I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with Ashley!
From day one, her expertise and dedication to both my horse Hank and I was more than I could have ever expected. She has a unique ability to tailor her training approach to fit the specific needs and goals of each horse and rider. My horse had shown remarkable progress in a short period, thanks to her knowledgeable and patient instruction.
Not only is Ashley a skilled horse trainer, but she is also an excellent communicator, always providing clear guidance and encouragement. Her passion for horses and teaching is truly inspiring. I felt more confident and connected not just with my horse in training but with the other horses I was handling way more than before.
If you're looking for a top-notch trainer who genuinely cares about your success and the well-being of your horse, look no further than Ashley. We Highly recommended her and will continue to be a client of hers for all our future needs.
Amanda A.
I just spent a lovely morning watching a groundwork clinic by Ashley Janzter of https://www.ashleyjantzerequestrianllc.org/. If I had a young horse who needed starting or an older horse with some holes, Ashley would be my chosen trainer. Everything about the way she trains is thoughtful and clear. She’s also an accomplished teacher, explaining what she’s doing and helping her students make big changes in their horses in just a few minutes. She focuses on straightness and balance in the horse. Her goal is to help the horse know what to do, rather than what NOT to do. That distinction is important. It makes for a positive training environment. Instead of the horse hearing, “Don’t do that! Don’t be there. Don’t, don’t, don’t … ” the horse hears, “You can stand over there,” “You can move if you need,” “You can look at what’s scary." "I’ll help you navigate the situation.”
She also doesn’t force the issue when a horse is anxious and heading over threshold. She brings him back to a level where he can be successful rather than trying to force him through to whatever her original goal might have been. I loved when she noted that pushing a horse through something scary is an ego-move for the trainer. It might bolster the trainer’s ego, but even if the horse makes it through to the other side, the trust is gone.
One perfect example was a horse called Roper. A ranch horse who allegedly had done it all, Roper arrived at his new owner’s place totally shut down. His go-to when afraid is to freeze, and then panic. When his owner tried to ask him to move on the line to the right, Roper blocked him repeatedly and even dangerously in his desire not to have a person on that side. Ashley demonstrated beautifully how to help Roper become more comfortable with people in his right eye. She never forced the issue. She asked him to “open the door,” by turning his head so it would be easy for her to go down his right side. When he said no, she led him forward with her in front, moving herself slightly to the right -- and at the same time demonstrating why it’s important to be able to lead a horse from the front as well as the side. When she gently asked again, and he “opened the door” by barely tipping his head to the left, she stepped forward, gently rubbed his neck and immediately stepped back and away. Her timing was exquisite. Many trainers might have immediately asked him to go off in a circle to the right after his willingness to try, risking his defenses coming up and thus canceling out any gains. Ashley was willing to take what Roper offered, to see his progress, and to stop on a high note, which allowed his owner to be able to be on his right. Roper ended the session relaxed and one step closer to trusting that he wasn’t going to pushed beyond what he could do at any given moment.
She also did impressive work with a two-year-old who came off the trailer high-headed and anxious, and in just a few minutes was calm and curious (see photo).
And if you need a trainer or coach who'll help you develop a deeper relationship with your horse, Ashley's the person to call.
Shannon Hopkins from Balanced Equine Energy with Shannon
I had the opportunity to study with [Ashley] this fall and her approach to working with individuals really stood out. She focuses on fine-tuning and sharpening foundational horsemanship skills, which truly are the building blocks for everything & appropriate for both unstarted horses or ones going well under saddle.
Dana C.
Frank and I met Ashley at Franks’ first outing. It was not going very well. Frank was extremely overwhelmed and tense. I tried everything in my toolbox but nothing was working for us. I was beginning to loose faith in myself and my ability to make Frank’s first show a positive experience, but Ashley swooped in just in time to save us. She was generous enough to spend time out of her day and help us even though she was showing a horse herself. She reminded me of what was important - having fun with my horse - not the people who were watching Frank have meltdowns, and not the expectations I had coming into this. She also helped Frank take his first deep breaths since arriving at the show grounds. I had not seen him blink or lick and chew the entire time we’d been there, and it was such a relief to me to see him finally relaxing.
After that first breakthrough, everything felt more manageable and Ashley worked with me to continue the improvements throughout the weekend. After accepting that I might not get on him at all, I ended up being able to ride him on the last day. It was the perfect end to a rollercoaster weekend. I kept up lessons with Ashley after that, and we worked on numerous things at home that immensely strengthened the bond between Frank and I. It was such a rewarding experience.
Recently, Frank and I journeyed to his second ever show, and it was a complete night and day difference. He acted like a seasoned pro the entire weekend and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results I’ve had after working with Ashley and it was a fantastic reminder that it’s always a good time to step back and work on your relationship with your horse — it will probably help in more ways than you’d realize.
Amelia S.