Shining River Ranch
Louisburg, NC
June 13-15, 2026
You love your horse, that has never been the problem.
But sometimes, things feel harder than they should.
You might be feeling…
Like you’re missing an important piece of understanding about horses
Nervous taking your horse somewhere new
Frustrated that what you’ve been told to do doesn’t seem to help
Disconnected from the joy that horses once brought you
Tired of feeling like you have to push harder to make progress
The Happy Horse (and Rider) Camp is a small, supportive weekend designed to help you reconnect with your horse, rebuild your confidence, and remember why you fell in love with horses in the first place.
No pressure.
No judgment.
No perfection required.
Just horses, thoughtful learning, and people who understand the journey.
WHO THIS CAMP IS FOR
This camp was created especially for horse lovers who:
Feel disconnected from their horse or their confidence
Get anxious taking their horse somewhere new
Are burned out from pressure or perfectionism
Want to understand their horse better, not control them more
Love learning but want a supportive environment
It’s perfect for:
Recreational riders
Adult amateurs
Horse owners who don’t currently ride
Competitors who feel burned out
Anyone who wants a deeper relationship with their horse
The Happy Horse (and rider) Camp is different!
👇 You Get👇
Pre-camp exercises
(you can access forever)
Learning from the horse's perspective
(with science, skills, and soul)
Post-clinic support
(Follow-up Q&A call)
Supportive online community
(you can access forever)
Auditors get access to pre-clinic exercises,
the post-clinic support, and the online community too!
"Not only has Anna taught me to be a better rider, but also and most importantly, she has taught me confidence.I would recommend Anna to any level rider whether it be a beginner wanting to learn or to an advanced rider wanting to improve. I have also watched Anna take a young inexperienced horse and turned him into something amazing. Anna truly is the best."
"Anna helped my daughter's confidence and outlook so much! Don't hesitate, just do it. You won't be disappointed!"
"Anna helped me break through my riding insecurities! If you're looking for a fresh perspective and supportive learning environment, this is it."
About your clinician 😊
Calm confidence specialist
and
sticky spot decoder.
USDF Bronze Medalist • 30+ Years Professional Experience • Multi-Disciplinary Expert
I've been decoding horses and the problems humans have with them for over 30 years—first as a professional trainer in hunters, jumpers, eventing, and dressage, then as a specialist helping riders overcome their biggest challenges.
My journey began training competition horses across multiple disciplines and retraining off-track Thoroughbreds in professional training barns. I've also started and sold warmbloods of different breeding and disciplines in a professional breeding and sales operation. I found classical dressage while living in Germany and loved it, but like many riders, I've also been frustrated, stuck, and searching for better answers. That search—combined with training hundreds of horses and helping over 50 riders overcome training plateaus—led me to a more intuitive, horse-centered way of learning and teaching.
This approach gets results and keeps the joy alive, whether you're working with a sensitive OTTB, preparing for your first show, or trying to recapture the connection you once had with your horse.
This approach integrates traditional horsemanship with emerging research in equine behavior and neuroscience—creating breakthroughs that feel natural for both horse and rider. Today, I help riders make steady, sustainable progress while actually enjoying their work. My goal?
For every amateur rider to feel confident, safe, and deeply connected when they ride their horse—on their own.
This clinic is for you, if...
You want to see learning from your horse's perspective.
You are interested in the science, skills, and soul of teaching you and your horse.
You want to ride with feel, not just mimic the motions you've been taught.
You’re doing the work, but still don’t feel fully confident with your horse.
You’re open to learning in a community and supporting others like you!
This clinic may not be for you, if...
You’re looking for a quick fix without changing your approach.
You’re not open to slowing down or reflecting on your own patterns.
You expect your horse to just “obey” without listening to their feedback.
You’re unwilling to try something new unless it guarantees control.
You want high-pressure coaching instead of collaborative support.
🐎💫 If you’re ready to connect more deeply with your horse — and yourself — in a space that meets you right where you are, we’d love to have you 💛
For questions or more info about the clinic, please contact Anna at [email protected]
Spots will be limited - Reserve your spot early!
HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU GET
When You Sign Up!
Participant
Auditor
$597 | participant
Pay in Full
▶ 💙 Early Bird Special - before April 15th! Get FREE access to the online course, Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart 💙
▶ Pre-clinic exercises
▶Workbook/progress journal
▶ 2.5 days of learning and connecting.
▶ Post-clinic follow up call.
▶ Online Community -lifetime access
$597 | participant
Payment Plan
▶ 3 payments of $199 (must be completed by May 13, 2026)
▶ Pre-clinic exercises
▶Workbook/progress journal
▶ 2.5 days of learning and connecting.
▶ Post-clinic follow up call.
▶ Online Community -lifetime access
$197 | auditor
▶ Pre-clinic exercises
▶ Workbook/progress journal
▶ 2.5 days of learning and connecting.
▶ Post-clinic follow up call.
▶ Online Community -lifetime access
What Our Days Look Like
This camp is designed to feel different from a typical clinic.
There’s no pressure to perform.
No rush to “get it right.”
And no expectation that your horse needs to arrive perfect.
Instead, each day is structured to help both you and your horse settle, learn, and grow together.
We combine short teaching sessions, demonstrations, hands-on work with horses, and group reflection so you can understand what’s happening with your horse — not just follow instructions.
Day 1 – Arrive, Settle, and Begin Seeing Your Horse Differently
Saturday begins after lunch so you and your horse can arrive without rushing.
We’ll gather for a welcome meeting where you’ll receive your camp materials, meet the other riders, and share one goal you have for the weekend.
