Renovation and Sign Up

I want to remind everyone that my website is going through some growing pains and is under construction. One of the most exciting changes is that the blog will be reserved for training tips. So, if it looks sparse at the moment, it is because all non-training related comments and posts have been deleted. Don't forget to join (bottom right hand side of page). Stay tuned

Liberty Training

Training a horse to go at liberty is becoming quite popular these days. It is fun, looks spectacular and provides a different way of working with your horse. But, try and look at it from the horse's point of view. Horses need and desire leadership. When training at liberty, there is a very delicate balance between what is leadership and what is not. In essence you must learn how to lead and not lead at the same time.

The liberty horse has to have a well developed thinking mind and be able to make decisions based on what you ask him to do, but at the same time the human has to lead and control the asking. We access a horse's mind by controlling his feet. How can we control his feet from a distance yet allow the horse to move freely? If it sounds confusing you you, imagine how it sounds to the horse? Proper liberty training is a tricky thing. Kate teaches liberty training with consideration for the horse. It is possible to just go out and arbitrarily start to "GET" your horse to do things at liberty. The horse, out of love and willingness to please may respond with what looks to be favorable. But have you considered that what you are doing may be no better than trick training or conditioned response? That is not true liberty training. Kate believes that kind of thing can be demeaning to the horse. He may as well be a trained parrot; a horse without a single original thought. There is a difference...a huge difference. Call 303-601-7797 or email Katelyn to learn proper liberty training.

Photo 1: It is difficult to teach the first manuever as it has to first be done in very close proximity to the horse

Photo2: Kate is teaching Fable to collect at liberty. A horse should be able to go in all gaits in collected posture before learning advanced movements.

Please Be Patient...website under renovation

Please be patient, I am presently renovating my website. Look for many changes in 2010. So at the moment it is a bit sparse, but stay tuned for exciting new tips, concepts, articles.......

Ask and You Shall Receive

When you ride, consider what you are asking your horse and ask it in the softest way you know how. Listen intently. Speak little. Listen and Feel for the answer instead.

Every time you ask a horse to do anything for you it is a new conversation. Asking him to take a step is one conversation. Once that is done, the second step is a new conversation. Sometimes a single step is too much to ask and you may have to end the conversation with half a step or the beginning of the try to step. The horse is doing the very best he can. Take what he gives you. Hear what he gives you. Rephrase the question if he doesn't understand.

I seldom let the horse have the last word in any conversation no matter how brief. My last word is ALWAYS thank you.

Learn how to work with your with feel; listening and feeling for your horse. Call Kate at 303-601-7797 or email her to se up an appointment

Consider the Horse when you choose your Gear

Ahh… saddles. I love the look, the feel and the smell of the leather. I can sense the care and pride of the craftsman’s hand, but it is the peeerrrrrfffect feel and fit I am after. Not just for me, but for the horse.

Every time I tack up, I check the horse from stem to stern. When I dismount, I study my pad and the sweat on the horse's back like Holtzman studied the inkblot.

I want a bridle a horse is proud to wear. One who makes my horse say, "Look at me, this is lovely."

Finding the right bit is a must in my book. Imagine if you had to wear someone else’s boots and they hurt. So, I have my collection. It used to be that the snaffle was enough, now I know better.

I consider the horse first and foremost.

Learn how to properly outfit your horse with tack that is appropriate for him, his job and you.
Call Katelyn 303-601-7797 or email her to set up an appointment

Have Humans Lost Their Senses?

Civilization has developed in a way that has upset the balance of how humans are taught and encouraged to communicate. People have come to rely primarily on the written and spoken word to interact. That leaves many of the natural instincts or tools in the human communication toolbox to collect dust.

This lack of balance can be a real detriment to a human who is attempting to lead and work with a species (horse) that finds little use for the spoken word and even less for the written one. Horses, unlike humans have managed to keep their instincts intact. Many people, on the other hand do not have the sense(s) they were born with. For more on this subject call Katelyn for an appointment 303-601-7797 or email her kate@katelynkent.net

Had it up to here with winter? Try Slow Motion Training

You don't have to give up riding with winter weather. You just have to be willing to think outside the box a bit.

First of all, I am not a proponent of shoeing a horse unless it is necessary for optimum health and well being. Consequently, I ride outdoors in the winter. But even then, there are times when it is too muddy (Colorado clay turns to grease), or the snow is too crusty or slick. These are the days that I take advantage of less than optimal weather conditions and practice slow motion training. Many people, trainers included, forget that controlling the feet leads to tapping into the mind. If you can get very precise movements at a walk or a standstill, it will greatly improve your working relationship with your horse.

Try this exercise:

While mounted, see how little it takes for you to ask your horse to take one foot and move it forward and stop. Now, can you get him to bring that same foot back to a square stop? Can you get your horse rock forward, but not take a step? How about backward? Now ask your horse to move one foot backward or one foot sideways. What you are working on here is very important stuff. It may sound easy or even boring, but try it first before you scoff. This is a great exercise in feel. Jack Brainard, master that he is, asked me if I could get my horse to swing only his back end back and forth in a swaying motion. I worked on that for the better part of an hour before I figured out what needed to happen to get my horse to do what Jack calls, "The Hula". It took days to perfect it, and I still mess it up. I will give you the same hint he gave me. The key is to find a way to get the horse to separate his front feet to a place that is wider than his shoulders and keep them there. Have a nice Hawaiian vacation! Let me know how it turns out.

For more information and training tips call or email kate.