SHARE - Structured Human and Animal Relationship with Equines

01/20/2026

Hello everyone, I thought I would reach out to my people.
It’s been very busy the last little while, but now that the holidays are over and we had some time to get used to the swing of things, it’s time to plan our journey with horses.
A few things have been brought to my attention that students and non students are interested in learning.

*First of all, is basic horse handling. How to stay safe around horses.
*How can I assist my son or daughter with her horse?
* Learn how to do exercises with my horse in hand.
* Learn how to lunge horses.
* Learn how to line drive.

All these skills are beneficial , but don’t necessarily fit in the normal program .
If you are interested in learning and schedule a lesson , please message myself .
You can also email me at shadymaplestables@gmail.com

01/15/2026

By Amy Skinner Horsemanship:

Being afraid of a horse spooking is absolutely logical. Horses are big, powerful and quick, and their fear can cause some wrecks. It’s not silly to be afraid, but it isn’t helpful in the situation.

Overcoming this fear requires a few essentials:

-developing a good seat at the walk, trot and canter. This takes time and a good instructor, but is an absolute must. Youre never finished developing your seat - over a lifetime maybe it can be perfected, but is a worthwhile endeavor.

-acquiring some level of fitness. Without it, there is no stability in the saddle. You don’t have to be a body builder, but without some core stability, you are at the mercy of your horse’s movements and will not be able to stabilize yourself or absorb their movements.

-practice. It takes some re-educating our natural reflexes to keep our minds calm when they are not, to learn to not pull back and to learn how to re direct.

-the education of the horse. The horse should be educated to be calm, experience difference environments and be able to be confident enough for the level of the rider. In some cases, not all horses are suitable for all people.

-some mental coaching may be necessary. This can come in many forms and one size does not fit all here. Find someone to help you reprogram your thought patterns to be more neutral, so you can stay calm and focused in the saddle.

Give yourself the necessary tools to stay safe. Fear is the minds way of keeping the body safe, so if you experience fear when riding, education and fitness can help!

05/07/2024

You have to be in center to bring the horse with you. You can make all the corrections you want, but if you keep following the the imbalances to push and pull him back into center, it’s not going to happen- you’re showing the horse imbalance and instability in the corrections.

Be center, and bring the horse with you. They WANT to be there, so make it open, obvious, and easy.

Photo by Jasmine Cope

03/06/2024

This is so important in my work.
It never ends.
Some good days.
Some set backs .
Just keep working away.

01/22/2024