Why buy something? There’s so much to buy for our animals – horse jumps, barrels, cavalettis, leashes, dog agility set-ups… Instead of buying cavalettis, use some long branches! You can use anything you find around you. When I was younger, I made an amazing obstacle course for my dog, Mowgli. I filmed it all and got inspired re-watching it the …
A Book of Mastery!
To all of my German readers: I have good news! One of my favorite books is now in German – Dressage Naturally: Dressur im Sinne des Natural Horsemanship. It is a book written by Karen Rohlf (my idol!). I view and treasure it as my own kind of Bible. If you have interest in your relationship with your horse and …
Your Success
“If you have enough pieces, ingredients… and you have the ability to communicate about those ingredients… You need to sustain the exercise long enough to gain the coordination to do it well. Ask yourself if it is “fair, reasonable, and possible” to do what you intend… then DO! There is another layer you get to, and although in the process …
Blind Trust
Last week taught me the power of trust. It was my first time being with one of my trainer’s finished guide dogs who got to know her new blind owner. My job is to prepare these dogs to work for the blind/almost fully blind. Every day I proof that they are acting the way they should, but this past week …
The New Barn
After moving to Germany (away from my lovely horse community in California), I am the “new girl” at a barn where everyone views their horses as machines. It’s been eye-opening. For the first time, I am at a barn where no one understands the natural way I go about working with horses. Saturday, for example, tested my morals. I showed …
To & From
“It is our job to teach our horses to yield to and from pressure appropriately.” – Kalley Krickeberg
Riding with Eagles
I seem to have a “Long Rider” theme going this week. Long Riders are those equestrians who take their passion to a whole new, ancient level by traveling extremely long distances on horseback. Here’s one Long Rider who traveled around on her horse and photographed various nomad cultures. Very inspiring and eye-opening. After choosing a culture, click on “continue to …
Riding Across America
This woman, Bernice Ende, was my inspiration today. It really makes me rethink everything, animal related or otherwise, when I see someone follow their dream in this way. Trail rides are fun, and riding horses all the time just as well. But to do something to this extent takes dedication. She lives in nature’s reality where she has to work …
Sina: The Newest Member of the Pack
I’m in love! In love with a little German Shepherd pup who joined my family on Saturday. She came from a great animal rescue and is now under my training to become a guide dog for the blind. My last German Shepherd, Kessi, had to be sold. She still had too many traumas from her breeder where they more than …
Relaxation’s Return
“Everything comes from, and returns to, relaxation.” It’s all a dance between the relaxed state of mind we (should) start in, the relaxed way in which we correct our animals, and our immediate return to complete relaxation. Always. Return. To relaxation. It’s your neutral. Technically, if we ever “master” leadership, everything is done in a relaxed manner. If we master …