Rising Talent Horsemanship Fall 2022 Issue #8

-By Monica Celli

Kayleigh with her two geldings,Alkimus & Elgin

Photography by Bethani Chadbourne of Pictorial Tales Photography

-By Maddalena Hylton

Information

RisingTalentHorsemanship seekstohighlightnewand establishedhorsetrainers.

Rising Talent Horsemanship

Issue8,September2022

Legal

Anyviews,opinions,ortraining techniquesexpressedinRisingTalent Horsemanshiparenotnecessarily thoseoftheeditor,norcantheybe heldaccountable. RisingTalent Horsemanship,VanFleetMustangsor SamanthaVanFleetwillnotbeheld responsibleforanycopyright infringementormisrepresentationon thepartofadvertisersorhighlighted trainers. Anycorrespondenceto RisingTalentHorsemanship,itseditor, orpublisherareassumedfor publication. Allstories(verbalor printed),photos,newsitems,andany othersubmittedmaterials,solicitedby RisingStarHorsemanshipornotare assumedtobelegallyreleasedbythe submitterforpublication.

EDITORS SarahBurgner SamVanFleet

ContributingWriters MonicaCelli MaddalenaHylton KayleighMarie KarenTroyer

www.rthorsemanship.com

~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!

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Table of Contents

KarenTroyer

Read along as Karen shares how the Lord showed her the similarities between liberty work and her walk of faith. pg5

Discover different methods of training with Lena. pg11

KayleighMarie

Become inspired as Kayleigh teaches all about awareness in horses and humans. And how it can truly create magic between the two. pg8

MonicaCelli

Learn all about being responsible with your energy as a human and a horseman with Monica Celli. pg14

Trainers Autumn Features

Divedowndeepinto theperspectivesand experiencesofeachof theseuniqueand passionateindividuals

Karen Troyer

Triple R Stables

Ohio

Howdy friends! My name is Karen Troyer and I've rode and loved horses for as long as I can remember. Going through some very challenging times in my early teen years, God made himself very present and real through the horses in my life. As I walked through that season, I began to discover the gifts God had given me and realized the amount of comfort the horses brought me. Inevitably, this experience pushed me into the horse world and into my favorite safe place, my barn. I started helping my boyfriend’s family training horses at the age of 19 for resell and have continued part time since then, with a couple resell horses of my own. Recently, I have started taking a couple outside training horses. I currently offer: training, liberty lessons, and riding lessons for beginners and intermediate riders. I absolutely love sharinging my passion for horses and Jesus with the next generation.

Along with starting a business of my own, designing a natural hair growth product, shampoos, tail bags, an mane bags. We travel all across the midwest selling horses at select horse sales, an love helping people find their dream horses, from english to western from beginner to professional riders.

Contact Info:

Phone: 330-806-9389

Youtube: Triple R Stables

FB: Karen Troyer

Email: 751karentroyer@gmail.com

karen.troyer.5203

Photoby:WaymakerEquineMedia

Whats is a Relationship?

I believe from the years I've been around horses, and the training I've done, the recipe for success is always consistently doing the right thing. As trainers, it’s our job to figure out what the right thing is for each individual animal while also building onto whatever challenge you've come through the day before. Keeping your horses mental frame ready to go and do whatever you ask of him and at the same time convincing your horse that what you're asking of him is the easiest and the most fun thing to do. I’ve done a good bit of liberty training in the past. So I have learned a

lot about connection and relationship building, and some I've had to learn the hard way.

The question us as trainers need to ask ourselves is what am I doing that makes my horse want to please me or vice versa? Do I force him an not allow him to ask questions? Or am I a place where this horse feels like he’s comfortable? This is the same for ourselves with our heavenly Father. Do I desire a relationship with God, because we know God is good? In reality, the only time we think God is not being good to us is when He is allowing things to happen so we desire what He offers in exchange for this world. We get that same feeling of safety and comfort as our horse does when they choose to stay with us and connect and not go astray and act in fear or rebellion.

.

As your whips are an extension of your arms, creating boundaries, and teaching the horse direction, it is the exact same when we look at the boundaries God sets for our own protection. So that once we let the horse loose in a big arena or open field, they will choose to stay close by our side. Just like when God asks us to go out into the world touching people's lives by being representatives of His love and His word. Distractions will come to our minds, but we have to always stay fixed on Jesus. Just like we help and ask our horses to keep their minds on us.

