Photo courtesty of Clark Photography
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I don’t know where I got my passion for horses; Mom and Dad didn’t have it - my dad spent childhood summers at his uncle’s ranch in California, but that’s about it. My mom is an amazing artist (needlepoint designer and owner of Leigh Designs), my dad worked for Boeing for 25 years in IT prior to retiring in 2009. My brother is a systems admin and all-around geek. No horsiness whatsoever; in fact, my brother is VERY uneasy around horses.
So I suppose I blame a genetic mutation or reincarnation or.. I don’t know what.. for my passion. All I know is it started early and grew strong fast. I read about them, drew them… my friends and I even pretended to BE horses on the elementary school recess field.
So I began with lessons at 5, which led to riding my friends' horses and stall cleaning jobs, anything I could do to simply be around theses lovely creatures; until finally my parents let me get a horse- I was 13, Beezer was 4. I still remember that day he came home - June 14, 1993. We said goodbye to him in November of 2020, he was 31 years old.
He and I had done it all together: trail riding and hitting local shows; we rode english and western, and did showmanship and halter. That moved into trying team penning, gaming, jumping, tricks (Beezer would wow people by laying down on command and giving kisses); I was fascinated by the process of teaching a horse, like putting paint to a blank canvas. I realized quickly that we can teach our horses ANYTHING - from the mundane to the most intricate, with positive, neutral or negative effect on us or them.
I then started looking to work with other horses as well. A few people indulged me, and over the next few years I would pick up a project here or there to work with. Soon I started teaching people what I was teaching their horses. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. It’s still like that today; from my first days in this business as a professional, I have had projects -- both people and horses --– that have stretched me and and opened the door for me to study and learn what I need to be the best teacher for that student. I began studying dressage to get a horse I started ready to be successful at his first show -- we went to 3 that year and did very well, and it's become part of the foundation for my teaching today; more recently, I've been following trainers in spaces that are rooted in understanding the horse better, training through trust and better listening - I find that work requires us to look more deeply into ourselves as well. I read and go to clinics and take lessons myself whenever I can, to better understand and teach proper equitation, evaluate conformation, train a better horse and human. I am constantly learning.
What sets me apart I believe is my adaptability. My deep and ever-expanding understanding of both horse and human psychology, communication, and bio-mechanics, and knowledge of a multitude of disciplines, gives me unique ability to teach concepts and cross-train in a way that is not only universal to any discipline, but easy for both horse and rider to understand and retain what they learn. I strive to make learning easy and fun at all times. I believe in teaching humans as much as horses, because what good is spending the money on good training when you aren’t able to continue it?
When I’m not horsing around (as it were), I’m usually spending time with friends, hiking, biking, enjoying good food and quiet days on my deck; and I've just recently been learning to sail. I enjoy snowshoeing in the winter, floating the Snoqualmie River in the summer, and always entertaining and cooking for friends. There is always something fun going on at the ranch!
So I suppose I blame a genetic mutation or reincarnation or.. I don’t know what.. for my passion. All I know is it started early and grew strong fast. I read about them, drew them… my friends and I even pretended to BE horses on the elementary school recess field.
So I began with lessons at 5, which led to riding my friends' horses and stall cleaning jobs, anything I could do to simply be around theses lovely creatures; until finally my parents let me get a horse- I was 13, Beezer was 4. I still remember that day he came home - June 14, 1993. We said goodbye to him in November of 2020, he was 31 years old.
He and I had done it all together: trail riding and hitting local shows; we rode english and western, and did showmanship and halter. That moved into trying team penning, gaming, jumping, tricks (Beezer would wow people by laying down on command and giving kisses); I was fascinated by the process of teaching a horse, like putting paint to a blank canvas. I realized quickly that we can teach our horses ANYTHING - from the mundane to the most intricate, with positive, neutral or negative effect on us or them.
I then started looking to work with other horses as well. A few people indulged me, and over the next few years I would pick up a project here or there to work with. Soon I started teaching people what I was teaching their horses. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. It’s still like that today; from my first days in this business as a professional, I have had projects -- both people and horses --– that have stretched me and and opened the door for me to study and learn what I need to be the best teacher for that student. I began studying dressage to get a horse I started ready to be successful at his first show -- we went to 3 that year and did very well, and it's become part of the foundation for my teaching today; more recently, I've been following trainers in spaces that are rooted in understanding the horse better, training through trust and better listening - I find that work requires us to look more deeply into ourselves as well. I read and go to clinics and take lessons myself whenever I can, to better understand and teach proper equitation, evaluate conformation, train a better horse and human. I am constantly learning.
What sets me apart I believe is my adaptability. My deep and ever-expanding understanding of both horse and human psychology, communication, and bio-mechanics, and knowledge of a multitude of disciplines, gives me unique ability to teach concepts and cross-train in a way that is not only universal to any discipline, but easy for both horse and rider to understand and retain what they learn. I strive to make learning easy and fun at all times. I believe in teaching humans as much as horses, because what good is spending the money on good training when you aren’t able to continue it?
When I’m not horsing around (as it were), I’m usually spending time with friends, hiking, biking, enjoying good food and quiet days on my deck; and I've just recently been learning to sail. I enjoy snowshoeing in the winter, floating the Snoqualmie River in the summer, and always entertaining and cooking for friends. There is always something fun going on at the ranch!
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What's in a Name? Why 'Keystone?'
I have gotten asked this question from time to time over the years, and I suspect many more have wondered silently. In architectural terms, the Keystone is found in arches; it is the highest, center-most stone of the arch;
The Keystone is the foundation of the arch; it provides structure and stability. One cannot build an arch without a Keystone.
In much the same way, I believe my work offers the same: to be good at anything you want to do - especially with our horses - we and our horses need excellence in foundational ideas. I teach core concepts that are the building blocks to any quality training program, with the goal, not of practicing until you get it right, but instead practicing until you can't get it wrong. These foundational concepts focus on awareness, good communication, strength, and suppleness – key ingredients for brilliance, no matter what your goals are for you and your horse.
Good Equitation
Proper/ Best Use of Aids
Schooling Practices to Promote Better Communication
Exercises For Agility, Suppleness, Better Movement
Refining All of the Above to Reach New Goals!
I provide that 'Keystone' experience in all of the services I offer: Training, Barn Management and Consultation. Seek your foundation for long-term success with Keystone!
The Keystone is the foundation of the arch; it provides structure and stability. One cannot build an arch without a Keystone.
In much the same way, I believe my work offers the same: to be good at anything you want to do - especially with our horses - we and our horses need excellence in foundational ideas. I teach core concepts that are the building blocks to any quality training program, with the goal, not of practicing until you get it right, but instead practicing until you can't get it wrong. These foundational concepts focus on awareness, good communication, strength, and suppleness – key ingredients for brilliance, no matter what your goals are for you and your horse.
Good Equitation
Proper/ Best Use of Aids
Schooling Practices to Promote Better Communication
Exercises For Agility, Suppleness, Better Movement
Refining All of the Above to Reach New Goals!
I provide that 'Keystone' experience in all of the services I offer: Training, Barn Management and Consultation. Seek your foundation for long-term success with Keystone!
