Concinnity Farm

05/19/2026

Lately I have been feeling tired.

Not just physically, although that's a truth too. More mentally and emotionally.

There's a weight that comes with my job and Im not talking about the physical weight that comes with holding onto the limb of an animal that weighs 1000+ pounds. I'm talking about the weight of a silent conversation that happens every time I do physically take hold of a limb.

Often, owners are standing nearby telling me their side of the story. The improvements, the amazing rides, the softness, the lightness...all while their horse tells me their side of the story, one that sometimes doesn't match.

I hate to be negative, so it's worth noting that it’s not all bad. Sometimes horses and humans are living the same truth. Sometimes the horse is saying they're actually okay while the owner is worried about all the things they might be missing. This is not the majority though, not from where Im standing anyway.

The point is, the limbs are a window to the inside.

They reflect the stability, safety, and comfort that the horse feels...or lacks. They reflect the quality of your handling, your groundwork and your under saddle work.

Just because you want something to be true, doesn't make it the horse's truth. It's interesting to watch people rationalize and justify subtle communication that says, "I need more support". I can empathize. Looking at your horse and realizing they need more support can be hard to face. It's easier to create a reality in which you don't need to do much more than you are now. The time. The money. The changes you may need to make to yourself, your training, your riding, your husbandry practices...that can be an overwhelming thought.

But, it doesn't have to be perfect. You don't have to be perfect. Your horse doesn't have to be perfect. Small changes can bring big gains.

This horse is far from perfect. I could give you a list a mile long of things that I don't love about his hooves, his body, his development. My frustration with my lack of consistency and time. My lack of financial resources to support him in all the ways I could if money wasn't a worry.

And yet, he feels pretty good here. Quality over quantity. I've acknowledged him and the areas where he asks for more support...and I've said, "I'll do my best, I'll give you my best". But I've had to be, and continue to be, willing to hear things from him that I don't necessarily want to hear. That's what helps keep me honest. That's what helps keep me curious. That's what helps keep me seeking.

There's no, "This is good enough", for me. I want to know how good can it get, can it be better than what it is now? I'm not talking about nitpicking our horses and ourselves to death. I'm talking about living in a state of perpetual curiosity. I'm talking about slowing down enough to observe, feel and adjust. Particularly through simple, seemingly mundane tasks. The things that are especially easy to rush and bulldoze through.

Bring the level of focus and awareness you might have for something challenging, to something simple. It might teach you more than you expect it would, get you further than you think it might and make the challenging things easier than you think.

We're not JUST picking up legs, we're not JUST picking out hooves, we're not JUST trimming...it's so much deeper than that, it has the opportunity to be anyway.

A two minute blip of a 20 min session where I focused on some rocking and leg handling, right as the storms were moving in yesterday...

- Terra

05/05/2026

Are you ready for a fresh perspective on fear? This might be for you! Contact Leah Astrup 😊

05/03/2026

I am EXHAUSTED...but it's the best kind of tired!

The kind of tired that comes from sharing days with open minded friends who are devoted to putting the horse first. The kind of tired that comes from sharing space with those dedicated to showing up, giving their best and growing through every moment...even the challenging ones. The kind of tired that comes from a brain filled to the brim with new ideas, information and tools.

I am always left with a feeling of deep gratitude for being able to witness the unique journey of each horse and human that shows up.

Thank you to the horses, their amazing humans, and our wonderful teacher Deb Davies Equine Self Expression ❤️

We can't wait for our fall clinic!

- Terra

05/02/2026

What an amazing day with Deb Davies of Equine Self Expression 🩵

I love this format...5 riders, two lessons per day. The changes between lessons one and two were AMAZING!

I cannot wait to see where each pair is tomorrow and the changes they see between lessons three and four.

I deeply appreciate the way that Deb teaches and how she is able to bring concepts full circle throughout the lessons. It has been so fun to see each horse's body and mind change, coming "online" in new and healthy ways. I love seeing horses worked with in this way and I am so grateful to Deb, the participants and the horses for sharing with us this weekend!

If you would like to join us tomorrow, auditors are welcome - $75 per person.

04/09/2026

Thursday musings...

Curiosity, exploration, organization, ease, poise, gravity.

Words that have been swirling around in my brain recently.

As I pushed my full wheelbarrow over uneven terrain, I checked in with my body...my back had a tiny bit of a dull ache. I have some tendencies that don't always serve me well...I can over use my back, I can breathe shallowly, I can brace through my ribs. The distance from my armpit to my hip tends to get short. I constantly do quick scans of my joints to see if I have them locked because inevitably, something often has. I check to see all the little ways tension my have crept in.

I take the time to just notice.

How can I make this less effortful? How can I bring more ease? Can I be smoother? How many different ways can I initiate a particular movment? How is my breathing, where can I feel it? So many little ways to check in with myself!

