Questions for your Horse Learning Journey

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?

The Horse's Eye Coloration & Muscles

 

Eye Line Coloration Explanation

"Blue eyed horses can have different pigment patterns and sometimes less pigment makes it easier to see their iris muscles. It’s a normal feature that you just don’t get to see very often!"

Dr. Amber Lovell DVM

Opthalmologist Specialist

 

Horse Training Tips Dear Sam: Horse Help

 

 

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

 

Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach June Livestreams

 

Did you miss Alternative Horsemanship's June Livestreams?

 

Part 1 Anticipative Assumptions- Unintentional thoughts that sabotage communication with the horse.

Part 2 Specific Communication- discussing common factors during the equine interaction that affect the specificity of communication.

https://alternativehorsemanship.locals.com

Horse Learning & Skills Tips

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.

Horse Skills Tips - Learning to Be Present

ReLearning to Be Present...

 

The rate of mental distraction and emotional chaos I see people bringing to their horse interactions nowadays seems to be increasing (at an alarming rate.)

Is Technology Help or Hurting Your Horse Learning

 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

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.

Horse Learning Help & Skills- Addressing the "frozen" moments in the Human Part 2

 Part 2- Addressing Triggers on the Horse Learning Journey

Each aspect of unpacking previous horse experiences and creating new ones based on trust and willingness is connected. Below are some of the common aspects that need to be addressed to reduce the common "frozen" experience folks have when unsure as they embark on a "new or different" way of interacting with the horse.

Methodology without a Foundation
It can become obvious for folks when they need to "walk away" from a previous training approach that is no longer aligned with their mindset. The challenge is- becoming clear on what they are now "walking toward."

Struggles on the Horsemanship Journey Part 1 by Alternative Horsemanship

Group member statement:

"It can be isolating...and I sometimes feel like an island. I struggle at times with feeling frozen in place, being afraid that I am not “enough” or don’t know enough to move forward with my geldings for fear of making mistakes and backsliding in their progress, or more importantly, breaking the trust I have been building. I am concerned that I may lack clarity at times with them because I get into that frozen space. I feel like we make progress…and then I start to question myself constantly. It’s hard not having a coach I can go to with questions and concerns. "

Tips for Your Horsemanship Journey

How often do you assess what you are bringing to the equine partnership?

Do you recognize how your mindset influences your emotions?

Or how your emotions affect the quality of communication offered to the horse?

Do you ever get frustrated with the horse's responses (or lack of) without acknowledging how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are being mirrored in the equine?

June Alternative Horsemanship Livestreams

 

Learn more HERE

Fearful, Anticipative, Spooking Horse Behavior Help

 

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