Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach Articles and Advice Blog: 2025

Ask the Horse Trainer Q & A Livestreams

Reminder upcoming livestream Q & A Register HERE. Submit Questions HERE.

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.

When we work with a horse we primarily use two forms of pressure to communicate, physical (the lead rope attached to the halter, the rein, the leg, the seat, etc.) or spatial (not touching the horse but able to influence his brain and movement.) Vocal commands are a third, less common form of pressure.

Building Confidence in the Rider

Tips for the Insecure, Anxious, Anticipative, or Timid Rider

What about building the rider's confidence for riding out?

Confidence- just because a horse is going through the motions of "doing things" and is "learning" does not mean that he is gaining confidence and feeling secure from his experiences.

June Alternative Horsemanship™ Livestream Schedule

NOTE: We've been making some changes, and you'll notice email updates on events, livestreams, courses, clinics, Newsletters, etc. will now be hosted by EmailOctopus. We just sent out the June Livestream schedule, if you missed it, check your junk folder.

June Livestream Schedule

Ask the Trainer- Q & A

This month we are changing things up! This is your opportunity to submit any groundwork or riding related questions for Sam to answer in the June Livestreams. She will attempt to answer as many questions as possible in each 25-minute session. All questions must be emailed prior to the event. Both sessions will be held over the same weekend.

SUBMIT your questions prior to Friday, June 13th at 5pm pdt.

Groundwork Q & A Livestream

Saturday, June 14th 6pm pdt

Riding Q & A Livestream

Sunday, June 15th, 6pm pdt

Horse Skills: Goal Fixation vs Clear Communication

One of the most overlooked aspects of why people and horses are having issues is because of the lack of human clarity.

Automated Blog Update Emails and Changes

Hello Blog Subscribers!

If you currently subscribe to the weekly automated Blog Updates email, this week's mailing will be the final "automated" update that you are sent from MailChimp. This service will no longer be offered, and due to their continually increasing costs for basic services, I'm switching bulk email service providers. You will start to see email notifications from me, hosted by EmailOctopus.

For the time being, if you'd like to read the latest blog posts, you can visit the BLOG directly, or use/save this link to quickly view the latest posts, (but without access to all of the blog features.)

As always, on both the in-person learning website and the Remote Horse Coach site, there are direct links to the blog.

Day 5 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

#Equi-Quality Challenge

Eliminating Self-Sabotage

Day 4 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

#Equi-Quality Challenge

Letting go of Have Tos

Day 3 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

#Equi-Quality Challenge

Day 2 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

#Equi-Quality Challenge

Day 1 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

#Equi-Quality Challenge

Day 1

People are often surprised at how much building a Quality Equine Partnership starts with themselves.

Over the past 20+ years of posting online and on social media, there's been a wide array of "key board" behaviors that I've witnessed or experienced firsthand from viewers.

Join Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach in a livestream focusing on how to recognize commonly overlooked subtle equine behaviors reflecting defensiveness.

Imbalanced Human Movement- Raising Awareness to Improve Horse Skills

The next time you head out to drive your car, sit at the dining table or at a desk in the office, stand in the elevator or move in general, I want you to check in with your physical movement and posture.

If you turn left while driving the car, do you find yourself rocking in your seat and leaning towards the left as you turn?

I frequently hear this question or am asked by students or other equine enthusiasts struggling with having a goal, direction, or unsure of what to focus on during their horse time... the answer is always the same, "Refinement." Irrelevant of if you ride for pleasure or are competitive (or if you only work with your horse from the ground,) every interaction is Opportunity for improving your and the horse's skills.

Unexpected or "All of a sudden" Horse Behaviors

I find 95% of folks misuse a round pen, whether under the guise of "exercising," lunging or teaching the horse conditioned responses.

Let's use the example of learning to face the human and be caught. So many of the videos and real life scenarios I see of folks "working" the horse in the round pen, whether they are a professional or not, are incessantly "driving" the horse's movement with flags, whips, sticks, ropes, etc.

Humans rarely acknowledge or take a moment to step back and assess all the potential ways their communication with the horse has continuously taught the animal to be defensive and distrustful. Then they get upset when the horse can no longer comply.

It should not be seen as "normal" for the horse to display any of the behaviors above.

Quality Horsemanship is a skill that must be learned, practiced, and refined- continuously.

