Adkins Horsemanship

10/18/2026

POV: You take a client horse out for a nice trail ride and accidentally end up on an equine archaeology expedition. 💀🐴

Yesterday, Mika and I were out riding through the open space when I spotted something on the ground that made me do a double take.

A HORSE JAW.

I’ve ridden through this area several times over the last month, and while this bone had clearly been out there weathering for years, I had never noticed it before.

Obviously, finding one horse jaw meant I had to start looking for the rest of the skull. Because apparently, I have no ability to simply see something interesting and keep riding. 😂

We found several other piles of bones, an old bowling pin—which really added to the overall weirdness of the situation—but no skull.

There was also an unusual oval-shaped area of damage on one side of the jaw. It almost looked like some kind of projectile wound, but without knowing the history of the bone, that’s purely speculation. I would LOVE to know the story behind this old relic.

Meanwhile, Mika was becoming increasingly convinced that we had spent enough time investigating and should probably head home.

As the sun started going down, I got the distinct feeling that our little expedition had overstayed its welcome. So I tucked the jaw bone under my arm, climbed back on, and started heading home.

Mika even threw in a little bolt for good measure, just to make sure I really earned my souvenir. 🤠

Did I make it home with the jaw bone?

Absolutely.

Did I find the skull?

Nope.

Am I going back to look for it?

You bet.

I’ve always loved collecting bones and learning about the stories they can tell. Finding a piece of equine anatomy out on the trail while working with a horse feels like the coolest kind of full-circle moment.

If I can find the rest of the skull, I’d love to use it as an educational tool in my horsemanship program.

Because apparently, around here, even a routine training ride can turn into a field trip.

10/16/2026

Some horses teach you how to ride. Some teach you how to train. And then there are the rare ones who become the reason you can help others do both. 🤎

Regulus is the backbone of my program.

It’s hard to believe that the same horse who once carried so much anxiety, uncertainty, and flightiness has become this solid, steady presence. He’s grown into the kind of horse who can take a young, inexperienced horse out on the trail and help teach them the ropes in real time. The kind who stands quietly beside a horse who’s overwhelmed in a new place. The kind who carries inexperienced riders, brings calm to chaotic trail rides, and gives people the chance to breathe, learn, and find their confidence.

He doesn’t just tolerate the learning process. He helps make it possible.

A good, experienced horse can teach a rider things that no amount of instruction from the ground can fully replace. They give people a chance to make mistakes, figure things out, and discover what they’re capable of without feeling like the whole world is about to fall apart beneath them. And a steady horse can be an invaluable teacher for a young horse learning to navigate the world, too.

That’s what Regulus gives this program. He’s not simply the horse I reach for when I need something reliable. He’s part of how I build confidence, develop good habits, and help other horses and riders become better versions of themselves.

And somehow, after everything he gives everyone else, he’s still my sweetest, gentlest boy.

Every time I swing into the saddle, I feel like a little kid again. I still tell him, “You’re everything I wished for and dreamed about.”

And I mean it every single time.

I’m so proud of the horse he’s become, but even more grateful for the horse he is. He has given so much of himself to this program, to the horses learning alongside him, and to the people finding their feet in the saddle.

Some horses are worth their weight in gold.

This one is worth the whole mountain. 🖤🐴

10/15/2026

A little appreciation post for 16 feet of no-nonsense steel. 🤎⛈️

This old stock trailer has hauled more horses than I imagined it would in the last year, hundreds of pounds of hay, scrap from a friend’s fire-damaged home, logs, and horses on their way to forever homes. It’s spent so much time on the road this year that I’m not sure I’ve spent much more time in the saddle.

It helped get three horses to safety during our evacuation, barely flinching when I jackknifed it in the chaos. It brought home a 16-hand Thoroughbred who promptly sat back against the door in a panic. 😂 It’s hauled feed, equipment, and just about anything else I’ve managed to convince myself would fit.

It’s not fancy. It’s not new. It’s not winning any beauty contests. But it’s reliable, it’s tough, and it’s been one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

This trailer has expanded my business, opened doors I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and quite literally helped save lives. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without it.

