skip to main | skip to sidebar

The Natural Connection INC. @ The Marriott Ranch

"Connecting with your horse starts with a passion to learn..."

No posts with label Cody and his new friend Peppy. Show all posts

Home

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

The Natural Connection INC

@ the Marriott Ranch

The Marriott Ranch Trail Barn

Ms. Jean and Anna place 11th out of 33 at the RRP THOROUGHBRED CHALLENGE!

Ms. Jean and her 4 yr old filly, Anna, will be performing at the Thoroughbred Challenge in Kentucky

RRP 2016, here we come!

Riding English for lessons and clinics is challenging yet fun for a western rider and instructor

Many horses are started Western and eventually switch to English

Miss Jean and Prime practicing

Western and English horsemanship!

Develop confidence when trail riding...

Develop skills in the arena...

A confident ride every once in while can definitely lead to a very big smile!

Miss Mary and Pops...

Students looking for a non-competitve environment are welcome here!

Learning to take constructive criticism, riding in groups and self reflection are key components to a rider's success in learning to become a horseman.

Parent support is essential for students to be able to reach their goals.

Horse Placement Program, below picture of Cody and new friend Peppy

Jean also provides horse finding services to help match horses to riders!

Learn to ride on your own horse...

Cowboy Ben and his loving mare, Pheonix

Cheryl and her Stella

Beginners through Novice I are all treated with the same respect.

Private lessons ensure attention to detail.

About Me

The Natural Connection: Fauquier County, Virginia; I rode my first pony in Amsterdam at age 3. I touched my first horse & began a lifelong obsession with horses. I rode hunt seat lessons when I was 4 and continued until I was 14. At 16, I was hired at the Marriott Ranch. I learned the ropes as a wrangler, saddling, trail riding 30 horses daily, safety, training horses, including my own. Cattle drives, overnight rides, mountain & river rides, I did them all. After 11 years, I moved to Miran Farm in Aldie. As a Team Roper, a header, I enjoyed the new challenge. But questioned the harsher bits on other riders horses, heavier saddles etc. I felt I had lost a part of myself and questioned why & how to love my horse...I needed to go back to my roots. I left Miran & found a 17 acre farm to lease & began the Natural Connection. In 2009, I moved back to Aldie, VA, to expand. Establishing a focus on appropriate diet, turn-out, tack, exercise and training. The Natural Connection stayed in Aldie for 5 years and in 2015, the Natural Connection found a private 500 acre facility to call home in Fauquier County, VA. In an ironic twist of fate, I was asked to bring my business to the Marriott Ranch in April of 2017.

View my complete profile

Ms. Jean is always participating in local clinics and taking lessons with her instructors monthly.

Continuing Education is important for all!

GUEST CLINICIANS!

The Natural Connection and Miran Farm have hosted multiple clinics since our arrival in 2009.

2010: Fareed Miran (Team Roping Clinic)

2010: We welcomed Courtney Olmstead (3 Day Eventer)

2011: We welcomed Paul Cronin (USHJA Clinician -Hunters)

2012: We welcomed Carolyn "Dilly" Jackson (Dressage)

2013: We welcomed Jeffrey Lord (Dressage)

Jeffrey Lord riding Miss Carol's horse, Taz

Can you believe Taz used to be a barrel racer?!?!

Ms. Jean provides Training for green horses, some problem, and many rehabilitative horses

Training starts with an assessment, leading to monthly lesson plans, with realistic goals being set on a weekly basis. Medical, mental, and physical abilities are all considered during training.

When horses in training have reached a maintenance point in their riding skills...

Exercise riding is offered to horses that have been in Natural Connection training.

Working Students Kaitlyn and Sheridan

OTTB "Run Like a Raven" learning patience

2016 Ms. Jean and Duke working with Jeffrey Lord

Ms. Jean and Kiddo 2015

Clinton and the Natural Connection Girls!

Following "The Method" by Clinton Anderson for training our horses!

This is the first year I have decided to take my already known communication techniques and combine them with Clinton Anderson's Methods.

Currently, majority of the horses are doing great in the "Fundamentals." I believe this is a valuable step forward in ensuring better broke horses overall, which is one of the goals of this great program.

Students that own horses, lease horses and ride lesson horses have the opportunity to learn these techniques. They see and feel the results and have learned one of the most difficult lessons for horsemen...it take time and repetition.

In November of 2013, I went to Texas with 3 of my students to see Clinton Anderson in action at his Down Under Ranch. It was an eye opening experience, but everyone came back inspired.