JC Horse Training - Juliette Cimetiere

18/04/2025

⚠️High neck does NOT = hollow back⚠️
Here is an example of a young horse who was well started and allowed to remain in his natural balance. Top photo is 2021 bottom 2024. The developpement in his entire body is pretty striking, particurlarly at the base of his neck/chest and behind the withers.
What was done to achieve this:
He was allowed to remain in his natural up/open balance and ridden mostly straight on with light even contact, rounded corners and large figures for the first 6 months or so undersaddle. Gradually I started to introduce more bending on smaller figures and asking for moments going/coming back (longer/shorter strided). Within that, when he was most balanced I started to ask for very short moments of lengthening the neck forward/(a tiny bit) down/out. So slight that someone on the outside may not even notice, just "if I offer wil you take my hand forward a little? yes? Thank you!" and immediately regather before he lost balance.
Here's what I did NOT do:
❌He was never ridden "long and low" ( appart from allowing to walk/trot on the buckle during a break or while hacking out)
❌He was never ridden "deep" or made to be "round"
❌He was never worked with any kind of mechanical aids or lunging systems (draw reins, pessoa system, elastic bands etc)
❌Like mentioned above I did not do much FDO or if I did it was calculated in moments of asking the neck to be a little longer. OR before a walk break where I will let the horse gently chew the reins from the hand all the way to the buckle before coming to walk.

15/04/2025

My last post striked quite a bit of discussion around this subject so I thought I would expand on it.

Understanding Forward, Down, and Out – When, Why, and How to Use It Correctly
📣 This is not "long and low" or "low deep and round" – let’s set the record straight.
The posture of forward, down, and out (FDO) is often misunderstood and misused in training. It is not a working posture, nor should it be a default frame—especially for developing horses. It is a momentary test of the horse's trust in the hand, ability to maintain balance, and willingness to lengthen the outline while remaining soft, open, and aligned.
🧠 Let’s break it down:
✔️ FDO should only be ridden when the horse is already upright, aligned, and stepping forward into a mobilized jaw. It begins from an up and open posture—where the poll is the highest point and the nose is clearly in front of the vertical. It should only be asked for momentarily, and the moment the horse starts to lose balance the rider should regather and rebalance.
✔️ The horse must already be seeking the bit and balanced laterally and longitudinally. FDO is the result of correct training, not the means to achieve it.
✔️ When correct, the horse arcs outward to the hand—not just dropping the neck. The tempo remains unchanged. The back swings, the neck widens in front of the shoulders, and the hind legs continue to step through, not just push behind.
🛑 What it is NOT:
-It’s not throwing the reins away and hoping something nice happens.
-It’s not about “stretching the back.” Muscles don’t stretch under motion the same way they do at rest, and most of what people think is “back stretch” is just the lumbar lifting and the forehand collapsing.
-It’s not appropriate for young, weak, or unbalanced horses—it takes strength and clarity to do it well.
-And it’s absolutely not about putting the horse low and round for long periods of time. That’s just creating pressure, bracing, and imbalance.

🔴 Common mistakes:
-“Throwing the reins away” and hoping the horse stretches = wrong. That just invites the horse to fall onto the forehand, close the throatlatch, and shorten the stride.
-Using FDO as a constant “stretch” = wrong. Horses don’t stretch in motion the way we stretch a muscle at rest. The nuchal ligament supports the lowered head—it's not engaging or strengthening the back in motion.
-Thinking FDO is what builds a topline = wrong. That happens through correct posture, consistent balance, and engagement, not just by dropping the head.
🗝️ The true value of FDO lies in the horse’s ability to open and lengthen the frame without losing balance or quickening the tempo and being able to acces that at any point. That requires strength, mobility, and education. It’s a tool, not a goal.
💬 Think of FDO as a question you ask:
“Will you follow my hand outward, softly, in balance?”
The answer should be: yes, without hesitation or collapse. It’s a moment of trust, not a frame to chase.

