First Ride in the Saddle | Qigong, Connection & Partnership at Starr Horse Retreats

Wednesday of Week 3 in the Beyond the Saddle Holistic Clicker Training Program began in stillness and flow with morning Qigong in the pasture, aligning breath, movement, and heart coherence with the herd.

Later, students were introduced to saddles for the first time, building on weeks of trust-based groundwork, target training, and bitless communication. This moment marked a new level of partnership — translating presence and balance from the ground to the horse’s back.

At Starr Horse Retreats, every step of the journey honors the horse as a conscious partner and teacher. Riding becomes an act of listening, guided by breath, energy, and the deep bond between species.