Rising Talent Horsemanship Summer 2022 Issue #7

Rising Talent Horsemanship Vol. 7 June, 2022

rthorsemanship.com

Share Your Knowledge -By Daisy Jones

Don’t Overthink It -By Rachel Brown -& MORE!

Featuring 3 Up-and-Coming Trainers

Flexibility, Feel, & Humility -By Kattie Barnett Outdated Ideologies -By Sidney Harwood

“We should endeavor to remove words like “bad” and “naughty” or “rude” to describe our horse’s response to us or the environment we placed them in. These moments can be frustrating and difficult, but we must exercise patience and build a better foundation of understanding with our equine partners.”

-Sidney Harwood Sidney with her mare, Verona

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Editorial Page Information Rising Talent Horsemanship seeks to highlight new and established horse trainers.

Rising Talent Horsemanship

Volume 1, Issue 7, June 2022

Legal Any views, opinions, or training techniques expressed in Rising Talent Horsemanship are not necessarily those of the editor, nor can they be held accountable. Rising Talent Horsemanship, VanFleet Mustangs or Samantha Van Fleet will not be held responsible for any copyright infringement or misrepresentation on the part of advertisers or highlighted trainers. Any correspondence to Rising Talent Horsemanship, its editor, or publisher are assumed for publication. All stories (verbal or printed), photos, news items, and any other submitted materials, solicited by Rising Star Horsemanship or not are assumed to be legally released by the submitter for publication.

EDITORS Sarah Burgner Sam VanFleet Contributing Writers Kattie Barnett Rachel Brown Sidney Harwood Daisy Jones

www.rthorsemanship.com

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Meet the Editors...

Hey there!

I’m Sarah, and I reside in Jonesborough,

Tennessee. Like most little girls, I have been in love with all things equines since I was 6 years old. From pretending I was a horse myself, to starting my own colts, loving on mustangs, to jumping in the show ring, I have never been able to get enough of God’s most gorgeous creation, the horse.

Now, twenty years later, I have started my own natural horsemanship mentoring business and am elated at the opportunity to be a collaborator and editor of this magazine!

Hey guys, I’m Sam, a 23-year-old trainer

whose passion is gentling, training, and rehoming mustangs to get them out of holding. My other passion is helping other horse owners communicate with their horses better. Over the past few years I've developed my business through YouTube, clinics, training, taking and teaching lessons, learning through internships, social media, etc. My goal is to help other young trainers grow their businesses as well and connect the equine community… which is why I began this magazine.

Sarah and I are so excited to bring you this magazine full of content.

We hope you enjoy!

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Table of

Contents

Daisy Jones

Read about Daisy’s training perspective and how two mares brought her horsemanship full circle. pg 5

Rachel Brown

Gleam from Rachel’s life long horse adventures and what God has taught her about being a solid leader along the journey. pg 8

Sidney Harwood

Learn about Sidney’s perspective towards creating empathy towards horses while training and developing a true partnership. pg 11

Kattie Barnett

Immerse yourself into Kattie’s world of colt starting. pg 14

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Summer Features

The Trainers

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Take a look into the journeys of all of these amazing individuals and their stories of horsemanship!

Rachel Brown and her gelding, Poncho

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Daisy Jones Daisy’s Mustang Dreams Lady Lake, FL

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Age 17

I began my training journey in 2019 when I was accepted for the Ocala Extreme Mustang Makeover. My passion for mustangs began early in life when my family adopted a mare from the 2009 Gatorland Mustang Makeover named Kit Kat. Kit Kat taught me so much, I just knew I had to showcase the trainability of mustangs to the rest of the world. I have since competed in three Extreme Mustang Makeovers placing in the top five. As well as trained and homed over sixteen mustangs in the last three years.

It is my goal to help place as many mustangs as possible into forever homes. My focus for training is utilizing Natural Horsemanship as a building block for success ensuring all horses who come through my program have a solid foundation and are setup for success in their future. Natural Horsemanship is an exciting way to train and helps build the skills of a trainer. Skills that can help you solve problems in real world situation, out on the trail, or in the show arena.

