Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach Articles and Advice Blog

Helping the Horse with Worried Eyes

Question:

"Hi Samantha,

The other day you talked about stress showing around the horse's eyes.

I recently bought & watched your "Reading the Horse" series, and it helped me get better at seeing more subtle signs of tension sooner. It's really helpful. Thank you for making those videos available!

This is my boy Ernie. He's a Belgian. He is a wonderful sweet friendly guy in his early teens.

He's a PMU foal from Canada, and we got him when he was 2. His job is to be a pet and ride just for fun. He has 2 acres to wander about and he has 3 horse friends with him.

He seems like he really wants to please. And he worries. The pic of his worried face is an extreme example of his "worried eyebrows". I took it right as something that bothered him happened nearby.

My concern is that he looks worried quite often. In your videos, you talked about the type of horse that will keep his emotions in until suddenly he can't. He has never reached that point, and I would like to support him better so he will not reach the point of being overwhelmed.

What should I be doing to support him and help him build confidence? I try to be gently clear and consistent in everything I ask of him, but I'm sure I can get better. I want him to feel confident and enjoy his life."

Pain - the Unacknowledged Frequent Contributor to Unwanted Equine Behaviors

Many horses and humans live with pain to varying degrees on a daily basis. If you've ever been injured or have ongoing pain, think about the all-consuming feeling and emotional state the pain triggered in you.

Horse Training Tips with Alternative Horsemanship

Horse Training Tips

Teaching the Horse to Learn how to learn, think, search and try, while building his confidence, willingness, and adaptability.

Horse Behavior- What do you see?

In this horse learning video in the Dear Sam: Horse Help Horsemanship Series, take the opportunity to practice your horse behavior assessment skills. Watch the short clips of a newly arrived horse's behavior and then learn from Alternative Horsemanship™️ The Remote Horse Coach's analysis of things to notice in the horses feedback, reflecting their mental, emotional, and physical state, "telling" the human how they respond in future scenarios.

Horse Behavior Video Assessment Courses by the Remote Horse Coach

Join Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach as she shares unedited first session assessments of working with a 10-13 year old horse, breed unknown, past unknown. Offering voice-overs to explain how the real-time assessment occurs, what to look for in the horse's feedback, recognizing patterns, and much more.

Initial Assessment 3-part series focuses on

Spatial Awareness
Defensive Behaviors
Physical Triggers

First Pasture Session - The 3-part series focuses on

Spatial Communication
Halter Help
Directable Leading
Bonus video- After the Session

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?

Below are some basic questions to ask in regards to your horse’s health.
I suggest keeping a horse health journal making note of diet changes, farrier care, odd behaviors, etc. It can be used as a future reference point to learn from and find what works best for the horse.

I often hear people talking about how it feels like they're guessing with their horse, they don't know where to start, or they don't know where/why things fall apart, creating unwanted equine behaviors.

The goal of this 2-part livestream is to help adjust the human perspective on how they observe the horse. Then to connect how their Observations can lead to developing Adaptable horse skills, to address the equine in both a real time and relevant manner.

Observation Opportunities

Sept 7th 9am pdt

Adaptable Interactions

Sept 14th 9am pdt

Click the link to join in.

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