Get to Know
Marie Hoffman
Lifelong Horsewoman and Founder, Total Horse Method
The Beginning:
A Girl And Her Horse
While my 50+ years of working with horses would be a lot to cover at one time, I do think it’s important to go back to where it all began. That’s how every good story starts.
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Growing up, my mother trained, raised and sold Morgan horses in Illinois. I was always right there along with her. Summertime you could find me riding my mare Jingle Bells—morning, noon and night, that’s where I wanted to be.
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While I never advertised for training, over time, friends would ask if they could bring their horses to me for training. At 14, I started riding and training other people's horses—the horses kept coming for me to help.
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The rest, as they say, is history. I’ve trained well over 1,000 horses from a variety of breeds and disciplines, taught thousands of students, and continue to train horses and teach everything I’ve learned. Yes, it’s been me and horses ever since.
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That’s not to say it’s been sunshine and roses. I’ve had my share of falls and confidence-busters. I know what it’s like to be shaking when you get on a horse. When your stomach goes upside down and you’re terrified.
​And, I know what it takes to overcome that fear.
I’ve learned how to be both successful and safe with horses, and it’s my passion and life’s calling to share that with others.
The Horse Has Always Been My Teacher
As I said, it’s always been horses for me. With more than 1,000 horses trained, there are a few that have stood out over the years for teaching me lessons that have shaped my program today.
Goldy, Jingle Bells & Nicky
My first teacher was Goldy, a palomino pony that gave me confidence. My love of horses started with him as I snuck out at night to sleep with him when I was just two years old.
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Jingle Bells was my first introduction to training and showing.
Then, Nicky, a Morgan gelding I was given as a foal, was the first horse I trained from the start. I raised, showed, jumped, drove, and rode him for 24 yrs.
Dream
This 16-hand Thoroughbred jumper came to me with severe issues. It took multiple people to bridle him. Ridden, he was out of control and would jump out of any arena. He came to me for training to “fix” his behavior.
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With his size and power, there was no way to “dominate him” as was often done in typical training styles 30 years ago. That’s when I learned about TTeam (TTouch) and began to practice it on him.
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After 6 months, Dream went on to be a successful lesson horse. I became a Practitioner 2 of TTeam (TTouch) and learned the importance of understanding the horse’s nervous system and thought process.
Red
This colt came to me because he was known to be difficult and needed to be started under saddle. One day, I cantered one direction seemingly fine and when we went the other way, I was bucked off, ran over, and injured pretty badly.
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In addition to wanting to learn why he acted this way, my confidence was shaken to the core for the first time. I realized then my balance as a rider needed to improve.
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So, I studied everything I could about riding centered and balanced. Through that process of learning how much the rider is responsible for when in the saddle, I was able to successfully get Red started.
Missy
This mare taught me to truly study horse behavior, down to the breaths he or she takes (or doesn’t take).
She stood very quiet during saddling. We walked out of the barn to go to the arena. Seemingly out of nowhere, she panicked, bucking, tore off her bosal, and took off running. I knew I had to have missed something—there had to be a way she was telling me she was not okay.
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As I dug deeper into truly understanding equine body language, I was able to get Missy successfully started under saddle as well.
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Since then, I’ve committed to learning and studying the nuances of equine body language and how their minds work.
These horses sparked in me the passion to develop what has become the foundation of my Total Horse Method:
The key to overcoming fear is to first, learn to understand and read your horse; and second, to be a balanced rider.
Putting It Into Practice
Teaching others how to find the solution for themselves, how to listen to what their horse is trying to tell them through their behavior and body language, how to communicate well with their horse with their own body language, and ride in balance with awareness, has been the thread of my career for years:
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Award-winning Interscholastic Equestrian Association Team
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Riding Instructor at Northern Illinois University (Dekalb IL) for 21 Years
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Developed 2-year Equine Degree Program for Kishwaukee College (Malta IL)
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Weekly Riding Lesson Instructor & Coach for Thousands of Riders over the years.
Applying my solution-based approach to my own showing experience has earned awards as well as a unique level of trust with my students:
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Pinto National Champion, Halter - 1989
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Pinto Nationals Top 10 in Driving, Hunter Under Saddle, Halter - 1989
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First in World to Earn an AQHA Superior in Dressage - 2010
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1st in Nation in AQHA Dressage Points First Level - 2010
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3rd in Nation in AQHA Dressage Points Training Level - 2010
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7th in Nation in USEF in First level dressage - 2010
It Takes A Village
There’s always a solution; you just have to find it.
This is one of my guiding principles in life and training.
That’s why I went to every clinic I could, no matter who was teaching it. Because everyone has something to teach, and because it’s really about studying the horse.
While the horse has been my greatest teacher, I’m also grateful to have learned from many of the world’s best equine practitioners.
Ray Hunt
Horse training
Linda Tellington Jones
Horses nervous systems, how they learn, Feldenkrais for horses, TTouch (TTeam), body language of horse and human
Sally Swift
Centered riding, how to teach balance riders and be balanced myself, centered balance riding builds confidence
Wendy Murchoch
Feldenkrais for riders, developing refinement in balance and aids, SURE FOOT Equine Balance Pads
Deb Bennett
Conformation (form to function)
Jane Savoie
How to train step by step dressage from an Olympic coach
I'm so glad you're here to continue your learning for yourself and your horse.
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Let's get started!
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~ Marie Hoffman
You Can Learn to Read Horses, Too!
Taking what I have learned and taught over 50+ years, I’ve created my Total Horse Method Resource Center.
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The Total Horse Method Resource Center is a place where you can learn the method for yourself, on your own time, so that you can learn to read your horse and enjoy a safe and successful relationship with him or her.