Karenwithherboyfriend,Nathan,andhis familyataSelectHorseSale

KarenwithherHorseman’sMissionSalehorse, Quinn

The Second Annual Course in the Corn Event!

Come on out to Fenders Farm located in Jonesborough, TN on Saturday, November 12th at 10:00 a.m. for the chance to beat the clock in the Jonesborough areas annual equine obstacle course in the corn brought to by Fenders Farm and One Heart Horsemanship! Whether you're on a mission for best time or just want to leisurely stroll through a corn maze with your equine partner, this course is going to be suitable for all speeds and ages. From ground logs to tarp crossings, to opening gates and crossing bridges... Come compete with your horse at a chance to win some prizes and have a whole lot of fun!

We are offering this course for under saddle competitors AND in hand competitors! If you have a little cowboy or cowgirl who would like to participate while being lead through the under saddle division, you are more than welcome to enter them!

This years In Hand class will be specifically designed for handler and horse only (not with a mounted rider in mind.) Remember! You may enter the same horse multiple times.

The cost is $40 for ONE run if registered before Sunday, October 3oth. Or $60 for TWO runs- most folks like to run again to see if they can improve their time! The entry fee goes up to $50 if you register AFTER October 30th. This is a limited participation space event. Once all spots have sold, we will close registration.

For more information: click here

Or to register please email onehearthorsemanship@gmail.com

Kayleigh Marie

North Kingstown, RI

Age 23 -

Owner & Trainer of Braveheart Beasts

My name is Kaleigh Marie, and I am a liberty trainer, clinician, and performer based out of North Kingstown, RI. I grew up in a small Vermont town loving animals of all kinds, but especially horses, and developed my skills as a trainer working with horses, donkeys, mules, and cattle. I developed my earliest liberty training techniques on a team of Holstein steers that I had as a teenager, and have carried these ideas through to work that I do today. Although I have had a wide range of experiences - from Roman riding oxen to training with Lipizzan stallions - my true passion lies in sharing the power of connection that I have found through countless hours devoted to liberty work, softness training, dressage, and bridleless riding with my own horses, and also love helping others achieve the goals that they have with their equine partners. I help others discover the magic of this connection through captivating performances with my horses, as well as through clinics, lessons, and online coaching to help strengthen relationships, improve communication, and achieve results.

Contactinformation:

Website- www.braveheartbeasts.com

Facebook-BraveheartBeasts

Instagram-@braveheartbeasts

Photography by Bethani Chadbourne of Pictorial Tales Photography

Acknowledging Attunement

OneofthemostintegrallessonsIhavelearnedfrommy horsesistheimportanceofunderstandingwhatmotivatesthemtodo whattheydo,andhowIcanusethisknowledgetocreatealearning environmentthatisconsistent,engaging,andrewardingforthemona dailybasis.Iutilizetwomainmethodsofmotivationinmytrainingpressureandreleaseandpositivereinforcement.Theseworkin differentwaysfordifferentreasons.,butforourpurposeshere,I’d liketotakeastepbacktolookatmorethantrainingmethods.

I’dliketobeginwithafundamentallookatourhorses’naturalinstincts.Horsesarepreyanimals,andasapreyanimaltheirtop priorityisfindingsafetywithintheirenvironment.Securingresources,suchasfood,isaclosesecond,butsafetyisaprioritythat residesatthetopoftheirlist.Therealquestiontoask,then,iswheredoourhorsesfeelmostsafe?Ifwethinkaboutourhorsesin theirmostrelaxedstate,weoftenpicturetheminaherdwiththeirfriends.Thisisbecauseourhorsesfindsomethingwiththeirherd matesthattheyoftendon’tfindwithus;somethingthattheyuseasakeyindicatorofhowlikelytheyaretosurviveinanygiven environment.This“something”iswhatwecall“awareness”,ormorespecifically,“attunement”.Attunementistheabilityto respondeffectivelytoanenvironmentasitrespondstoyou.Whenourhorsesaretogether,theysharethecommongoalofsafety, andthereforetrusteachothertobeawareofanythreatsthatmaybecomepresent.Theyalsotrusteachothertorespondinaway thatkeepsthemselvesandtheherdsafe.Themorehorsesthereare,themoreawarenessthereis,andthemoresafetheyallfeel. Knowingthisleadsustoanotherimportantquestion.Howdowecommunicatesafetytoourhorses?Iftheyrelysoheavilyonthis feelingofsecurity,Ifeelitonlymakessensethatfindingeffectivewaystohelpourhorsesfeelsafeduringtrainingshouldbea prioritywithintheinteractionswehavewiththem.Theanswertothisquestionisinthekeywordmentionedabove-“attunement”. Thisworddoesn’tjustrefertoourhorses’abilitytorespondtoeachotherandtotheirenvironment,butalsotoourabilityto respondtothemandtoourenvironmentwhiletheyarerespondingtous,andsoforth.Thesebackandforthinteractionsarewhere webegintodefinewhattherelationshipwehavewithourhorseslookslike.

