Lessons & Clinics

One of Cornerstone Ranch’s Salt Stations, made from a repurposed water trough and stocked with four varieties of salt blocks. These stations provide a sheltered, accessible mineral buffet for every group of horses.   At Cornerstone Ranch, the well-being of our horses is always a top priority. With over 30 horses calling our pastures home,…

  By Susan Connell, Founding Manager, Horse Trainer, and Instructor at Cornerstone Ranch   If you ride regularly, it’s easy to notice that horses, like people, are not perfectly symmetrical. One horse may bend more easily to the left, another may consistently pick up the same lead, or you might see more muscle on one side. These traits show that horses may favor one side of the body. The key takeaway is that understanding this tendency helps you help a horse move more evenly and train more effectively.   The Mechanics of Side Dominance When a horse walks, trots, or canters, each side of the body works a bit differently. One hind leg may push off harder, while the opposite foreleg reaches farther to maintain balance and turn. This helps explain why a horse might pick up one lead more…

  Blue, the Mule, wasn’t always the most celebrated employee at the High Hopes Ranch. In fact, if you looked at the guest reviews from before the Summer of the Great Bonnet, you’d see more mentions of “donkey” than “delightful trail ride.”   Blue was a one-of-a-kind ranch mule, gifted to the ranch owner, Maggie,…

By Susan Connell | Cornerstone Ranch For many young adults, turning 30 is more than a birthday—it’s a rite of passage, marking the start of a new chapter. Enter the “30 Before 30” movement, which inspires people in their twenties to craft a list of 30 adventures or achievements to pursue before blowing out those…

The Art and Philosophy of Longeing Horses By Susan Connell | Cornerstone Ranch There are many opinions about how to longe horses. One common method has the handler moving around the circle with the horse, which I call “Longeing Aerobics.” Many people think this is the only correct way. My approach is different. I…

Positioning Yourself by a Horse’s Shoulder and Walking in Cadence: A Superior Training Approach By Susan Connell | Cornerstone Ranch | https://CornerstoneRanch.org   When working with horses, the handler’s position relative to the horse is a fundamental aspect of effective communication and training. Traditionally, some handlers may walk in front of the horse, relying on…

True horsemanship goes beyond riding skill or knowledge of tack—it is about forging a partnership with your horse, grounded in clarity, consistency, and kindness. Every moment spent with a horse, whether in the saddle, on the lead, or at the end of a longe line, is an opportunity to practice and reinforce the principles that…

Before dawn on a warm spring morning at Cornerstone Ranch, the air is alive with the aroma of budding flowers and the gentle buzz of anticipation. On this particular Mother’s Day, the ranch celebrates not just the season but the arrival of a beautiful filly named Magnolia. Born to Faye, the striking black and white…

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THE INTERVIEW 1. **Introduction:** – What drew you to horseback riding, and what do you enjoy most about it? Since I was a little girl, I always had a love for these beautiful horses God created. It started with my aunt, who owned a large ranch with Standardbreds. When visiting my aunt’s ranch, I was…