Do you have horse behavior questions? Do you want to improve horse horse skills? Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares her horse training philosophy and coaches horseback riders of all experience levels. Offering horsemanship clinics worldwide along with distance horse coaching, instruction, and consults. Visit her horse video learning catalog offering webinars, courses, classes and more. Find her on all social media platforms #alternativehorsemanship
Dear: Sam Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Is the horse mentally present?
The Remote Horse Coach discusses tips into recognizing horse behavior during the interaction reflecting the horse's mental presence, thinking, learning and ability to retain.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
#alternativehorsemanship #RemoteHorseCoach #dearsamhorseseries #horsetraining #horse #horses #horselearning #horsecare #horsehelp #horseproblems #horsebehavior
Spooky and highly reactive horses
Beginning of the week thoughts... Someone was asking about a highly reactive Thoroughbred and how fix his spooking issues, even after he had been at a trainer for two months.
ATTN So CA folks... there will only be ONE Alternative Horsemanship Clinic this fall
Limited space. Click the link for sign-up for both Participating or Auditing registration.
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Does your horse have a hard time interacting in a herd?
In this episode, the Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey discusses how groundwork with the horse can teach the equine to learn how to think through scenarios before physical reacting. This helps give the horse skills to function successfully in a herd. Also sharing tips on common areas lacking in the horse's education, leaving him defensive toward human communication.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
New videos are posted every Friday.
Stop Overwhelming Yourself
It is very easy to become overwhelmed by everything that "isn't" or is challenging, frustrating, and exhausting with the horse.
Often horse folks have a laser focus on task accomplishment rather than assessing if they have the necessary "pieces" to fairly ask something of the horse.
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Unrealistic Horse Expectations?
Alternative Horsemanship Remote Horse Coach discusses common unrealistic time expectations during the horse's training. This episode discusses things to consider to maintain perspective on the horse learning journey to avoid creating future unwanted equine behaviors.
Subscribe to the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel for weekly videos shared every Friday.
Click the link to watch now.
Herd Dynamics
In the summer there is a continuous rotation of horses on the farm as equines arrive from all parts of the country. They stay various lengths of time, depending on their individual needs in their re-education and often rehabilitation.
One of they key aspects is herd dynamics. To be blunt, humans have "taken" the horse out of so many horses.
Supporting the "Purging" horse
.png "Alternative Horsemanship July Livestreams")
Links of Communication
What does the mounting block, walking out a gate, loading into a horse trailer, crossing over a tarp, or passing through a stream have in common?
Horse Tack Triggers
Most people never consider how the horse responds to just the sight of tack or notice if there are Quality interactions while tacking up.
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
How do I find a quality horse trainer?
Watch the latest episode on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
Click the link
#alternativehorsemanship #RemoteHorseCoach #dearsamhorseseries #horsetraining #horsetrainer #horseproblems #horsehelp #horselearning #horselessons #horses
The Illusion of "Horse Training"
One of the greatest negative contributors in the horse industry (to both the human and horse) is the misperception of "Horse Training."
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. From the seat down, there's often a shortened leg position, with an outward turned knee and toe, and a clamped hamstring and calf.
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What does Quality with the horse mean to you?
What do you consider as Success?
How
often do you connect how the horse's mind and emotions influence his
physical responses, versus fixating on containing/blocking/driving his
movement?
Where is your focus during the equine interactions?
Are you mentally present and available to acknowledge and address the horse's feedback? Without triggering his fear?
Do
you ever adapt your original goal whether temporarily, short or even
long-term, to prioritize first building trust, try, and willingness in
the horse?
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Horse Training Tips :
Are you teaching the horse Physical Compliance without engaging his mind?
Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach shares a horse video reflecting a physically compliant horse but not mentally present. Without the horse learning to think, search, and try, he will not be mentally redirectable or adaptable. Watch on the YouTube Channel
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Horse Time Mindfulness
Photo is of a very dedicated student who wore this shirt she made to an Alternative Horsemanship clinic...
1. Many people focus (and worry) about doing things "right" and don't realize their concern has affected consistent, regular breathing when anticipating or being"hopeful."
The effects include:
* rigid and delayed communication offered to the horse
*mental & physical fatigue
* limits their physical adaptability to assess and address the horse in real-time
2. Many people offer constant negative criticism towards the horse (often after he has offered an unwanted response,) rather than communicating what I call Positive Alternatives. Offering proactive communication to help the horse mentally engage and offer physical responses that he CAN do.
Always communicating after-the-fact criticism teaches the horse to be defensive toward the human communication.
ReLearning to Be Present...
Learning Horse Skills: Modern Day Trials, Tribulations, and Challenges
Discussing pros and cons of online horse learning and how technology has influenced the way we connect or are disconnected with our horses.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
New videos are posted every Friday.
Part 2- Addressing Triggers on the Horse Learning Journey
Group member statement:
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Fearful, Reactive, Spooking horse behavior
Discussing how many horse training approaches can reinforce the horse's fear. Tips and insights into building trust and try during equine interactions, creating safe and reasonable horse behavior.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel
Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach Livestream
Sunday, May 26th, 6pm pdt
Join the discussion addressing the overlooked Follow-Through aspect during the equine interaction. This helps give insight into if the horse is ready for what will next be asked of him and how "much" communication is needed for the equine to become mentally available toward human direction.
