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MRI T Training

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10/16/2026

Arrow is still available!

Arrow is a 9-year-old, 16.1–16.2hh bay OTTB mare. She’s been started on the barrel pattern and has potential to go in multiple directions with the right person!

She’s a high-spirited girl who needs a confident, experienced rider and someone willing to put in the time and consistency she deserves.

Her owner is looking for the right home, not just any home.

Message either of us for more information!Avery Spiker

09/30/2026

Zeus’s Recovery Update

I wanted to give a little update on Zeus, because his recovery has been a process, and honestly, one that has taught me a lot.

After his first massage therapy appointment, he responded incredibly well. His back was tight and definitely needed some work, but since starting this process, he has been doing amazing. He’s moving much more freely, is much more willing to work, and overall just feels like himself again.

We’re now back to our regular rides, but I’m being much more intentional about how we do things. We’re incorporating plenty of stretching, along with lots of warm-up and cool-down time, and I’m paying much closer attention to how he feels rather than just focusing on what I want to accomplish that day.

We haven’t rodeoed in about two months, and I’d be lying if I said that hasn’t been stressful and frustrating for me. It’s hard watching something you love take a step back, especially when you want to keep moving forward.

But I know slowing him down was necessary.

At the end of the day, no race, rodeo, or goal is more important than Zeus being healthy and comfortable. I would do anything for this horse, and if taking a step back is what he needs, then that’s exactly what we’ll do.

This whole experience has been another reminder of something I believe very strongly in with horses: listen to them. They can’t tell us exactly what hurts or what they need, so it’s our job to pay attention, slow down when necessary, and give them the time and care they deserve.

I’m incredibly thankful to see Zeus feeling better, moving better, and genuinely enjoying his work again. ❤️

One ride at a time. One step at a time. And always putting the horse first.

Chelsea's Equine Massage and Therapy

09/29/2026

Frank’s Training Update

Frank has had two more sessions since my last update, and today was a pretty exciting milestone, I finally got to ride him for the first time, and he did great!

His manners have continued to improve, and it’s been really rewarding to see him start to understand what I’m asking of him. Frank is a horse who needs time to process things, and I’ve found that letting him work through situations and figure them out for himself, rather than simply “showing” him what to do, has been incredibly beneficial.

That’s something that is really important to me in training. I don’t want a horse to only know how to behave when I’m the one on his back. I want him to learn how to think through situations for himself so that when someone else rides him, or when he encounters something unexpected, he doesn’t immediately panic, freak out, or put himself or someone else in danger.

My goal isn’t just to make a horse work well for me. I want my clients to feel safe and confident on their horses, and I want the horses I work with to go home with their owners and continue progressing because they actually understand what they’ve learned.

On the trails, Frank can still get a little excited, so we’re taking that slowly. When he starts to get worked up, I work him through it rather than letting him stay in that mindset. I want him to learn that getting worked up doesn’t make the situation go away, it actually creates more work for him.

There’s also plenty left to work on in the arena. He isn’t soft in the face yet, and that’s something I really want to develop because softness and responsiveness will play a big part in making him a more confident, reliable trail horse.

And so far… no curveballs!

Alexis Bessinger

09/24/2026

A little update on Frank! 🤎

I worked with Frank again today, this time at his own house, and being away from the cows definitely helped him settle in and focus a lot better.

Today was all groundwork and lunging. We worked on giving to pressure, softening his face, and getting him to relax through his body. He did really good with the pressure, and by the end of the session he had softened up through his back and his lope was SO much smoother.

We still have plenty to work on before I’m ready to get on him. We need to get him comfortable and confident in the arena, and most importantly, get him trail safe for his owner. He can definitely throw a few curveballs at you, but honestly, they aren’t bad at all, he just needs someone willing to slow things down, work through them, and help him understand what’s being asked.

