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.

Day 5 #Equi-Quality Challenge with Alternative Horsemanship™

 #Equi-Quality Challenge

Eliminating Self-Sabotage

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.

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 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.

Horse Considerations... Task Fixation Haltering

 

We've talked about how the "ride" begins when you think about going for the ride, and learning to "leave" reality of daily stresses and demands behind as you show up to be with your horse.

I've mentioned the Conversation starts with how your horse approaches you to be caught, whether in a stall or pasture, which is a great time to assess his mental focus and "tells" you what you might need to address before you even catch him.

Mindful vs Mind Full Horse Interactions

 

Anticipation...in the human

 

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.

Horse Training for obedience or building skills?

 What does the mounting block, walking out a gate, loading into a horse trailer, crossing over a tarp, or passing through a stream have in common?

Horse Help : Pressure and release… Part 1

Pressure and release…

The missing language of a quality partnership Part 1

A majority of unwanted horse behavior stems from the animal responding with defensiveness towards any form of pressure. Spatial and physical are the most common types of pressure people use to communicate with horses. If there is a physical resistance and mental distrust towards pressure, this can lead to a wary partnership between horse and human.

Is the Horse Mentally Present?

Dear: Sam Horse Help Horsemanship Series

Is the horse mentally present?

The Remote Horse Coach discusses tips into recognizing horse behavior during the interaction reflecting the horse's mental presence, thinking, learning and ability to retain. 

Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.

 #alternativehorsemanship #RemoteHorseCoach #dearsamhorseseries #horsetraining #horse #horses #horselearning #horsecare #horsehelp #horseproblems #horsebehavior 

Horse Learning Help & Skills- Addressing the "frozen" moments in the Human Part 2

 Part 2- Addressing Triggers on the Horse Learning Journey

Each aspect of unpacking previous horse experiences and creating new ones based on trust and willingness is connected. Below are some of the common aspects that need to be addressed to reduce the common "frozen" experience folks have when unsure as they embark on a "new or different" way of interacting with the horse.

Methodology without a Foundation
It can become obvious for folks when they need to "walk away" from a previous training approach that is no longer aligned with their mindset. The challenge is- becoming clear on what they are now "walking toward."

Fearful, Anticipative, Spooking Horse Behavior Help

 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series 

Fearful, Reactive, Spooking horse behavior 

Discussing how many horse training approaches can reinforce the horse's fear. Tips and insights into building trust and try during equine interactions, creating safe and reasonable horse behavior.

Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel 

Human Emotions Sabotaging Equine Partnerships

I've had many comments over the years about how I seem to never lose patience with the horse during moments that for most people would trigger a rollercoaster of emotions... such as in the scenarios of when a horse:
Resists being caught
Difficult to Trailer Load
Bolts when Led
Won't stand quietly tied
Avoidant towards the farrier
Has excessive movement when tacked or mounted
Is sensitive about fly spray or bathing
Is buddy or "barn" sour

Fixing Dangerous and Unwanted Horse Behavior by Alternative Horsemanship

Horses don't just "do" that... 

What if we recognized and addressed the initial signs of concerned, fearful, or defensive equine behaviors before they erupted into things like:
Bucking
Bolting
Kicking
Spooking
"Over-reaction"
Biting
Fixating
Fleeing movement
Biting at the Air
Pawing
Jigging
Stomping
Weaving
and so many other moments that far too many riders respond to with, "Oh, he just does that, he's being a ____."

Achieve Horse Goals: Tips for Building Trust and Improving Horse Skills by the Remote Horse Coach

Improving Horse Skills: Mis Perceptions of the Halt

 Mis Perceptions of the Halt

Many humans view the halt as a physical yielding or obedient behavior. There is little or no concept of the difference between the feet not moving versus a horse mentally present, physically soft and balanced when asked to stand.

Horse Skills & Tips: Mindful vs Mind Full

Mind Full vs Mindful

For people who are new to my teaching and training theories, there are many questions, followed by a great deal of pondering and brooding as folks start to question “the way they’ve always done things” with their horses.

An introspective assessment, rather than seeking “answers” by imitating others, frequently leads people to an uncomfortable stage as revelations about themselves, their behaviors, and patterns during interactions with horses become apparent.

Empathy and Equines

Empathy + Horses = Weakness

There is a constant human imposition upon each other and horses...
Unrealistic ego-based demands without having accountability as to how a person's clarity of thoughts and intention, quality of communication, adaptability in energy, accuracy of timing, and everyday mindless interactions, are constantly "teaching" horses unwanted responses that people then criticize and chastise the equine for.

Behaviors Sabotaging the Human and Horse Partnership

What is the most common issue I see sabotaging the human & horse partnership?
Containment

I define it as:

When a person is physically trying to "stop" an unwanted equine behavior, which is usually the symptom and not the underlying "issue," without acknowledging and addressing all the constant equine communication reflecting holes in the horse's education or understanding.

Misconceptions of a Confident Horse

Just because a horse is going through the motions of "doing things" and is "learning" does not mean that he is gaining confidence and or more curiosity from his experiences.

The horse may "quietly" tolerate a situation a few or even many times before he starts to show more obvious signs of stress, insecurity, or fear about what is being presented if he is being pushed to physically comply with the task given.