Contact Info: FB: Daisy’s Mustang Dreams Email: Daisyjoe167@gmail.com Insta: daisysmustangs

Top Photo by Scottie Drewry. Featured is Daisy on Airies Bright Shining Star (Star) Bottom Photo by Paige Lennon.

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RISING TALENT HORSEMANSHIP

Grow and Share Your Knowledge, I train horses every day, but I still soak up all the training knowledge I can. I have found just by simply watching and observing as many other trainers as I can, has helped me grow as a trainer and horsewoman. Every day is learning experience for you and your horse, every day you can breakthrough some sort of scary situation and become a better leader for your horse.

In December of 2021, I was tasked with rescuing a mustang from unfavorable conditions.

The mare had been adopted, was started with some questionable training, became aggressive, was turned out to pasture and abandoned. When I got her home, she was what I call “The full package”. She would bite, strike, rear, cow kick, and run your over. Anything she could do to intimidate you to get out of working.

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Natural Horsemanship was a breakthrough for this mare, we started with approach and retreat. Then moved to pressure and release. She started to understand rewards and consequences, so we started desensitizing. Within six months I was training her under saddle. She is now known as Aries Bright Shining Star and is the best horse I have ever owned. A year later we are slated to compete in the 2022 NBHA State Finals here in Florida.

In the end it is amazing to see our hard work come full circle. A once abandoned mustang horse is now setup with an awesome foundation and future.

From an unproductive horse thrown out to pasture, to an amazing horse partner with a job.

That is why I train, that is why I continue to grow and learn as much as possible from other trainers. Throughout the last several years I have learned to NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP! NEVER STOP LEARNING! And SHARE KNOWLEDGE! Photos by Scottie Drewry Left to right: Daisy with BLM gelding, Ravioli. Daisy riding Aries Bright Shining Star (Star), ponying BLM mare, Tallulah.

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

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As long as it takes for them to find trust and joy…

“Never again will harm threaten you” is the promise we make to every horse who crosses our path. While spending time with these mustangs, you can feel their gratitude every single day.

Contact Sweetbeau for more info. email: info@sweetbeauhorses.org phone: 805-591-0533

Sweetbeau YouTube Channel “Sweetbeau Horses”

@sweetbeauhorses Located in Creston, California

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Rachel Brown Springdale, AR

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Age 38 ~ Owner & Trainer for The Narrow Trail

I’ve been riding since before I could walk and I got my first horse (a mustang) at the age of 10. She was only two, but dog gentle. You could do anything with her. She rode in the back of my dad’s truck. I even took her in the house once. Then at 15, I wanted a horse that was more challenging and I got a 2-year-old Foxtrotter. He was afraid of his own shadow! 20 years ago I’d never heard the term desensitize, but I was patient and spent a lot of time with him and he was so willing. Fast forward a few years and I went through some really hard traumatic times. But my horse not only kept me going, but gave me a bright spot in a very dark time. Horses have always grounded me and I truly believe God used them to draw me to Himself. I’ve always wanted to improve and learn more.

That’s how my business was formed, The Narrow Trail. I wanted an outlet and a way to share some of my own horsemanship and faith. As well as highlight others that don’t get the chance.

Contact Info: The Narrow Trail Website www.thenarrowtrial.com Email rachel@thenarrowtrail.com Follow The Narrow Trail on Facebook and Instagram

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Don’t Overthink It Although I'm grateful for the horsemanship knowledge I’ve gained over the years, I still remember the relationship I had with horses as a child. There was no concept of training in my mind back then. It was me and the horse and I did things to have fun, such as jumping, grabbing things without getting off, swimming, riding double (even triple), you name it. And it was fun! My training tip is to not overthink it.

