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828-505-9221

828-505-9221

Horsemanship Lessons, Training and Clinics in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Trail Riding, Eventing, Foxhunting, Cross-Country, Mounted Archery, and Fun Adventures with your horse.

  

Energy Work, Equine/Animal Communication and Reclamation of Healthy, Sound Training Practices


Tryon, Asheville, NC, Greenville, SC, and surrounding areas

“What joy it is to gallop securely across a field on a horse that once grabbed the bit and bolted from fear.”
~ 'A' circuit rider, Mare M.

“Catherine set me free and made all my riding dreams come true.”
~ Jeanine W.

Lessons, Consults, Training

Lessons, Consults and Training:

SCH offers consults, individual or semi-private lessons, and Energy work and Communication with your horse at your barn.

SCH believes that horses can best be helped if their riders learn along with them. We offer packages according to the individual needs of the horse and rider.

Benefits For Riders:

SCH draws on scientific knowledge and time-proven traditional, classical systems to help you:

  • Have more fun
  • Reduce fear
  • Achieve a strong feeling of safety and confidence with your horse
  • Gain confidence in your knowledge and ability
  • Achieve a more secure, more functional seat without pain
  • Develop the tools you need to meet your individual riding goals
  • Solve communication issues
  • Develop a soul-deep connection with your horse

 Lessons start at $100. 

Benefits For Horses:

Using scientific knowledge, traditional, classical systems, and healthy, sound training practices, SCH helps you discover and fulfill your horse's individual needs, so your horse can:


  • Become soft, agile, and round
  • Increase flexibility and agility
  • Be free from fear, pain, and confusion
  • Respond quietly and willingly
  • Be quiet and responsive when riding in groups or alone
  • Eagerly welcome being ridden
  • Relax and enjoy the ride
  • Enjoy improved health and soundness for a lifetime


Lessons start at $100.

Call for package discounts and information at 828-505-9221 or email at

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Clinics, Workshops, Lectures:

 “A beautiful blend of practical knowledge for safe, effective riding.”

~ USDF Bronze Medalist Meredith M. 

SCH Educational opportunities for Saddle Clubs, Horse Groups, Barns, etc. include fun, exciting weekends, half or full-day workshops, and lectures perfect for your next club meeting.

Available throughout the USA and internationally.

Clinics, workshops, and lectures cover a variety of topics including:

  • Four Key Essentials every Rider needs for Success
  • Communication the Horse can Understand
  • Understanding and Developing Natural Balance
  • Healthy Boundaries
  • Understanding our Horses' Souls—What your Horse needs from You
  • Restorative Techniques—Exercises to Restore your Horse's Natural, Free-Flowing Movement
  • Keys to Confidence for all Riders
  • History of Horsemanship—What we've Forgotten that's Hurting our Horses
  • Understanding Saddles—Their Uses and Balance
  • Choose your own Topic—Many groups or riders have a burning question or want to focus on something specific. Give us a call for a custom workshop, clinic, or talk designed just for your group.

Call or email for information and pricing at 828-505-9221

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Rescue and Restorative Work

SCH's Rescue and Restorative work has helped many horses find new lives with wonderful, forever homes. SCH used scientific knowledge and time-proven traditional, classical systems to help repair the damage in these, and many other horses, caused by new fads, rushed “training,” or gaps in knowledge.

Warlord bucked everyone off and ran away. His next stop was the auction. Warlord had an 8” saddle scar, a spur scar, and his tongue was scarred by a severe bit. He now has a forever-loving home in Chapel Hill.

Bodhi was becoming increasingly difficult to handle, couldn't stand still and was starting to bite. Today he comes running up from the pasture ready and eager to go for a ride.

Highland Sonnet was so afraid of bits we rode her for 3 months in a halter. She now has a forever home with a loving teen near Charlotte.

“I love the results I've seen using the Sacred Connections Horsemanship system to rehabilitate abused horses. The foundation of clear communication is strong, so confidence and trust builds in horse and rider allowing both to relax and connect through their divine essence. Patience and practice are key to success in horsemanship."~ “A” circuit rider, Mare  

Call or email for information and pricing at 828-505-9221

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Why Choose Sacred Connections Horsemanship

Loose Rein

Folks Are Amazed

Folks Are Amazed

“I told Catherine there was no way I could put her [Warmblood mare] on a loose rein because I was afraid she'd run off and hurt me. I'm at the point now I could probably ride this horse without a bridle.”

~ Dressage Competitor and Warmblood Breeder, Trudy A.

Folks Are Amazed

Folks Are Amazed

Folks Are Amazed

“Folks are amazed at how well I ride now and of the performance of my horse. They always want to know, 'How do you do that?' Before riding with SCH, I was a tight rider, looking good, but clutching for dear life to my horse, unable to achieve the performance from my horse Shaddeaux, and feel good about my riding.
Whatever a person's riding dream is—dressage, cross country, trail, jumping, anything—Catherine can make that happen for them.”

~Jeanine W.

Knee Pain Eased

Folks Are Amazed

Knee Pain Eased

“I found Sacred Connections Horsemanship and began to study forward riding, . . . Gradually I noticed my knee pain eased, my back pain eased and I was able to connect with my horse in the present moment. Riding is now a cooperative and consistently joyful experience.”

~ Mare M.

Riding is supposed to be fun for you—and your horse.

Our focus is on making riding fun. We will support those who want to compete. 

However, we will never push or rush riders, or horses, into competition for monetary gain.


Whether it is showing, hunter/jumper, trail riding, foxhunting, cross-county, eventing, mounted archery, western, jumping, historical cavalry reenacting, or something else, our goal is to help you and your horse discover your most fun equestrian adventures. 

