Training

Fine tune your body language literacy and find harmony with horses.

Horsemanship Coaching begins with creating a safe foundation practicing groundwork skills. Depending on each individual’s goals, we may cover skills ranging from off-line liberty work and freestyle riding, to body language literacy and centered riding. Sessions are individualized to fit your needs, and provide you with a skillset that adapts to fit the needs of your horse, and a way of communicating that becomes second-nature. You will be matched with a horse from my herd - unless you have your own horse to work with.

Horsemanship is an art that is much more than simply 'horseback riding’. All traditions and backgrounds ranging from beginner to experienced are welcome.

SESSION LENGTHS:

• 60 minute

• 90 minute

• 120 minute

• 2, 3, & 5 Immersions (contact for rates)
  

AVAILABILITY:

• Local sessions with my herd in Cotati, CA

• Mobile sessions for locals (travel fee applies)

• Immersions for non-locals (travel fee applies)

• Remote coaching for non-locals using hybridized system of Zoom, phone and video chat

Make every step on your journey with your horse count.

Training is available for green horses with no foundation or those with ‘problem’ behaviors in need of a restart.

Willingness is my ultimate priority in all training in order to create a positive learning environment and foster confidence, curiosity, and trust. Regardless of whether you dream of a steady horse to hit the trails with, or a light-footed athlete to perform with, my training methodology aims to build a solid foundation which will grow into a joyful companionship that will last a lifetime.

Training packages start at a 12 week minimum for new clients, and can be increased in 4 week increments to prioritize gentle and compassionate methods.

SESSION LENGTHS:

• 12 week foundation package for new clients

• 4 week training packages following foundation period as needed
  

AVAILABILITY:

• Board and train available in Cotati, CA

• Mobile training for locals (travel fee applies)

I specialize in gentling wild horses, and aim to prioritize their willingness through moving at their pace.

Gentling differs from training in that it seeks to create a solid foundation which can be built upon during training. The technical goals of the gentling process are to be able to safely:

• halter and lead the horse on the ground

• load the horse into a trailer

• groom the horse and pick up all four feet

While the gentling process is simple in theory, to be able to accomplish these goals with the horse’s agency and willingness intact is really no small feat. Going at their pace ensures we don’t flood their central nervous system and couple human contact with triggered sympathetic nervous system responses (flight, fight, freeze, & fawn).

Going at their pace means working to get their parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest) engaged so they can learn through play drive, and build confidence, curiosity, and trust every step of the way. When the gentling process is done properly, later training can be a breeze as the horse has developed resiliency in their nervous system to help them overcome trauma, and regulate with the human in a calm state of consciousness.

Gentling packages start at a 12 week minimum for new clients, and can be increased in 4 week increments to prioritize compassionate methods.

SESSION LENGTHS:

• 12 week foundation package for new clients

• 4 week Gentling packages following foundation period as needed

• 2, 3, & 5 day Gentling Immersions (contact for rates)
  

AVAILABILITY:

• Board and train available in Cotati, CA

• Mobile Gentling for locals (travel fee applies)

• Distance Gentling for non-locals (travel fee applies)

Coaching, horse training, and wild horse gentling are all available at the facility my horses live in Sonoma County, Northern California, USA.

Coaching sessions are available with my herd. If you would like horsemanship coaching with your horse, mobile coaching sessions are available at your home/stable.

Coaching and horse training are available as mobile sessions at your home/stable. Travel fees apply to mobile sessions.

Coaching is the only training offering that is available remotely.

Remote coaching sessions use a hybridized system of Zoom, phone and video chat.