Marah Anderton

Marah Anderton & her Paint Horse Sweet As "Candy"

My unique approach to Training Horses and Owners is to teach the Owner how to train their own horse so that that team can reach their goals and possibly not need my services any longer!

Hello, my name is Marah Anderton. I specialize in affordable On-Site or Mobile Horse Training and Instruction in multiple riding styles and breeds. I've been a Certified Farrier Since May 2015, Riding since 1992, and Training since 1998. I specialize in Training Horses from Start to Finish and Retraining Difficult or Problem Horses for Performance & Family Pleasure Riding in multiple disciplines for Youth or Amateur Riders. I have a unique approach to Training which involves active participation by the owner, rider or handler. My goal is that you will be able to understand and utilize all of the skills I teach your horse by building a strong partnership between the two of you. My Methods are based in Classical and Natural Horsemanship Concepts that are designed to help you be safe and have fun with your horse!

My fiance, Gage and I, raise our newborn son and my two beautiful daughters aged 11 and 9 years old. Gage also works with me as an Assistant Farrier. He is fantastic with the horses!

I love helping horses and people; and find that I learn new things from both frequently. I believe that I don’t know everything and I strive to continue learning so I can help more people and horses. I need all of my clients to understand that I also have an Auto Immune Disease that causes me to be very ill sometimes. I do my best to meet all of my obligations but sometimes I need to just take care of myself so that these flare ups do not last longer.

I’ve been riding primarily Arabian and Appaloosa horses since 1992 and have raised, trained and shown all of my own show horses with success. I started working at farms in 1996 cleaning stalls, handling mares, foals and stallions at breeding farms, and grooming show horses. In 1998 I apprenticed at James Maze Performance Horses and completed my apprenticeship by starting a difficult Paint Stud Colt through all Reining maneuvers and then on Cows for Cutting. I have a diversified professional background which includes working with many breeds and disciplines. I've worked with breeds ranging from Arabians to Quarter Horses and Saddlebreds to Tennessee Walkers in Huntseat, Western Pleasure, Reining, Cutting, Saddle Seat, Driving and Jumping.

Because of this experience, I am often able to ride a horse and be able to figure out what they were trained for and with what cues, as well as if they are hurting and where. I'm also very good at helping difficult horses overcome their fear, pain or prior abuse with my methods which are primarily based in Natural Horsemanship. My training program starts from the ground up. I do quite a bit of ground work before I test ride or start horses under saddle to make sure I can address fear, pain or vices from the ground first before getting on their backs. I find round penning to be a valuable tool and the safest method for wild or very aggressive horses. With more domesticated and less aggressive horses, I have learned to accomplish some of the round penning principals on just a lead or lunge line.

I have a passion for working with Rescued Horses by helping them overcome their fears, pain or prior abuses so that they can trust people again. I believe in creating a partnership with our horses based on trust and companionship. I am passionate about Rescue Horses and have two of my own. One was Neglected, the other Physically Abused. I specialize in “difficult” horses be they afraid, aggressive or pushy because I believe most horses want to be good horses. The only bad horses I've really seen were ones who were made that way by people.

I have worked for many reputable and respected trainers, from whom I’ve taken every opportunity to learn anything I can about the management, training, breeding and conformation of horses. I’ve also developed a keen eye and feel for soreness in a horse and have successfully adjusted management and training techniques to correct them before they became injuries requiring lay up.

Marah & Arabian Horse OSA Shai "Luna"

I showed in 4-H when I was younger and enjoyed it, but I don’t believe that showing is everything.

I am also passionate about the 4-H Program and about Rescuing, Rehabilitating and re-homing horses.

Marah and Saddlebred Horse Inside Edge "Rogue"

I value a happy and sound horse and have made it a priority to learn about equine behavior, conformation, anatomy, bio mechanics and soundness. I enjoy teaching and conditioning horses and riders, and helping them develop a special bond that helps them to safely succeed in reaching their goals.

My Philosophy & Mission: C.H.I.R.R.P.P.

Consistency ~ All success stems from consistency, but with horses, consistency is only fair to the horse.

Humility ~ You will never know everything when it comes to horses. I've been trying my whole life!!! And when you're ego has you feeling like you're awesome, you're horse WILL humble you if you don't keep it in check yourself!!!

Innovation ~ Creativity in problem solving. Not every horse is the same and thus not every method, technique or solution will work for every horse or rider!

Respect ~ Respect works both ways. You definitely want your horse to respect you. But this WILL NOT happen if you do not respect your horse! And you must build a bond with your horse by doing the grunt work and caring for him. Believe it or not, they do notice these things!

Reward ~ Who doesn't like a kind word or a pat on the back... you're horse is the same!!!

Patience ~ You must have the patience to be willing to learn, understand your horses issues and try new things that may or may not work.