Be with your horse and remember to have fun. I have to remind myself of this today because I can get stuck in a training mentality. We did so much desensitizing to a horse as kids that we could literally do anything on them, but we didn’t know we were doing it. I had the spookiest horse in the world at 15, but he ended up being the best horse and a leader on the trail. You don’t have to know everything for things to turn out well. Bonds run deeper than any training you do. I believe that the time you spend with a horse is what’s going to come through the most. Look at a relationship between best friends. They go everywhere together, finish each other’s sentences, and are happy when together. That’s the relationship I strive for with my horse. It’s built on love first and the rest will often fall into place. Like any relationship, it takes work and consistency, but when the love is there, it doesn’t feel like work.

Openness, Humility, and Confidence are Learned Being open-minded has also been really important to me as a trainer. I grew up being told that you showed the horse who was boss and you should never let a horse get away with bad behavior. If you put away those kinds of negative thoughts, stop, reflect, and ask yourself what’s the matter. Oftentimes the answer is often simpler than you thought. In fact, in my experience, it can be my own fault, which is very humbling and hard to admit, but it’s true.

The worst horse accident I’d ever been in was because I didn’t listen to my horse when he was trying to tell me he was done. It doesn’t justify his blow up, but I can see my own fault in it. I wasn’t ready to be done with our ride and he was, but I was the one that ended up on the ground with a broken pelvis. Horses aren’t machines and we need to be sensitive to what they want as well. Your horse can also simply lack confidence in any given situation. Which brings me to a point that I am very passionate about, confidence building. Confidence is something that is taught to a horse. You do that by one, being a leader and, two, exposure to new things. I lacked confidence in many ways in my life and it not only gave me a lot of anxiety, but caused me to miss out on opportunities. It’s something that is very important to have in life and in your horse. You and your horse should make each other better. It’s God’s design, and it’s beautiful.

I currently offer blog features and interviews as well as advertising space on my website. If you have a product or business you’d like to advertise, you can reach out to me.

Likewise, if you have a story, you’d like to share or are interested in doing an interview, it can be a great way to promote your business or brand.

Counter Designs! ~Rising TalentCanter Horsemanship~

Mystery of the Mustang

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LEARN MORE 10

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Sidney Harwood

Sidney Harwood

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Manor, Texas

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Sarah and Bishop

Born and raised in "Horse Country" Texas, you bet I was the little girl with a room full of Breyer horses and "pony" written on her christmas list every single year. I did have the occasional opportunity to take lessons, and visit extended family members who owned horses, but it wasn't until I was 24 that I could make that dream come true for myself and begin this journey with my very special horse, Verona. Now I am on a mission to spread more empathetic training practices with a horse-centric approach.

@sass.and.freckles on IG & FB or email at Sass.and.freckles@gmail.com

RISING TALENT HORSEMANSHIP

Dominance and Respect - Outdated Ideologies As equestrians we often ask these complex creatures to live in environments that were not designed with them in mind. We put them in barns and take them away from their herd mates, friends, and companions. Maybe they are stalled for long periods of time at a show or after an injury. Maybe they end up developing some less than desirable behaviors and become difficult on the ground or under saddle. Someone says: “He’s being naughty! He’s not respecting you”. This is something we’ve all heard before unfortunately. Horses are not capable of understanding human concepts like respect - they simply lack the ability. A horse only knows how to be a horse, and nothing else. As a prey animal safety falls high on their priority list, and things in our world often challenge that safety. Maybe it’s a misplaced wheelbarrow in the barn isle that wasn’t there yesterday, or their herd mate was taken to the vet and has left them behind. Maybe it’s both. I won’t even mention the dark box that we call a “trailer”. The resulting change in behavior doesn’t come from a place of disrespect and therefore does not warrant a dominant reaction. It’s valuable feedback and it’s our job to listen and understand.

We should endeavor to remove words like “bad” and “naughty” or “rude” to describe our horse’s response to us or the environment we placed them in. These moments can be frustrating and difficult, but we must exercise patience and build a better foundation of understanding with our equine partners. To do so, we must learn to treat a horse’s actions as valid feedback. They are always communicating something to us – pain, excitement, fear – we just need to listen. Pay attention to all those small movements. Is their ear on you, or something off in the distance? How is their head carriage? When you start to notice the little things, there is no more “naughty” no more “disrespectful” behavior. I challenge you to look a little deeper, have a more empathetic approach, and remove these words from your vocabulary.

