Pressure and Horses

Pressure & Horses 

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” about communicating with the horse.
I was thinking about what “pressure” might mean to others; ideas and questions started to pop into my head.

Tips for Improving the Equine Partnership

"Letting Go" to Feel of the Horse

Learning the commonly taught mechanics to work with a horse from the ground or how to ride can be a challenge. It is also what most folks limit their horse education and goals to, with no understanding of the horse or his behaviors.

"Letting go" of one's emotional chaos, hopefulness, unreasonable expectations, and mental distractions before being in proximity to the horse, allows acknowledgment of what the horse is experiencing during the interaction. This then gives the human guidance on what needs to be addressed to help the horse better.

"Letting go" of self-imposed or society's traditionally taught hurried, repetitious, patterns, have-tos or "horse training rules", allows for unexpected Opportunities that can often become trust-building experiences between the human and the horse.
The more we learn to "let go," the more present in the moment and available we are to observe, experiment, and adapt which is then mirrored in the horse's willingness toward our requests.

Horse Behavior: Imposing at the gate

In this horse learning video, Alternative Horsemanship The Remote Horse Coach shares a young horse who is imposing upon the human as they approach the gate. This Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series episode highlights the importance of recognizing the dangers involved with a horse that is constantly spatially imposing on the human, especially for future scenarios if the equine is emotionally triggered, and how this can evolve into increasingly dangerous behaviors. 

Watch now: https://youtu.be/gCOzmjk_hd8?si=kBO1WCVSFR4pGZ-I

Unwanted Horse Behavior Problems Symptom vs Issue- Unasked for Backing

Ask the Trainer... Q & A Unwanted Behaviors- Backing

"Hi, I just bought another quarter horse. When I went to check her out, 2 different people, a man and a lady got on her to ride, she too a step or two back. I got her home, tried to mount her, and she just keep backing up. I tried for about an hour to go get on her and she keeps backing up. I tried to do this in my field. She let me put the saddle on her easy and the bridle. I tried on 2 different days. I don't have a round pen, should I try to do it in the stall next just to get on and off of her a few times? Thanks for your help."
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Can you recognize defensiveness, anticipation, and pain in the horse?

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship 

This episode offers the opportunity to assess a horse's behavior for defensiveness, anticipation, and pain indicators. The Remote Horse Coach then shares an in-depth assessment to help equine enthusiasts learn how to read and recognize the horse's behavior. This gives insight into where to start with the horse, as well as seeing the horse's coping patterns. The video sheds light on various health issues that may affect the horse's willingness to participate. Join us in this educational horse video to enhance your horsemanship skills and deepen your understand.

Click the link to watch on the Alternative Horsemanship. YouTube Channel. New videos are posted every Friday.

Watch now

Horse Humor Journal by Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey

Horse Humor Journal with a mix of humor, Alternative Horsemanship quotes, and reminders to learn how to refine your horse skills while improving your equine partnership.
30-page, spiral bound, unlined.
Pre-Release Available for Purchase Click the link to get your copy today

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey Clinics

 

Read the latest 2024 in-person learning Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey horse clinic newsletter HERE.

Improving Horse Skills & Time Limitations

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

The “task” often becomes the focal point, rather than the quality of communication. If the horse mostly “goes along” with what is asked, people tend to accept the behavior.

But without effective “tools” (I don’t mean gadgets, rather how a person uses pressure to communicate) they often wind up at the “mercy” of the horse or “surviving” the ride.

Pushy, Anticipative, Fearful, Fleeing, Reactive Horse Behavior

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

Tips for how to translate pushy, anticipative, fearful, and reactive horse behavior to search for the root causes behind these dangerous equine.

Are you blaming your horse for unwanted behaviors? Most equine enthusiasts try to control, block, or stop the animal's movement which creates one unwanted response evolving into another resistant behavior.

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

New videos posted every Friday.

 

 

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey Horse Clinics

Upcoming Alternative Horsemanship Clinics

Improving Horse Skills & Changing Sabotaging Interaction Patterns

Proactive Horse Skills & Communication

Do you work with your horse at the same time of day?
Catch him in the same manner?
Enter/exit the gate the same way?
Is your groundwork a routine or a pattern?
Tie/groom/tack up in the same place?
Mount from the same side, in the same location?
Begin always tracking in one direction?

Horse Skill Tips: Physical Assessment Opportunities

5 Physical Assessment Opportunities

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.
Without meaning to, as a person is trying to mentally assess, process, and physically coordinate their communication with the horse, they may also be conveying unintentional signals to their horse.
This adds unnecessary confusion when attempting to change old patterns in the interaction.

Alternative Horsemanship Horse Humor Journal

Samantha Harvey shares horse humor, motivational Alternative Horsemanship quotes, and equine inspiration in this 30-page, spiral-bound personal journal. 

Click HERE for a pre-release purchase.

Tips for Improving Horse Skills, Time Perceptions & Decreasing Unwanted Behaviors

 Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series
Horse Tips: Problem Behaviors and Learning Opportunities

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 ____."

Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach Livestreams 2024

 

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

New Year, New Horse Goals, and New Intentions by Alternative Horsemanship

New Year, New Horse Goals, and New Intentions

Human Intentions influence everything - creating either a positive or negative outcome with the horse.

I often hear people fixate on the long list of all the things they don't want their horse to do, rather than focusing on how they will help their horse accomplish human goals.