Sierra Corvin Equestrian

08/22/2026

💛I’m Going to Let Your Child Struggle 💛

When your child comes for lessons with me, I’m going to let them struggle sometimes.

They may have never fastened a buckle on a piece of tack. A saddle might be heavy and awkward. Their lead rope may be a tangled mess. And something that would take me ten seconds might take them five minutes.

I’m not going to immediately step in and do it for them. *Unless its a safety issue.*

Because someday, I want your child to walk into the barn, catch their own horse, tack up, and head out feeling completely confident in their own abilities.

Why?

Because they’re learning that they can do hard things.

So yes, I’ll help when something is beyond a child's physical ability. I’ll encourage, demonstrate, and keep them safe.

But when they *can* do it? I’m going to give them the time to fumble with the buckle. Untangle the rope. Try again. And figure it out.

Parents, I know watching that can be hard. You’ll want to jump in and make it easier.

But sometimes the greatest gift we can give a child is not making the hard thing easier.

It’s standing beside them long enough for them to discover:

“I can do this myself.”

💙 ~Abbie

08/07/2026

Today I refused to get on a client’s horse.

Not because I didn’t want to.

Because it would have been the least helpful thing I could have done.

The rider was struggling with the canter transition.

One of those classic situations where the issue wasn’t ability.

It was timing.

She’d ask.

Nothing.

Ask again.

Still nothing.

You could see the frustration building with every attempt.

So we changed the exercise. Broke it down. Made it simpler. Started rebuilding the pieces.

Then came the words I hear all too often…

“Will you just get on her and do it?”

“No.”

The look on her face suggested she’d expected a very different answer.

So I explained why.

Could I have got the transition?

Almost certainly.

I’ve ridden thousands of them. I know the timing. I know the feel.

But that wouldn’t have solved the real problem.

In fact, it probably would have made things worse.

Firstly, she’d already started doubting herself. Watching me hop on and make it look easy would only reinforce the story that I can do it… but she can’t.

Secondly…

I don’t need the practice.

She does.

My job isn’t to prove I can ride.

My job is to help someone else become a better rider.

That means giving them the opportunity to discover the feel for themselves.

To make mistakes.

To adjust.

To try again.

Because that’s where learning lives.

As coaches, it’s tempting to reach for the cheat code.

Jump on.

Fix the problem.

Everyone feels better for five minutes.

But has the rider actually learned anything?

Sometimes, yes, I’ll have a quick sit. There are occasions where it genuinely gives valuable information or helps the horse understand something.

But that’s never my first option.

My first responsibility is to the partnership standing in front of me.

To give the rider the tools, the understanding and the confidence to solve the problem themselves.

Because the goal has never been for my clients to need me forever.

The goal is for them to become the rider their horse needs.

If that’s the kind of coaching you’ve been looking for—where understanding comes before shortcuts—you’d fit right in inside the Informed Equestrians community. We’d love to welcome you.

Katie

08/02/2026

Not every horseman is called to the same role.

Some are competitors who thrive under pressure and love the thrill of the arena. Some are incredible horsemen who may never win big, but their feel, timing, and understanding of a horse are second to none. Some are gifted coaches and mentors, pouring into the next generation and helping others achieve their dreams.

Some are trainers who would rather stay at home, starting colts, solving problems, and building great horses than chasing rodeo miles. And some are blessed to do a little bit of all of the above.

I’ve seen champions who have won a lot but aren’t great horsemen. I’ve seen outstanding horsemen who rarely compete or never seem to win. I’ve seen people who excel at both.

I’ve also seen trainers who have no desire to compete they simply love developing horses and helping others succeed. And I’ve seen successful competitors who are so busy competing that they don’t have the time to coach.

None of these paths is more valuable than another.

The horse industry needs competitors, horsemen, trainers, coaches, and mentors. Each one plays a different role, and together they make our industry stronger.

So don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Keep working hard, stay true to the role God has called you to, and do what brings you joy.

Success isn’t determined by the arena you’re standing in. It’s determined by the impact you leave behind and by the horses and people who are better because you crossed their path.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
Elsabe Hausauer
MBR Performance Horsemanship LLC

📸: AA Media & Marketing

08/01/2026

Same with trailer loading!!!

