When I moved from Kentucky to North Carolina with my 14-year-old Morgan gelding, Flash, I knew I was stepping into something that required more than the traditional methods I had been taught. Flash’s world had been turned upside down in a single day during a herd dispersal. Though he was halter broke, he had never been started under saddle and had no groundwork. At 14, he was far older than most “colt start” projects — and far too special to me to risk doing it the old, force-based, agenda-driven methods I had been taught in the past.

I had known Flash since he was five years old. Protecting his heart and his future mattered most to me, and I had a responsibility not just to train him, but to steward him well. I quickly realized that I didn’t just need a different technique — I needed a different foundation altogether.

The first night we arrived from KY to NC was to Michelle's ranch. Flash came off the trailer exactly like you’d expect a nervous Morgan to act; high-headed, calling, pacing, circling me repeatedly. He was crying out for leadership, and though I’ve spent my entire life around horses, especially Morgans, I wasn’t yet fully attuned to his needs. Michelle paused from roping practice and asked if we could begin his training right then. I was surprised — most give a horse days to settle. But within minutes — truly minutes — Flash was standing quietly, head lowered, a leg cocked in rest. Not shut down. Not frozen. But genuinely calm and content. If you’ve ever owned a Morgan, you know what a feat that is!

From that moment forward, everything changed. After establishing a foundation of clear, relational leadership, by his third ride we were cantering quietly around the arena. Quietly. No white eyes. No sweat-drenched exhaustion. No forced compliance. Just willingness and confidence.

In my entire career — having ridden and worked with hundreds of horses— I have never experienced transformation happen so quickly, so smoothly, and with such peace about the horse. Within six months, Flash went from completely unstarted to calmly carrying a young girl on his back. And he didn’t just tolerate it — he was confident.

Almost a year later, the fruit of that foundation speaks for itself. After a season where both my fiancé and I were sick, Flash went untouched for two months. I still wasn’t 100% but I saddled him anyway, stepped on, and we rode quietly through the woods as though the time away had never happened. That kind of retention is not accidental, but the fruit of a solid, relational foundation.

What sets Michelle apart is not a formula or a flashy method. It’s her regard for the horse. Her training is rooted in relationship, leadership, and scripture — not agenda or force. She teaches you to see the horse in front of you — to lead with clarity, authority, and compassion. Her approach reflects deeper truths and when leadership is steady and selfless, peace follows.

Flash and I were not just trained — we were set up for success. For the first time in my career, I experienced the fastest and smoothest foundational start I’ve ever seen — not through pressure, but through purposeful leadership rooted in relationship. That foundation will carry us through whatever comes next, and we were both transformed in the process.

I am profoundly grateful for the covering guidance Wisdom in the Reins™ and Michelle brings to both horse and rider, and I know you will be too.
— Jessica W.

"From fear and trauma to trust and transformation."

I got my 7-year-old Quarter Horse when he was three. He came from a reining barn and had been talked up as a potential prospect, but in reality, he was a cull. He carried a lot of trauma and bad memories from the methods he was subjected to at such a young age.

He was extremely fast, tense, flighty, and spooky. He had a tendency to buck when asked to lope because of his fear of being spurred for no reason. He was broken by techniques that simply did not work for him.

Then I worked with Michelle, and we experienced a true relational transformation. He has learned what having a relationship is like. He is a completely new horse—much like how having a relationship with Christ makes us a new creation.

I am so proud of the horse he has become. While he still has moments of fear, he is learning that he can trust his Master’s guidance and that everything will be okay. We now have a solid foundation of trust because of Wisdom in the Reins™
—Olivia H.

To love a horse is something special, but to truly bond with one is absolutely extraordinary. When I first bought my young horse, Nala, I was uneducated on how to train through love. I only knew what I had been taught, which was to force learning onto an animal. This pitted us against each other to the point where we were injured—physically and emotionally. I was terrified to ride her.

It wasn’t until I found Michelle and Wisdom in the Reins™ that we finally began to grow. We were able to have a REAL relationship for the first time—one based on the love of God, not that traditional “cowboy up” stuff. We learned to let go of past traumas. I learned how to be her guide, her teacher, and most importantly, her friend.

We progressed so much in such a short time because we truly trusted one another. We were connected through the mind and through love. If it weren’t for learning to teach horses through the Word of God, I probably would no longer be in this wonderful world of horses. This way changed everything for the better. If I hadn’t met Michelle, I would still be fighting my horse. I am eternally grateful for what she did for us.
— Lizzie F.

"I felt her—even her release."