Debbie – Culpepper, VA

My two warmblood mares require different aspects of leadership from me. FT is a confident mare and is always challenging my knowledge with her intelligence and ability to “place” my body where she wants it! Cally, my other mare, challenges my basic leadership skills of handling because of an extremely charged prey instinct within her.

With both, I use the skills Kirsten has shared and always carry my “bag of tools” if I need to change gears. What I am in the process of learning from my horses is I must be in the moment and maintain leadership that meets the needs of the horse at each moment.

During the snowy winter months here in Va., I go back to the basics to fill in the holes I left behind during the summer months. Kirstens first book, Basic Handling, outlines basics you can do in the barn on those cold, snowy days.  Standing still for my prey instinct mare is a challenge. I must be very clear and present when asking her to stand. After two weeks of being attentive and standing, she was much better with the farrier this week. Yeh! Will move on to tying and standing this week!