Welcome to the Horsemanship With Brandy Blog

I can say very proudly that I am a turd polisher!  What is a turd polisher?  Well, if you do not know your mule’s background, if it wasn’t broke until way later in life than normal, has flaws, or look...

Amberley Snyder is a professional barrel racer from Utah.  Some of you may know her from the Netflix movie released earlier this year called Walk. Ride. Rodeo.  You see, in 2010, Amberley was ejected ...

Let’s talk about sex!  For us to have these beautiful mules for us to enjoy, horses need to be bred!

Let’s talk about the differences between artificial insemination and live coverage.  Just so we ar...

Most trainers will tell you that your mule can only go up, down, left, right, forward, or backwards.  Mules are spunky creatures and with them being all wheel drive, I am here to tell you the new and ...

First, if you are having trouble with your horse, do not be afraid to seek help from a trainer or clinician.  Do not feel like a lesser rider by wearing a helmet, and ride with others until you have o...

Meet JoJo!   He’s a Missouri Fox Trotter mule that forgot to be gaited.  JoJo belongs to myself, Brandy Von Holten.  My husband and I own a trail riding facility 14 miles SE of Sedalia, MO.  JoJo is c...

As a host, you are not going to be perfect.  As soon as you can come to terms with this inevitable truth, you will regain hours of sleep and find a peace of mind that is priceless.  Follow me through ...

Finding courage and motivation is a difficult task and gets harder and harder to find as we add candles to our birthday cake each year.  I, too, find myself doubting and fearing being made fun of or j...

There are ways to design your course for your competition to run smoothly and time efficiently.  Understanding the two major types of obstacles will help you begin designing a course that people will ...

My husband and I own and operate Von Holten Ranch, a trail riding facility in Mora, MO.  We have  hosted over 70 events a year.  When people view our life looking from the outside in, they think this ...

Life is always about the little details.  If someone remembers your birthday and sends a card, that means more than wishing you happy birthday on Facebook.  If someone makes you a cup of coffee and re...

Equifest of Kansas is a three-day expo put on yearly by the Kansas Horse Council.  It is a big deal for the equine industry in Kansas and Missouri.  Equifest is vital to our trail riding facility.  We...