Showing posts with label horse skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse skills. Show all posts

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 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.

Unexpected Experiences and The Human's Knee Jerk Responses - Horse Help



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.

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?

"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

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.

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."

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.

Developing a Quality Relationship with the Horse


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.

Improving Horse Skills & Refining Communication

 

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... 
 

Pressure & Horses: Human Interpretation

 



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 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.

Horse Hoof Handling Skills Livestream Replay

 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.

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?