What if we allowed the horse and ourselves the Opportunities of creating Quality Conversations without society-based "have tos..." What might the interaction look like then?
Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach teaches horse behavior, horse training, and coaches horseback riders of all experience levels. Offering horsemanship clinics worldwide, distance horse coaching instruction, horse video learning catalog, equine consultations, equine re-education and rehabilitation, colt starting, and lessons. Follow her #alternativehorsemanship on all social media platforms.
Showing posts with label remote horse coach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label remote horse coach. Show all posts
Considering the Horse: Assessing the fearful and abused horse
She's 2 years old and came out of a very bad situation. She's had about 6 months off to just be a horse and gain weight. Her current owner has been unsuccessful in perking the mare's curiosity to participate to any degree with the human.
I see far too many scenarios where a horse already is fearful and reactive, and people are continuously adding pressure in a manner that is challenging to the horse.
These are the type of horses who will climb the fence and are seemingly unable to literally see what is in front of them when extreme flight emotions are triggered. If I approach working with her in a "have to" or "make her" manner, there will be no success and I will reinforce what she's already experienced about the human.
The goal is not about getting her close to me but rather reawakening her curiosity which will replace her fear, which then diminishes the flee and instead she can offer thoughtful, reasonable behavior.
I will be filming much of our sessions together and creating a course on my Remote Horse Coach video catalog site for those interested in this aspect of horsemanship.
Considering the Horse: Movement by Alternative Horsemanship
Considering the Horse: Movement
(Sound on)
The pinto is 25 and semi-retired. The roan is nearing 20 and had a history of physical trauma.
Different horses have different requirements and as they age the interaction needs to be adapted.
Replay the video a few times to practice "seeing"- balance using the head and neck, engagement of hindquarters, lifting in of spine, pressure, and absorption in fetlock area, etc.
The more you understand about the horse's movement, the better you can't recognize and decipher root causes vs symptoms of unwanted physical maneuvers.
Horse Conversations: Building Trust in the Fearful and Traumatized Equine
A Glimpse into helping the Horse by Alternative Horsemanship
Someone recently said, "Sam I love the word you use but I don't understand them. You mention things like Conversation, being mentally available, and searching. What does that mean when you're interacting with the horse?"
Then I came across this video footage of a severe case from a horse that arrived for help last year. You couldn't get near her, touch her, she was incredibly head shy, and had a lot of PTSD from her previous human experiences. Her bad had massive scarring from a violent past. She'd been sold via video as a Beginner Safe Horse.
This video shares a glimpse into one of the first few sessions with her. It is an example of what a Conversation with the horse can look like, the shift of when they start to become mentally available to acknowledge the human, and what searching can look like.
Horse Problems: Bucking, Biting, and Bolting - Fixing the Source not the Symptom
He appeared to his owner to have bucking, bolting, rearing, biting, and other unwanted behaviors. The reality was there were a lot of factors and contributors leading to his current dangerous behavior. This video shares how addressing the horse's mental, emotional, and physical state can help rehabilitate the once seemingly dangerous and overwhelming equine.
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series *The Disinterested Horse
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
*The Disinterested Horse
Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach discusses the topic of the disinterested horse and the factors that are leading to the unwanted behaviors. Subscribe to the Alternative Horsemanship YouTube Channel to watch new weekly videos.
Horseback Riding Lesson- Starting with a new Instructor
I've had an influx of new students lately and although folks sign up thinking they are coming for "horse" lessons... there really is a whole lot more that will be addressed.
Horsemanship: Misconceptions of the Circle by the Remote Horse Coach
Misconceptions of a Circle
One of the most misused "techniques" I have found is how people present asking the horse to move around a circle.
Whether it is for lunging, groundwork, riding one, or otherwise, rarely have I witnessed horses thinking and traveling around a circle in an intentional, soft manner.
