Horsemanship From the Ground Up

My Philosophy: Understanding Creates Connection

Exceptional riding stems from exceptional groundwork. I'll teach you to read a horse's subtle cues and develop your own clear communication style, establishing a foundation that will enhance every aspect of your horsemanship.

Precision and Integration

My approach hones in on the smallest elements that culminate in effective horsemanship – the subtle weight shift, the precise timing of a release, the quality of attention – and helps you develop awareness and mastery of each.

Big milestones or complex maneuvers start with small, logical steps (as Nuno Oliveira said, “equestrian art begins with the perfection of simple things”). We'll work on refining and integrating each building block until you and your horse can seamlessly and effortlessly put them together in any combination. This precision allows for clear communication, prevents overwhelming either you or your horse with challenges you’re not ready for, and establishes a language that grows increasingly nuanced as you both become more fluent.

When these elements are woven together, it can feel like magic. Movements or milestones that once felt impossible become effortless, and tense resistance transforms into relaxed, eager partnership.

Your Journey With Me

1. Foundational Groundwork - I'll guide you to communicate with precision and develop "soft feel" while keeping both you and the horse comfortable and confident on the ground. This is where we can break big challenges into the smallest, most approachable pieces.

2. Riding with Balance - We start with bareback riding to help you develop a solid, balanced seat and physical awareness that keeps you in rhythm with your horse and enables intentional use of aids to communicate, adding complexity as you’re ready.

3. Integration & Problem-Solving - We'll connect the principles we explored in our groundwork to ridden work, providing you with practical tools to introduce new skills and effectively troubleshoot challenges on your own.

For experienced riders, we practice specific techniques to achieve remarkable softness and lightness. You'll learn to identify and address increasingly subtle bracing, introduce complex maneuvers with clarity, and systematically progress through training challenges while maintaining your horse's relaxation and understanding.

For beginners, we start with the absolute basics, and each step builds naturally on the previous one. This creates a logical progression and builds your confidence and skills while maintaining safety and reducing overwhelm.

No matter where you’re starting from, each session is intentionally tailored to meet you where you and the horse are that day, and to help you meet your own personal goals.

All sessions include:

• One-on-one instruction tailored to your specific goals and learning style.

• Thorough understanding of both the "how" and the "why" of each technique.

• Focus on developing feel, timing, and balance – the cornerstones of great horsemanship.

• Safe learning environment that prioritizes comfort for both the human and the horse.

• A check-in as we begin, and reflection as we wrap up, to make sure we’re focusing on what matters to you and you get the most out of every session.