***Quick Note: The New York Farm was Positive Way Horsemanship LLC. The name was changed as a result of the move to Delaware. Positive Way Horsemanship was denied due to similarities with another Delaware based business.
~Marcel and Zultan at a Positive Way Play Day Event~
My experience with Passionate Way Horsemanship began with a single phone call. At my request my wife gave Kirsten a call to inquire about riding lesson as a birthday gift for me. And the rest as they would say is history.
Fast forward roughly a year and a half of taking lesson,I now own 2 Egyptian Arabians that have made Passionate Way their home. If that doesn't tell you something I don't know what will!
Working with Kirsten is like nothing you will have ever experienced. The way she teaches you the equine language is both unique yet truly easy to grasp with continued practice. Her lessons are both tremendously fun and insightful, and if you can keep yourself from getting frustrated, the breakthroughs you will achieve are incredible to say the least. You too can communicate with horses under her guidance!
I often find myself telling people that Kirsten is actually part horse or was a horse in a past life. Her understanding and knowledge of horse behavior is unrivaled. You have heard of the "horse whisperer"? He doesn't have a thing on Kirsten, in fact he could probably stand to take a few lessons at Passionate Way Horsemanship. I attribute a lot of it to her passion for horses in itself. She genuinely cares deeply for these animals and it shows in both her training and her care for them. If you spend enough time around the farm this isn't difficult to see either. You will witness it dozens of times a day as you work with her and your horse. So if your looking for a place to keep/board your horse partner, you WILL NOT find a better situation. Sure there are fancier barns, with different amenities. The Passionate Way farm is a normal horse farm with all of your "typical" amenities, but what it has that none of them have is Kirsten caring for your horse/s daily. That is a difference truly you can not put a value on. You owe it you your horse to come see for yourself.
Kirsten has help me achieve a lifelong dream that began when I was 5 years old. I'm now living that dream and it wouldn't be possible without Kirsten. She has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I will forever be grateful to my wife for making that phone call and to Kirsten for changing my life in such a Passionate Way!
~Marcel Charlesworth~
~Shayna and Koda~
When you hear Kirsten talk about horses there is no doubt that she has such a passion for them. She has such an attention to detail and even knows their thoughts, that with precise timing she can either encourage or correct the behavior BEFORE it even happens. It has been truly amazing to be able to watch, and also experience for myself what it is to communicate with horses in their language. The connection you can have is just amazing. I say it a lot, but I still don’t know why everyone doesn’t want to learn this way of doing things!
I find now when watching other trainers working with horses, that I can see things that “professionals” aren’t seeing and that could make a world of difference in that horse. I catch myself going, “Kirsten wouldn’t do that”, or “Kirsten would’ve done it this way”, or, “They should’ve waited on that horse.” Timing is huge and I now know that when I thought my horse was ignoring me or not listening, he was thinking it through and needed another minute or two to get the message to the rest of his body to do as I asked of him. Patience is key.
The care that my horse gets being boarded at Passionate Way gives me total peace of mind. He truly is getting the best care possible, and has learned better manners at the same time.
I am forever grateful for all I have learned, and continue to learn from Kirsten. If you have any question to the legitimacy of her methods, all you have to do is look for “The feedback” because the horse never lies!
~Shayna~
~Elle and Raisen~
The day I picked up the phone to call Kirsten turned out to be one of the greatest calls I ever made. I had recently moved to a new job at West Point. My horse Raisen and I had been an inseparable pair for nearly 20 years, and I was looking to find her the perfect home for her senior years in the Hudson Valley. In all honesty, I don’t even know where to start in describing how wonderful Kirsten was for both Raisen and me. In 20 years around horses, I have never met someone with the ability (and passion) to communicate with them that Kirsten has. She was able to read Raisen so closely, and went above and beyond to take that knowledge and make every moment of my sweet girl’s day the best it could possibly be. She was also a fabulous teacher for me, and even after two decades with my horse, I was able to understand and bond with Raisen on a whole new level. Kirsten’s tireless work ethic and love for the horses in her care is unparalleled, and was one of the greatest gifts Raisen and I could have received. After 4 years at West Point I moved to North Carolina to attend grad school, and made the decision to leave Raisen in Kirsten’s care while I was way. After that I made a permanent move to Chicago, and again made the choice to leave her with Kirsten. I loved Raisen with all of my heart, and although it was so difficult to be away from her, I knew that I would never find someone like Kirsten and couldn’t stand the thought of taking her away from her Hudson Valley home. Kirsten loved Raisen as much as I did, and I cannot put into words how thankful I am that we found her. Not only did I find an amazing home for my horse, but I also found a lifelong friend for myself. She is a kind and thoughtful friend, fiercely loyal, and passionate about everything that she does. I look back and recognize there is a short list of people who made a huge impact on my life, and Kirsten is most definitely one of them. ~Elle Nichols~
Truly, I don't know where to begin! I am so thankful that Passionate Way Horsemanship has entered into our lives. My daughter, Emily, was looking for a hobby- instead she found her passion.
