Purpose

Catherine ‘Cat’ Fortener operates a “wholistic” horse care facility outside Louisville, Kentucky. She combines the philosophies of natural horsemanship with her background in dressage and eventing to rehabilitate compromised horses, returning them to competition and taking the healthy horse to his full bio-mechanically efficient potential. Using her knowledge of holistic equine health, nutrition, homeopathy, alternative therapies, constructive riding and proper supportive training, Cat reestablishes the balance between the physical, mental and emotional elements of the horse.

Background

Began riding in equitation at age 9
Competed in hunters, dressage, western equitation, and eventing
Graduated from Midway College with a degree in Equine Management
Establishing her own boarding and training facility in 1994.
Extensive practical employment experience:
*Instructing riding lessons

*Galloping race horses

*Schooling and conditioning event horses

In-depth studies:
*Apprenticeship with a Master Saddler in England

*Studied with a natural trim farrier

*Studied with a Natural Balance Dentist

*Studied Parelli Natural Horsemanship working through Level 3

*Currently studies dressage with Terry Wright, former senior instructor of Robert Hall (four time Olympic Dressage coach – Britain)

Affiliation with BALANCE International

Cat was led to Carol Brett and the BALANCE Organization by her horse, ‘Dixie’, who was given to her after being discharged from the vet clinic as unsound after a near fatal battle with fistulas withers from an ill fitting saddle. The mare has returned to full work and has become the ultimate teacher. Repeatedly, since her first experience with BALANCE saddles, horse after horse has demonstrated to Cat how a well fitting saddle can dramatically change a horse’s posture, quality of gaits and movement and sometimes temperament.

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