Horse Learning Goals Tips and Insight by Alternative Horsemanship™

 Horse Goals and Looking ahead to New Year
A lot of people have a lot going on in their lives, and limited time with the horse. I suggest to students to get a journal (no, you will not be writing pages and pages) to "track" their equine interactions. Writing experiences, thoughts, questions (it doesn't have to be coherent to anyone but you) can often help "organize" some of the chaotic thoughts and questions one may have about their equine interactions.

Reminder- YOU don't have to "have" all the answers of "why" things are occurring. But there are many ways to increase your understanding how to "find" the root sources of unwanted experiences. Breaking things down from your observations and experiences can direct you to refine "how" you will find the knowledge you need to help the horse.

Take a few minutes to consider the following questions:
What do you struggle with in the horse learning experience?
Are there things you are avoiding doing with/asking of the horse? If so, why? Are there patterns in the interaction creating anticipation in you or the horse?
Are you focused on potential unwanted outcomes before you have started the session?
How often do you "check in" to continuously assess the horse's mental, emotional, and physical state during the interaction?
How often do you "check in" with your thoughts, emotions, tension, breathing, and balance?
How often do you see tension, distraction, chaos, fixation, anticipation, and avoidance, but try to "workaround" it to keep going toward your intended task? Do you focus on the "big" or "obvious" moments, or can you recognize the seemingly "small" displays of lack of clarity, chaos, or defensiveness?

Write down the first thoughts that come to mind in your answers- again- it doesn't have to be a "coherent" answer- you're just brainstorming. With each of your above answers, I want you to then apply these three questions:

1.) WHAT specific aspects of the equine interaction create your answer? (Use examples)

2.) Break down each "end" answer to the above- think of it as an "ingredients list" of the contributing factors leading to the current outcomes with the horse.
(Example: Unwanted outcome- the horse is heavy on the lead rope. Ingredients: how does the horse respond to pressure, is the horse able to separate mental and physical responses, can different parts of the horse's body move independently when asked, how is the energy of the human's use of the rope, how specific is the difference in asking the horse to look or to move, etc.)

3.) What "ingredients" are quality, and which ones need refinement, or maybe are missing? I find this can be a great place to "start" to make little changes in one's perspective which affects their emotions that influence their behaviors when with the horse. The more someone can recognize the specific "holes" in the interaction, the more motivated they are to seek relevant knowledge, which increases the chances of creating long-term quality changes.

Finally, take some time to write down what is most fulfilling about the equine experience. In the times you may be struggling, return to your answer. The horse learning journey is just that- an ongoing learning experience. The more we learn to appreciate wherever we are, the less self-imposed pressure we put upon ourselves, and the more available we are to be mentally present, emotionally calm, and physically adaptable to observe, acknowledge, and address the horse's feedback. This creates what I call a Conversation which is what allows for learning and retention without fear and anticipation.