MK Horsemanship

19/07/2025

Getting a nice cold sip after a breakthrough training session. A good way to start the weekend!

16/07/2025

So proud of this little filly for calmly standing ground tied as the storms made their way in.
When she arrived for training six weeks ago she was an anxious little busy bee and needed a lot of support and guidance.

15/07/2025

First experiences

After we had our baby a good friend told us that when things get hard and the baby is crying, remember that she is experiencing life and this world for the first time. She is experiencing what it feels like to have wind blow across her face, to feel hungry, to feel hot, and cold.

Keeping that perspective in mind has helped me to be more supportive, patient, and and understanding. It got me thinking about horses and all the firsts that they grow through, and all the expectations we have for them.

Every horse that comes to me for training is going to experience things for the first time.
The young horse may experience having something thrown over their back, around their legs, or somthing dragging at their feet that isn't a tree branch, a snake, or brush. The older horse in for a restart might have their first experience letting go of a breath they didn't know they were holding, learning how to trust, or dropping defensive walls

Every horse I get the privilege to touch is going through firsts that I need to acknowledge. With that acknowledgement It's also my responsibility to try to create a safe and positive place for these first experiences.

It can be so easy to get frustrated when our horses are struggling, scared, or upset. But maybe if we take time to acknowledge that they they might be experiencing things for the first time one way or another, we might try a little harder to give them a some grace and understanding.

06/07/2025

July is Saddle Fit and Massage Clinic month!
This clinic will be fun and easy to attend. No need to stress about bringing your own horse as we will all be learning about saddle fit from a horse provided for the clinic.

I reached out to Hudson's Tack and More about their clinics because saddle fit can be such a huge part of behavioral issues and I get a lot of questions about it that I'm not qualified to speak on. My hope is that by hosting this clinic we can bring more awareness and knowledge around saddle fit and create more happy horses and riders.

If you are planning on attending, please reach out to register in advance so we know how many participants to plan for!

All participants will also receive a $10.00 coupon to put towards a personal saddle fitting session with Hudson’s Tack and More.

05/07/2025

On the days that you lose confidence in yourself, remember that it's possible to regain confidence just as fast as you lost it.

It is true that we have to be careful not to put ourselves in situations that kill our confidence because it can take a long time and a lot of effort to regain it back. But on the days that we have tried our hearts out, things still didn't go like we thought they should, and we lose confidence in our ability to know what to do... remember that is the kind of confidence that can come back just as fast as it left us. Take a break, get a cold drink, reset, and try again.

02/07/2025

The horse we want to correct the most is often the one that is in need of the softest touch.

21/06/2025

Horses love touch that is meaningful to them. Every time you go to touch your horse, ask yourself if you are doing it in a meaningful way that encourages interaction and thoughtful responses ❤️

18/06/2025

Let go for dear life!

We often hear "hang on for dear life" but when it comes to horses the more we hang on the more we put ourselves in a dangerous situation. The more we pull on the reins, grip with our legs, and hold the horse back the more a horse will get anxious, frustrated or shut down.

If we want to be safe around horses we have to be brave enough to let go and let the horse be all that he is. Our reins are met for guidance and direction, not balancing off of and using for manipulation. Our legs are for direction and guidance too, legs are not for gripping for balance or kicking a horse into submission.

When we are scared or unsure we will pull on the reins, or the lead rope. We will also grip or kick with our legs. This makes it so difficult for the horse to do what we are asking because we are shutting down the very things that allow a horse to do the horse things we are asking it to do. If we don't guide and direct a horse to do things in a way that he is physically and comfortably able to, we will cause a dangerous horse.

It's scary letting go and helping a horse to respond in the way that it's made to... but it's the safest way to handle a horse. Sooo... let go for your dear life and guide that thing!🥰

16/06/2025

When the baby wants to pushed around in the stroller we work on ground tying 🤣😅.
More often than not the obstacles we encounter are actually great training tools!

15/06/2025

Happy father's day to all the dads out there!
We appreciate all that you do!

13/06/2025

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