Theessenceofattunementthatcreatesfeelingsof safetycomesfromourhorses’abilitytocontrolwhathappens tothemintheirenvironment.Iftheirsurroundingsarehighly attunedtothem,horsescantrustthatthewaytheyreactto whateverishappeningaroundthemwillresultinadirect changeinwhattheyareexperiencing.Fromourside,thisis notalwaysareleaseofpressure,andsometimesmaybethe opposite,butneedstobeadeliberate,intentional,and objectivechangeinourbehaviorbasedonthechangeinthe horse.ThisiswhatIliketothinkofasanacknowledgmentof theirreaction.Developingtheabilitytoacknowledgeour horseseffectivelyinvolvesushavinganunderstandingofand agoodeyeforwhereourhorsesarewithintheir“internal architecture”sothatwecanappropriatelyadjustourmethods ofmotivation-pressureandreleaseorpositivereinforcement -asourhorsestelluswhatworksordoesn’tworkforthem.

Ifweconsistentlydemonstratetoourhorsesthatwecannoticetheirsignsofstress,relaxation,excitement,andotheremotions andrespondaccordingly,theybegintofindattunementwithusandourrelationshipswiththemflourishasaresult.The relationshipIhavewithmyhorsesandthemutualunderstandingwecanconsistentlyreadandrespondtoeachotherisastrong foundationalpiecewithinourworkatlibertyorundersaddle.Iencourageyoutobringthesequestionswithyouthenexttime yougoworkwithyourhorse.Askthem,doyoufeelsafe?Ifyoudon’t,howcanIhelpyouseethatIseeyou?Iamstillasking thesequestionstomyhorses,andamalwayslookingforbetterwaystoanswerthem,butthatisthepartofthisprocessthathas helpedmeimprovethemostasahorsewoman.Iliketocomparepracticingattunementtofillingthepagesofabook.Stacktwo pagesandit’shardtonoticeadifference;stackseveralhundredandyou’llhaveyourselfanovel.Sogetoutthere,and start writing.

Photography by Bethani Chadbourne of Pictorial Tales Photography

Counter

Mystery

Maddalena Hylton

Maddalena Hylton -

Moscow, IdahoAge 18

Hey! My name is Maddalena “Lena” Hylton. I started out with horses like how many doriding lessons from a young age. After six years of lessons, my parents bought me my first horse when I was twelve. From the get go,

I knew I wanted to do things in a different way. I researched and immediately decided to pursue natural horse care and also learned about a natural horsemanship style training. Before, I had only ever ridden horses and had no idea groundwork even existed. I ended up falling in love with working with horses on the ground! In the past couple of years, I have taken on a few new experiences that have set me down the path of horse training. I’ve started my first horse under saddle as well as adopted and trained two wild mustangs. It’s always my goal to do things in a more ethical kind way for the horse than traditionally. This fall, I will be attending the University of Montana Western to pursue a degree in Natural Horsemanship with an emphasis on Instruction to pursue horse training as my future career.

~Rising Talent Horsemanship~

Find Maddalena on Instagram @mhequus on instagram

SarahandBishop

Lena’s story continued….

Being an ever evolving human and equestrian, I’m always trying to learn new ways of doing things and broadening my perspectives. I now consider myself to be apart of the ethical equestrian community after having a mindset shift in the past couple of years. I started leaning away from the “Be the boss of your horse” mindset and shifted to a place of “The horse only acts out of what his brain is telling him to do.” Concepts such as respect, leadership, and dominance all are rendered obsolete with what we now know about the horse brain. Due to a lack of and interacting with it. Most of all, it helps you have more compassion and empathy towards horses when working with them. It helps create more of a bond with you and a horse because they know that you will listen to them and work together through an issue instead of just forcing them. I had no idea that using a training method would change me as a person but it did. It made me a more compassionate horse trainer as well as just human.

