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.

Horse Training Help- Tying the Equine

 

In this horse learning episode of the Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series, join Alternative Horsemanship™, the Remote Horse Coach, as she delves into the critical topic of teaching the horse to tie. Discover effective techniques that educate horses in a way that builds his confidence and readiness for learning. This episode addresses the shortcomings of traditional training methods that often instill fear and teach the equine to have defensive behaviors. Gain valuable insights to enhance your horsemanship skills and create a more positive training environment. 

Developing the Horse's Confidence

Confidence- just because a horse is going through the motions of "doing things" and is "learning" does not mean that he is gaining confidence and feeling secure 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 coerced to physically comply.

A great example is the famous "wet saddle blankets" theory. Does a horse learn better though numerous physical repetition? If the person is solely focused on the physical movement/tolerance of the horse, without assessing the quality of his mental availability- or willingness- and the softness of his movement, they may not realize that repeating something is actually making things worse for the horse and teaching him to be defensive in the future.

Horse Skills, Equine Behavior, and the Problems with Patterns

 

Patterns

What's your pattern? 

 As folks beginning the new year, it is a great time to revisit assessing one's self-awareness to recognize where perhaps unintentional interactions negatively contribute to the horse's behavior and responses. 

Horse Training: Are you teaching fear?

Horse Training Problems and Unwanted Equine Behavior. Are you teaching the horse to be fearful?

In this horse learning video Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach discusses how often in the horse training process people weaponize their groundwork creating unwanted responses in the horse.

Subscribe on Alternative Horsemanship YT to watch new Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship coaching videos.

Click the link to watch.

Horse Owners - Are you preparing your horse?

 Horses & Emergencies

Improving Horse Skills- Horse Tips by Alternative Horsemanship™

 Links of Communication 

 

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?

None of them are about the actual task. Instead, they can all reflect if there is quality, intentional, specific communication or if one lacks having the tools to present scenarios without overwhelming the horse. Each is an Opportunity to refine first engaging and directing the horse's focus, then asking for adaptable, specific, intentional movement.

Horsemanship and Doing Harm

 

There have been multiple very experienced, "well-trained" horses that have participated in recent clinics (all are obedient, but tension-filled, hypersensitive, hyper-responsive, and avoid humans if given the choice.)

 

An interesting discussion has accompanied working with them to "reawaken," re-educate, and rebuild trust, when addressing old triggers and giving them "new" clarity and quality during human interactions. This then allows for teaching relevant skills, with curiosity replacing the fear, thought replacing anticipation, and soft, intentional movement replacing tension-filled reactions.

Horse Learning- Making Changes

 Too many people tend to hurry in life and often the same applies to their horsemanship.

Horse tips & Motivation

"It is okay that you aren't the horse trainer, your horse still recognizes your efforts." 

A while back I was discussing with a long-time clinic host, the evolving journey of self-growth folks unintentionally experience as they strive to become better partners for their horses.

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?

The Horse's Maturity - Physically, Mentally & Emotionally

 Young Horse Riding & Training 

Gentle Reminder...

Although most equine enthusiasts want to do right by their horse, many people are pushed into starting to ride horses when the equine is still very young.

Detrimental Patterned Human & Horse Interactions

Changing the pattern in the small day-to-day interactions can be a great Opportunity to safely assess Holes in your Horsemanship, refine, communication, and build trust.

If there are any "holes," it can be a safe time and place to start changing up the Conversation, refining influencing thoughts, without the equine getting overwhelmed. All in preparation for future unfamiliar situations.

Horse Training Tips & Task Accomplishment

As much as the clichés are laughed at, there is usually an inkling of truth that they are based on.

The horse's behavior and responses often reflect whatever the human's current mental, emotional, and physical state is.

Will the horse's training last?

 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

Will the horses training last?

In this horse learning video, Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach  shares insight into consideration to help your horse maintain what he's learned with the trainer. Discussing overlooked aspects during the horse's training along with the horse trainer's communication and teaching the owner.

Click the link watch on the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel.

New videos are posted every Friday.

#alternativehorsemanship #RemoteHorseCoach #dearsamhorseseries #horsetraining #horse #horses

Horse help: Pressure and Release Part 2

 Pressure & Release Part 2

The reality is that many riders feel like they are begging for the horse to acknowledge them. Other folks’ approach is to “make” the horse do something through physical dominance; this fuels the horse’s defensiveness. Then there are riders who learn to work “around” the horse, limiting what they ask of them to avoid potential resistance or conflict.

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 

Supporting the Horse's "Purge"

Supporting the "Purging" horse

This question was posed by a student of mine and I thought it'd be a great way to start the week.

"During several of your training sessions with my horses, you reported that they were "purging." They were definitely different horses following this event. Could you explain what this is and how to tell when a horse is doing this.....and maybe why." Pam

Horse Behavior & Training- Links of Communication

 Links of Communication 

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?