The Farm

Edensgate Farm offers boarding, owner-inclusive training and horsemanship instruction in a tranquil setting in the Skykomish River Valley only minutes away from downtown Monroe, WA.

This quiet, family-run facility is owned by Julie Boulter. One of her passions is sustainable horsekeeping — balancing the care of safe and happy horses with good stewardship of her property and the greater environment.  Her family supports her in this endeavor and works alongside her to provide individualized, quality care for the horses at the farm.

When teaching, Julie’s goal is to help create harmony between horse and human.  This is achieved through a combination of  leadership, clear communication, relaxation, and mutual respect – all seen from the horse’s perspective. Although Julie’s background was in three-day eventing she is now a student of both French classical dressage and natural horsemanship – Julie prefers to call this “horsemanship from the horse’s perspective.  Her experience includes working with horses with psychological, behavioral, and training issues.  She welcomes anyone wanting to improve their relationship with their horse, including first-time horse owners and beginners as well as students who are more advanced.

Julie has been actively involved in the horse rescue community since 2005. Throughout 2008 she fostered and trained several horses for Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE) and in addition has several rescues of her own.

Julie Boulter

Beginnings

I started my journey with horses at age nine when I learned how to ride on the U.S. Cavalry horses at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. My journey then took me to California where I had the privilege of training with equestrian and renowned polo player, Sue Sally Hale.

My great passions as a teenager were three-day eventing and spending time with my horse Fibber trail riding, taking him swimming in the Carmel River, and as an instructor, watching him teach children how to ride. I also participated in local hunter-jumper shows, learned how to play polo, and started several horses for friends and clients.

This was also the time when I had my first “taste” of dressage. I was taking lessons with my second horse, Rumour, and experienced the feel of a horse doing an extended trot – who would have thought a horse could float on air…!

Reconnecting

After a break from horses for college, a move to England, raising a family, and starting a career in Nutrition and Dietetics I reconnected with my “horsey” past and started going on “hacks” in the English countryside.

This is also when I had my second “taste” of dressage. I was taking a lesson and experienced what it was like to ride a relaxed horse moving forward with impulsion – the springy trot and swinging back … at that point in my riding career it was an accident but from then on, my goal was to feel that again someday…

Continuing the Journey

Since then I have immersed myself in classical dressage and even more importantly I have discovered how to see things from the horse’s perspective.  I have also rediscovered my enjoyment for teaching others about my passion. So now having learned how to have a better, safer, more harmonious relationship with my horses I continue my journey with them and want to share that with other people.

I have been actively involved in the horse rescue community since 2005. In January of 2008 I became a foster home for Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE). In addition to providing a temporary home for several foster horses, I had the priviledge to provide training for them, according to their individual needs.

My background in teaching includes working as a college lecturer in Nutrition and Food Microbiology, Community Dietitian, and Senior Dietitian for a Brain Injury unit.  I have also had the opportunity to teach via the media – newspaper, radio, and television.  Teaching assistant, preschool teacher, riding instructor – I love to teach!

As well as being an avid reader, I regularly participate in clinics including those of Jon Ensign and Henrik Johanssen.  I have audited clinics, expos, demos, and seminars with Buck Brannaman, Gerd Heuschmann, Ken McNabb, Dr. Robert Miller, Dennis Reis, Peter Campbell, Clinton Anderson, Conrad Schumacher, Eitan Beth Halachmy, Hilda Gurney, and Andreas Hausberger.

My greatest teachers, though, have been the horses whose paths I have had the fortune to cross.