Treasure Valley Hoofbeats

06/18/2026

Pardon my backside, but we got ALL 4 feet picked today! Some days she lifts them up seamlessly, some days she pulls a little, but… Let’s give her a break, she’s two months old…

06/13/2026

Sometimes you’re just hanging on by a string …. 😂😂🥴

06/07/2026

Evening shenanigans 🤪

06/01/2026

A fun day at the Black Canyon Rodeo & Stock Show Playday

05/28/2026

Scuba snacking!! 🐠🐠

05/26/2026

Monica Scotland, Colette Hib 😂 weren’t we just talking about this? 🥴

“This makes me feel like I don’t know how to ride!”

I hear that all the time when I’m teaching and I always have to chuckle. There is nothing I can relate to more deeply!

There is a huge difference between mashing a horse’s body around, and actually riding them.

When my teachers taught me to truly ride generating energy from behind and steering the shoulders, not the mouth, it became very apparent I was relying entirely on the head for control. It was extremely humbling, and very frustrating. I had many lessons that felt like purgatory - not advancing until I could learn to direct with my seat onto a track of travel, learning not to let my over active hands get involved and to actually funnel the energy through.

I went from overactive, micromanaging riding to being floppy and ineffective, afraid to be at the helm. I’ve been at this a while, and I always remind my students of this : I did not pop out of the womb understanding this- and if you are naturally gifted at it, I’m happy for you - but don’t be alarmed if it is hard.

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!

If you’re feeling frustrated, inept, stuck in purgatory, and so on, try to remember this is not easy. It’s very simple - but it is the most difficult task you could undertake: mastering your body and mind to ride in a harmonious way with a horse. There are no shortcuts, no easy get out of jail free cards for learning how to direct fluidly without interference. Buddhist monks study a lifetime at a monestary to get control of their minds - so you have to direct that kind of energy and dedication into it, within the walls of your own arena.

It’s hard, and you will struggle and make mistakes, but you will be just fine, and so will your horse. It will come together in glimmers, in tastes- you’ll get motivated by a little feeling here and there, and you can remember that feeling to get you through the next plunge back into purgatory.

05/24/2026

26 years sure looks good on this girl! 🐴 🐴

05/23/2026

Those legs!! 🦒