Is your horse?

We begin from the ground up, identifying and addressing all possible causes of pain or discomfort in your horse, checking everything from hoof balancing to saddle fit. When appropriate, we will suggest veterinary care, bodywork, hoof balancing, chiropractic or other modalities to help eliminate discomfort and/or pain. 

Once we are sure your horse is either free from—or recovering from any pain or discomfort—we begin groundwork that supports natural movement and balance, while building relationship and self-confidence. This work includes clear, definite, two-way communication your horse can easily understand, along with compassionate correction and lavish reward.

Finally we ride using Non-Interfering Techniques that allow your Horse the freedom to stretch and build quality muscles and connective tissues.

Mounted work begins with a secure, highly functional position especially designed to give your horse the freedom and encouragement he needs to rediscover natural movement and balance. This allows your horse to relax, stretch and find his own balance, and re-build the quality core and back muscles that help him more easily balance and carry a rider.

With a secure, functional, Non-Interfering Position, riders feel safer in the saddle, can minimize tension, and are free to develop awareness of what their horse is saying to them. This opens the door for strong, two-way communication your horse can understand, and allows your horse to be heard.

Finally, SCH trainers gently guide you through this proven, step-by-step system preventing mistakes that can scare, confuse, overwhelm or hurt your horse. This builds your horse's trust and self confidence, making him a calm, quiet, willing, cooperative partner.

Rushing a horse's training, over working a horse, pulling it into a frame, hyflexion, overwork, draw reins, tie-downs, harsh bits and many other popular “training” approaches all contribute to the fear, stress, tension, and lameness problems so common in horses today.

By using an historically, proven system—especially

designed to support horses' health, soundness and well-being for their entire lives—Sacred Connections Horsemanship helps riders learn to avoid these pitfalls and create happy, loving, cooperative horses that can be their partners for a lifetime.

Whether you are rehabilitating your horse or starting from the beginning, SCH trainers will help you learn what your horse can and can't do in each phase of training. Beginning with Non-Interfering Techniques, you will discover how to build (or rebuild) your horse's quality muscles, movement, balance and self-carriage that help prevent soreness, tissue damage, stress, tension and fear caused by rushed, image-focused techniques.

Warlord was given to us because he bucked everyone off and ran away. He had a saddle scar on his withers, a spur scar on his side and his tongue was badly scarred from a severe bit and tie-down. Being ridden meant pain, confusion and fear for Warlord.

After only a few months working with Sacred Connections Horsemanship's Non-Interference Techniques, Warlord was calmly and willingly trotting and cantering in a soft snaffle and completely loose reins—both inside and outside the ring.

When we first met Normandy, he could barely walk! His movement was a small, uneven shuffle. 

Today he is soaring over cross-country jumps and going on trail rides and hunter paces.

Bodhi had been “trained” for Grand Prix level dressage movements at age 4 and 5—much too young to develop full collection. Bodhi soon became dangerous. No one could handle him without a stud chain, and no one would ride him without first lunging for 30 minutes. Being ridden, even trying to stand in the cross ties, meant real discomfort, at times even pain for Bodhi.

After only a few months working with Sacred Connections Horsemanship's Non-Interference Techniques, Bodhi became calm, happy, loving and cooperative. On completely loose reins, he would push from his hindquarters and lift through his thoracic sling into huge extended trots and forward transitions. 

“I’ve never seen him move like this, ever,” said his owner.

He now responds softly to flexions, practices advanced lateral work, enjoys big gallops in the fields with his rider, is calmly jumping 3 feet and loving trail rides. He is easy to handle, stands quietly in the cross ties and the barn manager complements his manners. Best of all Bodhi now canters to the pasture gate when his owner calls.