a prefrontal lobe which is the part that is used to form constructs such as respect, they do not have the brain power to do something “to spite us.” A huge part of clicker training is letting go of those outdated mindsets and looking at things from a more science based perspective. I started using positive reinforcement and clicker training three years ago now and have been hooked ever since. Opting for a more force free way of doing things can be extremely beneficial when encountering issues and fears such as trailer loading, flyspray, desensitization and more. Or even if you have a horse at unrideable due to injury or retirement, +R is also just a fun way to connect and play with your horse. Another reminder is just because you use it sometimes doesn’t mean you have to only use it. I use mostly -R (pressure and release) but also enjoy using the benefits of +R (positive reinforcement) very much. Often, when people hear the term “positive reinforcement” a lot of assumptions immediately pop into their head. “Cookie trainer” and “pony petter” are only some that I have heard. I think it’s interesting to me that many people immediately write off a method that they truly don’t know much about and also a method that isn’t doing the horse any harm. If anything we should be encouraging people to do things a different way. Can positive reinforcement create cookies monsters? Yes. But if applied correctly, it can actually retrain horses to look away out of your space before taking a treat! The biggest thing is that it builds positive associations between something that the horse previously thought to be scary or aversive. I have used it with mustangs to get them used to my presence as well as getting them comfortable with touch. With desensitizing it helps a horse not be so scared over something by rewarding them for investigating

Lena using +R while working with American Paint Horse, Ranger

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.

True Union: Yoga and Energy Accountability for Equestrians

by Monica Celli

Monica Celli is a professional Educator, Yoga teacher, and Wayshower. She creates workshops and curricula that support alternative healing for the balance in mind/body/spirit with Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation, and Advanced Energy Healing. For Equestrians and Non-Equestrians. She is a lifelong Equestrian, learning the rhythm of the horse in her mother’s belly.

She has ridden all disciplines of riding. Presently she resides in Western MA with her horse, Belle, who continues to educate her. Whether you are a professional athlete or rider or want to enjoy the trails with your horse, she hopes to help bring ease and success to you and your horse, on the ground or in the saddle.

A horse can feel a fly on its back and it can tell if a predator is looking at them from a great distance away. They can certainly feel imbalances in your body, and the energy that you project. Success is different for all of us. Some of us are looking for it in the arena, eventing fields, others on the trail looking for a nice quiet ride in the woods, and still others, a liberty performance where you and your horse are moving together and one can

not tell who instigated the movement. True Union. We all have had moments of it, but how do we keep it? Attain it? Why do others seem like they have it all the time and for some it is elusive? The more we are aware of our own bodies and imbalances the more the opportunity to fix them. The more aware we are of the energy in our body (anxiety, anger, irritation) the more that we can ‘control’ or help navigate our energy system. We are often trying to fix our horse's problems, but what if you could....by helping yourself first? That may be the imbalance that your horse has, you contribute to? Maybe your horse being up has something to do with unrecognized escalated energy.

Monicaasalittlegirl

photo credit: Ogden Gigli

Monica’s passion continued….

For some horses, your breath is literally life or death to them. If you are worried or anxious, they will be looking around for the danger. When you are short of breath, your body goes into stress mode. Your heart begins to beat faster. You literally have caused every part of your body to begin to go into fight or flight. If you are working with a sensitive horse, you have just told them with the energy in your body, that death is imminent. Your cells simply can not oxygenate if you are not breathing fully, therefore the body is in a state of stress. This may be the most important thing that you get out of this article. Breathe. So simple and so difficult. Three deep breaths resets your nervous system, helps lower cortisol levels and reduces anxiety. Full breathing lets the sensitives around you know that everything is ok and that they will live to see another day. When you take a full exhale, notice if your horse’s energy shifts. Often times you will get a lick and chew, or a head drop out of releasing energy in your body. Wherever you are right now, imagine your body was melting butter. Just soften at the bottom of your exhalation. Belle, my EMM mare is quite sensitive and continues to show me the finer details of energy accountability. Not everyone works with previously wild animals, but our energy and body imbalances translate IN the saddle regardless of wild or domesticated status. Horse and human dependent, some beings are more sensitive than others. Equus Union materialized- when I was riding an upper-level eventer and dressage master. I realized that my rides were always better AFTER I did yoga. I felt strong and supple. Communication was instantaneous. True union. And then there were days she was often ‘off’ to the left. I humbly began to realize that in fact, it was not her. It was me. I was much weaker on that side of my body. So it was important for me to strengthen my weaknesses and just as important to bring suppleness to my tight hips and lower back so I could move fluidly with her. I am so grateful for my Equine teachers letting me know where I have been out of alignment, either in my body or my mind and SO happy to share my education with you. You will find a series of warm-up postures, these were created so you can do them in the barn as you go, no big deal, so that you can find true union with your Equine partner.