Sometimes the best investments aren’t the shiniest things in the driveway. Sometimes they’re the gritty, unglamorous things that keep showing up when it matters.

Here’s to the old hunk of steel. May we have many more miles, many more horses brought home, and many more sunsets in the rearview. 🖤

Foundation first. Hay second. And apparently, trailer appreciation somewhere in the middle. 🤠

10/15/2026

Two mares, two very different personalities, and a whole new chapter. 🤠

These girls have spent most of their lives as broodmares and pasture companions, and now they’re learning what it means to be riding horses!

Ashley is our little firecracker 🔥 She’s forward, athletic, eager to work, and always ready to go. Lady is the steadier, more laid-back partner who prefers to take life at her own pace. Different horses, different strengths, and different things to work through.

This week we’ve been refining their steering, transitions, pace, collection, and responsiveness to the reins and leg. We’re also building on their confidence outside the arena, taking them through unfamiliar riding areas and out on the mountain trails, where they get to put their training to the test in the real world.

The goal isn’t just to get a horse riding around an arena. It’s to build a well-rounded partner who can navigate new environments, think through unfamiliar situations, and respond to their rider with confidence.

They’re making progress every week, and it’s been a lot of fun watching these two discover a whole new side of life. ❤️

It’s never too late to learn something new.

10/07/2026

Fall in the mountains with good horses is hard to beat. 🍂🐴

Today I got to take my client out for a gorgeous trail ride through the fall leaves, and these horses were absolute rockstars.

I rode her anxious-but-steady gelding, Ben, who navigated a rocky, uneven, steep, and occasionally very questionable trail like a champ. 😂 He had to think his way through changing footing, boulders, hillsides, and obstacles that definitely weren’t part of an arena obstacle course.

My client rode her sure-footed mustang mare, Mika, who had a couple of very strong opinions about crossing the creeks. 😂 She wasn’t immediately convinced that the water was worth her time, but with some patience and encouragement, she figured it out and finished the ride beautifully.

Along the way, the horses climbed rocky steps, picked their way across hillsides and boulders, navigated uneven footing, and even ducked underneath fallen trees blocking the trail.

And they did it together.

That’s the kind of riding I love to teach.

Not just steering around an arena, but learning how to read the terrain, communicate with your horse, stay balanced when the ground changes, and trust each other when the trail doesn’t give you the perfect answer.

We got to spend the day exploring, laughing, navigating obstacles, and enjoying some absolutely gorgeous Colorado fall scenery.

Honestly, I’m not sure it gets much better than this. 🍂⛰️

This is what I mean when I say I train horses for the real world.

09/27/2026

Ivy has come a LONG way. ❤️

A couple of months ago, riding Ivy meant always having one eye on the horizon.

A bird flushing from the grass. A bush moving in the wind. A jackrabbit sprinting across the prairie. It didn’t take much to convince her that something was terrifying, and when she got scared, her answer was usually spin and bolt.

And when your horse is this massive and powerful, watching 1,200+ pounds suddenly launch itself in another direction is… an experience. 😂

Ivy has always reminded me of an elephant in a tutu trying to perform ballet. She’s HUGE, she’s powerful, she’s incredibly sensitive, and underneath all of that is one of the sweetest mares I’ve ever worked with.

Getting her here hasn’t been about forcing her to stop being afraid. It’s taken a lot of consistent, gentle, fair work to help her learn that she can be scared without needing to run.

And now?

Riding Ivy is a joy.

She thinks. She listens. She trusts me to help her through the things that used to overwhelm her, and I’m no longer spending every ride wondering what might set her off next.

That’s the kind of progress that makes me incredibly proud.

I genuinely look forward to seeing this mare every week, and honestly, I’m going to miss the hell out of her when she heads off to her new home. ❤️

But that’s the whole point of this work.

Not to make a horse fearless.

To help them become confident enough to think before they react.

And watching Ivy discover that ability has been one of my favorite transformations yet.

