Meet our Trainer
Nellie has over a decade of riding & training experience, gaining knowledge by working under trainers like Ken McNabb, Jesse and Stacy Westfall. 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.
Nellie Schmidt
Am I a natural horse trainer?
I think that depends on how you define the term "natural horsemanship."
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Do I value the horse's opinion and work to train them in a language they understand, trying to make more "natural" the inherently "unnatural" relationship between prey animal and predator?
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Yes.
Do I believe that horses learn from repetition and reinforcement (both positive and negative) and strive to give them time to process new skills in a safe and supportive environment?
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Yes.
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Do I think that horse's should be punished for giving the wrong answer on the first try? Or the third or fourth? And that in giving the wrong answer, the horse is somehow disrespecting me and being "naughty?"
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No.
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Do I allow horses the freedom to make mistakes, so that in learning new skills they not only learn WHAT they should do, but also HOW and WHY?
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Yes.
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Do I train all horses in the exact same "method," claiming a one size fits all brand of horsemanship that over-simplifies the complexities of equine personality and biomechanics?
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No.
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The term "natural horsemanship" has taken on many different connotations over the years. So if I fundamentally disagree with the tenets that lots of natural horseman (and women) follow, then why do I still call my training"natural." I still will train in bits and you'll see that my spurs are nearly always attached to my boots, but I think that the philosophy of being more natural, holistic, or collaborative goes beyond equipment. It goes beyond what you can learn in a one week Clinic or workshop, and beyond the name brand whips and rope halters you buy. Striving towards this approach means rewiring our brains to think less like humans (predators) and more like horses (prey).
This approach encourages the quiet moments in the field, building rapport through mutual grooming with your horse.
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This approach values collaborative communication, and allowing space for horses to share where they're struggling. Only then can we come in and support or challenge the horse towards growth.
This approach fosters a holistic sense of balance through an integration of the entire body, building confidence through biomechanical stability and functional movements.