horsemanship
“Let your actions be measured, consistent, and gentle. A horse learns not by fear but by reason and repetition.”
- Xenophon, On Horsemanship, c. 350 BC
Horsemanship here at Loveland is simple - not easy, but simple. It’s about learning how to see, how to listen, and how to show up for the horse that’s in front of you. It’s about slowing down enough to feel the small things, because the small things are everything. Pressure and release. Timing and clarity. Stillness and softness. These aren’t training exercises - they’re habits of awareness. And when you learn to carry that awareness into your work, your horse starts to understand you. Not because you overcorrected or overcued - but because you made sense.
This is not a program built on domination or gimmicks. It’s built on communication, patience, and presence - three things that make better horses, and better people. The work we do here isn’t flashy, but it’s deep. It creates horses that are safe, soft, and reliable, and riders who know how to hold up their end of the conversation. The methods transfer because they’re rooted in something real - feel, timing, and trust. That’s what I teach. That’s what I practice. And it’s what I’ll help you find for yourself.
Training at Loveland
What is Horsemanship at the Grove really about?
It’s about more than just training techniques… It’s about learning a whole new language. Horses communicate through movement, subtle cues, and energy. Here, you’ll discover how to listen, respond, and meet the horse on their level - understanding the world as they do and staying attuned to their constant signals. Because they are communicating with us at all times.
Why is communication important in horsemanship?
Communication is the bridge between horse and human. Horses do not speak our language, so clarity of cues, timing, and consistency allow them to understand what we’re asking. Without communication, there is only confusion, and confusion leads to fear, resistance, or shutdown. Clear, ethical communication replaces force with understanding, turning training into a dialogue instead of a struggle. It builds trust, confidence, and a willingness in the horse to respond freely. At its core, horsemanship is not about control but about conversation… and communication is what makes that partnership possible.
What experience & principles guide my horsemanship as a horseman?
With over a decade of hands-on experience as a Professional Horseman, I’ve worked with horses of all breeds, temperaments, and backgrounds. My approach centers around three guiding principles: precision, patience, and presence. These principles shape how I teach both horses and humans; showing not just what to do, but how and why it matters.
What are the training facilities like on Loveland?
We have a state-of-the-art 50’ round pen with premium footing that supports any kind of training — from groundwork to riding, it offers a feel that keeps both horse and human balanced and comfortable. There are defined woodland trails throughout the property, great for riding or working on the ground, and especially good for getting your horse used to being in the woods with clarity and confidence. We also have a natural woodland obstacle course, with built-in features like ditches, stairs, tarps, and tight spaces — an exposure course that helps horses learn to navigate challenges in a thoughtful, pressure-free way.
What types of training opportunities are available at Loveland Grove?
One-on-One with Belle: Work with a seasoned, intuitive horse to refine feel, timing, and confidence. Experience the subtle dialogue that builds trust and responsiveness.
Bring Your Own Horse for the Day: Apply techniques directly with your own horse to enhance suppleness, responsiveness, and safety, creating harmony you can carry forward.
Weekend Intensive: Immerse yourself in a full experience with your horse, deepening connection, gaining practical skills, and strengthening a partnership that goes beyond technique.
What is the goal of these sessions?
These sessions aim to create a horse that is light in the hand, steady in the mind, and attentive to the quietest ask. By cultivating timing, balance, and refined signals, you’ll establish a safe, reliable partner capable of true athletic expression. The goal is to build a foundation of skills that transfer across any discipline or breed, on the ground, on the trail, in the arena, or on the range or in performance, giving your horse the clarity and confidence to succeed in any path.
How will these sessions help your horsemanship?
These sessions go beyond technique, teaching sensitivity, timing, and authentic partnership. You’ll gain practical tools to foster a supple, responsive, and safe partner, while developing the deeper communication that transforms horsemanship into an art. Every interaction - with horse or human, becomes an opportunity to practice connection, trust, and subtlety.
What will a session feel like?
Each session is calm, present, and intentional. You won’t be rushed or over-directed. We move with the horse, not on top of them. Depending on your focus, we might begin with breath-work, body awareness, or observation. Then we move into groundwork or saddle work, where the emphasis is on feel, timing, and communication. You’ll receive guidance that helps you build trust, release tension, and move with clarity. Belle may ask you to slow down. Your own horse may ask you to let go. The goal is to notice, respond, and begin again - moment by moment, ask by ask. You’ll leave with more than technique. You’ll leave with awareness, insight, and a more responsive, connected partner.
Who is Belle? why is she so special to work with?
Belle is more than just a horse - she is my lifetime partner. Nearly 20 years together. We didn’t just grow up together - we became together. I taught Belle how to be a horse; she taught me how to be a horseman.
Hot days. Rough ground. Dirt, dust, sweat, blood, and a whole lot of tears. We figured it out together; how to handle pressure, how to stay soft in hard situations, how to trust each other when it would’ve been easier not to. When I have no one else in this world, I have Belle. I always have her.
The work it took to get here has made her more than a highly trained ranch, trail, and liberty horse. She’s attuned. She feels everything: your timing, your energy, your intention. If what you think you’re asking doesn’t actually match what your body is saying, she’ll tell you. She won’t fake it. She won’t carry you. But if you show up right, she’ll meet you there; present, soft, ready.
This bond is what makes her so extraordinary to work with. She is not a “lesson horse” - she is the soul of this program. A living, breathing example of partnership built over decades. Working with Belle isn’t just about horsemanship - it’s about relationship. Trust, patience, presence. She’s a mirror. And if you let her, she will shift you, too.