Author Archives: Jillian

This is one of the most common issues I see with anyone who has horses. Make sure no matter what you ask of the horse you use the same cue for the same desired result. Changing cues or mixing them up to get a response is just creating confusion. Once I explain this it willContinue reading “Be clear. Be consistent!”

Bareback is a great way to improve your seat, your fitness and your balance! It’s great to also be in close contact with your horse. Without the saddle between you and your horse you can perfect your cues and get the horse listening to your most subtle movements and commands with ease! Bareback riding isContinue reading “Ditch the saddle! Your horse is your gym!”

If you’re not confident neither is your horse. Horses feed off each other’s emotional reactions to situations and environments. If one is unsure the look to find a confident herd mate to help them learn about this new thing in life whatever it may be. Horses are curious but they immediately expect the worse. TheyContinue reading “Confidence is key!”

Horses are honest, caring, compassionate, understanding, strong, loyal and trusting. In order to see these traits in your horse you must first prove to them you’re worthy of such attributes. If you notice your horse isn’t trusting you must first show the animal you can be trusted. If your horse isn’t understanding you, you needContinue reading “Horses are a mirror of you”

City people look to the groundhog yet we in the country turn to our horses. This time of year, the trees are starting to bud and grow new life. The grass is a bright shade of green and high in sugars as the seed rises to the top of the blade. With this change inContinue reading “Spring is coming!”

What people see when they look at a broke horse is just exactly that. Face value. What they don’t see is the hours and months it took the horse to get to be a riding horse. It all starts on the ground. If your horse can’t do it when asked from the ground don’t expectContinue reading “Setting them up to succeed”

Kids make the best horses because they are fearless and silly. The horses get used to all sorts of shenanigans, in turn, creating a “bombproof” horse. they are full of energy and have all the time in the world to pester, pamper and poke their most adored thing in life, their horse. If you’ve grownContinue reading “Be silly”