Hope Haven Ranch LLC.

28/05/2025

The good the bad the ugly, I always work for NOT having this happen- but in effort of transparency- sometimes it goes like this! Legacys VERY first ride. Actually what happened was on the canter lap we didn’t record- he slipped, and scared himself- realized I was up there and hippity hopped! Lol!! So I knew that particular sandy spot was going to be triggering now for him to get through 🙂 I’m proud of him! Legs has needed those baby steps broken down into really bite sized pieces…. This was a lot of prep work to help him figure this out :)) Love this Red horse!!

08/05/2025

I love this horse.

She’s far from the easiest horse. Actually probably one of the most difficult that stretches me the most.

But I see her.

I see her try. Her effort. Her energy.

She’s fiesty, fiery, waaaay too dramatic in her responses- but she likes me too.

I read a comment somewhere that struck me for how true it is- “it’s most important that our kids know their parents like them…”

Yes I know- horses are NOT kids. 🤣

But there is truths here- we treat horses we like different than ones that we view as simply a problem- it changes our expectations, our attitude, how quickly we dole out correction and how harshly- etc.

I can’t tell you how many times I taken a horse that is shut down and re opened those shutters. “Hey I see you, just try for me….”

This girl is the horse that learning to tie in a stall bucked and bucked and bucked in place, she struggles out on the trail, she takes a long time to control her responses, she’s a bully in the pen- the top mare- and CAN be sassy as they come……..

But she also craves attention, loves to interact and play and learn at liberty, shows her emotions on her sleeve making it easy to know where I need to work and help her, and I adore her. 😍

24/04/2025

Reign 👑 is coming along 🤍🤍

Being a stoic boy, who can shut down easily and be pushed through his paces- it’s been so so important for me (and him)!!! To always be working for comprehension, relaxation, and carefully watching for all the slightest signs of discomfort-

Reactive horses get the bad name- but the reality is once you get a reactive horse NOT reacting- and thinking, you know how they will respond. And they will always have loud tells for when they are struggling.

Horses like this boy, can become ticking time bombs- because they seem so “easy going” and take alot of pressure etc…. They might seem to go through the motions in safe places- but if you don’t double check and search for holes it could be a set up! 🫣

But just an important reminder- !!

You want a soft FORWARD horse. A horse that is explosive forwards- is NOT a forward horse. Not having forward motion is not just for the slow sticky horses. Always strive for soft and RESPONSIVE in your work ☺️

Great job on your 5th ride Reign!!!

01/04/2025

It’s a two nap kind of a day……

Too bad someone ate Liaras bedding….😆 from first nap 😂

29/03/2025

Shout out to Allegany saddlery for fitting this girl for a life change!! Working with her it became apparent that nothing I could find would fit her and she was trying to tell me in every way nothing worked! We ended up moving to ba****ck work (and will
Continue that way for now) until her saddle arrives!

Staci was amazing to work with and watch work as she pointed out all the saddle problems and went through multiple trees so that she could create exactly what this gorgeous mare needs!

Some things to look for in your horse when there are saddle fit issues: avoidance behaviors, wiggly when saddling no matter how long you work at the concept, defeated when the saddle is finally on, unwillingness to pick up the canter, carrying their head too low all the time and unwilling to pick it up, irritable under saddle consistently……

There are many many ways our horses display their discomfort- and this is just a few. But we we address behaviors and can’t resolve the issue we have to make sure we address ALL the possible angles. Animals are limited to their ways of communicating with us- so we have to listen in closely 😉

25/07/2024

Wasn’t planning to hop on for a first ride, but he felt ready. So glad I did, he was like “I got this, just sit back.”

Preparation, patience, confidence building, time investment…… all pieces of a great start. So far to go- but that’s ok. I’ve been waiting for this boy for 4 years…..

💕

19/07/2024

Well I couldn’t be happier with this sale!! Goodbye sweet hope!! I believe you have found a wonderful home to fit you!!! No sooner to her new home then she tried on her new tack and headed out down the roads like a pro!!! I’ll miss you, but seeing this made me so happy- and letting you go much easier! 💕

08/06/2024

04/06/2024

Yesterday.

One blind, one unrideable.

What an amazing day and clinic!!! Every horse is an opportunity if we let them be, let them change us. Over the course of 7 hours we worked together.

So thankful for these clients coming in and sharing such a unique journey…. Beginning with me.

Months ago phone calls and conversations began to tell me the stories of Cash and Gilly.

Cash, an 8 year old was purchased knowing he was blind in one eye- but his owner did not know he would soon lose his vision completely in the other. Very shortly after purchasing cash’s sight went to total darkness.

