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Stacey Carter

@heartcenteredhorsemanship

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Exploring co-creation & mindfulness in horsemanship & equine-assisted learning.
Clinics • Classes • Retreats • Online Consulting

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Yesterday I let Greta and Crow go out and play together. They’ve been together in the past, but Greta has been kept off the grass following a bout of laminitis in the spring, so it’s been a while since they’ve gotten to run together.

When Crow came to live with me, the initial plan was to work with him for a while and find him a new home. He had barrel raced in the past, but his nervous system was so frazzled any type of riding would send him over the top. I had worked with many horses like this before, and was confident I could “fix” him.

Crow has taught me a lot, and one of those things is to respect the “no” when it comes to riding. He just doesn’t like it.

Once, while I was hand-grazing him on a cold winter day, I stepped on a piece of frozen dog poo. Even though it didn’t stick to my shoe, and I couldn’t even smell it, it still made me recoil in disgust. In that moment I could hear Crow in my head saying, “yeah, that’s what riding is like for me.” That made so much sense. Even if riding were done in a way that didn’t cause stress or discomfort, it would always be associated with something very unpleasant.

Crow is amazing in his own way, he’s one of the best I’ve ever known for equine-assisted learning on the ground. I gave up trying to ride him, I had other things to do and eventually realized I was his forever person so what did it matter? He’s a brilliant teacher, and he still has the moves despite being what is sometimes referred to as a “pasture puff.”

Crow is available for one lucky participant in the Yin Horsemanship Clinic on November 7th at LaBelle Equestrian! This collaboration with equine bodyworker Deb D’Amato will dive deep into how you can support softening in mind and body through presence, touch and movement. This clinic isn’t about riding, but other ways to connect with horses on the ground. I will put the link in the comments with all the info! #horses #equineassistedlearning #nonriddenequine #horseplay #yinhorsemanship by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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6 days ago

When I first met Murphy he was a nervous wreck. He was tense, overreactive, and prone to sudden outbursts.

Deep down, Murphy has a heart of gold. Unfortunately, the state of his nervous system prevented him from relaxing and enjoying life. We spent our time together doing what I consider a “nervous system reset” to help him feel safe and shift his dangerous behaviors.

I found the perfect home for Murphy, and Greta and I went to visit him this week. He was chill, relaxed and really seemed to be enjoying his new life. I swear I could see him smiling.

My new girl, Polly, came along with us. Once a problem child when it came to trailer loading, she’s a dream to travel with now and was a perfect lady for my dear friend Lizelle who hasn’t ridden in years! I taught Lizelle back when I was in high school and she was in middle school, so maybe I did know what I was doing back then....??

#trailriding #bitlessriding #happyhorses #nervoussystemreset #horsemanship by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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9 days ago

I often hear people blaming the horse when they don’t like what the horse is doing.

My students learn something different: to notice what THEY are doing in each moment and ask, “What can I change to create a different outcome?”

When they learn to adjust their movement, energy, position, or response to what the horse is communicating, they discover that they have choices. Instead of trying to control the horse, they learn how to influence what happens next.

Blame doesn’t create change, and it doesn’t give us much power. Learning to recognize what we can do differently does.

While we can’t control what someone else does, we can control how we respond. That’s empowerment that extends far beyond the arena.

#equineassistedlearning #kidsandhorses #leadershipskills #empowerment #mindfulhorsemanship by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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18 days ago

Some of the most important riding lessons don’t happen on a horse. I teach students embodied riding, using the movements of their bodies to communicate with clarity in a way horses naturally understand.

I don’t teach pressure and release, I also don’t teach R+ (though I do use it sometimes). My focus is on how we can use our movements and energy to “speak horse,” even when we’re riding.

It is a joy to move the horse as an extension of the body. But, first we need the ability to intentionally move our bodies with mindful awareness. We also need the ability to adjust our energy to activate or ground the horses.

My students learn how their bodies move, and how their parts relate to the horses’ parts. They learn to understand how balance and alignment feel in both themselves and their horses.

If you’d like to learn more about Riding with Mindful Movement, contact me to schedule a lesson… virtual or in-person!

#embodiedriding #mindfulmovement #equineassistedlearning #mindfulriding #ridinglessons by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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25 days ago

Mindful Horsemanship classes teach students to create relationships based on authentic connection and embodied communication. These classes aren’t about training with positive or negative reinforcement. They are about developing connection through shared positive experiences and communicating in the language of horses.
When we ask our horses opinion, we start to have a conversation. Students learn to gain cooperation rather than making demands, a lesson that will serve them far beyond the arena.

