Attention horse bloggers: Like many of you, my love of horses, started as a child. On my eleventh birthday my gift was my first horse. My dad, uncle and grandma each put in fifty dollars towards my gift. I immediately started my search. I found a paint gelding close to home. We went to look at him and we bought him. I rode him home and all the disasters started. Like most first time horse buyers I made so many mistakes on that purchase. I wished I had known then what I know now.

My parents, also, divorced at this time of my life. My brothers and I visited our dad every weekend. My dad said to me that the time you lose interest in your horse was the time he needed to be sold. He was going to be too expensive to keep around as a pet. I often felt like a mailman. Every weekend, despite the weather, I was riding my horse. This period of my life lasted for a few years until I entered high school. My interests changed to high school activities.

In my early twenties my love of horses returned. In 1978, I enrolled in the Johnson County Community College Equine Program. My goal was to obtain my Associates of Arts Degree in Equine Science. This goal was achieved in 1983. The journey took five years because of my need to work and pay for my education. I was fortunate to have been able to work in the equine program, which allowed much more on hands experience with the horses. Nothing can ever beat on hands experience in any field of choice.

The college offered several disciplines of riding. They had all breeds. This is where I received the experience showing in several disciplines. I showed hunter hack, hunt seat equitation on the flat and over fences, western pleasure, trail, horsemanship, halter, dressage (training levels), saddle seat, country pleasure and starting colts.

After graduating, I continued to work for the program as a riding instructor. The equine science program eventually had to close down. I continued my work with horses and riding instruction. I have shown and won my share of ribbons. At that time, of my life, the ribbons and trophies were a big accomplishment. I continued to think this until about the mid 90’s when I met my first natural horsemanship clinician. At that time my journey changed and new priorities began. The horse became my first priority and understanding him from his point of view. I have been fine-tuning my skills in understanding the horse from his point of view ever sense. I, now, try to help the human and, horse, have a better communication with each other which leads to a more trusting and respectful relationship.
During this journey I have made a million mistakes. We learn from mistakes just like the horse does. I think the biggest mistake that most people made when the natural horsemanship trend started was that everyone thought they needed to do things so softly. I, too, thought that. I soon found out that wasn’t necessarily the case. I needed to think like a horse and observe how they communicate with each other. We have all seen horses get pretty big with each other when they challenge each other. We have also seen a horse just look at a horse and that horse moves away. I have learned to have a balance between too soft and too aggressive. This, in itself, has been a huge challenge for me. Most people are usually too passive or too assertive in their approach in teaching their horse.
Most relationships that are not successful, of any type, are because of poor communication. Listening, knowing/understanding your partner is vital for a great relationship. The same applies to your relationship with your horse.

I never dreamed that my horse knowledge would have been so valuable during my tragedies with my dad and brother. I have had to rely on a lot of body language, for example, since my dad lost his ability to communicate when he suffered his stroke. My brother became very ill and was admitted into a hospital, in Virginia, where he stayed for the last two months of his life. My horse knowledge, once again, was valuable. I was with my brother, most of the time, during that period. His illness, at times, made it trying for communication also. I have learned to live in the moment as the horse does. In any situation a horse can acknowledge, assess and make a decision within a blink of an eye to result in a positive and comforting outcome for himself. The same was true while I was in the hospital with my brother. I often said that I could not believe how much my horse knowledge helped me navigate through that time period.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any service towards a better understanding with your partner….the horse!
My name is Vicki Rhaesa, currently employed at Seven Oaks Ranch, 13345 West 199th Street, Spring Hill, KS 66083.

If you’d like more information, please visit my contact page.

Testimonials

Vicki has been training at Seven Oaks Ranch for 15 years. During that time she has been honing her skills with internationally known clinician Harry Whitney. Vicki has taken what she has learned from Harry and fine-tuned it to be her own way of communication with each individual horse she works with. No matter what problem the horse may have, Vicki will masterly and very quietly make the problem go away, ending up with a horse that respects the human. She helps the owner understand the horse better, why he does what he does, making the relationship with the human and horse a true partnership.

Sally Dwyer-  Seven Oaks owner

_______________________

I worked with Vicki for over a year with a new horse and I continue to run questions by her as things arise.  Aedan was previously a driving horse and I sought to change his career to being a dressage horse.  That transition in jobs presented all kinds of challenges. I never cease to be amazed at Vicki’s interest and enthusiasm with anything to do with horses.  Not only does she have the ability to patiently work with a horse but she is equally able to work with each horse’s person. She instilled in me a more thoughtful way of approaching issues with patience and logic, and with the horse’s perspective always uppermost in my mind.  Not only will you learn when working with Vicki but you will have fun doing it. Moreover, you will have a much happier horse.

Kathy O’Brien

____________________

I have not ridden or owned a horse in over 25 years.  About 4 years ago my husband purchased my first of two horses.  He is 14 years old now and a very loving horse but when I first bought him I did not know about some of his issues he had from past training.  These issues made it difficult for me to ride him since we were both a little skittish.  Vicki worked with Cutter and me twice a week and also worked on her own with Cutter to try and get us on the same page. She also gave us weekend homework too. Thanks to Vicki’s patience and understanding of horses, she taught me how to watch and feel changes in your horse. She taught me how to ride with confidence, how to sit up straight but to still be relaxed and how to breathe, (which is something I did not do well at when I first started riding).  Cont..

___________________

I bought my horse Spirit 3 years ago. The combination of me not owning a horse in over 20 years and Spirit not receiving proper training early on, in his life,  lead to problems for the both of us. Thank goodness for Vicki, she has been able to train Spirit correctly, instruct me to be a better horse owner and to see life from the horses’ perspective. We have both learned so much and are better for it.

Tracie Carrigan

___________________________

I am new when it comes to horses. Sally Dwyer has given me the chance to help Shadow, a beautiful Paint who has difficulties with accepting a bit. Vicki has helped me understand and help Shadow to get passed her issues with accepting a bit and we both have made great progress all around.       Paul Carrigan

____________________________