Sisters area ranch has new horse trainer

Eagle Bear Ranch, a horse-hotel and boarding facility just outside of Sisters, is set to expand its offerings with the addition of trainer, Mark Blanchard.

The fifth-generation Coloradan and dressage trainer was looking for a change when he stopped in at Eagle Bear to board his horse for a few days last year. The Northwest interested him and conversations with Eagle Bear owner, T.K. Schnell, made him believe that he would be a good fit at the ranch.

Schnell has been a follower of natural horsemanship for many years and was open to including a trainer’s services at the ranch. Blanchard’s dressage training style includes strong elements of natural horsemanship. He seeks to develop what he terms sympathetic communication between a horse and rider, allowing a horse to be comfortable in a variety of disciplines and environments.

“The type of saddle doesn’t matter as much as teaching the essentials of balance,” he said.

He defines physical balance as a horse holding its weight evenly over all four feet. He also added that mental, emotional and spiritual balance factor into achieving the physical.

One of the foundation principles of natural horsemanship is the establishment of a trust relationship between horse and handler. Horses, being prey animals, are naturally sensitive to their physical and emotional environments. If a handler is tense, a horse may soon follow suit. Teaching his students to be aware of the empathetic aspects of their relationships with horses is Blanchard’s starting point.

His program includes ground and in-hand work and he prefers to have the rider involved in the training. He’s discovered that many “problem” horses actually have problems of miscommunication with their riders. Working with both usually solves that, he said.

Blanchard is available for private or group lessons. “Group lessons can be very dynamic,” he said. “I’ll do clinics also, and I can see some groups developing into performing quadrilles and such.”

Horses may be brought to Eagle Bear or for a limited time he is available to travel to a client’s facility.

For more information, call 504-1234.