WolfMoon Stables,a Subsidiary of Longshot Farms inc. | home
Trainers page
Brandee Keys, head Trainer/Instructor at Wolf Moon Stables and owner of
Long Shot Farms (producer of riding ponies/small horses and pygmy goats) is a
fourteen year veteran of the Horse Industry and has ridden and shown in various
disciplines and on various breeds of horses. Starting out as a beginner rider in the
Hunt Seat discipline, she soon branched out into Western, Saddle Seat, Jumping,
Barrels, Poles, and then later on in her career took on Dressage. She’s the first to
admit however that ten years in the show ring was quite enough, and she’s more
content now to train horses for other people to show, or to coach hopeful beginners
from the sidelines rather than actually show herself. She’s even judged a few fun
shows!
Although she began riding Arabian horses and showing in the Arabian Horse
circuit Brandee is not a one breed sort of rider and has owned, ridden, and trained
everything from Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walkers and Racking Horses to
Arabians, Saddlebreds, Welsh Cob ponies and donkies and mules. “I believe the
right horse is never the wrong color, conformation, or breed type. If a rider finds a
horse they work well with, that’s all that matters. Everything else can be learned or
figured out later.” She says in regards to questions about what is the “best” kind of
horse.
Brandee’s approach to training is one that seems harder and harder to find
in today’s aggressively specialized world of trainers – she welcomes anything and
everything under whatever discipline. “Honestly, I see no reason to pick one riding
style over another or one breed over another. Why would I want to open an all
Western stable for example? Not every rider or every horse is suited for the same
thing, so why open a riding stable that only offers one choice? Besides, we all get
bored from time to time, why not mix it up a bit? You bring me a Racking Horse
and tell me you want to do Dressage, well, we’ll do just that to the best of my ability.
After all, if it’s not fun anymore why do it at all?”
Brandee specializes in horse training and coaching beginner riders in the
basic of horsemanship. “The basics are very important. Once you get those basics
down solid it really is up to you where you want to go from there, because you just
keep building on those foundation stones until you get where you want to be.” She
says. Another thing she stresses is tolerance. “Way too often I’ve gone to breed
shows or riding stables where the riders are all talking about one another and
putting down one another’s horses based on breed or registration or whatever…and
I can tell you now this has got to stop. No matter what you choose to ride or what
style you choose to ride it in, were all horsemen deep down, so we all know how
much we love our horses and how much it hurts to hear negative things about them.
I honestly think this is why so many people get out of riding – the rivalry gets to be
too much. Really people, what can it hurt if you have an Arabian and your best
friend happens to have a Quarter Horse? Sheesh.”
Brandee is always ready and willing to help out a client or student, no matter
what the problem. “We were all beginners once so don’t be embarrassed to tell me if
you are afraid, or you are really struggling with something, that’s what I’m here
for.” She says. So if you are in the market for a laid back riding instructor for
yourself or your children, or you need a sensitive trainer for your young or simply
uneducated horse, you might want to think about giving Wolf Moon stables a try.
We encourage a positive and safe environment for one and all, and really focus on
bringing out the special bond between animal and man.
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