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. 

Challenging the Horse vs. Supporting Him- Horseback Rider Mindset

 

Challenging the Horse Statements

"Let's see if he..."
"I wonder if he..."
"Will he..."
"Maybe he will..."
"What if he does..."
"Why won't he just..."

Our words influence our actions. I meet many people who use the above statements unintentionally and are unaware of how much it influences and diminishes the quality of the equine partnership.

Horseback Rider Help- Letting go to feel the Horse

"Letting Go" to Feel the Horse

Learning to ride and becoming clear in the mechanics of aids to communicate can be a challenge in itself. And that is what a majority of folks limit their riding goals to. The experience is solely about the human.

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

The willingness and connected feel of the horse comes from "letting go" of containing him in order 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 the horse offers to try- comes from the human mentally "letting go" of and replacing hopeful, passive, reactive communication with the 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 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 times- for both the human and the horse.

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey Hat Order Form

Alternative Horsemanship Hats

The NEW hats have arrived! 

Stylish, long-lasting Horse Baseball Caps

Multiple styles and options are available in a variety of colors. 

Shipping is available worldwide. 

Conversations: Equine Physio Consequences

Veterinary Physiotherapist Claudia Howard of HowardsHoovesandHounds joins Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey for a candid chat regarding equine physio consequences from horse training practices. 

So many key points are addressed for equine enthusiasts who want to increase their understanding of and improve the partnership with the horse. (Please excuse the background alarm and inconsistent wifi.) 

Follow Claudia on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @howardshoovesandhounds or on her Website

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series *The Horse's Re-education

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series 

*The Horse's Re-education 

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares her perspective on the re-education of a horse and many of the challenges that owners face in discovering where to start to help the horse become trusting, confident, and willing. 

Subscribe to the Alternative Horsemanship Channel for new videos in the series every Friday.

Equine Physical Breakdowns- Join Alternative Horsemanship for a live Chat

CONVERSATIONS: Equine Physical Consequences

Super excited to have a chat with Claudia Howard, a Veterinary Physiotherapist, who will be joining me to discuss many of the physical consequences she sees horses develop as a direct result of how they are handled and ridden.


Be sure to save the date!
Sunday, March 27th
10am pst or 5pm GMT
Follow Alternative Horsemanship on Instagram

Tacking up the Young Horse by Alternative Horsemanship

Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares a glimpse into a session with a 5-year-old she started a few weeks back...