forward, but he was amazing today.

One of the things I try and do to keep myself sharp as a trainer is try new things. Since I don't have a trainer I work with, I read books and experiment. Atreyu is being started in the bosal, I haven't tried that before.

I bought this one because it was from a quality maker, and was the right size for his face. I didn't consciously realize how lovely the color goes with his rose grey.

Doesn't he look handsome?

08/10/2025

The Atreyu diaries- day 3

I am often asked, "how do you know when the young horse is ready for his first mounting?" My answer is "When the horse tells you he is ready."

And while that sounds like a meaningless trope, everyone who has accepted that has been happy and safe when they got on their horse for the first time.

Today, I leaned all of my weight over Atreyu's back. He couldn't have been more cooperative, especially for a horse that was sat on twice 15 months ago.

I was also shocked that we got that far, but he was ready.

The first thing I do with horses is work on them coming up to get me at the mounting block, bare back. They need to be comfortable with me above them. I pet them on both sides, maneuvering them back to their spot as needed while they get ok with what I am up to. I then touch them with my feet. I put my foot on their shoulders, on their haunches, I stroke their belly with my foot, just as I would with my hand.

Once that is no big deal, I start with dismounting. So I just lean my weight onto them and slide down to the ground.

My philosophy on young horses is this: they have no idea what good mounting and dismounting is. So,if I get them to accept the "worst" that I can do, they will be fine when I do it well. Plus, if I focus on sliding off before I even get on, then the first time I ride won't end with a new experience, but with one they already understand.

Back to Atreyu: 15 months ago I spent quite a bit of time on the mounting block with him doing all the things I described above. Today, after he went around the pen beautifully relaxed, I took him over to the block. I had intended just to pet him, but ended up with my weight over his back. He told me he was ready.

I am glad I listened.

Tomorrow I may be swinging my leg over. Looking forward to seeing where he takes me!

08/10/2025

The Atreyu diaries, day 2

Every trainer I can remember meeting has said that when you first saddle a young horse and begin to move him around (loose), if he starts bucking you should push him forward until he lines out.

I have started quite a few horses this way, and have never been dissatisfied, but I have been experimenting with teaching the horses to de-escalate themselves, so last year when I first moved him around, he walked and trotted without issue. When I offered up the canter, as he gathered up you could see the stress on his face as he really felt the girth, so before he could buck, I just brought him back to a trot. After another lap we tried again for the canter, and there was no problem.

Fast forward to today. I tacked him up, and he was just as calm and relaxed as he could be. He walked and trotted so nicely around the pen I decided to ask him to canter.

And it was lovely. Soft. Relaxed. Attentive.

It never ceases to amaze me what they can remember. Make sure you build what you want.

08/08/2025

Atreyu update-

You may remember from last spring that I was starting my homebred under saddle. I had saddled him a few times, and sat on him twice. Then he was diagnosed with EPM.

After 2 months of treatment, and a couple of months off, we were into winter. At that point, he had some sort of crisis. He was terrified of everything- he would bolt down the field when I threw hay over the fence. He would panic when the FedEx truck went to the neighbors- he has lived here his whole life. The vet didn't have much to say, we tried several things that didn't help.

One day, he was just back to his usual self. It was as if all the panic had never happened. Unfortunately, due to extremely rainy spring, and the super hot summer (I can't manage the heat that well), I haven't done more than care for him for 15 months.

But the beauty of putting in the time for him to be really comfortable with the saddle and bridle ment that I bridled him free in the field earlier the week to fit him. And I saddled him the following day, and you would have thought I tacked him up every day.

Today, I lightly walked and trotted him around in the round pen with the saddle, and he never batted an eye.

It is so worth it to get the horse totally accepting of the tack from the start. They never forget how you make them feel.

08/06/2025

August Newsletter is out the door!

07/19/2025

I jammed my finger working with a horse this week. It's one of those things that happens sometimes in this line of work.

I know it wasn't broken, just injured. Since this isn't the first time I've injured a finger in my life, I also know the doctor is going to X-ray my hand, and then splint my finger.

The split I have always had from the doc is an awful aluminum thing with sharp corners, and they apply it with this stupid white tape that is so uncomfortable, and falls off if it thinks it got wet.

So, I use a baby spoon and some vet wrap- cheap, so much more comfortable than that aluminum thing, and the vet wrap stays on, even when wet.

So, pro tip- buy yourself a baby spoon and keep it in your medicine cabinet for the next time you injure your finger.

Something like this:

06/30/2025

Love this!

I love Thoroughbreds.

"A thoroughbred is a horseman’s horse. They can be reactive and sensitive. They require consistency and patience. They will make you painfully aware of your shortcomings.
A thoroughbred will also make you realize your strengths. When properly prepared, they will outrun and out-try all the competition. They will give you every ounce of their big hearts.
So, if your horse is spooky, skinny, flighty, or crazy, it’s not because your horse is a thoroughbred. It is simply your thoroughbred calling upon you to be the Horseman he needs you to be.”
Author unknown

Send a message to learn more

06/23/2025

Trainer Tip!

If you are east of the Mississippi, this is the perfect week to work with your horses that don't like the hose.

You can wear your shorts, too. You'll still need your boots though.