Sliding J Horse Training

10/14/2026

Been thinking of making a series of ‘my favorite exercises with 4 cones’. So often I put 4 cones out for my lessons to help people visualize body control and balance exercises and leave them out for a while to work on similar exercises with the training horses. Would y’all be interested in this type of content? Is there anything more specific you’re wanting visuals with? I would love to see how Mac and I can demonstrate some of our favorite concepts to help you and your horses at home!

10/07/2026

Limited lesson spots (on my horses or yours) available for October. Train and board spots available for November. My schedule will fill up quickly. Get on the books while you can! What are you working on this winter?

09/30/2026

Zara did a little solo trail ride with Ranger and I today.

People often ask me how to start getting the horses, especially the young ones, outside of the arena and used to “uncontrolled settings”. I believe that the biggest challenge is getting the over the fear of the horse spooking or not handling the situation well.
As I rode Zara solo in the trails for the first time, realizing I typically struggle with this mental block as well. Thankfully have learned to recognize and move past it. Typically, it comes down to pure trust. Trusting your training — that you’ve done the correct steps in the arena and have the tools to help your horse navigate this new challenge. Trust in yourself — that no matter the situation you must have confidence that you can get through it. While also having patience and grace and expect that the horse or you might have some bad moments. You might make mistakes and your horse might to. I like to think of these challenges as a test of what you and your horse actually know vs what is being covered by the safety net of the walls of the arena. It’s a chance to see where you can make improvements in your day to day riding while also being proud of how far you’ve come. So yes, the horse will most likely have a moment of fear, disobedience, anxiety, etc. (or several) but trust the process. Stay with them the best you can. Take a breath. Move on. And know you can do it. ❣️

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬ ‭

09/15/2026

Are you ready to amplify your horses potential? Let’s chat 💬 At Sliding J my #1 priority is helping you and your horse reach your highest potential through creating mutual respect with trust and confidence. Most clients come to me for lack of confidence in themselves or in their horses. Often times this lack of confidence is truly a lack of clear communication. Horses may need tune ups or continued education along with their owners to build this confidence. Maybe you are finding yourself in this situation? I offer a few ways we can set you up for success, whether that be through lessons with you and your horse or having the horse get more education while you takes lessons on one of our trusty lesson horses. After building confidence individually, better communication and understanding of cues/body control allows the horse and rider to communicate effectively so they can grow in their trust for each other. Clear communication insures you are setting up the horse for success when giving them cues or asking for something new. We all have goals with our horses. Whether that be showing, trail riding, having a horse for your kids, or maybe a bit of everything. Let’s see how we can get you there. If you’re interested in joining my program, please private message me through this page or email me at [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

09/14/2026

Desensitizing session with Moxie. She was a wonderful example of how desensitizing helps horses use less of the reactive side of their brain and more of the thinking side. Such a good little pony she is. 👑

09/13/2026

Old clip of Mac and Ellie working on spins. Do you see a difference? 🤠

09/11/2026

Each horse that comes into my program gets a customized journey that includes daily updates on the horses progress, their turn out time for the day, and any medical care or medication the horse receives that day. This has been a wonderful tool to help the owners and I stay on track the horse’s progress. While also having a place to refer back to after the horse has left our care. I am so glad I implemented this into the program and hope the owners enjoy it as much as I do. For the horses that stay 90 days or more, owners also receive a complimentary Sliding J souvenir that is hand customized with the logo and your horses name. I take pride in the services I provide and am always happy to give a little something extra to my clients for their support of my small business. If you’re interested in sending your horse to training. Please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can private message this page or send an email to [email protected] for further assistance.

09/10/2026

One possibly two training spots open for October. Please message me if you’re interested in bringing your horse to me. I could also do one off site horse. Off site must be within 20 minutes of Banner Forest area.

09/08/2026

Some work on the road here in Sweet Home Alabama! Got to do lessons with two clients and had wonderful work sessions improving balance and body control. Here’s a picture of a well deserved scratch session to end a warm morning.