Since the 1 1/2 years that Kirsten has been working with my daughter, I see a great difference in my girl. She is more confident, happier and just overall better grounded. Kirsten’s warm hearted manner, has given Emily the tools not only to work with horses, but a foundation in which to base relationships upon- appreciation for personal space, the ability to see and understand nonverbal cues, an understanding body language, compassion and mutual respect. Kirsten doesn’t just simply teach a child how to ride a horse. She gives them skills that go way beyond the ring.
~Janice and Emily~
~Jenna and Ritz~
I came across Passionate Way Horsemanship, Kirsten, through a mutual friend. They spoke so incredibly well of her, I knew I had to meet her. Whenever you speak with someone who has worked with Kirsten, you too will see how her way with horses leaves such an impact. I had been very apprehensive about sending my young horse, Tonga, away to training, in fear that someone would instill fear rather than trust in him. After meeting with Kirsten, I knew she would be the right “fit” for Tonga. She was very informative, if you are at all apprehensive, you can watch her work with several different horses online!
When you watch Kirsten work, it is truly amazing to see. She works to connect with each individual horse, understanding their thought process. She knows when to give time, when to try to push for more, and when they are “trying”. In return, the horse has a better understand of what you’re asking for. Throughout his three months of training, she remained patient and peaceful with him. She worked with him and I to maintain the balance I wanted, and offered helpful suggestions and aids along the way. He never lost his personality, which is something that was incredibly important to us.
While he was learning, I too had to learn, and I have continued my lessons with her. She has made learning fun and worthwhile. She takes the time to explain the methods and always lends a hand when you are struggling. Another great program Passionate Way offers are clinics. In the clinics you can either spectate or partner with a horse. She keeps the groups small, offering both one on one work and the ability to spectate others while you all attempt the same tasks. During the clinics I saw my own struggles in others, while being in a comfortable and enjoyable environment.
I am very glad I have gotten to know Kirsten. The barn is always clean, the horses are very well cared for, and she is flexible with scheduling. I always enjoy my time spent at the barn and highly recommend her to anyone and everyone!
~Jenna~
~Chloe and Stiltz~
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had an extreme passion for Horses. I was lucky enough to have the chance of meeting and working with Kirsten at the early age of 12. Fast forward 9 years, I can say that this relationship fully shaped me into the horse owner I am today. Through rain, shine or snow- Kirsten was committed to traveling early in the morning for our lesson. Each of these lessons was much more than just coaching on riding skills. They were real lessons on the connection with your horse. From day one, I felt a huge difference in my riding experience with Kirsten than I did at any other facility. As first time horse owners, me and my family all benefitted from Kirsten’s willingness to spread her knowledge. Kirsten rescued my horse Liberty, and when looking for a good home, believed that we would be a good fit. Using her intuition and extensive knowledge with horses, she customized riding plans that would help Liberty with her arthritis and expand my strengths as a rider. I couldn’t be more thankful for Liberty being brought into my life. To this day, Liberty is a happy Mare apart of a loving family consisting of our other 3 horses: Buddy, Cowboy, and Stilz. All of our horses(extremely distinct in their personality) have been touched by Kirsten. The fact that Kirsten knew exactly what would work for each of them, speaks volumes for her capabilities. She truly has a gift. Having Kirsten as a long-time mentor is something I will forever be grateful for.
~ Chloe Dupal~
I had never heard of natural horsemanship until I started taking lessons with Kirsten. It is rare to find someone who works with horses using this method of training. I was interested in learning natural horsemanship and began taking lessons with Kirsten. In addition to lessons, she was also training horses on my family's farm. From the moment you meet Kirsten, you can feel her passion and dedication towards her horses, her training, and to your experience as a rider. Natural horsemanship creates a connection between a horse and rider that you don't normally see in other methods of training. That is perhaps one of the aspects of working with Kirsten that stands out the most. She values the experience and comfort of the horses as much as she does the rider. Whether you are looking to train, board, or take lessons with your horse, you can be assured that they will be taken care of and treated with kindness and respect. You will have the opportunity to build a relationship with your horse that in my opinion, you can't get anywhere else. I have also had the pleasure of watching Kirsten give demonstrations with horses who have been trained using this natural horsemanship program and it is nothing short of amazing. The results seen proves in itself, the success of natural horsemanship and Kirsten as a trainer. She truly is the horse whisperer.
~Hillary Kalomeris ~
~Cailey and Phoenix~
“I started working with Kirsten doing Natural Horsemanship about 6 years ago and I have been working with her ever since. I was interested in learning more about working with the horse to reach a goal rather than telling the horse to do what you want it to do. I didn’t have a lot of confidence when it came to working with or riding horses when I first started and she helped me grow immensely as an equestrian and simply build a deeper respect for working with animals. I’ve bettered my confidence through working with her and I have built a better understanding of the horse’s thought process. Kirsten has a deeper love and understanding for horses than I have ever seen in other equestrians. She truly cares deeply for each horse and their individual learning process/needs. I have taken what I learned through working with Kirsten and applied it to working with my horse today and I truly believe that I have a stronger relationship with him because of it!”
