Ambassador Spotlight: Courtney Waszkiewicz
Transforming Challenging Horses with StressLess®
Courtney Waszkiewicz, an upper-level event rider based in Clarksville, Maryland, works across multiple disciplines, including dressage, show jumping, and eventing. She has always gravitated toward challenging horses: the ones that are talented but difficult, often smaller, hotter, and more reactive. For Courtney, these horses are the most rewarding, but they also require a careful approach to training and management. Over the years, she has experimented with numerous strategies to help these horses focus and perform, but it wasn’t until she discovered StressLess® Horse Supplement that she found a true solution for their mental and emotional well-being.
As someone who has never had a large budget for purchasing horses, Courtney frequently works with animals that others might pass over due to their difficulty. Among her horses were several exceptionally talented thoroughbred mares, brilliant in their athletic ability but incredibly challenging under saddle. Even with top-notch bodywork, careful veterinary care, and consistent training, she found herself hitting a wall. The horses were reactive, tense, and difficult to manage, often unable to absorb training effectively due to stress and anxiety.
Courtney’s search for a solution led her to StressLess®, which she first heard about on the John and Rick Podcast. Skeptical at first, she decided to give it a try with one particularly tense mare. Within just a couple of weeks, the difference was noticeable. The mare transitioned from a constant state of tension to a horse that was rideable, responsive, and able to focus on her training. “She was never docile or sleepy,” Courtney emphasizes, “but she was finally able to absorb what I was asking instead of reacting out of fear or anxiety.” StressLess® allowed the mare to use her thinking brain rather than her reactive brain, making training far more productive and enjoyable for both horse and rider.
Courtney draws an interesting parallel between her teaching philosophy and her equestrian experience. As a classroom teacher for sixth and seventh-grade history, she often refers to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, particularly the importance of safety. StressLess® addresses this fundamental need for horses: when they feel secure and calm, they are better able to learn, process, and perform. This insight has been transformative for Courtney’s approach to training, enabling even the most difficult horses to develop focus and confidence.
Her experience with StressLess® has also been particularly important during her return to riding after having a baby. After taking time off from riding, Courtney wanted to ensure a smooth transition back into the saddle without compromising the horses’ mental state or training progress. By keeping all her horses on StressLess® during this period, from young three-year-olds to upper-level competition horses, she was able to step back into riding with confidence, knowing that her horses were calm, focused, and ready to perform without any rodeo-like challenges.
StressLess® has become an essential part of Courtney’s training philosophy, helping her horses feel confident, relaxed, and engaged without dulling their natural energy or spirit. For talented but difficult horses, the supplement provides the mental clarity they need to succeed, creating a foundation for both safe and productive riding.
StressLess® supports horses across all disciplines and temperaments, helping them feel confident, calm, and ready to learn. The supplement is available in 30- and 60-day tubs on Amazon and can be purchased directly from us at Inspire Equine.