For more information, go to www.monicacelli.com for all classes, offerings and archived series for Equestrians regardless of riding discipline.

photo credit: Ogden Gigli

How to Begin Your Practice

Awareness: 3 Deep breaths resets the nervous system. Standing or sitting, EXHALE, and again, and again. Feel your body soften at the bottom of the exhalation. Before mounting or working with a horse, the same. This awareness may determine the depth of success for both rider and horse. Especially if their energy is escalated. Notice: How do you feel? Are you tired? Anxious? Worried? Excited? Can you notice and let anything go that you don’t need for being with your horse? (even excited energy can be interpreted as elevated energy to a sensitive horse-this has a vibration, the vibration your horse responds to) Riders are taught to walk it off, toughen up and get back on. Not so with these postures. You are meant to listen. Slow down and TRUST your body. If you can not, how could your horse?

Yoga Warm Up: All postures hold for 3-5 breaths.

Hip Circles: Feet slightly wider than hip distance apart. Imagine that you are moving your hips to the shape of the inside of a barrel. Begin rotating the hips forward, to the left, back, and to the right. 3-5 times around. Reverse direction. Lift your heart as you are doing these. Benefits: Strengthen the torso, warm up the hips, and joints, help open the lymphatic system in your lower body and releases tension in the lower back.

Mounting Block lunges: Choose a step height to your comfort level. You are not here to torture yourself or to compete. The knee stays behind the toes. Gently soften and bend the top knee. Keep your pubic bone and heart lifted as you do these. Dip 3/5 times. Inhale straighten your legs, exhale sink in. Whichever leg is up, squeeze your bottom as you sink down in. Both sides. Benefits: hip flexors, quads, a strengthener for your gluteus muscles.

Pigeon Hip Openers: Sit on the mounting block: Cross one leg on top of the other quad, just above the knee. Make sure you keep the crossed leg foot flexed. (This should NOT hurt-often people overdo this one. If your hips are really tight, bring your foot UNDER the knee.) Breathe and hold here for 3-5 breaths. If you have more space to deepen the posture, bring your heart towards your knee. Keep your spine nice and long from crown to tailbone.

Twist: Sit on the mounting block or stand by your horse. Lift your pubic bone and your heart and twist to one side, feel the crown of your head lengthen to the sky. Hold for 3-5 breaths, and repeat on the other side. Each inhale you lift your heart, each exhale deepens your posture.

18 Additional Postures,

Side Bends: Standing, feet hip-distance apart, bring your hands behind the back of your head (as if you are laying on the beach) Tuck your chin slightly and imagine you are leaning back a smidge....lift your heart and side bend to one side. Hold for 3-5 breaths. Repeat on the other side. Benefits:

One of the best upper body strengtheners (abdominals and upper trapezius-back)which keeps you light in the saddle. Also adds mobility to the spine. Think of the spine as the highway of energy and communication.

Cat/Cow: Seated or standing. Inhale, hands to the top of thighs, look up at the sky or ceiling exhale round your back, hands to knees. Repeat 3-5 times.

Down dog while grooming: Two arms on your horse. Say hello while

you are here. Feel the texture of their hair. Notice something new. Let your heart melt to the floor. Let your shoulders soften. If these feel comfortable gently move your hips from side to side to open up the sides of your body, underarms. Benefits: This helps the energy move from your heart center, shoulders, and chest to communicate to your fingertips. Supples your chest muscles and relaxes your shoulder muscles where a great deal of tension can harbor.

Intuitive Movement: Your body knows! What feels good when you move? maybe it has a name? Maybe not. Move intuitively. Listen to how your body wants to move. Most likely you will move and help supple and strengthen certain areas that need support. Take cues from your horse. Watch how they move as you warm up or watch for release cues as your body begins to open up.

*No postures should ever hurt!! The more that you can listen to your own body's limitations, the more that you can hear your horse's whispers. The greater the opportunity for UNION. *As with all physical activity, please consult your doctor before performing any of the above postures.

“Masterful horsemanship is nothing more than simple things done with excellence.”

~Pat Parelli