Wild Hearts Equestrian Connections

Wild Hearts Equestrian Connections Wild Hearts Equestrian Connections is a locally owned full service facility located just 5 minutes north of beautiful Sandpoint Idaho.

04/17/2026

I don’t spend a lot of time desensitizing my horses in the traditional sense. Instead of waving scary objects around and becoming the source of stress, I try to create real-life scenarios where the “chaos” exists away from me.
For example, this might look like bringing a horse in and out of the arena when another horse is buddy sour, or having someone ride a bike up and down the driveway. Situations like these allow the horse to experience distractions without associating me with the stress.
My goal is for the horse to look to me for answers and confidence. Rather than seeing me as something to worry about, they begin to associate me with relaxation and a sense of peace.
I also find that horses tend to be more honest in movement than when standing still. If you can ask your horse simple questions while things are happening around them, you can see whether they can stay responsive and let go of the surrounding chaos. That often gives you much clearer, more honest feedback.

04/16/2026

Yawning in horses isn’t about being sleepy it’s often a sign of nervous system release. When a horse yawns, licks, chews, or sighs, they may be letting go of built-up tension and processing stress within the body. Even though my horses weren’t being reactive in this moment, they were still holding some level of tension, and giving them the space to release it allows them to reset. In turn, this helps build their confidence in me to guide them through unsure situations and supports a calmer, more trusting connection.

04/13/2026

💛She is so sweet 💛

What if your horse wanted to work with you?”
“Connection over control.”
“Less pressure. More partnership.”
“Willing, not forced.”
“Your horse is trying to talk… are you listening?”
“This changes everything.”
Not obedience. Communication.
“Where try becomes trust.”

04/12/2026

I focus on teaching my horses willingness and softness in the backup. At liberty, it’s all about finding a rhythm—not nagging for every step.

04/09/2026

🌸Something about the first few weeks of spring when everything starts turning green and the sun finally comes out makes even the most ordinary training sessions feel special. ☀️Nothing exciting has to happen just being out there, enjoying the beautiful weather, is enough.

04/08/2026

💫Lucky to have a friend who says ‘let’s do it’ to all my crazy ideas… and absolutely crushes it every time.💛

04/08/2026

💫 Horses & The Lay Down 💫
Horses are prey animals which means their safety depends on staying alert and ready to move.
So when a horse chooses to lay down, it’s a big deal.
They’re at their most vulnerable in that moment.
👉 In the wild, horses only lie down when they feel safe.
👉 The same is true in the arena or pasture.
If your horse allows you to approach while they’re resting on the ground, take a moment to appreciate it that’s trust. A quiet, powerful kind of trust.
Not every horse will feel comfortable doing this right away, and that’s okay. If you notice tension or worry, don’t focus on the lay down itself. Instead, build confidence in your everyday interactions on the ground, in the saddle, and in your communication.
With patience, consistency, and clear cues, that sense of safety will grow…
and one day, it may show up in the lay down. 💛💛💛💛

These horses sleep better than I do ;)

03/29/2026

Beautiful Rosie came to our barn showing clear signs of anxiety and overstimulation. When she first entered the space, her behavior was reactive she moved quickly, often running into or past people, and showed little awareness of her surroundings. In that state, she was not able to think clearly or respond to cues. This type of response is common in horses that feel unsafe or overwhelmed rather than choosing to misbehave, they are operating in a heightened fight-or-flight state.
While Rosie had some truly beautiful moments under saddle, she struggled with basic communication on the ground. This highlighted an important gap in her understanding. Something we consistently teach our students is that the conversation with your horse begins the moment you approach them not when you get in the saddle. It can be easy to overlook the importance of haltering, leading, and those first interactions on the ground, but those moments set the tone for everything that follows and often determine how the ride will look.
In these situations, the priority is helping the horse regain a sense of safety and clarity through clear communication, consistent boundaries, and a calm approach. Rather than focusing on what you don’t want the horse to do, it’s important to be clear about what you are asking and to set achievable goals. Rosie was gradually taught to slow down, pay attention, and understand expectations. Repetition and predictability played a key role in helping her replace reactive behavior with more thoughtful responses, both on the ground and under saddle.
Rosie’s progress is a reminder that true partnership starts long before you ever step into the saddle. While she is still building confidence, it has been rewarding to watch her continue to grow.

03/28/2026

Liberty work is one of my favorite places to start with a young horse.

As important as it is to teach a horse to follow the feel of a rope and respond to pressure, starting at liberty allows them to first find connection without feeling restricted or trapped. It gives them a chance to understand what it means to be with you, instead of reacting against you.
When a horse can move freely, they gain confidence in the movement and the ask. It becomes less about pressure and more about understanding.
This video shows moments from day one with this young horse. You can see how he initially responds to the feel of the rope but after taking the time to help him find the right answers through liberty, adding that pressure becomes soft, clear, and easy for him to accept.

Someone once told me, “If you take away the rope, you’ll see the truth.”
And moments like this are exactly why I believe that.

03/27/2026

After three days of working on the pieces of this… here we are.✨
Honestly, the things horses will do for us are unbelievable.
They’ll do things that go completely against their instincts.
What I find so magical is the trust they can have in us if we give them the time. if we don’t rush or force the process.
My goal is to teach the horse to want to try.
And when they get the answer wrong, instead of shutting down, they offer something different.
That happens when a horse starts to trust that you’re going to help them find the answer
that you’re not going to put them in a bad situation.
People might think the horses laying here are okay with another horse jumping over them because we’ve just repeated it over and over.
But that’s not really it.
When I’m working these horses together, I’m protecting their space.
I’m holding boundaries for them.
Horses don’t have to love each other to work as a team
they need a leader who listens to them and sets those boundaries so they don’t have to worry about it themselves and instead will trust in you that your going to help them threw it.

Address

784 Shingle Mill Road
Sandpoint, ID
83864

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 9pm
Tuesday 8am - 9pm
Wednesday 8am - 9pm
Thursday 8am - 9pm
Friday 8am - 9pm
Saturday 8am - 9pm
Sunday 8am - 9pm

Telephone

(208) 920-0616

Website

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