About Catherine

Catherine Hunter ‒ Classical Trainer, Riding Master, Author

Equestrian Consultant, author, and Peace Rider, Catherine is a rare treasure in an equestrian world flooded with trainers and instructors who have forgotten the time-proven systems of the past. Like the past masters who used these traditional, classical systems, Catherine excels in correctly and humanely training quiet, steady, bold, forward horses and riders.


A nationally rated rider, a licensed trainer, and former police horse trainer, Catherine's more than 50 years of equestrian experience includes training with U.S. Cavalry Instructor and Olympic Coach, Gordon Wright, Olympic riders and coaches such as Lendon Gray, ANRC National Judges including Jimmy Cantwell, Pam Cantwell Baker, and Kay Russell, and nationally acclaimed author, Jane Marshall Dillion.

Catherine's accomplishments and experience include foxhunting and serving as a professional Whipper In, showing and judging hunter/jumpers, galloping racehorses, riding as a steeplechase jockey, eventing, trail riding, riding cavalry in Civil War and Middle Ages reenactments, and coaching Pony Club and 4H teams. She is the Peace rider who rode her Thoroughbred, Count of War, to Ground Zero, NYC.


Catherine's approach to training is patience, patience, and more patience! ‒ for both horse and rider. She believes in helping riders discover the “how and why it works” and the “how it affects the horse,” rather than using more severe bits, tie-downs, draw reins, or other gadgets. Catherine always places the safety of riders and horses, and the horses' health soundness, and well-being first.

Catherine is the author of:

Sacred Connections Horsemanship

‒ Empowering Horse and Rider through Chakra Energy

Order Now

 What if . . .
          you felt safe galloping down hills . . .
                   you could ride your horse anywhere . . .
and riding was all you’d ever dreamed it would be?


Sacred Connections Horsemanship shows you how to create a loving, empowered partnership with your horse. Within this book is a  step-by-step, logical approach to understanding and working with the horse through the wisdom of chakra energy. The method includes a system of communication using a language the horse can understand and a non-interfering way of riding that creates a healthy flow of energy between horse and rider. Here you will discover the secrets of creating the safe, cooperative, fun, happy horse you’ve always dreamed of riding.


This book is for the rider who wants more than a horse that submits.  For the horseman or woman who wants more than playing games. For those who wish a deep, empowering connection with the horse’s mind, body, and spirit . . .

Why Sacred Connections Horsemanship is Different

In today's rushed and commercially based approaches to training, we've forgotten the basics and it's hurting our horses and riders.


Riders are experiencing soreness in their ankles, knees, hips, and backs.

Horses are suffering from soft tissue damage and soreness and are becoming spooky, unreliable—refusing to perform or even enter the ring.


Though many well-known experts are recognizing the problem, few of today's trainers have an answer. The knowledge and ability to train highly functional, secure, confident riders and happy, willing, sound, quiet horses is lost to the commercialized equine industry.


This leaves horse owners in a never-ending loop of going from trainer to trainer, and never quite getting the results they want.


If you want more . . .

  • If you want a horse you can trust inside and outside the ring‒
  • even on a windy day . . .
  • to cross a scary bridge . . .
  • to be calm, quiet and willing . . .


If you want to feel safer and more confident‒

  • galloping across green fields . . .
  • soaring over big fences . . .
  • foxhunting or trail riding . . .
  • or enjoying a peaceful canter down a forest lane . . .


If you want more than going in endless circles trying to “get your heels down”. . .

If you want a horse that comes running when you call because riding is FUN . . .


Sacred Connections Horsemanship reaches back through history to reclaim the healthy, sound training practices of Classical Dressage, Forward Riding, and Cavalry training.


We can help you reclaim your dreams and truly connect with your special horse—Body, Mind, and Spirit . . . 

Sacred Connections Horsemanship Partners

SCH draws on the knowledge of equine experts to help address and prevent the damage often caused by new fads, rushed “training,” or gaps in knowledge. Such experts include:

Kelly Snyder ‒ Director Equine Freedom Solutions

Kelly Snyder is an Advanced Equine Structural Integrator and Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (NCLMBT #14691). She proudly serves horses and riders in Asheville and surrounding areas by facilitating pain relief while increasing mobility, balance, strength, and overall health. She is also a saddle-fitter and representative for Pegasus Saddles, a faculty member with the Equine Natural Movement School and a farrier's apprentice. As a result of her training, she is able to identify structural imbalances within horses and riders that create painful compensation patterns within the body. These compensations prevent clear communication which leads to less than ideal rides. Kelly has been riding for more than 20 years and has trained with many knowledgeable, talented instructors including nationally rated rider/instructor, Catherine Hunter, author of Sacred Connections Horsemanship. 

John Banks ‒ Retired Veteran/Corrective Farrier, Consultant for SCH

John Banks, is a legend in his field, locally as well as regionally, while also being an extraordinarily humble man. Catherine and Kelly would not be nearly as successful without John's wisdom and skill addressing hoof imbalances causing movement and performance issues often associated with pain throughout the horse’s body. John studied, trained, and worked as a professional mechanical engineer before retiring. That knowledge is employed brilliantly in his ability to know when a horse’s hoof angles are causing discomfort and impairing quality movement. As a result of John’s eye for angles, deceased master farrier, Red Tomlinson, employed John to teach hoof angles to students at his farrier schools. Reactions from horse owners after John has worked on their horse’s feet have ranged from tears of joy, hugging him with gratitude, and insisting he’s an angel! 

Contact Us

Horsemanship Lessons, Training and Clinics in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Trail Riding, Eventing, Foxhunting, Cross-Country, Mounted Archery, and Fun Adventures with your horse.

Tryon, Asheville, NC, Greenville, SC, and surrounding areas.

Learn More

 Call or email for information and pricing at 828-505-9221. 

Email

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