If you’ve ever wondered why some trail courses actually build better horses — and others just become decoration — Mark Bolender’s approach is worth a look. His work goes far beyond building obstacles; it’s about creating spaces that improve confidence, problem-solving, and real-world horsemanship for both horse and rider. With … Read More
A lot of horses can go through the motions — but building one that stays sound, balanced, and confident over time is a different story. Seven Hills Training takes a thoughtful approach that blends classical dressage with modern biomechanics and rehab-focused care, especially for horses recovering from injury or complex … Read More
Good Horsemanship is Built One Decision at a Time I spent some time working with my mules Ruger and the Bean after getting back from teaching clinics in Kansas. Nothing flashy. No problems to solve. Just time, quiet hands, and animals doing what they already knew how to do. The … Read More
Progress Comes One Small Step at a Time I may have found the secret to a well-lived life. I call it, “Do whatever you can do.” Okay, maybe this just works for me, but I want to share it with my fellow horse people who might also struggle to get … Read More
How to Help Your Horse Feel Safe The most important characteristic of a safe, well-trained horse is trust. Horses who trust people are far less likely to behave in erratic, explosive, or aggressive ways and are a joy to handle and ride. Creating trust in horses is the responsibility of … Read More
YouTube Tutorials Can Be Helpful, but They Don’t Replace In-Person Instruction Social media can be useful; it connects us to neighborhood groups that let us know what’s happening in our community (is your power out too?) and keeps us in touch with long-lost friends from high school. I use YouTube … Read More
Start Planning Now for Next Year’s Adventures The mornings are crisp with frost, and my favorite trails are hidden under a carpet of golden leaves. As I pack away the gear for winter, I can’t help but think about next year’s adventures. Now’s the time to start planning. Camping with horses might … Read More
Leadership Means Looking Inward, Offering Grace, and Building Trust A boss instills fear, assigns blame, and controls others. A leader inspires confidence, takes responsibility, and empowers others. Those words have rung true across every chapter of my life, whether I was serving in the Marine Corps, navigating high-stakes bank mergers … Read More
Finding Peace and Classical Dressage at this 18th Century Portuguese Estate In May 2025 I attended an immersive educational opportunity for working equitation judges in Portugal. Following the training, many of my fellow judges and other attendees planned to participate in some of the riding and training opportunities horse people … Read More
A Trainer’s Perspective on Arena Surfaces Few things are more important for the soundness of our horses than the arena footing we ride on. Years of training horses and teaching lessons has given me some strong opinions about what’s best. If you pay attention to horses as they work, it’s … Read More