We’ll start exploring the first three Seeds of the Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart framework:
Awareness
Empathic Discipline
Relational Consistency
These ideas will give you a new lens for understanding your horse before we even begin working with them.
Then we’ll head out to the horses for a relaxed first session where you can observe, interact, and begin noticing how your horse responds to this new environment.
Before dinner we’ll come back together to reflect as a group — sharing what you noticed, what surprised you, and what questions are starting to emerge.
The day ends with a welcome dinner where everyone can relax and enjoy getting to know each other.
Day 2 – Understanding Your Horse and Building New Skills
Sunday is when we start to explore.
We’ll begin the morning with groundwork sessions, demonstrations, and interactive discussions designed to help you better understand what your horse is communicating and how to respond with clarity and calm leadership.
You’ll watch demonstrations, participate in horse-less exercises, and explore concepts that make a huge difference in how horses experience training.
After lunch, riders who feel ready may begin mounted work while others may continue groundwork depending on what is most helpful for their horse.
Throughout the day we’ll alternate between:
Working with the horses
Demonstrations and coaching
Small group discussions
Participants may also be split into smaller groups at times so everyone receives more personalized attention.
Day 3 – Integration and Individual Guidance
On our final day, we’ll focus on bringing everything together.
We’ll begin with a short discussion to reflect on what you’ve learned and what has changed in your horse over the weekend.
From there, the day will include smaller group work or individual sessions with your horse so you can receive guidance tailored specifically to your partnership.
The goal is that you leave camp not only with a calmer, more connected horse — but also with a clear understanding of how to continue developing that relationship when you return home.
What You’ll Leave With
By the end of the Happy Horse (and Rider) Camp, something will feel different.
Not because you’ve been pushed harder or overloaded with information.
But because you and your horse will have experienced something many equestrians rarely get:
Understanding.
You’ll leave with:
A calmer nervous system — for both you and your horse
You’ll learn how to recognize tension early and use simple tools to help both of you return to calm and clarity.
A deeper understanding of how horses think and learn
Instead of guessing or feeling frustrated, you’ll begin to see your horse’s behavior in a completely new way.
Practical skills you can use immediately
Groundwork, communication tools, and exercises that help you and your horse feel more confident together.
Confidence in new environments
Many horses and humans struggle when they leave home. You’ll gain tools that help both of you navigate new places with more ease.
A renewed sense of connection
The biggest change most participants experience isn’t technical.
It’s emotional.
They begin to feel like they’re truly in partnership with their horse instead of constantly trying to manage or control them.
The joy that brought you to horses in the first place
That quiet moment when your horse softens, takes a breath, and meets you with curiosity instead of tension.
That’s the feeling we’re working toward.
Because when the horse feels understood…
…and the human feels confident…
the partnership becomes something both of you want to be part of.
And that’s when you start to see the happy horse — and the happy rider.
Serving horse owners across North Carolina, Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic region. Riders frequently travel from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding areas to attend clinics at Shining River Ranch in Louisburg, NC.
Does the clinic cost include lodging for horse and rider?
No. Shining River Ranch does have a beautiful barn with big stalls for the horses that can be reserved by contacting Kelli Worley at [email protected]. Kelli also has a list of hotels and B&Bs in the area.
What if I'm a novice rider?
This clinic is designed to meet you where you are—no matter your experience level. As a novice rider, you’ll benefit from developing a stronger sense of feel, balance, and communication with your horse, setting a solid foundation for future progress.
Also, you can practice higher level concepts at any level. Whether you are on the ground or riding. We'll talk about how to break big things into small pieces you can practice anytime.
I've ridden at the upper levels, how can this clinic help me?
Even at the highest levels, mastery comes from refining the fundamentals. The more you learn about your horse, the easier it is to educate them (or future horses). None of the skills we're going to learn need to interfere with your current training. This camp is designed to help you expand you and your horse's education.
Additionally, watching lower-level riders provides a fresh perspective—reminding advanced riders of key principles they may have glossed over and offering new insights into problem-solving. Seeing how different horses and riders approach the same challenges can spark breakthroughs in your own training.
What if I'm not riding right now (or I'm not sure if I can ride my horse away from home)?
No problem! That's exactly what this camp is for. You'll learn tools to help you either start to feel confident in the saddle or just feel more confident with your horse on the ground. You don't have to ride your horse to have a great relationship 😊
What if my horse gets anxious in new environments?
You’re not alone — many horses (and humans) feel some tension when they leave home.
In fact, this camp is designed with that reality in mind.
We’ll move at a thoughtful pace and create a calm, supportive environment where horses have time to settle and adjust. Throughout the weekend, you’ll learn practical tools that help both you and your horse navigate new environments with greater confidence and less stress.
Many participants discover that simply having the right understanding and support makes a huge difference.
What if I want to attend but don’t want to bring a horse?
You are very welcome to attend as an auditor.
Many participants find it incredibly valuable to observe the sessions, ask questions, and watch the interactions between horses and humans. You’ll still gain a deeper understanding of horse behavior, communication, and the principles we’re working with throughout the weekend.
Whether you attend with a horse or without one, you’ll leave with insights and tools you can apply in your own horse life.
What should I expect at a horse camp or horsemanship clinic?
Most horse camps include educational discussions, demonstrations, hands-on learning with horses, and opportunities to ask questions. The focus is on improving the partnership between horse and human.
This camp will have all of the above with plenty of human-human exercises to help understand what our horses are feeling.
Who should attend a horsemanship clinic?
Horsemanship clinics are helpful for riders, horse owners, and horse lovers who want to better understand horse behavior, improve communication, and develop more confidence working with their horse.
Where science deepens understanding, skills move the partnership forward, and the soul of horse and human leads the way.
-Anna