09/25/2026

This former quinceañera horse came into training with a young rider learning the basics—and one VERY pushy personality that fully expected to never be asked to work again.

In the beginning, getting him to actually listen to his rider’s cues instead of doing whatever he wanted was a project in itself. My job has been to turn that pushiness into responsiveness and help him understand that listening to his rider is a two-way conversation that he has to be part of.

But today, he completely surprised me on the trail. Apache was responsive, willing, and genuinely enjoyable to ride—and honestly, I didn’t even see it coming. I was fully prepared to deal with a flighty, stubborn, horse that was going to take off on me. I’m proud to say I was totally wrong.

He’s still got plenty to learn, but Apache is shaping up to be a really solid horse. 🐴

Sometimes the biggest changes aren’t about teaching a horse something completely new. They’re about teaching them how to listen.

09/23/2026

Sometimes the best horses aren’t the ones who arrive with the biggest résumé. Sometimes they just need someone willing to give them one.

Meet Lady & Ashley. 🐴

These two mares came to Adkins Horsemanship 30 days ago with a pretty simple résumé: broodmares, pasture life, and not much else.

They had been started under saddle, but they hadn’t really had the opportunity to become riding horses.

So that’s what we’re doing.

They’ve spent the last month learning what it means to have a job—building their foundation from the ground up, learning to communicate with their rider, navigating obstacles, getting comfortable with saddling and bridling, and most importantly, getting miles.

A lot of miles.

We’ve been taking advantage of the mountains and trails around my property to give them experiences that an arena simply can’t replicate. Hills, uneven footing, obstacles, wildlife, open spaces, and plenty of opportunities to learn how to think through something instead of just reacting to it.

And they’re becoming really nice horses.

Ashley has been blowing me away lately. Today we went on a long mountain ride and she spent several miles cantering uphill like she’d been doing it her entire life. Smooth, powerful, and fast as all get out. 😂 And not a single buck.

She’s becoming incredibly responsive to her rider and I’m starting to see just how much athleticism is hiding underneath that pasture-mare exterior.

Lady has been developing into the steadier, softer half of the pair. She’s becoming increasingly confident on the trails and has such a genuinely sweet, affectionate personality. She’s the kind of mare who will work her heart out and then come back afterward looking for a hug. ❤️

08/24/2026

This is why I do what I do. 🐴💕

One of my favorite parts of this job isn’t necessarily watching a horse learn something new. It’s watching the person on the other end of the lead rope realize they can do things they didn’t think they could.

Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible horses and their people.

Sarah came to me after being bucked off her previous horse multiple times. After helping her find Jake, we worked on rebuilding her confidence and giving her the tools to feel safe riding him. Now she and her husband Dave are spending their retirement hitting the trails together.

Lisa and Tiger have been on their own confidence journey, too. Watching Lisa go from hesitant to get on in the arena, to getting out on the trails and genuinely having fun on her horse has been incredible. Especially when she’s singing to him.

Michelle got back on a horse for the first time in four years with Harbor. Watching her confidence grow and seeing her realize she could do this again has been incredibly rewarding.

And then there’s Liz and Storm. Storm started out virtually unhandled and had developed behaviors that could make him genuinely dangerous to handle. Rather than simply training Storm for Liz, we worked on giving Liz the tools to continue his education herself.

She’s adding skills to her own tool belt while adding skills to Storm’s résumé.

And that’s what I want.

I don’t want to create horses that only know how to behave when I’m holding the lead rope. I want owners to understand their horses, feel confident handling them, and know how to keep moving forward when I’m not there.

Because the goal isn’t just a broke horse. It’s a confident horse and a confident human who know how to work together.

Sometimes the biggest win is simply hearing:

“I went out and rode my horse by myself—and I actually had fun.”

Those are the moments that make the miles, muddy boots, difficult horses, and long training days worth it.

I’m incredibly proud of every client who has faced something that scared them and kept going. And I’m so grateful to everyone who has trusted me with their horses—and trusted me enough to let me teach them, too. 💕

07/01/2026

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