Training Philosophy

At Pure Balance Equine, we believe that meaningful experiences with your horse have less to do with horseshows, ribbons, or whether or not your saddle has a horn and latigo. While not the norm, in some extreme examples, there are riders who see their horses as little more than “equipment” to use to win ribbons and accolades. These riders get on their horses and demand performance without consideration for what the horse likes and dislikes, the horse’s individual strengths and talents, the physical and mental comfort of the horse, and the ability of the horse to be a participant and partner in the training process. In doing this, they make their horses an object in their training, not a participant in it. Instead, the owners of Pure Balance Equine believe that you and your horse can enjoy working and learning together as partners, resulting in a productive, healthy, and enjoyable time for both rider and horse.

Pure Balance Equine assists you in going beyond the mere mechanics of working with your horse and into the place where knowing “why” lets you intuitively determine the “how” that is right for your horse and your situation. Tom Dorrance aptly called this “feel.” For those of us looking for something more than performance—for relationship, communication, trust, play, open-heartedness—there are easy ways to show your horse how to learn, make good choices, and be a trustworthy partner.

We at Pure Balance Equine use a cross-discipline approach that allows for the physical, mental, and emotional development of the horse. This approach is based on three schools of training: equine behavioral principles (often referred to in part as “natural horsemanship”), classical training, and equine agility/trick training. The common underlying principle of each of these training methodologies is that they are not done for the action you get your horse to do, but for the sake and dignity of the horse himself.

Equine behavioral principles provide a foundational understanding of how a horse thinks. This allows the rider to easily communicate with him, obtain his trust, build his confidence, and begin to shape his behaviors. The principles of equine behavior establish respect between you and your horse that will improve safety, as well as open a consistent two-way communication and deep understanding between you and your horse. Respect, communication, and consistency combine to create an atmosphere in which you and your horse can learn to trust each other. From that place of trust, you will begin to teach your horse how to learn and enjoy learning, develop a willing and eager attitude, including courage and politeness. He tries. When you learn how to recognize and reward his efforts, your horse will begin to develop confidence. This confidence makes a horse look forward to working with you and creates a true work ethic.

Classical training principles cultivate the innate virtues of the horse, including strength, agility, patience, attention, memory, and loyalty. Every great athlete takes the time and effort to properly build his or her mind and athletic ability to protect against injury and discomfort. Your horse deserves no less. Proper physical and mental preparation of the horse supples the horse, regulates and refines his gaits, balances him, and strengthens him while considering his physiology and biomechanics to ensure long-term health and soundness.

Agility/trick training skills provide a means for a horse to stretch his mind and body and learn how to make sense out of and adapt to the obstacles he encounters as a domesticated animal living in a human world. In their natural setting, horses have to deal with a few natural obstacles associated with their grazing grounds (rocks, trees, and watering holes). They have the option to avoid or approach these obstacles as they please. As domesticated animals, we ask them to deal with so much more, and on our terms, not theirs. Barns, ramps, trailers, doorways, buildings, lights, noises, shiny objects, fast-moving objects, and so on provide complex challenges for horses. Agility/trick training not only teaches your horse how to boldly handle and adapt to these objects, but goes one step further, teaching your horse how to enjoy a challenging environment.

Combining these time-tested principles in a low-stress, low-confrontation environment creates a happy, diligent, willing, intelligent horse that is a partner and friend, who is as eager to be with you as you are with him.