Meet our Trainer
Nellie Schmidt
Nellie has over a decade of riding & training experience, gaining knowledge by working under World Renowned trainers. As a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor since 2018, she has significant experience working with clients of all abilities and disabilities. Nellie has worked in nearly every discipline from Thoroughbred Re-schooling to Western Dressage to Reining, and training horses for participation in Equine-Assisted Services.
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In fall 2023, Nellie attended and completed requirements for the Masterson Method: Beyond Horse Massage, Weekend Clinic. She incorporates elements of this practice into her sessions with clients horses, as appropriate.
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In November 2023, Nellie set out on her wildest adventure yet, when she adopted a 5yo Mustang from the Divide Basin HMA in Wyoming. This learning experience taught Nellie immensely about new and previously untapped training techniques, especially those utilizing Positive Reinforcement.
What is Holistic Horsemanship?
​... And what can it do for you and your horse?
When most horse trainers are approached by a new client they ask a series of questions related to the horse’s experience (or lack of experience) while being ridden, or handled on the ground by a human. Once they know the behaviors being presented, they will create a plan based on the training theory they follow. There are a million ways to teach a horse to stand tied, or load into a trailer, and each trainer will have reasoning behind their specific technique. But these behaviors are just the tangible expression of something internal. As survival-minded prey animals, horses never simply “choose” to behave a certain way.
Holistic Horsemanship means looking into the sources of behavior more in depth, rather than just working the horse and solving the issue on the surface. You see, I could teach a horse that they “have” to stand still, by tying them to a fence for hours on end. After a few sessions of this, I will probably have a horse that has sat back and tried to escape enough, only to learn there is no escape and give up. Effectively, I have taught him to stand still.
But have I really?
In actuality, the only thing I have taught my horse here is how to give up. In behavioral science, this is called “learned helplessness,” and it’s something that occurs in people as well, especially those in authoritarian countries or relationships.
The tenets of Holistic Horsemanship look beyond ability to perform, into the everyday life of your horse. It values and cares about the plethora of factors that affect equine performance, like:
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Proper & routine Dental care
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Balanced hoof care
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Physical, Mental & Emotional health
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Individualized learning styles
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Herd & Social dynamics
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Nutrition
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Tack fit
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Previous training & Individual learning style
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Conformation & Biomechanics of movement
So to answer the question of “What is Holistic Horsemanship is not as simple as you may think, because unlike the traditional horsemanship styles we see, there is no “step-by-step” method to this philosophy. It requires a big-picture perspective and a patient spirit, willing to put their horses first in all aspects of the training journey.
If you may be interested in exploring the world of Holistic Horsemanship for yourself (and for you horse) please contact Nellie for rates and availability.