Understanding horse behavior is a skill. As is being able to adapt in the moment to addressing and helping the individual horse.

Following some random pre-designed "Horsemanship" step 1, 2, 3 "program" or method doesn't mean there human or horse has increased clarity or quality in the interaction if there is no common language (or are fear based interactions.)

If you don't understand how to translate the horse's unwanted behaviors by breaking them down to discover the root source(s) of his concern, how could you help him work through them?

May Alternative Horsemanship™ Livestream Schedule

Learn more and Register HERE

Horse Rider Tips: Improving Balance

Horse Rider Balance

Many times folks don't realize that they are sitting crooked in the saddle. If they are off-center, they tend unintentionally to "grip" or create a brace on the side that they are less connected with the horse. This lack of centered-ness affects the communication, timing, effectiveness of an aid, and the quality of the ride.

"What should I focus on next with my horse?"

Horse behavior- Recognizing the Freeze Response

Can you recognize the Horse's Freeze response?
Check out the Remote Horse Coach video catalog to learn more about equine behavior.

Horse Skills- Common Missing Tool

"Following a Feel"

Those words had no value to me in my initial years of riding (groundwork was nonexistent.) I interacted with the horse offering unintentional, continuous tension- on the lead rope, on the rein, in my leg, etc. There was never a pause, time for mental processing, recognizing separating directing the thought from movement, adaptability in my aids or any conscious release of pressure towards the horse (other than during a jump.)

PC Jen Landis

Catching the Horse- Considerations

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series discussing Catching the Horse Considerations

Watch now HERE

Helping the Fearful Horse

Every day I get many, many messages from horse owners worldwide about animals that are displaying fearful behavior. People reach out with questions ranging from minor concern to extreme scenarios that have become dangerous for the human and equine.

I have shared my thoughts as to "what" is missing in most "rehab" scenarios or attempts of reeducating the horse to reawaken his curiosity to replace his fear. This then changes his ability to learn, and retain, which affects his future behaviors.

Horse Riding in Real Time

Riding in Real Time

During moments of unexpected or unwanted equine behavior the human often tries to understand why "it" is happening. The reality is while their brain is desperately trying to process and search for understanding the horse's behavior (often feeling like they are guessing,) they don't recognize how long they are leaving or "abandoning" the horse with their lack of communication while trying to sort their thoughts.

Has the Human become Desensitized to the Horse?

In this horse skills video in the Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series, Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach discusses raising human awareness and availability towards horse communication and behavior to diminish unwanted equine behavior. Bonus video clip of Horse Behavior Assessment Opportunity. #alternativehorsemanship #horsebehavior #dearsamhorsehelp #horse

Watch now

Alternative Horsemanship™ Horse and Health Podcast Interview

Listen or watch the Alternative Horsemanship™ interview by Anne Axell of Horse and Health Podcast addressing horse training, equine behavior, health issues, rider mindset, and so much more!

Spotify: Listen Now

YouTube: Watch Now

Detrimental Patterns in Equine Interactions

Changing the pattern in the small day-to-day interactions can be a great opportunity to safely assess Holes in your Horsemanship, refine, communicate, and build trust.

The fear of "getting it wrong" can overwhelm people into doing nothing. Avoidance is a common "tactic" with both people and horses. The mental anticipation by the human can interfere with their ability to be present for their horse, having thoughts such as:

"Last time I tried to ___________ my horse __________ and I don't want that to happen again."

"What if my horse _______, then we won't be able to _______, so I better not ________ to cause an issue."

I had some upper level Dressage horses in one of my clinic sessions yesterday. Riders were talking about how they felt they kept having to "do more" and yet were getting less response from their horses.

Some days everything may go as planned and then there are days where nothing seems to be able to be accomplished. My personality is to "will" things to happen, but it has taken a lot of years and intention to realize that wasn't going to work when it came to the horses.

Horse Skills: Tying a Rope Halter Knot

Rope Halter Typing & Fitting Tips

Most people using this type of halter are not tying the knot correctly. If incorrectly tightened, the halter slips and loosens after a short while. This can become dangerous if the bottom section gets "stuck" around the horse's jaw and he panics.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

Horse Hoof Handling Skills Livestream Replay

Taught by Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach

The focus will be on:
Assess Horse Behavior
Address Tension
Raise Body Awareness
Develop Adaptable Communication

Click the post link 🔗. Paid event. Replay will be available during the month of March.