Often there is a degree of "driving" energy from the human, along with containment via the lead rope, lunge line, reins, the rider's outside leg, etc.
One of the most misused "techniques" I have found is how people present asking the horse to move around a circle.
Whether it is for lunging, groundwork, riding one, or otherwise, rarely have I witnessed horses thinking and traveling around a circle in an intentional, soft manner.
Often there is a degree of "driving" energy from the human, along with containment via the lead rope, lunge line, reins, the rider's outside leg, etc.
Horse Rider Mindset Hints by Alternative Horsemanship
What ifs...
Yeah, but I want to...
In peeling back the layers of why things fall apart, there is an imbalance of blaming the horse versus human self-observation and awareness.
Rarely is it popular to discuss how much the human mind and emotions can delegate how the horse interaction occurs.
Horses, Words, and Emotions
I think it's interesting how often opinions or perspectives, whether it's within the horse world or outside of it, can be massive emotional triggers.
Horsemanship- Reviewing the Release by The Remote Horse Coach
Reviewing The Release
As with everything, there are many interpretations when it comes to terminology associated with horses. I try to be clear and precise in the words that I'm offering, but there still can be a gray area in the human student's understanding. This often comes from their level of awareness, background, and unintentional anticipation/expectation of their mind "getting ahead" of wherever they are currently at with their horse.
As with everything, there are many interpretations when it comes to terminology associated with horses. I try to be clear and precise in the words that I'm offering, but there still can be a gray area in the human student's understanding. This often comes from their level of awareness, background, and unintentional anticipation/expectation of their mind "getting ahead" of wherever they are currently at with their horse.
Horseback Rider Awareness by the Remote Horse Coach
Self-awareness- A Crucial Factor
The next time you're with your horse, ask yourself...
Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series *Allowing ourselves Permission
*Allowing Ourselves Permission
Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach addresses the realities of needing to give Ourselves Permission on the learning journey of horsemanship.
Spring Time Safety and Prep Checklist for the Horse Enthusiast
Spring Horse Preparations
Every spring after cold, dark winter folks starts getting excited at the prospect of the upcoming riding season. For most people in the inland northwest, there is a major decrease in the amount of ride/horse time during the winter months. Below are some ideas to help safely get you back in the saddle!
Horseback Riding- Preparing for the Spring Season
Preparing for Spring Riding Season
Looking ahead to the upcoming riding season, whether you ride for pleasure or are a competitor, you can strive to offer a supportive partnership towards your horse. I will touch on two concepts that you can start considering, without even having to battle the outdoor winter conditions!
Looking ahead to the upcoming riding season, whether you ride for pleasure or are a competitor, you can strive to offer a supportive partnership towards your horse. I will touch on two concepts that you can start considering, without even having to battle the outdoor winter conditions!
Improving our Horsemanship- One Step at a Time
One Step at a Time
It is very easy to be overwhelmed by everything that "isn't" or is challenging, frustrating, and exhausting with the horse.
Confidence Building in Human and Horse Webinar
Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach presents this 60-minute two-part webinar addressing building confidence in the horse and rider. It is split into two segments: Part 1 Recognizing patterns of reactive interaction. Part 2 What proactive practices build confidence in the horse and rider. Click here to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship Remote Horse Coach Video Catalogue
Addressing the Horse's Concern- Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach
The Horse's Concern
What if we recognized and addressed the initial signs of concern before it erupted into:
Bucking
Bolting
Kicking
Spooking
"Over-reaction"
Biting
Fixating
Fleeing movement
Biting at the Air
Pawing
Jigging
Stomping
Weaving
and so many other moments responded to as, "OH, he just does that, he's being a ____."
Bucking
Bolting
Kicking
Spooking
"Over-reaction"
Biting
Fixating
Fleeing movement
Biting at the Air
Pawing
Jigging
Stomping
Weaving
and so many other moments responded to as, "OH, he just does that, he's being a ____."
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.
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.
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