The Resistant Horse

When the horse is...

Resistant to being caught
Constantly pulling when led
Pulls back or gets stressed when tied
Swishes his tail every time you walk behind him
Always is moving away when trying to tack him up
Steps away when trying to mount
Walks off as soon as the rider is in the saddle
Is drifting, bracing, or anticipative when ridden
Takes "a while" to load into the trailer
Might explode backward during the trailer unloading
Is "buddy" or barn "sour"
Has the same "issue" with the same scary spot repeatedly
Offers dramatic behaviors when something unexpected arises
Paws, paces, cribs, weaves, wall kicks, bites while in his enclosure
Is aggressive towards other horses or at feed time
Etc., etc., etc.

Stop Ignoring the Horse's Behaviors

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

*Dangerous and Unwanted Behaviors

Is the horse biting, kicking, pacing, weaving, bucking, fussy, hard to catch, difficult to saddle, grinding his teeth, will not stand still, or displaying other unwanted and dangerous behaviors? Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach discusses this topic and recognizes symptoms of fear, defensiveness, anticipation, and potential pain in the horse.

Horseback Rider Fear & Anxiety- What if I don't do "it" right?

What if I don't do it "right?"

Over the years of helping a variety of riders of all ages, backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences, I get asked this same question as they strive to improve their equine partnerships.
Horses have an incredible ability to recognize the human's intention whether a person is in close proximity or not.
The "story" of self-doubt in the rider/handler's head, diminishes their ability to stay present, and communicate in "real-time" with the horse.
Even if the aids are not totally clear, or the timing is slightly off, the clearer and more specific the intention, the greater chance the horse has to address what is being presented.
Experimenting, assessing, and refining understanding of the horse's response and communication is a continuously evolving journey.
Let go of the anticipation, distraction, and self-doubt. Replace it with short, specific, segmented communication with clear intent, and take time to assess the horse's feedback. This helps clarify what to address next to refine the Conversations and build trust in the equine.

Horsemanship Tools- Unintentional Weaponizing Creating Fearful Horses

 Weaponizing Horsemanship "Tools"

"It" has been called a variety of names, has multiple different styles, and in the name of imitation without understanding, so many good intentioned horse people are using "it" in a destructive, aggressive, critical manner teaching the horse fear, flee, containment, and defensiveness.

Horsemanship: Why the Release Matters

Definition of "Matter"- Something to be dealt with that needs consideration

Timing Matters

Acknowledgement of the horse trying and searching for what is being asked of him Matters 

The Equine's Feedback Matters

The Human having Empathy for what the horse is experiencing Matters

The Human addressing the horse in a manner that builds the animal's trust Matters

Every moment of the interaction Matters

Quality Commuication Matters

Photo Credit: Unknown

Mental Distractions- Opportunities for Building the Equine Partnership

 Mental Distractions- Opportunities for Building the Equine Partnership

In this session on day 3 of the six-day Oakzanita Ranch Winter Clinic Series we embraced the distractions of nearby horses, grass in the round pen, unseen movement creating sounds coming from above, as this three-year-old learned to mentally check-in with the human.

Many people get triggered by distractions and mentally go far away from the horse as they get lost in the stories or potential anticipation of what might happen. When this occurs, they are unintentionally teaching the horse that they are no longer offering support to the equine. This then teaches the horse to take over and delegate how to protect/handle himself.

I'm constantly trying to switch the words and associations that so many people have in how they avoid potentially uncomfortable situations, and instead of using the tools of clear, specific communication to help the horse mentally work through distraction and chaos to offer physically reasonable behaviors. 

Tacking up the Young Horse by Alternative Horsemanship

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares a glimpse into a session with a 5-year-old she started a few weeks back...

Horse Rider Mindset- the Journey of Improving to become better Partners

The Commitment to Change

Every year I receive hundreds of emails and phone calls from people worldwide who are at various stages in their horsemanship journey.

There is a very clear separation between those who are seeking to learn how to work with the horse versus those who are wanting to achieve fast results.

For those who choose the less popular path of raising their self -awareness, and allowing both themselves and the horse time as the relationship evolves, it can feel very isolating.

