Liberty, relational horsemanship, positive reinforcement, and other horse-centric techniques are tools I use to build or restart horses under saddle and prepare them to continue in the discipline they are best suited for. This individualized approach has allowed me to successfully work with all horses, including those that aren’t always the best fit for a traditional training program, like mustangs, feral, and rescue horses. I believe relaxation and two-way communication are essential components in training. Feedback is valuable and, when used to make adjustments to training techniques, offers the horse a level of autonomy. My personal training style is influenced by mentors with backgrounds in classical dressage, vaquero style horsemanship and liberty training. Sometimes there is a gap between what the horses need and the expectation of training as a solution. Nutrition, dentistry, balanced hooves, saddle fit and different bodywork modalities work synergistically with training to provide a solid foundation that will serve them for a lifetime. While I’ve always taken a holistic approach to horsemanship, the more I learn about bodies, the more I see that everything is connected. It’s important to me to find the root of the problem and not simply mask the symptoms or train over deficiencies. I’m continually learning and I believe an integrated approach to horsemanship, where the mental, emotional and physical well-being of the horse is valued, fosters the development of a balanced, secure horse capable of reaching their full potential.
Education Background
LISTEN approach (Equine Craniosacral) Level 1&2 with Amy Williams
REST (Rib Entrapment Syndrome Therapy) and NFC (neurofascial conditioning) Level 1 with Christy DiColla
Equine Tensegrity Balancing Therapy Level 1 with Tami Elkayam
Lazaris Nerve Release Self Study Course with Celeste Lazaris
Foundational Masterclass in equine kinesiology taping with SozoEquine
Masterson Method Weekend Seminar
Equine Massage Certification through Therasage EMC
Functional Anatomy Course with Jillian Kreinbring