Riding Tips - Letting go of Physical Tension

A rider's physical tightness usually starts with clenched seat bones. This tension, creates rigidity that travels up the spine between their shoulder blades, into their neck and shoulders, down the upper and then forearm, ending with gripping in their fingers on the reins. From the seat down, there's often a shortened leg position, with an outward turned knee and toe, and a clamped hamstring and calf.


Questions for your Horse Learning Journey

What does Quality with the horse mean to you? 


What do you consider as Success?


How often do you connect how the horse's mind and emotions influence his physical responses, versus fixating on containing/blocking/driving his movement?


Where is your focus during the equine interactions? 


Are you mentally present and available to acknowledge and address the horse's feedback? Without triggering his fear?


Do you ever adapt your original goal whether temporarily, short or even long-term, to prioritize first building trust, try, and willingness in the horse?



The Horse's Eye Coloration & Muscles

 

Eye Line Coloration Explanation

"Blue eyed horses can have different pigment patterns and sometimes less pigment makes it easier to see their iris muscles. It’s a normal feature that you just don’t get to see very often!"
Dr. Amber Lovell DVM
Opthalmologist Specialist



 

Horse Training Tips Dear Sam: Horse Help

 

 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

Horse Training Tips :
Are you teaching the horse Physical Compliance without engaging his mind? 


Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach shares a horse video reflecting a physically compliant horse but not mentally present. Without the horse learning to think, search, and try, he will not be mentally redirectable or adaptable. Watch on the YouTube Channel

 

Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach June Livestreams

 


Did you miss Alternative Horsemanship's June Livestreams?
 
Part 1 Anticipative Assumptions- Unintentional thoughts that sabotage communication with the horse.
Part 2 Specific Communication- discussing common factors during the equine interaction that affect the specificity of communication.

Horse Learning & Skills Tips

Horse Time Mindfulness 

Photo is of a very dedicated student who wore this shirt she made to an Alternative Horsemanship clinic...
1. Many people focus (and worry) about doing things "right" and don't realize their concern has affected consistent, regular breathing when anticipating or being"hopeful."

The effects include:
* rigid and delayed communication offered to the horse
*mental & physical fatigue
* limits their physical adaptability to assess and address the horse in real-time
 

2. Many people offer constant negative criticism towards the horse (often after he has offered an unwanted response,) rather than communicating what I call Positive Alternatives. Offering proactive communication to help the horse mentally engage and offer physical responses that he CAN do.
Always communicating after-the-fact criticism teaches the horse to be defensive toward the human communication.

Horse Skills Tips - Learning to Be Present

ReLearning to Be Present...

 

The rate of mental distraction and emotional chaos I see people bringing to their horse interactions nowadays seems to be increasing (at an alarming rate.)

Is Technology Help or Hurting Your Horse Learning

 

Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series

Learning Horse Skills: Modern Day Trials, Tribulations, and Challenges

Discussing pros and cons of online horse learning and how technology has influenced the way we connect or are disconnected with our horses.

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

New videos are posted every Friday.