Persistence ~ Horse Training and Riding can be frustrating! You are trying to communicate with 1,000 pounds of free will! Do not give up! Persistence should not be confused with stubbornness! If Consistency is not working, go back to Innovation!!!!

My Personal Values: W.H.H.I.

Work Ethic ~ A quote I strive to live by: "Anything worth doing is worth doing right the first time." If you're going to demand a lot from you're horse, make sure you're working just as hard.

Honesty ~ I am honest to a fault. I'm not afraid to own up to my mistakes and I strive to learn from them.

Humility ~ I once heard someone say,"I'm a full time student, part time teacher." I work hard to ensure that I'm always learning and I try and keep an open mind when it comes to new or different concepts. I do not know it all and I love to learn new things from other professionals, my horses and my clients so that I can help others. I encourage my clients to try and adopt the same concept.

Integrity ~ Always do what's right, even when no one is watching. It may not be popular, but it's honorable and it will serve you as much as it will help you serve others.

Education, Licenses & Certifications

I continue my education and knowledge by attending clinics, doing research, consulting other professionals and generally continuing my education.

My next goal is to become a Certified Centered Riding Instructor.

Graduate of Mission Farrier School - Farrier Science Certificate Graduated April 2015

CPR/AED Certified Expires 8/4/2020

Former Emergency Medical Technician

Commercial Driver's License - Class B with Passenger Endorsement Expires 3/15/2018

Professional Experience

1998-1999 Worked as a Stall Cleaner at Foxvagnen Farm formerly in Monroe, Washington. I learned a great deal from Dyan Westvang who bred Fox Trotters and taught me a great deal about genetics and how they can affect gait, color and temperament. Her small farm produced approximately five foals a year, all of which were outstanding. This experience instilled in me the concept of quality not quantity, and introduced me to the concept of Natural Horsemanship.

1999-2000: Worked as a Groom at an Arabian show and Breeding Farm, Vantage Point Farm formerly in Monroe, Washington. My duties included feeding, turning out, grooming (including show clipping, tails, braiding, etc.), lunging, preparing and cooling out horses for the head trainer. Here I learned the basics of halter training and the importance of conditioning. I was also responsible for administering medications as needed. I also garnered what I could from their breeding program and handled many stallions, mares and foals.

2000 & 2013: Apprentice Assistant Trainer at Maze Cutting Horses formerly in Sultan, Washington. My duties included feeding, cleaning stalls and starting young stock horses to be ridden by Head Trainer, James Maze. These skills included grooming, saddling, lunging and starting his young stock from ground work through reining skills in preparation for their cutting training.

2000: Groom at Carolyn Rice Quarter Horses formerly in Monroe, Washington and then Stanwood, Washington respectively. My duties included grooming, lunging and preparing horses to be ridden by the Head Trainer, Carolyn Rice.

2000-2006: Military Police/Master At Arms in the United States Navy.

2006-2007: Self-employed horse trainer in Arlington, Washington. I had six horses in training and also gave lessons to beginner and intermediate riders in Huntseat and Western Pleasure. I also sold horses and took clients to shows and we also had other events and outings such as trail rides and barn parties. I felt it was important for our stable to have a sense of community and for my clients to get to know each other and have fun! I did this until I had a bad riding accident and was unable to train for approximately one year and then took more time off to have a family.

2007-2014: 911 Call Taker, Snohomish County 911.

2015-Present: Self-Employed horse trainer and Farrier in Arlington, Washington. Offering Mobile Training, Lessons & Farrier Services.

References Available Upon Request

Community Service

1999-2002: Volunteered at Second Chance Horse Rescue Ranch owned by Teri Ferguson in Sedro Woolly, Washington. I assisted the veterinarian with handling difficult horses and offered free horse training and evaluation services. This included utilizing the vet’s evaluation and then assessing an individual horse on their response to a variety of stimuli in order to determine their previous level of training as well as to suggest what level of rider or handler would be a safe combination. Based on these recommendations, horses were adopted out to appropriate homes that were able to utilize the rehabilitated horses safely.

2015-Current: I trim, train and evaluate rescue horses on a case by case basis. Part of my evaluation involves figuring out what horses are already trained for, if they have any vices or issues, correcting them, and helping to find them suitable homes with the right level of experienced rider/owner.

Mentors

I owe my career to many people who have developed my horsemanship throughout the years.

Cutty Water of the Nordstrom's Owned Meadow Wood Farms

Wendy Hale

Leslie Henderson

Dyan Westvang of Foxvangen Farm

Buffie Demuth

Ron Palalek, *Simeon Shai+ & Gold Krugerand of Vantage Point Arabians

James Maze of James Maze Horsemanship

Carolyn Rice of Carolyn Rice Quarter Horses FB

2015: Taught by Instructor Mark J. Plumlee of Mission Farrier School, a third generation Farrier with an emphasis on Gene Ovnicek's Studies.

- Gait & Lameness Evaluation