When I was looking for a place to take riding lessons I called several places & was led by a trainer that couldn't help me to a couple that did horse training & lessons. She'd seen the fella and liked how he did things with horses. I ended up with that couple at their training barn for 3+years. I was like a sponge trying to make up for lost time & spent as many hours there as I could which meant many long days. They were great about letting me just be around & watch & ride with them. The fella got allot of horses that no one else would take for training but he also did western & dressage training for showing. I loved how fair he was with horses & he could ride anything. They were not into breeding except we had four stallions & sometimes they did the actual breeding at our stable. Andalusian and QH stallions. No pregnant mares or birthing at our barn. It was my second home & I loved it there. Eventually after three years I knew I had to move on & stop traveling 70 miles round trip most every day to a place 7 miles round-trip away from my home. Nice 15 horse facility. I'm starting my 3rd spring/summer at my new place & really miss the atmosphere of the old place.
I had my first experience with an abused horse at the training barn. He was a very large Tennessee Walker that was sent there as a last resort. He & I got very close & I learned allot about myself with him. He learned he could trust from me. My experiences with him are a very long emotional story that I won't go into but he's very much a part of me even though he is gone now. He changed me.

I suspect you & I have the same weather today. Cold wet windy day. It's only 45 F here & feels like 35 degrees. I didn't see Cash yesterday so I'm anxious to spend some quality time with him today even if we don't ride. I do many different things with Cash but my biggest challenge is riding with confidence. My riding goal is to trail ride & that's not in Cash's background. We are learning together~ slowly.
Enjoy!