11/04/2025

Lowering the neck does not “engage” the hind legs 📣
Why “Up and open (poll highest point/in front of the vertical) always matters and fore me is non negotiable... The first photo shows a posture that is not horribly offensive, it’s not even close to being “long and low” or what I would consider hugely over flexed. It is bordering between being ON the vertical and slightly behind, which is still too low/closed. Even that small amount of “overflexion” has a massive negative impact on the stride length and over all balance. You can really clearly see- shortened stride length, far from the hind legs tracking up into the front hoof prints, balance shifted to the forehand.

Contrasted with the second and third photo where her posture is clearly in front of the vertical (open) and very upright. There is a huge increase in shoulder freedom and reach, hind hoof tracking into the front hoof print, and weight is off the shoulders (also the angle at which the nose is pointing matches the maximum reach of the front leg). This is what builds a topline. (Photos are same horse, same day, few min apart)

08/04/2025

24/03/2025

Always such a pleasure to go work with this lovely group of people. I love being able to see horses and people continue to develop and change.

18/01/2025

Dreaming of floating over golden sunsets on the back of my special little mare ❤️
📸

17/01/2025

I am super excited to announce that my new site is live! Along with that, I will now be offering options for online coaching and consultations! Thank you to those who shared their testimonials as well as Roy and Jessica Farren Photography for many of the beautiful photos that I was able to feature on there.

JC HORSE TRAININGClassical Dressage and Liberty Horsemanship Classical Dressage and Liberty training in Redmond, WAJuliette is a trainer based out of Redmond WA. Specializing on old school classical horsemanship, with a focus on building a balanced and relaxed, relationship between horse and rider.....

13/12/2024

A little liberty sequence we’ve been working on lately.. i love how these three maneuvers flow so well from one to the other 😍 getting ready for putting together our 2024 routine 🥰

10/12/2024

Does your horse roll in the arena if you give then the chance? If not, have you asked yourself why? And is there a way that you can encourage or show them it’s ok to do so? Sometimes that means actually teaching them to go down on command. Both of my horses never rolled in an arena before I taught them to go down on command. It’s hard to believe because that is now the first thing they both do when u let them free in the arena but that only happy after I showed them it was an option.

24/11/2024

Chesty was a super star at the Bello Acres schooling show ❤️. Sally had two wonderful rides earning 1st and 2nd at Intro A/B and I took him T3 for the first time where he also placed first 🥇. We have been so careful to give him time to mature and develop him slowly since he first came into my training program as a 2yr old. It is exciting to see him start to blossom into a big, strong horse with a heart of gold 💛.

07/11/2024

I’m excited to finally share these photos I did with from over a year ago! With our big handsome boy Jake ❤️. So much fun playing with light and hair extensions (lots and lots of hair extensions 😆)

04/11/2024

I’m booking clipping appointments! Group discounts available.
Irish/Trace clip- 95$
Blanket- 110$
Partial body (no head/legs)- 130$
Full body- 190$
Blended legs +45$
Small artwork on one side- 35$
PM me for custom projects!
I am open to working with horses that may have issues or need training around the clippers but will charge a training fee.
There is an extra 30$ fee for horses that have not been bathed within 2-3 days of appointment. If you want a clip with a smooth finish trust me, bath is a MUST. It will make the process much more enjoyable for everyone 😅.

04/11/2024

Rare openings in my schedule! Starting mid November I will have availability to travel to barns in the Redmond area (particularly area around Farrel McWhirter Park) for training and/or lessons. I may also be able to take new clients in the Maple Valley/Hobart area.

I can offer lessons and/or training in dressage, liberty, lunging, young horse, problem horses etc... I am a USDF bronze medalist and specialize in old school classical horsemanship, with a heavy focus on physical and mental well being for horse and rider. PM me with any questions and to discuss availability/rates. More information can be found on my website https://www.jchorsetraining.com/

29/10/2024

So many fun liberty clinics these last few months! Enjoy these photos from the last one at Mountain Vista Farm. I have one date left available for a clinic in December and I am now booking for winter/spring of 2025! Thank you Roy Stansell and Lara for the photos 😊

04/10/2024

It was an honor to get to present my liberty team at the Friesian Keuring at Bello Acres . I think our boys did a fantastic job showing off the breed’s good nature and versatility ❤️. This was our last performance of the year so now we start to work on our routine for next year ☺️!

22/09/2024

Big first for our sensitive boy Cooley yesterday ❤️!