Having attended many ATM (Awareness Through Movement) series hosted by Integrated Movement,LLC, I now have more possibilities, more places to visit within myself. Plenty of sensations, feel and new awareness to explore. Every second affords us another opportunity to play with how we organize ourselves. Which is the beauty of Feldenkrais...learning how to learn. As we simply go about our daily lives, every second affords us the opportunity to know ourselves a little better.

As an equestrian, I can think of no better way to become a better rider, than to see every moment out of the saddle as an opportunity to become better for when I am in the saddle.

After all, how does one even attempt to shape and organize another body if they can't do that for themselves first?

I hear Connected Riding with Peggy Cummings' in the back of my mind...what are your remember to remembers?

Today, I am grateful for this journey and for the people in it.

"The aim [of the Feldenkrais Method] is a person that is organized to move with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength, but through increased consciousness of how movement works". - Moshe Feldenkrais

- Terra

04/07/2026

"We're not just applying a technique, we're asking a question"

An idea shared with me by my wonderful friend, mentor and colleague, Leah Astrup during a session with a horse. An idea gathered by her from the wonderful Mary Debono of Debono Moves.

We were discussing it as it pertained to bodywork but it's something I have kept tucked in the back of my mind during every engagement and interaction I have with a horse. I really love it because it really takes the imposition out of whatever it is that I am doing with a horse and replaces it with thoughtful curiosity.

It reminds me that there are often many subtleties and nuances that we can barrel right through if we're doing more than we're feeling. It reminds me to never underestimate the seemingly simple things because that is often where the most profound discoveries can be made.

More is possible when there is reciprocity...but that doesn't usually come from the approach of telling a body what to do. It comes from asking thoughtful questions about what is possible now, free of judgment. Making adjustments, asking more thoughtful questions, and expanding those possibilities together.

I think when we see people who are very good with horses, we think what we want and need to develop is their technique and skill. Of course, there is value in that well developed technique and skill...but I think what we're really drawn to is the deeper conversation that is happening, one that goes far beyond technique.

And we're all capable of having those conversations, as much as we're capable of learning to apply technique. We just have to be curious enough and be willing to shift from telling, to asking.

- Terra

03/26/2026

Every year when I head to Texas, everyone always asks me about the experience...

And every year those questions get harder and harder for me to answer. Actually, I think that's getting to be true for most of the educational experiences I participate in.

That's not because the experiences aren't good or because I don't know what I learned or how to share it. It's because as of late, my journey is becoming less about technique and skill, and is becoming much more deeply personal. Are technique and skill important? Yes. Is it important to have tools and things to try with a horse? Yes. What's even more important than that? The person behind them. And more important than that? How willing that person is to really get to know themselves.

I mean, logically we all know this. No one is going to read this and find it a revolutionary concept...and yet, look around. We're still rushed. We're still stressed. We're still anxious. We're still bottling things up until we explode with emotion. We're still shrinking ourselves. We're still telling our same stories. We're still lacking in awareness. We're still in denial of our patterns. We're still rejecting our role in the state of our relationships.

We're still trying to DO when we don't even know how to BE.

So, so many of us have lost our center and getting back to it is usually not an easy or comfortable process. For that reason, whether conscious or not, we will do everything we can to distract ourselves from finding our way back to it.

I feel so fortunate to have the teachers that I have, and access to the learning opportunities that I have, because that is where they're challenging me to go - to the places beyond technical horsemanship and training.

My technique and skill will only ever be as good as my energy, intention and state of flow.

So, if I don't have as much to say it's because I am intentionally trying to be quieter. To notice more and to say, and do less...because I know I have a lot of personal work to do.

- Terra

"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."–Benjamin Franklin

01/12/2026

I have a question for horse owners.

Before I ask this question, I want it to be clear that there is no right or wrong answer. Each individual comes to the table with a unique perspective based on their experiences. Nothing is up for debate. Nothing is to be judged. This question is being asked out of genuine curiosity.

What is your standard for how well a horse should stand for the farrier?

I want you to be very specific.

Is it how they pick up their feet? Is it how long they can hold up their feet for the farrier? Is it how heavy their limb feels in your hands? Is it whether or not the farrier can be free to have both hands on their tools? Is it simply just important that they're not dangerous? What do you consider a dangerous behavior versus one that is simply annoying? What behaviors do you feel it is acceptable for a farrier to tolerate or work through, if any at all? Etc, etc, etc.

What is that makes you decide, "Yes...this horse is fully prepared for the farrier!"?

If you feel like sharing what types of things you do to help support your horse for their trims, that would be interesting to hear too!

- Terra

11/30/2025

11/22/2025

As always, my farm can serve as a haul in spot for horses or dogs! Let me know if you're interested :)

Hey Michigan!!!! We have had requests to come up for a day or two to work on horses and dogs ;) It has been a while since our last trip and we are open to entertaining a workload within the next 6 weeks or so. Are you interested in having anyone seen? We dont have a set date yet, but will avoid Thanksgiving amd Christmas week. Message below with interest please