Hosted at the Alternative Horsemanship Locals Community
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Discussing the impact of human intention on equine interactions and behavior. Gain valuable insights on enhancing horse skills and improving communication with your horse.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
#alternativehorsemanship #dearsamhorseseries #horse #horsetraining #RemoteHorseCoach #Horsebehavior #horses
Attending Clinics Tips:
When to attend, why should you go, and with whom should you participate or audit?
Goal Fixation vs Clear Communication
10 Questions
One of the most overlooked aspects of why people and horses are having issues is because of the lack of human clarity.
Are you a new horse owner looking for expert advice? Or maybe you have years of horse experience but are searching for fresh insights?
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Top 10 Tips for horse owners of all levels.
Advice on horse care, training, and practical steps to strengthen the owner-horse bond. Whether building a new relationship with your equine partner or deepening an existing connection, these tips will give insight into proactively caring for your horse while prioritizing your and the horse's safety as you are learning on your horsemanship journey.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel. New videos are posted every Friday.
Ask the Trainer... Q & A
Unwanted Behaviors- Backing
"Hi, I just bought another quarter horse. When I went to check her out, 2 different people, a man and a lady got on her to ride, she too a step or two back. I got her home, tried to mount her, and she just keep backing up. I tried for about an hour to go get on her and she keeps backing up. I tried to do this in my field. She let me put the saddle on her easy and the bridle. I tried on 2 different days. I don't have a round pen, should I try to do it in the stall next just to get on and off of her a few times? Thanks for your help."
Paul
"My horse was fine...until ______"
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel. New videos are posted every Friday.
#alternativehorsemanship #RemoteHorseCoach #dearsamhorseseries #horses #horsetraining #horsetrainer #horseproblems #horsehelp #horselearning
The Three A's
Help- "I have a hard to catch horse"
There are multiple aspects in working with a difficult to catch horse that we must consider.
ATTN So CA folks! Here's the latest update on future Alternative Horsemanship Clinics -
Learn about Full Immersion, Private, Individual, Demo Clinics and more HERE!
#alternativehorsemanship #horseclinics #horses #horselearning
What does Quality with the horse mean to you?
What do you consider as Success?
How often do you consider how the horse's mind and emotions influence his physical responses, versus fixating on containing his movement?
Where is your focus, and are you mentally present and available to acknowledge and address the horse?
Are you willing to let go or adapt your original goal whether temporarily, short or even long-term, to prioritize building trust, try, and willingness in the horse?
Please click HERE to learn about the future plans and updates for Alternative Horsemanship clinics in southern CA sharing clinic options, host details, and more.
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Is the Horse Training building the horse's trust or creating a dysfunctional, fearful, anticipative equine?
Many horse enthusiasts struggle with finding the balance in how to work with the horse. In this horse learning video, Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach discusses how the human's lack of clarity in their communication can leave the horse struggling and resorting to unwanted behaviors. This episode addresses the common horse rider's problem of passively interacting with the horse diminishing his willingness and try.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
Helping the defensive horse
Watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel. New videos are posted every Friday.
Tips for the Insecure or Timid Rider
What about building the rider's confidence for riding out?
Reactive Riding
When people sit down in that saddle their brain tends to focus solely on themselves. Instead, if they treated their horse-like they were "on the same team" and told the horse what the PLAN was ahead of time, the horse would have a better chance of offering the desired response toward the rider.
One of the most misused "techniques" I have found is how people present asking the horse to move around a circle.
How often does your focus "leave" as you are nearing the end of a session with the horse? Mentally moving on to something else?
As with everything, there are many interpretations when it comes to the terminology associated with horses. I try to be clear and precise in the words that I'm offering, but there still can be a gray area in the human student's understanding. This often comes from their level of awareness, background, and unintentional anticipation/expectation of their mind "getting ahead" of wherever they are currently at with their horse.
Join Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey for the Following a Feel Livestream
Discussing the everyday, overlooked opportunities during the horse interactions that either refine the equine's mental and physical directability or unintentionally teach the horse to avoid and be defensive toward human communication.
Saturday, April 13th at 5pm pst.
Click the link to learn more
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Horse Problems, Unwanted Equine Behavior & Uncomfortable Discussions
Click the link to watch the latest episode on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.
Ponying the Horse- Continuing Quality Conversations
I find when ponying, many folks focus on getting the ponied horse to follow the movement of the ridden one. This can create mindless movement in the ponied horse and contributes to what seems to willingly compliance (as long as nothing specific is asked of him) but he is not thoughtful, mentally directable, or physically adaptable.
What intentions do you have for you and your horse? What are you doing to work towards them?
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
"Adrenaline overriding the Horse's Pain"
Discussing contributors regarding Horse Health and overlooked Soundness Issues. Sharing how the mental and emotional state of the horse creates equine behavior changes. Raising the question of the human's awareness to recognize if their goals outweigh the ability to offer empathy to acknowledge the horse's physical health.
Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel. New videos are posted every Friday.
Whether limited due to work, school, family commitments, weather, etc. I encourage people to spend any and as much Quality Time they can with the horse.
Join Alternative Horsemanship for this live stream discussing many of the common rein-handling issues riders have creating unwanted equine responses.
Saturday, March 9th, 5pm pst
Replays available
Click HERE to join the Locals Community and participate in the semi-monthly livestreams for Subscribers.
Rope Halter Typing & Fitting Tips
Most people using this type of halter are not tying the knot correctly. If incorrectly tied, the halter can slip and loosen after a short while or if there is resistance with the horse "leaning" on the lead rope.
Horse Health, Behaviors & Sleep
