People often ask "what kind of horse training do you do?" I say I work with people and horses.
In the traditional world of horses, not categorizing yourself meant that you didn't really know a whole lot about anything. Nowadays I find it quite ironic how many students I have that come from "specialized" trainers but are having major issues on fundamental basics with their horses and the specialized trainers are unable to help them through the situations other than forcing the horses into submission through fearful and aggressive tactics.
On any given day I'm working with Colts, rehabilitating the older horse, refining the trained cutting or roping horse, mellowing the endurance horse, improving confidence in the ranch horse, slowing down the jumping horse who rushes at fences, improving the dressage horse's self carriage, and so much more.... And the thing that I keep repeating is, " At the core, all horses are all the same."
First we need to treat, interact, and have partnerships with these animals as Horses, then the specialized focused can come into play.
But there are so many people who are so fixated on accomplishing "stuff" that in the end, whether it's through ego, bragging rights, unintentionally overfaced with goals or otherwise, the human doesn't realize that they are setting up the horse to fail in what they ask of them because they don't have the fundamental Basics nor effective tools to communicate with the horse in order to support him through the scenarios they present.
Nine out of 10 new horses I meet have no concept or good feeling about pressure, whether it's physical or spatial, and are often defensive towards the human. People often want to rush through the motions constantly putting the horse in a position of having to tolerate very stressful scenarios and then afterwards act surprised when the horse no longer can handle it emotionally or physically.
My goal is to teach people how to communicate without relying on the instructor and learn to recognize the horses mental and physical resistance and influence a change in his thoughts and physical Behavior so that the ideal outcome is accomplished without a fight or a tantrum or an emotional meltdown from the horse.
But that takes time, that takes effort, that takes Clarity and intention from the human, and it takes an openness that you may not accomplish what you set out to accomplish in that particular day.
If we spent more time supporting our horses through their troubled moments rather than challenging them through them, in the long run we would accomplish so much more without the drama and stress for either horse or human.
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Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares horse training and horseback rider coaching, philosophies, and approaches she has developed over three decades. Offering horsemanship clinics worldwide, distance horse coaching instruction, equine consultations, equine re-education and rehabilitation, colt starting, and lessons. Follow her #alternativehorsemanship on all social media platforms.
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Not letting feeding time control our interactions
Many times humans and horses are stuck in patternized behavior. I find many people get stressed out at the thought of having to take their horse away from food due to fear of possibly resistant behavior. For me, anytime of the day irrelevant of food or anything else going on, I'd like to be able to call the horse over and have him show an interest and a curiosity. I want him to be mentally available, willing to leave whatever he is doing, in order to participate in what I'm offering.
The video of the three-year-old shows this example. I don't use treats or gimmicks or "drive" the horse into yielding and coming to me. It's all about having a conversation with his brain and emotions, and then getting the physically desired response.
The goal is not the physical movement of leaving his food, but rather the quality of the conversation. This horse has been with me for about a month now, and the video was the first time I called him off of his feed. To me it represents all of the other foundational work that makes a horse feel good about wanting to be with the human, even during feeding time.
Following this video clip, I then had him stand loose in the stall while I tacked him up, and then took him for a ride. Yes, even during dinner time.
The video of the three-year-old shows this example. I don't use treats or gimmicks or "drive" the horse into yielding and coming to me. It's all about having a conversation with his brain and emotions, and then getting the physically desired response.
The goal is not the physical movement of leaving his food, but rather the quality of the conversation. This horse has been with me for about a month now, and the video was the first time I called him off of his feed. To me it represents all of the other foundational work that makes a horse feel good about wanting to be with the human, even during feeding time.
Following this video clip, I then had him stand loose in the stall while I tacked him up, and then took him for a ride. Yes, even during dinner time.
Working Colts off of experienced horse... learning opportunities
Several decades ago I made a choice to leave any of the cliches in the equine world that are associated with specific types of riding.
Nowadays my approach is a culmination of my experiences from both the competitive and non-competitive world, along with real-life riding such as on ranches, in the mountains, working with livestock, mixed with working with troubled horses after mainstream ways of doing things led to dramatic and resistance and fearful behavior.
Nowadays my approach is a culmination of my experiences from both the competitive and non-competitive world, along with real-life riding such as on ranches, in the mountains, working with livestock, mixed with working with troubled horses after mainstream ways of doing things led to dramatic and resistance and fearful behavior.
Re-educating the troubled horse
I recently had someone inquire about a horse who has bucking issues. It was a person who did not have a lot of experience and had sent their horse to a well-known training program. When their horse returned, multiple times the horse started bucking when ridden.
