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?"

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.

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.

April Livestreams Replay

 

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.

Fear Limiting our Horsemanship

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."

Horse Communication- Keeping it Simple

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.

Evolving Journey of our Horsemanship

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.