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

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A Natural Approach to Health for a Happy Horse and Human!

Have you ever thought about using natural remedies and supplements for your equine partner? As a natural horsemanship and natural living mentor, I'm passionate about properly taking care of our equine partners.

Essential oils and holistic products are a great way to show your horse the love they deserve. From emotional support to gut health, sore muscles to cleaning up cuts and scrapes.

No matter what you and your pony's goals are, I can help you understand and implement a regimen using safe, natural, and effective products from the inside out.

Interested in learning more? Email inquiries to onehearthorsemanship@gmail.com for a FREE virtual consultation to discuss the best products, aids, and supplements for you and your partner to have a thriving relationship.

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~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Kattie Barnett Owner & Trainer of KB Training

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Elizabethton, TN

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Hey there! My name is Kattie Barnett, and I am a 29 year old trainer and I run KB Horse Training, Riding lessons, and Colt Starting where I fine tune horses and give them a better handle, start colts from the ground up and give them a good start and foundation, and give horseback riding/horsemanship lessons. KB Horse Training is nestled in east Tennessee in the small town of Elizabethton, which is actually my home town! Like many young girls, my love for horses began before I even touched a horse. I started riding lessons at the age of 7. After about a year of lessons I was chomping at the bit to get my own horse and be in the saddle as much as possible. At 9 years old I got my own horse, Sequoia. For 15 years Sequoia and I kept the trails wore down, had many camping trips, and showed locally. I never had the nicest tack or the nicest horse, and I always had to borrow a ride to events, but that never stopped me from educating myself and getting in the saddle as much as possible. At a young age I was introduced to natural horsemanship which opened my eyes to a whole new world of communication between horse and rider. For many years I read, studied, attended clinics, and rode every horse I could get on to better myself as a rider. I always enjoyed riding the challenging horses for those are the ones that taught me the most and I had the most growth on. In 2019 I started taking my equine education more seriously by investing in myself by taking my natural and learned abilities to the next level as an instructor and trainer for the public. I found a clinician and mentor whom I respect and trust. If there was a clinic, I was there. Before or after the clinic I was getting private lessons and constantly thirsting for more.

Kattie and her son, Tucker.

All photos by C David Cook

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

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Flexibility, Feel, and Humility

I have found my heart lies in starting colts. I consider it an honor to be that big part of the beginning of each one’s story.

It's not for everyone, and that’s a good thing. Every colt is different, and requires a horseman or horsewoman to have flexibility, feel, and humility.

The flexibility to accept what works for one colt might not work for the next.

Feel, having discernment, and responding to it in a way that provides clarity and eliminates confusion for horse and rider. Humility, using our talents and capabilities and being able to effectively learn from your mistakes. Starting with the groundwork, the foundation, you are setting the horse up for success or failure for the rest of his life. It is our responsibility, as trainers, that we train them well.

Tom Roberts once said, “If you are fond of a horse and wish to do him a real favortrain him well. Teach him good manners, good habits, both in the stable and under the saddle. You need never worry about the future of such a horse if for any reason you may have to part with him. You assure him of friends wherever he goes.

Perhaps the greatest kindness you can do to any horse is to educate him well.” This is what i focus on. Sending a colt home with confidence in his rider to go anywhere or do anything you ask him to do and a good handle on him to do it.

If you are interested in working with Kattie you can find her on Facebook at KB Training

Rachel Brown with her gelding, Poncho

We’re looking for more professionals willing to write a helpful article for the next few magazines. Please send an email if you have advice to offer! rthorsemanship@gmail.com

18 Kattie Barnett with a client horse.

“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner.”

Warwick Schiller

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

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If you are a young, up and coming trainer and are interested in being featured in future issues… email us at rthorsemanship@gmail.com