Heart of Horsemanship

Heart of Horsemanship C**t starting, horse training, and riding lessons provided using natural horsemanship methods. Barrel racing training and leasing avaiable.

Rusty has a new tiny tot to teach. He really enjoys the itty bitties. If you know my horses, you know they are not your ...
08/29/2026

Rusty has a new tiny tot to teach. He really enjoys the itty bitties.

If you know my horses, you know they are not your typical kid horses. To make it as a lesson horse in my program, I have high expectations. I want a horse that will not confuse floppy bodies and tense, nervous legs for signals to go faster. And even the best kid horses can fail that.

I’ve turned away more horses than I can count that many of peers call ‘kid safe’ because they were too touchy or too keyed in.

I want what many call ‘dead head, bomb proof’ but I will also be the very first one to tell you that even the best horses are not that, and that you should ALWAYS take someone else’s words at face value. It YOUR child’s life over a strangers words.

Good horses are not cheap, and cheap horses are not good.

My herd is all ‘kid friendly’ but not all are ‘kid safe.’ I can absolutely trust Penny and Clem to let a 2 year old lead them around on a halter and brush them and know they won’t do anything wrong. They will always know where the little hands are. But I will NOT put a child on them if I am not holding the reins.

Rusty is ‘dead head bomb proof’ but he will absolutely leave a rider in the alley if he senses they think they are ready for speed. He will run a pattern when asked, and even throws a kick here or there with me, but will walk and trot patterns if the kids ask.

If someone, in this current economy, is telling you they have a horse like Rusty or Memphis or Gunner for sale for less than 3k, I would not trust them at all.

Why is high quality forage so important for horses? Why can’t they eat the same as cows or goats or other ruminants? hor...
08/11/2026

Why is high quality forage so important for horses? Why can’t they eat the same as cows or goats or other ruminants?

horses are not ruminant animals. They have a simple digestive system that lacks a gallbladder. In contrast to a ruminants digestive system with its four stomachs, a horse only has one! Where ruminants can digest about 60% of the total fiber their forage offers, horses can only digest about 30% of their fiber!

Notice here how much larger a horses cecum is compared to a cows? That’s the power house of the horse’s digestive system! Pay attention to the stomach size as well! Horse stomachs are a LOT smaller than a cow’s four chamber stomach!

A horse’s lack of gallbladder means they are much more sensitive to fat changes in their diet! They don’t have a dedicated bile storage, so their intestines secrete bile directly into their digestive tract. Sudden rapid changes in fat can cause drastically painful surges in acid and bile and lead to oily, loose stools, or worse, ulcers and colic!

Know how your horses digestive system works!

42 round bales dropped off, 58 awaiting delivery. Did you know the average horse needs 1.5-3% of their body weight in qu...
08/06/2026

42 round bales dropped off, 58 awaiting delivery.

Did you know the average horse needs 1.5-3% of their body weight in quality forage daily? That’s roughly 15-30 pounds a day! Factor in a big horse like Memphis or Clem, and you’re looking at more, 45 lbs a day sometimes. The average square bale weights 60 pounds, and with me having ten horses, that is 5 squares MINIMUM I go through a day. These round bales typically last my horses a week with 2-3 eating on them.

It has to be good quality as well! These rounds are nice, first cutting, and I still have to support the horses further with better hay and other feedings to maintain them.

Horses are NOT made to eat grain, they are GRAZERS. I’ve seen hundred of horses over the years have health and behavioral problems because humans do one of two things: stall horses for long periods of time where forage is limited or feed high grain diets.

I have horses with ulcers, and let me tell you what a PAIN and EXPENSE that is to treat. How does a horse get ulcer? Frustratingly easy. It can take 90 minutes for an ulcer to develop. And 12 weeks for that one ulcer to heal. A highly anxious horse like Gunner can get them from just being in a stressful situation. An empty stomach for more than 3 hours can cause this. I see countless horses at shows go 6-8 hours without a snack break.

Feed the horse in front of you: some diets work for some horses, and some don’t. But high quality hay/forage/grass should be the first thing you satisfy and KEEP IT IN FRONT OF THEM.

07/13/2026

Effective Sept 1, my lease program will be offering two options, partial and full. These are ON SITE LEASES. I do NOT offer off site leases, no exceptions

Partial leases are more budget friendly, but much more limited: you will have to work around me using the horse for lessons and possibly sharing the horse. Partial leasing includes TWO private lessons a month, two lease rides a week, and hauling to one event within a 30 minutes/15 mile radius.

Full leasing is for 4H students (4h shows are extremely taxing and require a LOT of horse and rider) and those who wish to not have to worry about if their horse is available to ride. Full lease means no sharing, you get 4 private lessons a month, four lease rides a week, and hauling to two events a month (Bayou Western/LaSH shows NOT included). Your lease horse will be pulled from my lesson string and only ever used for others when I have no horse available.

In order to be eligible to lease a horse with me, you or your child much show themselves capable of doing EVERYTHING necessary to prepare a horse for a ride, as well as tend to them properly afterwards, WITHOUT help from me. They must also show they are capable of understanding basic horsemanship concerning the care and health of a horse.

I am no longer offering working student positions either.

In order to show ANY of my horses in ANY capacity you must be leasing. I am no longer offering a ‘jockey’ option for individual shows.

The economy and overall inflation has made it that much more difficult for everyone, including me, to keep my horses in shape for shows, and yes. That requires a LOT more work than just keeping them healthy enough for lesson use.

