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Howdy!
 

headshot, photo by Rachel Lauren Photography

Hey there! Welcome to Surefire Horsemanship! I'm Hannah Nusbaum, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on what makes us different and why you might want to stick around. I've been in the game for over 12 years as an instructor, a serious 16 years training and starting colts, and I've been riding for a solid two decades. I've seen some stuff, still very eager and early in this industry. Learning never stops! Our training and instruction style is a blend of the traditional and the non-traditional. We're all about calming riders down, boosting their awareness of themselves and the horse, and helping them regulate themselves and their emotions. I've obtained a large amount of experience working with special needs and neurodiverse children, so I know the importance of creating a welcoming and safe environment for learning.I, as well, have learning disorders and anxiety and have found methods to help both in and out of the saddle. Our main goal is building confidence and tackling processing issues for both anxious riders and horsemen. We believe that teaching body awareness and emotional regulation are just as vital as physical comfort and riding theory. Feeling safe, emotionally as well, is key to effective learning. Our lessons offer a unique style that's been gaining some well-deserved following. It's even being taught by sports psychologists and rising gurus in the horse riding industry, the world is waking up to some different ways of doing things. We take pride in providing an approach that falls between regular skill lessons and adaptive therapeutic lessons that apply to so much more. So, expect a distinct experience that sets us apart. These are not your average lessons. Stick around long enough you'll see they look differnt for each rider. When it comes to boarding and training, I'm all about genuine and direct communication. Peace is the name of the game at my barn, and to ensure long-term harmony, I believe in being 100% transparent about expectations, policies, and boundaries. We walk the talk, my friend, we truly do. I'll be crystal clear about what I can realistically provide. You can find a ton of information and videos on my website to get a good grasp of my approach. And if you're new here, let me know how I can help you understand the barn's expectations. I'm all ears. Listen, I want to know early on if my program isn't the right fit for you, so you don't waste any time, effort, or money. We don't deal have cribbers or underweight horses here. We only have well-managed chronic conditions and horses that are showered with love. And if you've got any questions about nutrition, trust me, I've got more info than the average trainer, instructor, most feed reps and some vets. Salespeople ain't nutritionists, friend. Our horses are in top-notch condition, and if there are any issues, we handle them pronto. Speaking of nutrition, I'm all about a healthy, forage-based diet for my horses. We stay far away from shoddy feed programs because, we've seen from experience and science that they can make horses uncomfortable and harder to train. In the end, my goal is to help horses feel and perform their absolute best. And I believe that taking a holistic approach is the way to go. Good management leads to good training, which leads to some seriously good horses. I specialize in working with horses that have encountered their fair share of challenges. They may have had a rough go with a previous trainer or are displaying behaviors like rearing, bucking, bolting, or biting. My approach is all about digging into the root causes of these behaviors, whether they're genetic, physical, or psychological. I also offer colt starting and finishing services for select events. We can get them safe, with a good handle, and responding to leg. Your horse will get soft here. Now, trust me and get to know me. If you're gonna hire a professional, make sure it's someone you can trust. Research the process and the person you're sending your horse to. I'm a colt starter, but I'm not a crash test dummy. People rely on me. I enjoy working with challenging horses, but I'm cautious and do things correctly I won't take a month to get on your colt, but give me a few days if they've never been handled. We'll start with some walking and trotting, and in the next couple of weeks, we'll probably get to the canter. Although, I can't promise it'll be all smooth sailing. My long-term clients come from good old word of mouth, and I know that running a business is a delicate dance. Because what we do is different, because what we do works, we stay busy. We put the needs of the horses over the desires of the owners (although I try my best), and "Training with the Horse in Mind" is our motto. In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not just a trainer—I'm an horse manager, an equine behaviorist, who's all about equine health and wellness. That's where my focus lies: happy horses, and then happy owners. And trust me, when the students are happy and confident, it's like having a big happy family in my barn and things are copasetic. LGBTQ friendly, neurodiverse, local hilliard ohio farm. But hey, I get it, if our goals don't align, that's cool too. I'm more than happy to recommend other professionals who might be a better fit for you. So, thanks for taking the time to get to know me and Surefire Horsemanship. I hope to chat with you soon! Hannah Nusbaum

  • Weekly Mini Lesson (READ DESCRIP)

    127$
    Every month
    Lessons for children, those with sensory issues, OR boarders and established students.
     
  • Most Popular

    1x weekly Lesson Monthly Tuition

    183$
    Every month
    Monthly Tuition - charged monthly to card
     
  • 60 day access to 8 group lessons

    320$
    Every 60 days
    drop in when it works for you
     

All plans renew every 30-60 days. Single lessons available

Upcoming Events

hannah ponying off another horse
The 3 F's
Friends. Forage. Freedom.

These have always been huge parts of my program. They will receive 8-20 hours of turnout a day, or more March-November. Dec-February 2-3 days of the month maybe arena turnout, on top of lot turnout. Always forage in front of them. Allowed to socialize, or taught to in a healthy way. 

Just good horsemanship

Gimmick free, trend free, we have an aversion to popular terms but we use the language we have available, so I do natural horsemanship, troubled horse training, and work with anxious riders. We preach adaptability and staying flexible here.

Nutrition is the foundation..

I place a great emphasis on nutrition. A balanced diet of 80%+ forage, grains, and supplements. We believe that good nutrition will help maximize performance and reduce the risk of health problems like colic. I will strive to find the most affordable solutions to make sure you are able to provide the best nutrition for your horse without breaking the bank.

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I would recommend Hannah for lessons and training. The kids love Hannah's approach with lessons. She keeps it fun and educational for them, while keeping the horses best interest first priority. As far as training goes she has a patient and gentle way about her. I've seen her work with all types of horses. Always positive and gives the horse the opportunity to process on their own time. We love her and all that she has done for our family and horse!

-Megan Spradlin, student and boarder

girl hugging horses muzzle

Almost three months ago we brought our  rescue mare to Hannah, we didn’t have real high expectations to begin with. Aria came to us a total mess. Hannah has worked nothing short of a miracle. If you watch her videos of Arias progress it unbelievable how far she has come. Hannah changed her diet and taught her to be a trusting horse. We are totally blessed and fortunately to have Hannah take this massive job on. She has had such patience with my husband who basically hadn’t had time riding at all. She has taught my husband the art of riding with little lovely Patches and with Aria. Thank you so much Hannah.

-Cherie, training client

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