If you miss the live event, the replay can be found in the Livestream Replay category on the Video Catalog.

Decreasing Stress: Horse Trailer Unloading Skills and Tips

The Unloading of the Horse

Here are some things I've noticed over the decades of watching horses unload.

Frequently, especially if the loading of the horse was stressful or concerning (for both human and horse,) when folks arrive somewhere they tend to want to rush when unloading and "hurry" to get the horse to the new stall or pasture.

If during prior interactions with the horse a common language of communication has been established, the equine will have the availability to "hear" and address what the handler is asking of them, irrelevant of the location.

20 Horse Health Questions every Equine Owner should be Asing

20 Horse Health Tips, Questions & Assessment

Below are some basic questions to ask in regard to your horse’s health.

I suggest keeping a horse health journal making note of diet changes, farrier care, odd behaviors, etc. It can be used as a future reference point to learn from and find what works best for the horse.

Taking pictures from both profiles, front, and rear every six months can also be a good reference.

For those who experience dramatic seasons and environmental changes and for those who have had the same horse(s) for a long time, patterns often occur out of convenience in the horse’s maintenance program.

Unwanted Horse Behavior: Eliminating the Bracy

Horse Help- Improving your Equine Communication- Eliminating the Brace

Have you ever felt the horse:

Heavy on the lead rope- "dragging" the horse around?

Loading or unloading a horse from the trailer/lorry that you couldn’t “stop” or “move him” to a different place from what he was offering?

The horse would not move out of your personal space when working from the ground?

The horse was resistant to transitions whether being worked from the ground or in the saddle?

The horse is pushing, leaning, heavy, or dragging on the bit/bridle?

When trying to turn in one direction the horse slowly “leaking” the opposite way?

When trying to ride a straight line the horse is constantly “throwing” or “locking up” his shoulder or hip towards the opposite way from which you are traveling?

Picking up the reins and feeling a general “lethargic” response from your horse?

Horse Riding Skills: Indirect vs Direct Rein- More than Mechanics

Rein usage- The Indirect vs Direct Rein Practice

What you'll need:

Chair, desk/table, string ( or something similar such as baling twine, clip-on reins, etc.), strainer/pot with two handles, something slightly heavy- box of rocks, etc.

Attach the "reins" to the handles of the pot or strainer.

Place the box or weighted object in the middle between the pot and where you are sitting- with it resting against the pot.

Sit in the chair with your forearms resting on the table, and hold the reins as you would when you ride with your thumbs up.

The pot is your horse's head. The weighted box is his neck.

Indirect rein:

Starting with your hands parallel to one another, draw the right rein in towards the "middle" (or your left).

Watch the pot's right handle over-rotate to the right and then it will start to move back towards the box.

Imagine if this was the horse; his head would be overturning towards the right and then his neck would be shortening towards his right shoulder. The pressure from his head pushing into his neck would cause a diagonal weight onto his left shoulder, causing him to compensate by moving his right hind leg up under his stomach, and stepping towards his left side to maintain balance.

Horse Training Help- Tying the Equine

In this horse learning episode of the Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series, join Alternative Horsemanship™, the Remote Horse Coach, as she delves into the critical topic of teaching the horse to tie. Discover effective techniques that educate horses in a way that builds his confidence and readiness for learning. This episode addresses the shortcomings of traditional training methods that often instill fear and teach the equine to have defensive behaviors. Gain valuable insights to enhance your horsemanship skills and create a more positive training environment.

Unwanted Horse Behavior and Sleep Deprivation

When we say "horse" the initial image in our mind is that of the horse galloping through a field, or some other majestic movement. But there's also the aspect of considering the horse's mental and emotional state, and how that will affect his ability to learn and willingness to participate with humans.

Horse Mirroring Behavior

Sharing a short video of a neighbor's horse mirroring what the client's horse I was working with was experiencing during her session. The more we raise awareness of the horse's mental and emotional state, the more relevant addressing their subtle, reasonable feedback becomes.

The Uncomfortable Topics: Money, Horses, and Future Planning

Looking at the books... The number of established, long-time equine professionals shutting down their businesses is occurring at an alarming rate. Many who are continuing to operate have taken massive income cuts in their attempt to keep prices the same for clients. Many professionals are having to work second jobs to cover horse business expenses.