Horse Rider Tips: Resetting Breath

 Tips for Resetting your Breathing and Releasing Tension at the Halt

Without realizing it, many riders hold their breath quite frequently when interacting with or riding the horse.

Heavy Horse Behavior Help

 It is all connected

[Photo Credit: The Equine Documentalist]

This is a great visual example of the "strings" I often talk about throughout the horse's body. The trickle-down effect of how one body part influences another, even if literally at the other end of the horse's body.

I've used the analogy of the string on a dog food bag; you start pulling one end, and the whole thing unravels.

When people tell me about a horse that is heavy on the bit, resistant in the backing, difficult to hold a canter or lope lead, etc., there are usually multiple other factors contributing to the unwanted physical behaviors.

Developing a Quality Relationship with the Horse

Every week I receive 20-30 "Ask the Trainer requests"... From unwanted trail behavior/lack of manners to groundwork issues to equipment suggestions to feeding options, etc. from around the world. People often expect a "step by step" or "cut and dry" answer. Their focus is on the unwanted physical action without considering the horse's mental or emotional status.

Improving Horse Skills & Refining Communication

 

Why are you doing "that"?...

Catching the horse that way...

Grooming the horse in that place...

Mounting on that side...

Leading on that side...

Starting the ride in that direction...

Working on that specific movement... 

 

Pressure & Horses: Human Interpretation

 

I’ve never had an “English” language conversation with a horse, but over the years I feel that I’ve found some degree of a “common language” with which I use to communicate with them. I explain to students there is no “one” way to do things, and I always tell people “take what you like, leave what you don’t” from any learning situation. I finished reading a horse blog the other day and realized that in this day and age I don’t think you can participate in any aspect of the horse world without hearing the word “pressure” in reference to communicating with the horse.

Horse Riding Tips: Letting Go of Physical Tension

 Riding Tips - Letting go of Physical Tension

A rider's physical tightness usually starts with clenched seat bones. This tension creates rigidity that travels up the spine between their shoulder blades, into their neck and shoulders, down the upper and then forearm, ending with gripping in their fingers on the reins.

Horse Skills Help- Human Anticipation

 In my recent remote coaching sessions working with students across multiple continents, the latest discussion has been about the human's anticipation and how it directly affects the horse.

A common challenge many equine enthusiasts face is struggling with the anticipation of "what will happen" when with their horse.

There is a fine line of being aware of your surroundings, and things that are occurring at the moment, but to also not fixate on these and the potential outcome.

Horse Skills: Realeasing the Grip Livestream

 

Join Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach in the March 8th, 2025, Horse Skills: Releasing the Grip Livestream. The event will focus on recognizing triggers leading to unintentional gripping by the human in unmounted and mounted scenarios. It will offer insight into re-setting one's focus and physical behaviors to change patterns in the interaction.

If you miss the LIVE event, please visit the LIVESTREAM REPLAY page to view all livestreams filmed in the current month.