Horse Tips - Connecting the Groundwork with the Riding

 Connecting Groundwork and Riding

One of the challenges in offering instruction is to communicate clearly with students AND horses. As I overhear, read or watch many “horse training” sessions/clinics I find that there’s a general lack of “connection” in the student’s ability to understand how the “here and now,” especially in how the quality of their ground work is, relates to their future ride.

Horsemanship: Round Pen Use

 There was an article on anti round pen usage... Here is my perspective/response: 

 I find 95% of folks misuse a round pen, whether under the guise of "exercising" or teaching conditioned responses, such as the lesser of two evils is to turn, face the human and be caught; which is a bullying tactic. 

Refining Ground Work with the Horse

Refining Ground Work with the Horse

Whenever I show up to work with a horse I go through a mental checklist assessing things such as:

• Where is the horse’s mind today?
• How is the horse looking/feeling in his postures, breathing, and movement?
• What was the feeling or energy he offered when greeting me in his pasture or stall?
• Does he seem mentally available as I ask to halter, lead, and stop at the gate?