So their question was if I would be able to help the horse, how long it would take, Etc. This is a very common inquiry that I get.
I thought it would be helpful to share my response to the owner as many people seem to have these issues. The following is my answer:
There are several options for rehabilitating a horse that has become troubled and is now physically dangerous.
Every horse is an individual, so when horses arrive for training, the first week is an “Assessment week,” which allows me time to evaluate his current fears, insecurities, ability and willingness to learn, any potential physical/pain issues, and then approach him in a way that rebuilds his trust in humans.
By the time a horse is committed to bucking, his original “quiet” pleas for help from the human have either been missed or ignored; whether intentional or not, most folk’s priorities are to “just go ride”, often not realizing how much “help” the horse needs from the rider.
Also, if you have limited experience, you need to keep in mind that even with a lot of quality training, you will need to “be on the same page” as your horse. Sending your horse to the trainer without understanding how/what he has learned, does the owner no good.
People also often think that once a horse is “trained” it will automatically maintain the knowledge or abilities; they don’t. Every experience with the horse is a “learning” opportunity for the horse; so again, whether you mean to or not, you may be “teaching” your horse many things you don’t realize.
Also many training programs are suited to the human, rather than individualizing the methods so that it is appropriate for that particular horse. Just like humans who all have different learning styles, so do horses. Which means that many horses “go through” training programs and the more training, the worse the horse feels about the “human experience,” he may come out with some knowledge, but often there is a lot of miscommunication and defensiveness felt by the horse if he didn’t naturally fit the “program”. But this typically doesn’t show up until the horse has spent time with a less confident person, and only then, does he offer his honest opinion or show his defensiveness with dramatic and dangerous behaviors.
As far as “how long” it takes to both undo a horse’s fear and defensiveness, and re-educate the horse, all depends on the severity of the horse’s current mental and emotional state. I offer training by the week to best suit the horse’s needs, the first week is assessment week, and then we go from there. I’m big on keeping owners in the loop with weekly email updates as to the progress reports on the horse.
I require all owners to participate for at least a week with me before taking their training horse for at least five sessions.
Once your horse arrives for training, they have priority to stay however long you need.
So their question was if I would be able to help the horse, how long it would take, Etc. This is a very common inquiry that I get.
I thought it would be helpful to share my response to the owner as many people seem to have these issues. The following is my answer:
There are several options for rehabilitating a horse that has become troubled and is now physically dangerous.
Every horse is an individual, so when horses arrive for training, the first week is an “Assessment week,” which allows me time to evaluate his current fears, insecurities, ability and willingness to learn, any potential physical/pain issues, and then approach him in a way that rebuilds his trust in humans.
By the time a horse is committed to bucking, his original “quiet” pleas for help from the human have either been missed or ignored; whether intentional or not, most folk’s priorities are to “just go ride”, often not realizing how much “help” the horse needs from the rider.
Also, if you have limited experience, you need to keep in mind that even with a lot of quality training, you will need to “be on the same page” as your horse. Sending your horse to the trainer without understanding how/what he has learned, does the owner no good.
People also often think that once a horse is “trained” it will automatically maintain the knowledge or abilities; they don’t. Every experience with the horse is a “learning” opportunity for the horse; so again, whether you mean to or not, you may be “teaching” your horse many things you don’t realize.
Also many training programs are suited to the human, rather than individualizing the methods so that it is appropriate for that particular horse. Just like humans who all have different learning styles, so do horses. Which means that many horses “go through” training programs and the more training, the worse the horse feels about the “human experience,” he may come out with some knowledge, but often there is a lot of miscommunication and defensiveness felt by the horse if he didn’t naturally fit the “program”. But this typically doesn’t show up until the horse has spent time with a less confident person, and only then, does he offer his honest opinion or show his defensiveness with dramatic and dangerous behaviors.
As far as “how long” it takes to both undo a horse’s fear and defensiveness, and re-educate the horse, all depends on the severity of the horse’s current mental and emotional state. I offer training by the week to best suit the horse’s needs, the first week is assessment week, and then we go from there. I’m big on keeping owners in the loop with weekly email updates as to the progress reports on the horse.
I require all owners to participate for at least a week with me before taking their training horse for at least five sessions.
Once your horse arrives for training, they have priority to stay however long you need.
What can happen at an Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey clinic?
What can happen at an Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey clinic?
One person might work with a "broke" performance type horse that has been so ingrained with human expectations and patterns, and who has learned to be obedient in order to not be reprimanded, that just by being in close proximity and changing what the horse had anticipated would happen (such as not catching as soon as you enter his pen) and watch the horse's emotional roller coaster as years of pent up obedience and emotional containment are purged...
