Autotelic Horsemanship
Coach Kristi
Happy Horse Happy Life
Instructor/Mentor
Autotelic Horsemanship
Autotelic Horsemanship is a way of working with horses where the process itself holds value for both horse and human. The goal is not a destination, a ribbon, or a finished behavior. The goal is the conversation.
In an autotelic partnership, the horse has reasons to participate beyond avoidance of pressure, and the human has reasons to stay curious beyond achieving an outcome. We are not rushing toward results. We are interested in how the horse feels, thinks, and responds as we move together. Difficulty is not a failure of the process. It is part of it.
This approach is built on the belief that trust is created when the horse’s experience matters as much as the human’s intention. Training goals are still present, but they are held lightly. They serve as a shared language rather than a demand. When a goal becomes more important than the quality of communication, harmony is lost.
Autotelic Horsemanship prioritizes emotional regulation, physical comfort, and clarity. It honors the horse as a thinking, feeling partner who deserves choice, context, and time. The human’s responsibility is to remain aware, adaptable, and honest, especially when things are challenging. When the process is respectful and mutually beneficial, progress becomes a natural byproduct rather than something forced.
This is horsemanship:
for those who are fascinated by the relationship itself;
for those who want their horse to want to participate;
for those who believe that a meaningful journey, shared willingly, is more valuable than any single result.
The 3 Pillars of Good Horsemanship
Coach Kristi Smith is a Legacy Instructor with Happy Horse Happy Life
View what Kristi has to offer you:
Coach Kristi Smith
I am a passionate horsemanship coach with well over 25 years experience learning, teaching and training horsemanship skills. I believe in the transformative power of the horse-human partnership and strive to help individuals find joy, growth and fulfillment in their horsemanship journey.
I have developed a deep understanding of the dynamics between horses and their human partners. My coaching approach focusing on fostering communication, trust and respect, enabling horse lovers to unlock their fullest potential and experience the satisfaction of achieving harmony with their equine counterparts.
I find immense satisfaction in guiding riders with all levels of experience. Whether you dream of mastering basic ground and riding skills or are aiming for excellence, I am here to provide guidance and support.
ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM
Happy Horse Happy Life
Linda Parelli is considered the leading female expert on horse psychology based training and mindful riding, empowering her students to be better leaders, riders and communicators with her unique approach to teaching.
She’s developed a unique goals-oriented horse training program designed to dramatically improve your relationship with your horse, your skills as a rider and your own personal goals.
What My Clients Say:
This coaching experience has been amazing and just what I needed. I reached a point with my boy, Teddy, where I felt really stuck. He felt dull and just seemed to be tuning me out all the time. I have great aspirations for the two of us and felt we would never achieve them. Literally, I sent Coach Kristi one video and she saw our issue immediately! It was amazing to me what she could see and continues to see in video clips. Also, I feel empowered to make my own plan and have a goal in each play session. Doing online coaching also keeps me accountable and I love the weekly zooms and emails. There is so much information that Coach gives to us to help us be better for our horses and as humans. Thank you so much Coach and look forward to learning so much more!”
— Erica B
“I joined Kristi's Protege Program a couple of months ago and I Love it!
I am a Parelli L4 graduate and I have recently joined Linda's Happy Horse Happy Life group which is also amazing!
I have often wished I could have someone I could reach out to when I have questions or challenging moments while coaching my own students with their horses.
Kristi is an answer to my prayers! Being in her program has allowed me the opportunity to send her video's so she can offer me the feedback that I have been desiring. I Love being a student and Kristi is an incredibly gifted coach who is helping me be a better coach and offering me more insight that I can pass along to my students. Kristi's program is well suited for anybody who wants to learn and grow as a horse person! I am impressed with her knowledge and attention to detail in every video I send her to critique.”
— Debbie S
“Kristi's no nonsense straightforward coaching is what keeps me coming back week after week. The progress Swift and I have made is due to her ability to coach me through "the ugly" and eventually progress to "the lovely." ”
— Danna AKeep in Touch
I send biweekly newsletters containing information about how you can better connect with your horse and experience harmony from your time together. Fill out the form below if you wish to receive these updates. You’ll see examples on my Blog page.
