HORSE PHILOSOPHY

At 19 I stumbled upon and rescued Ladybug, a two-year-old, green-broke, sorrel mare from a not-so-good owner. After gaining Ladybug’s trust and carefully nursing her back to health, we explored the worlds of flat racing, barrel racing, overnight camping trips, a week-long cattle drive at a friend’s ranch in Saint Augustine, and hours and hours of being wrapped up in nature out blazing trails.
 

I have moved all over the South and Ladybug always was always with me. My main concern for selecting a place to live was that she could live there with me. Ladybug was my best friend. She taught me a lot about getting outside of my human self and “talking” to her in her language which is primarily body language. I have read extensively, taken many classes, and become a certified instructor, but my most important teacher was Ladybug.  She taught me my foundation for understanding equine behavior as a social prey animal and how strong a bond can be achieved by  their way of communicating. 

So many people own and ride their horses without understanding the difference between being an owner/rider to being a trusted companion. They miss experiencing the incredible, deep bond that can be achieved by simply understanding that being a prey animal horses have a very special strict social order for survival and trust in their leader is paramount.  When you take a horse out of its herd, no matter what position they have in the herd, it is important that he see you as the leader of your herd which includes him, the horse.