Lasting Results For:
Schooling the green horse under saddle Instruction for the novice horseman Lightness, flexibility, confidence Starting foals Behavior and performance problems	Ground manners Longeing Trailering Tying, Leading Standing quietly for tacking, grooming, shoeing, and vetting

Horsemanship begins not in the saddle, but on the ground,
where horse and horseman first meet eye to eye.

hundred years ago, many Americans grew up in the company of horses, and even before learning to ride the typical child already possessed a wealth of horse sense to draw upon - not merely how to feed, groom, and care for her horse, but...more importantly...how to live with horses, to command their respect and cooperation, to trust herself with them and be trusted by them. She learned, from simple observation, that a horse will take as much liberty with her as she permits it to, or will pay her as much respect as she works to earn.

oday, however, perhaps the majority of riders are first-generation horsemen, often realizing their dream of owning a horse only in adulthood. Lacking the advantage of having been raised immersed in the world of horses, they face the same challenge in learning horse sense which many of us encounter when attempting to learn a second language as adults. Books, videos, and web sites can help, but for most of us there really is no substitute for the direct, highly personal, generation-to-generation transmission of horse sense. Lacking this, the novice (or even experienced) horseman often becomes frustrated and discouraged by his horse's 'bad attitude'. Many search for the solution in a different horse, only to encounter the same problems. Others turn to riding instructors for professional help - in effect, seeking to learn to ride before they have learned to walk.

ike her own mother before her, for decades Kate Busa has been the patient, savvy 'horse mom' whom friends, neighbors, and colleagues turn to when they are at wits end with their horses. One day, when a stranger called after a farrier warned he would no longer shoe her foot-shy horse "unless you get Kate out here", she realized that today's equestrian community needs access not only to riding instructors, but also to horsemanship instruction and training. Kate now offers Horse Sense horsemanship instruction to equestrians young and old, and their horses, throughout the North Carolina Piedmont and south-central Virginia region. She works with horses and their owners to quickly, effectively, and permanently address common behavior problems, to help the horseman to become the boss-horse in his 'herd of two', to school young horses or those in need of remedial training, and to impart greater lightness, flexibility, confidence, and skill to the team of horse and rider.

ate's way is neither 'New Age' nor 'cowboy', neither Western nor English. It's just plain horse sense.

nstruction is available at your barn or at Kate's New Avalon Farm in northern Durham County, NC. Horses whose issues require more extended work can be boarded temporarily at New Avalon, where they receive the benefit of Kate's daily attention.