If a horse is having alleyway issues, adding more chaos usually isn’t the answer.

Twenty people running up behind one, waving arms, yelling, pushing, pulling, or trying to “help” can turn an already stressful situation into a complete mess — and teach the horse that the alley really IS something to worry about.

Sometimes the best thing everyone around can do is give that horse and rider some space.

Alley issues need to be worked through with patience, confidence, and a plan. Figure out WHY the horse is struggling. Is it fear? Anticipation? Pain? Rider nerves? Has rushing the alley become a learned behavior? The answer matters because the fix isn’t the same for every horse.

And just as important: the rider’s attitude matters.

Getting frustrated, embarrassed, or feeling pressured because everyone is watching usually doesn’t help. Stay calm. Be intentional. Ask for what you want, reward the right response, and don’t turn every trip to the alley into a fight that has to be won that day.

Sometimes progress is simply walking closer calmly than you did yesterday.

Good help is valuable. A crowd creating pressure from every direction usually isn’t.

For those who have worked through alley issues successfully — what helped your horse the most?

07/29/2026

THIS RIGHT HERE👏🏻

The fastest runs I’ve ever made all had one thing in common…

They felt slow.

Not because they lacked speed, but because they were smooth.

I was quiet. My horse was with me. There was no rushing, no panic, no scrambling to fix something at the last second. Every move happened when it was supposed to, and everything flowed.

I think that’s why so many people mistake “fast” for “busy.”

When you’re out of position, making extra moves, pulling, kicking, and trying to catch up, it feels fast—but it’s usually costing you time.

The stopwatch doesn’t reward chaos. It rewards efficiency.

Smooth is fast.

The quieter you become, the more confident your horse becomes. And when your horse trusts you enough to stay with you instead of reacting to you, that’s when the truly fast runs happen.

Don’t chase speed. Chase consistency, timing, and feel.

The speed will show up on its own.

07/26/2026

Reactive horses do not always need you to make a bigger deal out of what scared them.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is put their feet to work and give their mind somewhere else to go. I am not saying ignore the problem…but in a way, ignore the problem.

If a horse is scared of a barrel, something outside the arena, or something moving in the distance, I could spend 30 minutes picking at that one issue. But most of the time, that only amplifies it and makes the horse believe it really is a big deal.

Instead, I go lope circles. I change directions. I move their shoulders, control their body, and give them a job.

I also push them up into the bridle. When you let a reactive horse travel around flat, disconnected, and looking everywhere, it is much easier for them to get away from you mentally and physically. Get them broke in the face, drive them forward into your hands, and put them in a position where you can direct their feet and body where you want them to go.

That does not mean holding their face or riding them trapped. It means creating connection, forward motion, and control.

Before long, I can lope right past the barrel and they never even look at it…because I redirected their focus, got their feet moving, and gave their mind something productive to think about.

The same applies at horse shows. I hear people say their horse is always looking around, watching everything, or acting spooky.

A trainer once told me:
“If you let a horse be a tourist, it is going to be a tourist.”

That has always stuck with me.
Stop letting them stand around and take everything in. Redirect that nervous energy. Push them up into the bridle. Put their feet to work. Give them a purpose.

Do not create a bigger problem by convincing your horse there is something worth being afraid of.

Stay calm. Create connection. Move their feet. Redirect their mind.

07/24/2026

Collection Begins at the Shoulder, Not the Hind Leg
Many riders spend years trying to create more engagement from behind.
Yet the horse never truly collects.
Why?
Because collection isn't created by pushing the hind legs harder.
It is created by giving the hind legs somewhere to go.
If the shoulders continue to run forward unchecked, every ounce of impulsion simply travels out the front door. The horse gets bigger, faster, and heavier—not lighter.
The first responsibility of the rider is to organize the forehand.
Only when the shoulders can be balanced and redirected can the hindquarters begin to accept greater weight.
This is why exercises like shoulder-in, travers, renvers, and well-ridden circles are so valuable. They aren't tricks.
They are gymnastic exercises that teach the horse to organize its body around the rider's aids.
Collection is not an increase in effort.
It is an increase in balance.

07/23/2026

A few snippets from lessons over the past weekend!