Today was a really good step in the right direction, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the next one. 🤎

Alexis Bessinger

09/20/2026

Meet Frank! 🤎

Frank is a 5-year-old Thoroughbred and the newest horse to join MRI T Training!

Our main focus with Frank will be building better manners on the ground, especially leading and standing, while also working toward making him a more consistent and enjoyable ride.

Frank is a naturally high-alert horse and can be spooky and inconsistent, so patience and confidence are going to be a big part of his training. His owner’s main goal is to eventually be able to confidently trail ride him, which means we’ll be working on helping him stay focused and think through situations rather than immediately reacting to everything around him.

One thing I already really like about Frank is that, according to his owner, when he actually gets into a difficult situation, he tends to stay calm and figure his way out of it rather than completely losing his mind. Now we just have to help him carry that same mindset into the rest of his training.

And, of course, we have one very important issue to work through… Frank is absolutely terrified of cows. So I have a feeling they may be making an appearance in his training future.

Looking forward to seeing how this guy progresses!

Alexis Bessinger

A little look at Frank working through his fear of cows!

This video is after he had settled down a bit; he was WAY more freaked out when we first introduced him to the cow. We’re taking it slow, and giving him time to process!

09/07/2026

A little breakdown of Saturday’s run at Hughston’s Cow Camp Rodeo!

The first barrel was wider than I wanted. He was excited coming into the arena and blew past my rate before I could get him slowed down and set up for the turn.

At the second barrel, he made the decision to dodge it. Since we were running in slack, I was able to take him back around the barrel and correct the issue rather than simply leaving the arena. In a performance run, we don’t have that option, we have to keep moving and get out of the arena. Being able to make that correction in the moment was a valuable part of the run and the training process.

The third barrel was clean aside from my shin catching the barrel. That caused my outside spur to come off of him, which pushed him a little wider than I originally wanted.

Overall, there are plenty of things I can take away from this run. Two of the three issues were directly related to my own riding, and that’s something I’m always willing to own. At the end of the day, he can only do what I ask of him, and it’s my responsibility to communicate clearly and set him up for success.

Most importantly, he is coming back from an injury, and seeing him excited, willing, and ready to work means more to me than one perfect run ever could. We’re taking it one step at a time, continuing to build his confidence and strength, and I’m excited to see what he can do when he’s feeling 100% again. 🤎

08/27/2026

🐴 What happens when your horse comes into training?

Putting your horse into training is about more than simply getting on and riding. Every horse has their own personality, experiences, strengths, and areas that need work, so my goal is to build a program around the individual horse.

When a horse first comes into training, I start with an evaluation. I’m looking at their overall demeanor, willingness to learn, how they respond to pressure, and what they may need help with moving forward.

From there, training can include groundwork, desensitization, foundational work, conditioning, steering, stopping, transitions, confidence building, barrel work, and more. What we work on depends on what the horse is in training for and what they are ready for.

I work with horses at least 4 days a week, focusing on consistent, purposeful progress rather than simply putting miles on them.

Communication with the owner is also a big part of my program. I provide updates, pictures, and videos throughout the process, and I’m always willing to adjust goals as we learn more about the horse.

📍 Training at Your Facility

Right now, my preferred method of training is coming to you and working with your horse at their home facility. I really enjoy this setup because it allows me to work with the horse in the environment they’re already comfortable in, while also helping the owner learn how to continue that work between training sessions.

I’m willing to travel to you for training, making it a convenient option for owners who may not want to haul their horse somewhere else.

I am also willing to take in a horse for training at my facility when the right opportunity comes along. I’m currently keeping this limited to about one outside horse at a time, depending on the horse and how well they fit into my current program and with my own horses.

Whether I come to you or your horse comes to me, the goal stays the same: to build a willing, confident, educated horse while giving the owner the tools to continue that progress.

If you’re interested in training or want to talk about which option would work best for you and your horse, send MRI T Training a message! 🤎🐴

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McBain, MI
49657

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