Hollman Horsemanship

** All clinics are FULL but I do take waiting lists, so if you are interested please let me know and I will add you! ** It's been very quiet around here! I've been using the winter time to get lots done at home, as well as work on planning my year! Here is my spring schedule! Fingers crossed we are able to make these clinics go. Possibly with a few alterations, but we are used to that by now. ;) COVID regulations will be in place and if we can't run them, deposits will be r...efunded or transferred to later in the year. March 27 & 28 - Horsemanship FULL April 10 & 11 - Liberty Foundation FULL April 17 & 18 - Horsemanship & Obstacles FULL Message me with any questions or if you would like to book a spot. I can't wait to see some beautiful horses and teach new and old friends alike.

Sometimes what we need to hear is not what we are ready to hear. You’re too tall for your pony, this isn’t the right horse for you, you need to spend more time on the basics, you’re not ready to canter yet. These and a million other things might be the one that you need to hear in your life. It might go in one ear and immediately face resistance, denial, hurt feelings, frustration or disappointment. Likely, it will be ignored for awhile. Most of us have a processing t...ime, especially when it comes to things that are hard for us to accept. We have to let it roll around in our brain for awhile while we trudge along on our path, deciding if the voice of reason is correct or not. Maybe we come around to it, maybe we don’t but either way, we likely still needed to hear the thing we are having trouble accepting. A different perspective is sometimes all we need to see things clearer or open our minds to a path we were struggling to see. Hard truths come in many forms. Always consider the source is it coming from a place of kindness and support? Does this person have my best interest at heart? My horses? Are they just trying to keep you safe? Even though it may not be something we like to hear, if it meets the requirements of kindness, safety and honesty, then it should definitely be considered. Hard truths help us grow as individuals, riders and horsemen and women. Learning to let go, move on, change things up, work harder - whatever it may be, you’ll be thankful for it one day. That one hard truth that you weren’t sure you wanted to accept. Until next time. Xoxo

Adjustability. 2020 has shown us that we can all be a little more flexible than we may have believed. We are constantly adapting to new rules and trying to figure out the best way forward. We’ve had trips, classes, sports and so many other things cancelled or postponed. While it’s disappointing, we are all aware that there isn’t much we can do about it. We just pick up the pieces and move forward. This adjustability is so applicable when it comes to our relationship with our ...horses. Some days we have a specific goal in mind but then are met with a horse who is nothing like the one we were hoping to see. They might be spooky, tired or sore; they might have stepped on a sharp rock or have been stung by a bee. They can’t use words to explain their troubles but they will tell us what we need to know if we listen and observe. Let them show you what they need. Meet the horse as it is in the moment and adjust the plan. Make it work for them, that day. What are the steps I need to make my plan attainable? Does my horse need to go for a run? Warm up on the lunge-line? Do some brain-engaging groundwork? Do they need to go for a trail ride and decompress? Or do they need to see their farrier, the chiropractor or the vet? Maybe you’ll get to the goal the same day, the next day or the next week. Either way, you don’t have to throw the plan out the window. Adjust the line of projection and allow the horse you met at the gate determine your progression. Don’t try and force them into a square hole when they are clearly having a round peg type of day. As a prey animal, horses are so hyper aware of their surroundings that they are well aware when we are in tune with them or not listening. The more we engage ourselves to be a better listener, the more our horse will tell us. Let the year 2020 be a lesson in horsemanship Adjust. Reassess. Observe. Progress. Until next time. xoxo

Don't forget that Gift Certificates make great presents for your horsey friends! And I have some money saving deals!

Be kind. It costs nothing extra; it doesn’t take up anymore of your time. I think a lot of instructors begin to feel like they’re above beginners the ones that are struggling, or just starting out and they become impatient. Blunt. Sometimes blunt is meant to save your life, but when things are said just to make someone feel small and insignificant, it’s out of place. Nobody learns well when they feel bad about themselves. Most of us are already fighting a negative interna...l dialogue and then to add that type of criticism on top? It just creates a vicious cycle of not believing in oneself and feeling unimportant; worrying not only about how you feel inside, but if the insensitive comments will be coming from the middle of the arena, as well. As an instructor, my goal is always to build people up. To give them knowledge that makes them feel empowered; that they can take the lesson home and find a way forward with their horse. To do it methodically and kindly. The path forward isn’t necessarily a straight line it rarely is with horses, but it’s always my objective to find the next step, to dig out the missing piece of the puzzle. To find the keys that will open a new door and help bring in confidence. Strength. Understanding. I’m always going to be honest, I never want to disillusion you, but the truth is important, even if its hard to hear. When it’s uncomfortable, it can still be brought forth with tact and gentleness. With love and lightness and a plan to move forward. Belittling someone isn’t the way forward. I would never want my horse to feel that way, nor would I want a student to carry that burden. Be kind. Think about your words both those that you speak and those that you think. Think about the kindness in your hands on the reins, when you stroke your horse, the softness in the aids that you apply. It costs nothing extra and doesn’t take up anymore of your time. Until next time. xoxo

It's that time of year again where I can sit down and write. We can have hopes and dreams, but not expectations. Say what? I can’t expect my horse not to run me over and stomp on my feet? No, I’m referring to the expectations that result in the good vs. bad horse mentality; the ones that expect perfection and therefore always cause disappointment. When we place expectations on our horses, we are putting an onus on them that they have not asked for. They don’t know what w...e are striving for or hoping to achieve, and so when that expectation isn’t met, they’re faced with a frustrated, disappointed or even angry human. Those emotions are our own responsibility to face. Why are we feeling these things? Is it because of something my horse did, or because I expected him to react differently? Expectations cause us to not be in the present, accepting the horse for who they are at that exact second. Each time we are taken out of the moment, we lose connection and feel to them. Animals always live in present, unlike humans who are constantly worrying about past failures and future anxieties. What will so and so think of my horse? What if he doesn’t achieve what I want him to? I hope they don’t embarrass me today. These are valid thoughts, but as horsemen and women, we have to set them aside, take a deep breath and allow our horse to be a horse. They can make mistakes (we constantly do!); they may not like the job we bought them for, they may act like a fool in public whatever it may be, it is our job to learn the tools to help them cope with life. To cope with change, and growth. We have to cultivate our own learning in order to help our horses become the stars that we think they can be! If we stay in a rut ourselves then we can’t push them out of their comfort zone and pursue those hopes and dreams. Expectations are the demands of a future that we have not yet lived resulting in desires that are un-met. Goal setting, accepting the horse in the moment, feeling for them and allowing kindness and grace to develop our sessions are the best ways to achieve those hopes and dreams without expectations lurking overhead and wrecking your relationship. Next time you feel yourself getting frustrated with your horse, ask yourself the pertinent questions is he just acting like a horse and I expected a different reaction? Did I allow some desire for a future goal cloud my ability to see the horse as he came in today? Am I frustrated because of my own inability to communicate what I want? Answer those with gentleness for yourself, accept the answer for what it is (good or bad) and move forward with a feeling of presence and engagement. Your horse will thank you for it and notice the clarity with which you approach the situation again. Until next time. xoxo

I haven't put a new post out in awhile but this one is worth sharing I think.