Learning to let go of distractions and be mentally available to recognize, and address the horse and what he is experiencing, can present a very steep learning curve without a support system for the human.

At times, because this less common approach is not frequently taught, the journey can feel as if one has alienated themselves from the mainstream horse world.

I want to throw open the door for fun dialogue to offer those who perhaps are experiencing, or are questioning "the system" to help equine enthusiasts realize they are not alone.

There are many individuals around the world, every day, who are prioritizing quality with the horse, and all of the struggles, emotions, questions along the sometimes unclear journey are shared by others.

Having read some of Juliette's writings of her decade-plus journey on a path moving away from her initial traditional horse education, I think she's expressed really well what many others may be feeling.

I thought it would be a great opportunity for folks to hear about her experiences and realize change is possible.

Save the date- Live On Instagram

Join me Alternative Horsemanship and Juliette Ober ( author of the Honey Suckle Faire blog and multiple articles for EquiTrekking Magazine) for the LIVE event Saturday, February 26th, 6pm MST, 8pm est.

Horses, Humans, & Pressure by the Remote Horse Coach

Horses, Humans, and Pressure

Horse Behavior Webinar: Pressure Points- Unintentional Human Communication

Pressure Points: Unintentional Human Communication Webinar

 
How to recognize when everyday interactions with the horse cause concern and tension unintentionally creating defensiveness in the horse leading to unwanted behaviors.

Click the link

http://bit.ly/HorsemanshipWebinars to register for the LIVE one-hour event 

presentation by Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey with Q & A opportunities.

Replay is available for seven days following the live event if you can't join us today.
Saturday, Feb 19th, 11am MST

Horse Communication Skills

 Hjalmar learning to "follow a feel."

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series *Avoiding Conflict with the Horse

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series 

*Avoiding Conflict with the Horse 

Many horseback riders and equine enthusiasts try to avoid anything that might bother their horse. Often by evading potentially bothersome situations, it increases the unwillingness and resistance in the horse. These unwanted scenarios add fear and defensiveness diminishing the confidence of both humans and equines. In this video, Sam shares her perspective by breaking down why avoiding conflict contributes to so many unwanted and increasingly dangerous responses in the equine partnership. 

New horse learning videos are added to the series every Friday. Subscribe to the Alternative Horsemanship Channel.

In-person Learning click HERE 

Distance Personal and Group Coaching click HERE 

165+ Horsemanship Video Catalogue click HERE

Horseback Rider Communication and Equine Behavior- the Box- Help by Alternative Horsemanship

The BOX

First and foremost I developed the concept of "the Box" because I was finding too many people wanting to be polite and kind in the communication with the horse, but were lacking specificity, boundaries, or spatial awareness.

A missing key in the Equine Partnership- Mental Directability

 Mental Directability 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series *Empathy vs. Assumptions Video

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey presents Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series 

*Empathy vs. Assumptions 

In this video, Sam discusses how many people are starting in a place of assumption with their horses. This causes humans to not recognize the potential cracks or holes in their equine's educational "foundation." This fundamental misunderstanding leads to a majority of the unwanted scenarios experienced with the horse because the handler or rider is assuming and misinterpreting many equine behaviors. 

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#Equi-Quality Challenge Day 3- Movement Reflects the Horse's Mental and Emotional State

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#Equi-Quality Challenge Day 2- Change Hands to Improve Adaptability

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#Equi-Quality Challenge Day 1: Mental Clarity before Critiquing the Horse

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#Equi-Quality Horse Challenge Improving the Equine Partnership

Join Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach in the 5-day #Equi-Quality Challenge to improve the Quality of the Equine Partnership.

Each day Sam will share a Daily Tip that you can incorporate into your horsemanship. Join her on INSTAGRAM and participate in each of the day's topics to enter to win a free 1:1 Coaching Session.

Ground Work with Horses "Following a Feel" Alternative Horsemanship

 "Following a Feel"

Those words had no value to me all the years I interacted with the horse unintentionally offering continuous tension- on the lead rope, on the rein, in my leg, etc.  There was never any true release of pressure towards the horse (other than during a jump.)