LESSON rules are being changed as well. Missed lessons will ONLY be eligible for make ups for six weeks and only on weekends. If a client fails to set up a make up date on a weekend within 6 weeks, then You will lose that lesson. No more honoring missed lessons from months prior; it’s too hard to keep track of and impossible fit in when I’m working five different show platforms, daily lessons, and training horses. This is also to be implemented Sept 1.

I understand this is a big change of how I have done things in the past, but it is a necessary change in order for me to continue offering the quality of work I offer at the capacity I do. I value your time; please offer me the same courtesy.

Reminder that if you are interested in leasing that my lease program is VERY small, and lease options are offered first to established clients with seniority. Only a select few horses are available for leasing.

Having a conversation with a client and I realized the topic is actually something that can be very misleading, so takin...
07/09/2026

Having a conversation with a client and I realized the topic is actually something that can be very misleading, so taking a moment to educate, including myself.

Heat index is normally measured temperature plus humidity. But did you know that the temperature on your weather app or what’s reported as the high is not taken in the sun? It’s taken in the shade! The ‘feels like’ temperature is NOT true heat index

Horses cool off the same way as humans do, by sweating! But did you know that due to muscle mass, less skin surface per pound than a human, and overall general size, horses heat 3 to 10 faster than humans?

And some horses have issues sweating! Clementine can barely be used in the summer for more than trail riding for an hour or so at a time (I took her to rustic sky two weeks ago and the trees made it tolerable for her but phew, did I pump her full of electrolytes and salt before hand!) because she only ever really sweat under her saddle pad. This is an EXTREMELY common issue with her breed.

Horse can indeed get heat exhaustion and stroke just like us!

07/04/2026

4H season for us has come to a close! It’s the first year in a while we are not going to state, but it’s not for a lack of qualification! All my students showing placed well enough at District to qualify for State with arguably the toughest crowd and judge they have competed against yet.

That includes Kason, whose first ride was back in October, and Clelie who took her mustang of only seven months to her first show! All students are happy and proud of how district went and met all their goals for this year’s 4H season. Foals are already being set for next year!

The horses are enjoying. Much needed break, and I am on schedule to take new students around September.

Moving forward, my lease program will be seeing a MAJOR overhaul, so stay tuned for updates regarding that.

Vermilion parish 4H went well! Kason and Harlow got reserve grand champ in their halter class for their debut in the hor...
06/23/2026

Vermilion parish 4H went well! Kason and Harlow got reserve grand champ in their halter class for their debut in the horse world! First show for both handler and horse!

Next week is the District 4H show at the SugArena in New Iberia, LA. It starts Wednesday morning and goes until Friday, so NO LESSONS next week! Come support Kason, Clelie, and Annelyse instead, or take a peak at what opportunities 4H offers in their program if your child is interested in showing!

I offer horses for leasing for those who don’t have the means to own a horse.

The only picture snagged from the Tri-Parish 4H show this past Saturday with me in it. Annelyse earned her first ever 1...
06/09/2026

The only picture snagged from the Tri-Parish 4H show this past Saturday with me in it. Annelyse earned her first ever 1st place in Western Pleasure, buckle included! She placed in all her other events as well. Clelie managed to snag a few ribbons and buckle herself despite having a mustang that six months ago was essentially unbroken (she had a lot of set backs and mental blocks to work through). It was Sisters first show ever to compete at as well! I’m proud of both these girls!

The last 4H clinic before the Tri-Parish show! Both girls tuned in, listening to Mr. Perry talk. Annelyse is on my old ...
05/27/2026

The last 4H clinic before the Tri-Parish show! Both girls tuned in, listening to Mr. Perry talk. Annelyse is on my old 4H horse, and Clelie is hiding behind her on her young mustang. It will be Sister’s first ever show!

Clelie and Annelyse are my most advanced students, who have both been here about 5/6 years. These girls have grit like you cannot imagine.

Tri-Parish 4H show is being held at the Yambilee Center in Opelousas on Saturday, June 6!

The show is open for all to come watch. The kids appreciate any and all support the community can provide for them, and it’s a great way to see if your child is perhaps interested in showing 4H one year.

Jetta is officially up for sale. Obviously she will not be ready to leave until she is weaned in a few months, but we ar...
04/27/2026

Jetta is officially up for sale. Obviously she will not be ready to leave until she is weaned in a few months, but we are officially putting her for discussion.

Life has brought a lot of changes, including a major change in my interests in regards to the show pen.

2026 SORREL (genetic tested) filly. By Haidas Royal BluBoon out of LR Hancocks PlayJet. Jetta’s papers are currently pending, but she will be registered AQHA. She goes back to multiple foundation lines and cow horses. Both parents are great all round horses, but have a lot of experience in the barrel pen. Bloodlines farther back in her papers include Highbrow Hickery, Pepper San Badger, Hancock, and Doc Olena.

She will leave knowing all basics: halter broke, standing tied, trailered, picking up feet, etc. she is already showing to have a bright mind and is a quick study. At three weeks, she’s mostly mastered haltered and stands tied for short period alongside her mom. She will be hauled for sites and such alongside her mom as she grows.

Low-mid X,###. Payments accepted, details can be discussed in private. Located in Maurice, LA. NO TRADES.

Address

10661 LA 92
Maurice, LA
70555

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13375220171

Website

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