Moonshine
He was a little bay roan colt that came into this world in the middle of a warm June night. He wasn’t a high money horse, a fancy bred horse, or the most athletic colt to hit the ground. But he was a young horse that was completely and uniquely himself. Having been in my family since the day he was born, he was a horse that would impact 3 generations of my family, and become the backbone of a horsemanship program that has taught in multiple states across the country while helping hundreds of horses and horse owners. The first morning we saw him, he had a perfect crescent moon on his forehead, and we immediately named him “Moonshine”.
Moonshine, a foundation bred quarterhorse, was the backbone of my education as a horseman. He taught me what it meant to establish a true foundation with a horse. Things like having a soft feel, good timing and an independent seat were all things I learned from Moonshine. He was patient enough for me to learn with, but at the same time, demanded mental clarity and emotional maturity, qualities that would serve me well throughout my horsemanship career.
Given that my father had established an advanced foundation, I was able to learn how to start colts from his back as well. With a background in team roping, I craved having a “job” to do when riding a horse. Having the ability to work another horse from while riding Moonshine with no reins was priceless in helping a young colt get a good start under saddle.
He also taught me the in’s and out’s of how to play with a horse a Liberty, where you don’t need a halter and lead rope for ground work. From there, he taught me how to ride bridle-less, where all communication while riding happens through feel, timing and balance. While Liberty isn’t necessary to have a successful relationship with a horse, it is truly a rewarding experience to have that level of bond and connection.
In pursuit of being creative with my horsemanship, I was able to learn about advanced tandem riding, where you work with a second horse at an advanced level while riding another. Given that Indigo, Arab/Quarter Horse cross loved to job, I had an absolute blast training Indigo to ride next to us at Liberty while cursing over jumps and doing his famous spins while we trotted circles around him.
Last but not least, I was fortunate enough to learn the basics of collected riding and advanced body control. Knowing what it felt like to have a horse that was collected while engaged through the hind end allowed me to in turn help other horses I would go on to work with and ride at higher levels. Through body control, he taught me so much about lateral movement while riding a horse, and what helps them free up in their movement for a flowing feel as the move laterally through the front quarters and hind quarters.
Moonshine Video
A casual ride on Moonshine in his later years.
Moonshine Photo Gallery