#mindfulhorsemanship #horsemanship #equineassistedlearning #kidsandhorses #relationshipskills by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

I love starting children in their horsemanship journey. Just like with starting horses, what we teach at the beginning are the most important lessons. I want my students to be mindful, empathetic, and also effective. From the beginning I teach them to ride their horses straight and to "go back to nothing."

The tight rope lesson is great for this. Here, Polly an I are teaching a child to set clear boundaries on either side of the "tight rope" by connecting the rein to the core of her body. When Polly is straight, she practices letting go of any tension on the rein and centering her body.

My students are not taught to pull or use pressure to guide the horses. Instead, they learn to embody the movements they want from the horses in a way that is clear to any horse.

#MindfulHorsemanship #ridinglesson #kidsandhorses #horsemanship #equineassistedlearning by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

Our Tuesday 10am class is a mix of homeschoolers and adults who want to learn relationship-based horsemanship. Young students have plenty of opportunities to choose their own adventure. My goal is to teach them mindfulness, presence, and horsemanship rooted in authentic connection and speaking the horses’ language. I can do that within many different activities!

I loved that after our short mindful movement lesson at the beginning of the session, these kids wanted to do more yoga… but with their good friend Sam. They took turns leading each other and playing with balance and movement.

#equineassistedlearning #mindfulhorsemanship #outdoorclassroom #homeschool #yogaandhorses by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

I was talking with colleagues today about how almost all equestrian pursuits involve competition. What would it look like if people explored engaging with horses in a way that is most beneficial for their welfare? What would riding look like?

My lesson horses don’t use bits. My students don’t use spurs. I teach students to help horses organize their bodies in the most efficient way to carry a rider. I emphasize communicating with clarity through energy, movement and body language.

I want to teach values of compassion, partnership, and mutual support alongside the horses in my program. They are part of my family. My students and I work together to ensure they can continue to show up to comfortably and willingly participate. If health and longevity is the win… what would the completion look like?

#equinewelfare #horses #ridinglesson #kidsandhorses #equineassistedlearning by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

I’ve spent the past couple of decades figuring out how to work with horses without relying on dominance. Along the way, I’ve had to ask what dominance actually does well - and what requires something different.

Dominance has a place. But dominance and leadership aren’t the same thing.

My latest Beyond Dominance essay explores the difference between power over and power with, and what horses can teach us about creating cohesion rather than division.

Full essay at Beyond Dominance - link in bio.
#leadership #cocreation #beyonddominance #equineassistedlearning #mindfulhorsemanship by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

Where do you start when teaching turns under saddle (or bareback pad?)

In this video, Poppy and I are practicing what I call "ice cream cones," doing half circles from the wall back to the wall to change directions.

I don't pull on her to turn, or use pressure from my leg. I create the movement of turning in my own body and she can feel it.

Throughout our time together, Poppy and I have been working on her habit of bracing and resisting when asked to try new things. Transforming those responses to softness and connected movement on the ground prepared us to extend this embodied and harmonious communication into riding.

If you want to learn more about riding with mindful movement, connect with me here or check out my website... link in the bio!

#mindfulhorsemanship #younghorsetraining #horsemanship #ridinghorses #horsetraining by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

What happens when you want a horse to try something and they're saying no?

Do you make them do it anyway because you can? Do you use more force or pressure to gain cooperation?

Or...

Do you accept that no means no and work around the objectionable request, giving the horse complete choice in whether or not to participate?

Or do you seek something in between? A way of gaining consent that doesn't require force, but that doesn't leave you stuck in a pattern of constant avoidance.

Poppy is a hard-core avoider. No doubt she learned this as a survival skill, which she probably needed before my client adopted her from a kill pen.

We are gradually, firmly and gently, one baby step at a time, working through her avoidance in a way that is improving her confidence in humans.

If you're curious about this process, check out the online Mindful Horsemanship course on my website. When you join the course, you also get access to weekly Zoom chats where you can ask questions, send videos for review, and hang out virtually in a supportive and like-minded community. I'd love to see you there!

#mindfulhorsemanship #onlinehorsemanship #avoidance #horsemanship #equinerescue #horsetraining by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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a month ago

My heart breaks for the creatures who can’t own land, and who are being dominated and destroyed to satisfy the insatiable greed of a few humans. May we join forces to set boundaries for those who seek to dominate the earth we all share. 🙏🙏🙏 #mustangs #wildhorses #boundaries #dominance #freedom by @heartcenteredhorsemanship

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2 months ago