~Cailey Rather~
I highly recommend Passionate Way Horsemanship to anyone who is looking to know more about horses, whether it be their own horse or if you just have an interest in horses. Passionate Way truly is a positive way of working with horses. You will learn how your horse thinks and how you can communicate with your horse in his/her own language. Kirsten Reister, owner and instructor, is a wonderful teacher and has much knowledge of horses, as she has worked with them for many years. I have watched her work with her horses and have seen with my own eyes a way of working with horses that I never knew of before. The bond she has created with her horses is amazing. I have seen her teach younger children how to work with a horse , not just to learn how to ride but starting from the ground up (the best place to start) to learn how to care for and communicate with a horse. When I was younger I used to have horses, but there is so much I missed out on from not truly understanding how a horse thinks. While I've watched Kirsten work with horses and people, I've seen a whole new world in horses. I've always loved horses and now with my eyes open because of Kirsten, I see that there's so much more to be excited about in the horse world! Thank you Kirsten, I would highly recommend you and Passionate Way to anyone who loves horses and wants to truly learn more about them!! Thank you Kirsten for all your years of learning so that others can learn through you!!
~Rhoda~
~Cosmo~ "I like how you have to make a connection with the horse before you ride the horse. Kirsten has really good ideas about how to play and connect with the horse, but it's always fun for me too."
~Luna~ "I love riding, learning and playing with the horse on the ground, and learning how to make friends with the horse before you ride. It's fun! I also love tacking and brushing Hunter."
(Cosmo is 10 and Luna is 8)
~Marly Hornik~ "Time learning and playing with Kirsten is so super positive for our children. Through her ideas and her compassionate way with horses, she continually teaches the kids how to develop their ability to make a real connection to another being, to listen deeply, to explore friendship, to be a focused leader, to find joy in caring for others, and to be patient and determined, all while playing in a safe and fun environment. They love and trust Kirsten completely, and they are free to love her horses with their whole heart. I can't recommend her highly enough."
~Marly~
~Brody~
To begin with I can't say enough about Passionate Way Horsemanship. I met Kirsten about five year ago, when I purchased my first horse. I knew nothing couldn't catch him in the paddock (spent hours playing cat and mouse) he bucked me off, I didn't know what to do (was ready to sell him after a month) then I met Kirsten she gave me the skills I needed to not give up and how to listen to my horse and for both of us to learn to trust each other. We have been thru a lot together since then, from a fracture and a year rehabilitation, to a assess, or just being a stubborn horse. When things get crazy I always remember what Kirsten told me (to start again with the basics). Now we are best friends and sole mates. Thank you so much. ~Sue~
Kirsten has been working with my daughter for several years and has been wonderful! She is a very understanding woman, with a lot of heart for what she does. Watching her help my daughter build a better relationship with her horse has truly been mesmerizing to watch and very educational. Her horses are her babies and the care that she provides is incredible. Kirsten is not only a great instructor but also a wonderful friend. She has definitely built a great program and I hope that it continues to grow! ~Tracie and Glenn Rather~
~Cathy and Ritz at a Passionate Way Play Day~
I’ve been wanting to learn positive horsemanship for a few years, especially after watching Buck’s video. I’ve wanted this for me as much as for my horse. Kirsten trained a friends colt, and in just spending 1/2 hour watching Kirsten, I knew this was my chance to learn and she was the one to teach me. I recently joined one of Kirsten's Play Days and in those few hours I learned more about a horse by observing their reaction and how to wait and provide support to ensure the reaction or behavior I was asking for. Booking more time with Passionate Way Horsemanship and Kirsten. Soon my horse “Oliver” and I will be licking our lips.
~Cathy~
~Tina~
Learning new ways to communicate and succeed in training with horses is my passion. I seek out the best teachers in the world to help me on my journey. I am happy to count Kirsten Reister and Passionate Way Horsemanship as part of that support.
Passionate Way Horsemanship is just that -it's a positive, helpful, non-judgmental environment that welcomes all participants at any level. Kirsten has a unique talent for reading horses and their humans. She has impeccable timing in her "release".
~Petina Cole - PATH Int'l Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor~
~Dawn and Spirit~
Hi. I have known Kirsten for many years now. Her dedication and love for horses and even dogs is amazing! Getting Ritz to come to the mounting block with a couple stomps... the trust and admiration from both sides puts a smile on your face! Her love of animals can Be witnessed from a glance. Sometimes people are one with the animals spirit, And Kirsten is! She truly works magic with everyone she comes in contact with.....man or animal. Thanks for being You Kirsten! Xo Dawn
If you have any questions, please contact us at: passionatewayhorsemanship@gmail.com
PASSIONATE WAY HORSEMANSHIP, LLC Location: Delmar, Delaware 19940 USA Phone: (845) 820-0339
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