What is Alternative Horsemanship?

Samantha Harvey discusses her riding background and education and how she developed her Alternative Horsemanship approach to help horses and horseback riders improve their equine partnership. She shares how her horse philosophy and goal are to help horse riders improve their understanding of equine behavior and communication.

Stop Ignoring the Horse's Behaviors


Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
*Dangerous and Unwanted Behaviors

Is the horse biting, kicking, pacing, weaving, bucking, fussy, hard to catch, difficult to saddle, grinding his teeth, will not stand still, or displaying other unwanted and dangerous behaviors? Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach discusses this topic and recognizes symptoms of fear, defensiveness, anticipation, and potential pain in the horse.

Am I ready to buy a horse? Horse Buying Checklist- Self Assessment- Part 1


#alternativehorsemanship #horseshopping #horsebuying Before you start horse shopping Sam shares tips to better understand what kind of horse will best be suited for your horseback riding abilities, goals, and budget. Part 2 Horse Buying Checklist: https://youtu.be/Edxrqdzd5OA WHEN HORSE AD LIES: https://youtu.be/BU0SDxd3F8Q DANGEROUS HORSES SOLD TO NAIVE BUYERS: https://youtu.be/Q7ZtLG1y4z0


Horseback riding and Horsemanship- Stop Overwhelming Yourself

 One Step at a Time

It is very easy to be overwhelmed by everything that "isn't" or is challenging, frustrating, and exhausting with the horse.

 

Horse Problems- Tacking up Assessment



Most people never consider how the horse responds to just the sight of tack or notice if there are Quality Conversations while doing so.

Each part of the interaction influences the mental reasonableness and physical softness that follows.

While the norm (often out of convenience) is to tie the horse while tacking, the degree of bother or concern a horse may have while doing so frequently is suppressed.

I suggest practicing tacking the horse without tying him. The goal is not about getting tacked up.
 
It is an Opportunity to notice how your horse feels about standing while you are moving around him.

Horse Problems- TOP 5 Unintentional Interfering Human Behaviors

Horse Problems: Interfering Human Behaviors

As folks are learning with their horse or experimenting with a new way of communicating and interacting, they can unintentionally develop intensity in their facial expression, posture, energy, and movement.
 
Without meaning to, as a person is trying to mentally understand and physically coordinate something new with the horse, the human through their own behaviors may also be conveying unintentional signals to their horse.
 
This can add to the confusion between horses and humans when attempting to change old patterns of how the interaction between them has been.

So here's a checklist for My TOP 5 Physical Assessment of yourself any time you work with your horse, but especially if you feel out of your "comfort zone."

Horse Goals vs Creating a Quality Equine Partnership



Horse Goals vs Creating Quality Equine Partnerships

It is very easy to fall into a pattern of setting goals and getting fixated on them while losing sight of assessing if there's quality during the interaction with the horse.

What does Horsemanship mean? By Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach

 Horsemanship... (my random morning thoughts)

Isn't a "thing" or a fad... it is a mindset influencing a way of being.

Equine Rehabilitation and Horse Re-education what is involved? Addressing the viral video


A recent video I posted on TikTok got over 1.1 million views in about 72 hours showing the Before and After of a horse that had arrived for "bad and dangerous behavior" issues such as biting, kicking, bucking, bolting, striking, etc. when the root cause was the amount of pain he was currently in, his past mental and physical traumas, and the strong distrust towards humans. This is a response video explaining what is involved in the way I approach equine rehabilitation and building the Horse's trust. Here's the link to the Before & After Horse Rehab video https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRaJTJ5s/

Emergency Equine Evacuation Preparedness - Are you ready?


Equine Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach address Equine Evacuation Emergency Preparedness. Too many people, especially horse owners, make no preparations, have nothing packed, and have no plan in case of an Emergency Evacuation. Have you thought about your horse's emergency evacuation options in case of fire? What will you need to keep your horse safe during evacuation? How long you'll be away? Do you have travel items for you and your horse packed? Evacuation Route driving options? Enough horse feed and water? A safe destination?

Watch the video to be as best prepared as possible to keep your horse safe and healthy.

Re Assessing Your Horse's Tack Fit


Correct tack fit is a huge factor that can influence behavioral issues, the quality of interaction, and the horse's comfort. Horses can experience changes in their body depending on the season, level of fitness, and age, potentially creating ill-fitting tack. In this video, Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship video she offers suggestions for reassessing the safety and fit of your equine partner's tack.

What is it like being a Horse Trainer? Thirty years later


Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares her unexpected journey as a horse trainer, developing equine partnerships, trauma, building trust and try, and setting the horse up for success in the human world. So much of the horse's initial training influences its future safety and well-being.

Time and Horse Improving Skills

Wonder if you're progressing with your horse? Do you feel pressured to keep up with your horse friends' accomplishments? Feeling stuck in your horse's training? In the latest Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series video Sam discusses *Time, horse skills, and how self-imposed urgencies are detrimental to the equine partnership.

What is it like being a Horse Trainer? Thirty years later


Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares her unexpected journey as a horse trainer, developing equine partnerships, trauma, building trust and try, and setting the horse up for success in the human world. So much of the horse's initial training influences its future safety and well-being.

Young Horse Education- Mental Availability vs Physical Obedience

"Just" a horse standing in front of an open gate...


When I met this two-year-old Andalusian he was bolting off, kicking, biting, and striking when led by his owner.
His answer to everything was to get big, flamboyant, and have his legs go in four different directions at the same time.
He was literally trying to climb out of the round pen the first few times I did sessions with him.
He saw no value in the human and was very defensive towards them, trying to avoid them at all costs.