Level Up Horsemanship with Lilia Phleger

03/27/2026

Never in a million years did I ever think I'd end up in NC, happily married, retired, and playing cowgirl with my bestie.

03/08/2026

I ride through the winter, but when spring time hits I'll be out every day. There's a sweet spot when the weather is nice and the bugs haven't risen from the depths of Hell. It's also the time when bodywork and chiro work really benefits my horse. If you are in the Raleigh area, you can't go wrong with Dr. Donna King (chiro) and Carlee Shaw from Shaw Equine Therapeutic Services LLC for bodywork!

02/10/2026

Can't believe it's taken me two years to finally stop in at Knightdale Horse Sports ! The store is absolutely full of everything you think you may need, and even things you don't need, but want. ;-) I've been looking for a fly whisk FOREVER, and of course, there it was. I also dropped off my western saddle for a full clean and oiling. If you are in NC, it's worth a visit!

02/02/2026

Just got my custom saddle from Shelby Friml at Double Diamond Equine Saddlery! It's gorgeous and definitely worth the wait. I hauled my horse Missin My Peaches down to her place near Southern Pines so that she could be fully measured and fitted properly. Then came the fun stuff - going into her showroom and choosing every single detail down to the colors, type of leather, and adding my own personalization. I sent her artwork for California Poppies (for my mom) and I love how they turned out. And then just like on my other custom saddle, I added ◇Lil◇ for the Diamond Lil nickname from my Uncle John, and my horseshoe emblem that is also my tattoo.
It was a long wait, not gonna lie, but the three Amish brothers in Kentucky who build Shelby's designs by hand did a phenomenal job.
Investing in a saddle that properly fits your horse is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy back and make sure your horse isn't in pain. And as I get older, it was just as important that I get a saddle that was easy to lift and comfortable enough to sit in for hours at a time!

01/17/2026

It's always nice to meet someone you follow ( Amy Skinner Horsemanship ) and realize they're just as nice as they appeared online. 😊 I'm glad I braved the cold for your clinic!

11/29/2025

Sooo good - Japanese Mexican fusion yumminess in Selma NC. Worth a trip and best antique shops!

11/10/2025

My friend Jacleen of Hess Horsemanship works miracles with horses. She's trained several as therapy horses and has another ready for his next job. Please share!!

Meet Sarge, an 8 year old draft cross gelding who has been specifically trained to partner with people in providing equine-assisted services. He is proudly o...

11/09/2025

Her ears are on me, waiting for me to tell her when we need to Get Them Cows.

Peaches has decided that she may actually be a cow horse. It took a minute, but she'll get right on their butts and move them around. I'm so proud of her.

Which brings me to my point - if you have a dream, chase it, but be ready to find mentors and then put in the work to get yourself there.

11/02/2025

Did a mounted police/obstacle clinic today with Lillian Cline at Oak Creek Ranch and learned how to break up a riot and walk through smoke bombs. 10/10 recommend.

https://www.facebook.com/ClineEquine2025

10/24/2025

I use the Equilab app and it love it. However today's work on flying lead changes cracked me up. Did Peaches and I even have our eyes open?!?!?

10/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/171788H9pY/

Teaching Horses Emotional Control

In horse training, it’s not our job to protect a horse from ever feeling pressure, stress, or emotion, it’s our job to help them learn how to handle it.

A horse, just like us, is going to experience moments where emotions rise. They’ll feel uncertain, frustrated, worried, or even scared. If we never expose them to pressure and never give them the tools to work through it, then when life inevitably presents those moments, they won’t know what to do.

Our role as trainers is to guide them through emotion, not erase it. That means:
- Teaching them ways to dissipate their energy in a safe and productive way.
- Helping them learn to regulate when pressure shows up.
- Allowing them to feel, but showing them how to respond instead of react.

Avoiding pressure doesn’t build resilience, it builds fragility. Purposefully introducing challenges, and then helping a horse find release and peace on the other side, creates confidence.

The same is true for people: growth doesn’t come from avoiding what makes us uncomfortable. It comes from learning how to breathe, focus, and find balance when life gets loud.