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.

Horse Skills Tips

 "Letting Go" to Feel of the Horse

Learning to ride and becoming clear in the mechanics of aid usage to communicate can be a challenge in itself. It is also what a majority of folks limit their riding goals to. The experience tends to focus solely about the human feeling "success." 

But for those seeking connection, balance, and fluidity, they have to physically "let go" of any gripping, holding, bracing, making, leveraging, blocking, or constantly driving the horse with pressure.

The willingness and connected feel of the horse comes from "letting go" of containing him to feel his feedback, acknowledge it without criticism, and address it, without it becoming a fight.

The "with-you-ness" of the equine partner- where the rider feels they have options to ask anything at any time- and horse offers to willingly try without fear- comes from the human mentally "letting go" of or replacing hopeful, passive, reactive communication with having mental presence and proactive interaction with the equine.

Finding the peaceful, calm, quiet, and softness in the horse experience comes from the human "letting go" of their emotional chaos, anticipation, and distraction before they are ever in proximity to the horse.

"Letting go" of self-imposed or society's have-tos, allows for unexpected Opportunities to arise that often become some of the most valued and trust-building experiences for both the human and the horse.

Struggles on the Horsemanship Journey Part 1 by Alternative Horsemanship

Group member statement:

"It can be isolating...and I sometimes feel like an island. I struggle at times with feeling frozen in place, being afraid that I am not “enough” or don’t know enough to move forward with my geldings for fear of making mistakes and backsliding in their progress, or more importantly, breaking the trust I have been building. I am concerned that I may lack clarity at times with them because I get into that frozen space. I feel like we make progress…and then I start to question myself constantly. It’s hard not having a coach I can go to with questions and concerns. "

Improving your Horse Skills 5 Physical Assessment Opportunities

 TOP 5 Physical Assessment Opportunities

Of yourself, any time you work with your horse, but especially if you feel out of your "comfort zone."

When learning or experimenting with a new way of communicating and interacting with the horse, people can unintentionally develop intensity in their facial expression, tension in their posture, increased energy, and tight movement.