Introducing Cowboy Dressage

The California sun shines on our heads, warming the brisk morning air. A cowgirl’s paradise spreads in front of us at Murieta Equestrian Center (http://murietaequestriancenter.com/). Four indoor arenas and thirteen outdoor arenas spread across the landscape and we head to the largest barn to begin our day. Entering the main indoor facility, we see the Cowboy Dressage court set up in the center, gleaming white rails, poles and markers set in a 20m x 60m rectangle. Smaller than a standard dressage court to fit the movement and stride of a western horse, the Cowboy Dressage court is also distinguished by the use of brands along with traditional letters for markers.

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Solving People Problems With Horse Training Logic

At MM Training and Consulting, our expertise is foundational training for horse and rider. In addition to our comprehensive riding/training program, I also believe that we offer our clients a unique gift. This gift is using the concept of horse training logic to solve people problems. Many may think this type of problem solving is just too simple for complicated people problems, but I’m convinced that many people problems are perceived to be much more difficult than they really are.

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Connection...What Does it Look Like?

As many of you know, we have addressed the topic of “connection” between horse and handler for years now. Yes, it has evolved over the years, but it is something, to some degree, that I have always done with horses since I was a child. Although I didn’t call it such, my awareness about “connection” started many years ago after an observer asked me, “Why do you blow at your horse?” As with many trainers who have worked with horses their whole lives, I had no idea why I did it. I just did it. And frankly, at the time, I was a little embarrassed that someone noticed that I did it. Since I’m a former Marine and grew up a cowgirl, you can only imagine how it might have seemed a little too “touchy feely” for me. But blowing at my horses was such a part of me, as a horseman, I kept doing it. And after some time of thinking, I concluded that I did it because horses really responded to it and liked it. And I could have simply left it at that. Right?

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