The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS, VA (VR) — Horsemanship has never been about control for Jaime Blees. It has always been about connection. As the founder of Hope Horsemanship in Warm Springs, Blees has built her career around helping horses and people develop stronger partnerships. Her experience ranges from national-level endurance competition to training wild mustangs and working with one of the rarest horse breeds in the world. Today, she is using those experiences to help individuals, families, and organizations develop healthier relationships with their horses.
Blees has competed in endurance riding for 12 years, an equestrian sport that challenges both horse and rider over long distances. Among her accomplishments are two top-10 finishes in 100-mile endurance races, events that can keep competitors on the trail for nearly 24 hours. One of her horses has also competed twice at the national championship level.
Originally from Nevada and California, Blees grew up around the wild horse herds managed by the Bureau of Land Management. That early exposure created a lifelong appreciation for America’s wild horses. She now owns and trains two BLM mustangs and says working with wild-born horses remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
In addition to operating Hope Horsemanship, Blees serves as lead trainer for the Akhal-Teke Foundation in Lexington, Virginia. The organization is dedicated to preserving the Akhal-Teke, an ancient breed known for its athletic ability and distinctive metallic sheen. Fewer than 350 Akhal-Tekes are registered in North America, making them one of the continent’s rarest horse breeds.
Through Hope Horsemanship, Blees offers clinics, guest instructor events, summer leadership camps, and private coaching opportunities. Riders from all disciplines and experience levels are welcome, whether they are looking to strengthen their skills, improve communication with their horses, or work through challenges within their partnership.
Blees encourages owners to understand what their horses are communicating rather than focusing on correcting unwanted behavior. Her approach emphasizes building trust and creating willing partnerships through consistency and respect. That philosophy has expanded beyond traditional horsemanship through GROUNDWORK, Blees’ newest program. Designed for families, organizations, and corporate teams, GROUNDWORK combines classroom instruction with hands-on experiences involving horses. No previous horse experience is required to participate, and individuals can engage at a level that feels comfortable for them.
The program is built around the belief that many of the qualities needed to develop a successful partnership with a horse are “clarity, confidence, communication, trust, and the ability to lead without relying on force.” These qualities are equally important in relationships at home, in the workplace, and throughout the community.
Blees also shares her knowledge through the Hope Horsemanship YouTube channel. The channel allows her to reach a broader audience and features more than 200 videos focused on horsemanship, leadership, and her ongoing work with horses.
“Most problems we have with any relationship aren’t solved by forcing more control,” Blees said. “They’re solved by learning to identify what we aren’t seeing about ourselves and those around us, and learning how to stop fighting and start collaborating.”
Whether she is working with an endurance horse, a wild mustang, or a group of people looking to strengthen their skills, Blees’ goal remains the same. Hope Horsemanship is based in Warm Springs and offers clinics, camps, coaching, and leadership programs centered on connection over compliance and process over outcome. Through its newest program, GROUNDWORK, those principles are now reaching more people across the community and beyond through experiential work with horses.
For more information about upcoming events, contact Jaime Blees at Jaime@HopeHorsemanship.com or 540-958-0407.