I admire, and respect his owner who has taken this on as a challenge, a new journey to figure out as she navigates something new for both of them- and me. Yesterday we spent our first time together exploring how to help cash lean on her, trust her through feel but without any of the help vision gives us. With cash there is no space barriers, he can’t respond to my head tilt- or intention through distance- everything changes. How we lead, how we stop, move, how to find softness. It was challenging as he is quite forward and anxious since his vision left entirely. But she knew who he was before- and we need to help him find that!!! He has become VERY strong through his neck, so I gave her some tools to work with to help him on lead, then to help his anxious feet and teach him that I’m asking for for softness safely and with some distance- we began long lining (long lining for a blind horse allows you to help them on both sides of their body, where lunging can just make them dizzy, and doesn’t serve a strong purpose without visual)It took a long hour - but a good one as cash started to understand through my hands that I can help him relax, lean on me, let me help you to feel safe- quiet. I can’t wait for our next session!!! 🤍 His owner has begun learning the new skill of long lining to help him and build connection with him.

Gilly.

This older pony has been on a long journey. Her prognosis years ago not good, and circumstances that seemed unchangeable- her owner made an incredibly difficult decision to sell her. The details will be kept short- but Gilly has been through many places, unfortunate training techniques, in attempts to ride her. She has defeated every place she has been too- whether from pain, or lack of preparation this girl learned to buck, and buck so well that no one has been able to use her. And she fell from one hand to the next, some well meaning, others I’m not sure. Either way- I don’t need her story to see what’s presented in front of me.

Gilly hit the round pen with zero interest in connection. Her owner, will never sell her. She is home. And she is dedicated to whatever outcome, rideable/unrideable- but she wants to find her girl under that shut down mind that she once taught how to open up.

That’s the hardest part here, I’m getting stricter in my lesson/training program. I want to work with those that want to learn to teach their own horses. Gilly was an untrusting pony, her owner- showed her how to trust a bit, helped her to open up, got her to want to be around her- started to build trust. But what this pony learned going through many places all focused on breaking her- is to shut down, disconnect entirely.

Yesterday- we began, just slightly the journey to restart connection. I always love the first times a horse decides “hey it’s not so bad with you,” and begins to soften. Gilly began some much needed steps- but I found some very concerning pieces of her training missing or shaky/ if I was going to ride a horse. Bolting/running from fly sprays, whips touching or rubbing on flanks, or lower legs sent her spinning full tilt, flag around or over her and she would stiffen up and get ready to panic.

One thing I try to press intensely- dont stop your lesson where they get it right. Stop where they feel good. Stop where they get soft/relax. Her owner went home with a full basket of concepts to help Gilly be brave. We didn’t stop just when the brave girl stilled her feet, but when she could lower, breath, relax, shake it off etc.

Gilly has alot of medical testing behind her, but no one can give a definitive answer as to if she is unrideable/or just learned to buck. So we are taking it one step at a time, listening to her- taking one day at a time.

Thank you so much for the opportunity Heather and Nikki. What Amazing owners you both are!!

03/06/2024

A different topic, we have all dreamed of fancy barns, or stall barns just our style, run in sheds etc….. all seem normal. I always dreamed of long stall rows and horses heads popping over the gates…. I have a few of those- but I would never have believed I would change my mind!!!

After joining a couple groups a while back looking for different barn ideas, pasture ideas, tools and hay ideas…. I started to stumble upon what seemed like unconventionally large run ins- often called “loafing barns” or other names. They seemed mammoth in size and one might think quite a bit could be done with the run in space.

I fell in LOVE with a few designs I saw, and decided to try it on the space I had left unused In my barn- or where I typically stored hay. And now I’m completely sold. Studies have shown cortisol (indicators of stress) levels in horses and how they spike, raise etc when in stalls. Still- I didn’t know how it REALLY could work in the end. And I was planning to build in a couple more stalls to finish the space….

Not now. It took them about 6 months to completely switch over. The 32ft divided Leanto is abandoned entirely. And the barn is conveniently easier to clean anyways. The whole group is quieter, I mean really quiet. And group naps are frequent!!! Loving this new feel in my shelters and wanted to share!! In case anyone else needs to hear this too 🤍

02/06/2024

My first, and so far only baby I threw on our farm from a favorite mare- wow! Four years waiting for these moments…. And he is doing them so well!!! Big beautiful legacy!!! We are just getting started!

First day hopping on and saddling ….. so excited to see who we become together!!