Seven Hills Training

10/26/2026

Practice your leading skills, your horses will be much better for it!

Hate to break it to you, but your horse probably sucks at leading.

It’s okay. Some of mine do, too. 😂

But if you’ve ever even BEEN IN THE COMPANY of a horse who truly. Leads. FABULOUSLY.

Then you know.

You KNOW.

And you know that approximately 99.9999999% of horses are actually really terrible at it.

I’m not talking about the horses who drag you across the parking lot or require a water ski rope to get from the barn to the pasture.

I’m talking about the perfectly fine, reasonably well-behaved horses whose owners would confidently tell you they lead great.

Except they don’t. 😂

They walk too far behind. A little too far ahead. Drift into your personal space like a shopping cart with one bad wheel.

They stop when you don’t. Don’t stop when you do. Turn corners like a tractor trailer. Respond in 3-5 business days.

But a horse who leads BEAUTIFULLY?

An absolute DREAM.

They are sharp. They match your pace, maintain their position, stop and turn with you, and pay attention without constant reminders.

It’s an art form.

And while we’re at it, a whole lot of PEOPLE could stand to improve their leading skills, too.

Good timing, clear communication, consistency, and AWARENESS of the horse are just as important on the human end of the rope.

Because there’s a huge difference between a horse who can be led and one who is genuinely wonderful at leading.

And an equally big difference between someone who can hold a lead rope and someone who knows how to USE one.

10/25/2026

An excerpt from one of the past training tips we share with our email list.

Instead of riding a continuous circle where it’s easy for a horse to drop their inside shoulder, turn your path into a Diamond (a rotated square):

Position Your Points: Set the four corners of your diamond along the long sides, the centerline, and the middle of the short side.

Ride the Straight Lines: On each flat side, ride forward and straight. Use your outside leg to guide the energy from the horse’s outside hind leg straight up into your outside hand.

Define the Corners: Use each point as a brief, deliberate moment to ask for clear bend before returning to a straight line.

Progress to an Octagon: As your horse becomes more responsive, transition to an eight-sided octagon. The frequent transitions between brief straightness and brief bend give you regular opportunities to confirm that both sides of the mouth remain soft.

10/22/2026

What a wonderful day to enjoy Lord Hill Park!

10/21/2026

💕💕💕

10/20/2026

✨ Available for On-Site Half Lease: “Riverdale” aka Ripley ✨

17.3 HH | 5-year-old KWPN gelding by Glamourdale
📍 Seven Hills Training - Monroe, WA

Handsome, kind, and talented, Ripley has upper-level potential, a good brain, and an endless amount of try. He loves to please his rider—so much that we’re convinced he goes home and studies every night! Each ride picks up where the last one ended, making him a rewarding partner to develop.

While Ripley is kind and easy to handle, his size, strength, and current greenness make him unsuitable for a beginner. He would be well suited to an intermediate rider with competitive goals who enjoys developing a talented young horse.

The half lease includes:

• Access to Ripley three days per week
• Two lessons per week
• The option to show Ripley next spring following his show debut

A wonderful opportunity to build a partnership with a promising young horse in a supportive training environment.

Please message for more information! 🦄

09/09/2026

✨ Multiple Horses Available for On-Site Lease — Monroe, WA ✨

We have three very different but equally wonderful horses currently available for partial lease within our dressage program at Seven Hills Training.

🐴 LUNA — 8-year-old, ~15hh Friesian Cross Mare

Luna is the sweetest little mare and loves having her own person. She’s still developing in her dressage education, particularly in the canter, but she’s a quick learner and has been wonderful for walk/trot lessons with beginners.

Best suited for an intermediate rider who enjoys developing a horse, building a relationship, and having something fun to work toward. She absolutely loves attention and being doted on.

🐴 CANTO — 9-year-old, 17.2hh Hanoverian Gelding
Available for 1/2–3/4 lease

This guy is quite literally an angel reincarnated as a horse. ❤️

Canto is a true schoolmaster with a wonderful temperament and big, beautiful gaits. He would love to teach someone the ropes at First/Second Level and prefers a lower-pressure workload.

He is safe enough for a beginner, but because of his size and large gaits, he’s best suited for an intermediate rider. If you’re looking for a kind, confidence-building schoolmaster to learn on and enjoy, Canto is incredibly special.

🐴 WAFFLES — 15-year-old, 13.2hh Welsh/Morgan Mare

Wonder Pony Extraordinaire. ⭐️

Waffles is the ultimate been there, done that pony. She’s sweet and trustworthy enough to teach up-down lessons, but don’t let that fool you, this girl has done a little bit of everything.

She’s experienced, versatile, fun, and has plenty to teach her rider. A fantastic option for a junior, smaller adult, or someone wanting a seasoned pony to learn on, have fun with, and enjoy.

📍 Seven Hills Training — Monroe, WA

All leases are on-site and include regular instruction within our program. We’re primarily adult amateurs and re-riders, with a focus on correct dressage, confidence, biomechanics, and enjoying our horses — including occasional trail rides and adventures outside the arena.

Interested? Send me a message with your riding experience, goals, and what you’re looking for in a lease, and we can see which horse might be the best fit. ❤️

08/19/2026

Okay, round two 👀

Same horse. Same exercise. One week later.

If you commented on the first video, go back and watch it again before watching this one.

What changed?

Watch the rhythm. Watch the timing of each footfall. Watch how the front and hind end coordinate with each other, and pay attention to how the whole body moves through the walk.

There’s a pretty significant change here for only 7 days of rehab work.

Tell me what you see 👇

I’ll break down what I’m seeing after everyone has had a chance to weigh in.

08/18/2026

👀 Test your eye.

What do you notice about this horse’s walk?

Don’t overthink it, watch the rhythm, the footfalls, and how the front and hind limbs coordinate with each other.

I’m curious what stands out to you. Tell me what you see below 👇

I’ll post this same horse one week later next.

08/05/2026

07/31/2026