Another person might work on the nuances of rebuilding a horse's curiosity and trust after years of the human experience causing that horse to mentally shut down and check out causing the horse to outwardly seem physically quiet, but internally is quite troubled.
Someone else may encourage their horse, while at liberty, to learn to mentally search and make decisions, without being "driven", chased or scared into brainless and reactive physical movement, rather instead offering thoughtful and intentional steps.
Another person might practice learning to refine their feel and time while riding, as they raise their standard of softness and clarity towards the horse...
Someone else may be learning how to recognize from how they're sitting in the saddle, where they're horse's feet are underneath them, to offer the clearest aid to influence the ideal movement.
Another might be working with a young horse building a solid foundation of learning "how to learn" with thoughtful intention as new things are introduced, that will be used in future rides.
The horses breeds, ages, experiences are all varied. The disciplines, participants, experience levels, and their backgrounds are even more diverse.
And all the while, it might be blustery wind gusts, freezing temps, peaceful and warm, sleeting rain... The weather is irrelevant... the location doesn't matter... the "accomplishment" of a task is ignored... rather it is all about the conversation between the human and horse. Soft, clear and intentional.
It is only then that you see the worry and peak lines on the horse's face disappear, the muscles in the horse and human's body relax, and both take a deep, quiet, body-replenishing breath of air, while experiencing a shared peacefulness of being mentally, emotionally and physically present.
Less than ideal circumstances leading to better partnerships
Thought for the day...
Often when weather conditions and circumstances are out of our control or are not ideal, we tend to shy away from spending time with our horses in order to avoid potential conflict or issues. For me I find some of the most successful learning situations is when our surroundings are less than ideal.
Yesterday was a great example. Here in the desert of southwest Arizona we had a blusterous 20 mile an hour windstorm that was sandblasting from all directions. Being close to a Marine base, we also had F-35 Jets flying overhead, so close that you actually vibrate from the Jet's power. Trash and tumbleweeds were blowing everywhere. Palm trees were bent over.
I've included two pics which don't nearly give you a clear enough idea, but to see the flag standing straight out gives you an idea of how strong the wind was.
Two days before, a three-year-old horse had arrived for training. The first day we had just worked on the concept of softening to pressure on the leadrope. We didn't move farther than 40 feet from his stall. I introduced the ideas of being able to first look and think, and then move. Also the concept that he looks where he's going while he moves, rather than looking at everything except where he's going. The concept of personal space and that if he is asked to do something, he needs to try to address what is being asked of him the first time and not that it takes a huge amount of energy to get him to listen. Also the concept that he can stand over grass and wait quietly without constantly trying to lunge for the grass and eat. It was a lot for his young brain. And yet there was no running, no fleeing, no chasing, no driving, no scaring him, in order to help him learn. Just simple conversation creating boundaries of what behaviors worked and those that did not. Lots of blinking, licking, chewing, and yawning from him.
So the second day is when the wind storm hit us. It was so bad you couldn't see 40 feet out because of the sand and debris in the air. And yet I brought him into the round pen to work with him at liberty for the first time. For me the round pen is not a place to chase/run the horse into submission. It is rather a safe setting that allows the horse to learn to search to find what is being asked of him, without scaring him or driving him into giving up. There was distractions of other horses running around, other animals running around the farm, metal roofs flapping, and yet through simple trial and error (communicated through spatial pressure and release w the lead rope hanging at my side), the young horse was able to let go of all of the mental distractions until he could focus on just me. He learned how to be with me without spatially walking on top of me even though he was loose. He learned how to stop and look at the distractions and then bring his attention back to me when I asked him to. And then he learned how to leave me to move around the rail of the pen, without flee or chaotic energy, rather mimicking whatever energy I was offering from the center of the pen. Then when I decreased my energy and moved away from the center of the pen, he learned to come in and be with me respectfully, quietly waiting for whatever I asked of him next. If you had only seen him you'd never know there was so much distraction and Chaos going on around us.
So the next time the weather or situation is less than ideal, remember it might be the perfect opportunity, because you may have to face addressing small issues that in the past you've wanted to mask or smooth over rather than getting to the root cause. Being forced to confront those small issues is a wonderful preventative measure for them not to evolve causing major issues further down the road.
Often when weather conditions and circumstances are out of our control or are not ideal, we tend to shy away from spending time with our horses in order to avoid potential conflict or issues. For me I find some of the most successful learning situations is when our surroundings are less than ideal.
Yesterday was a great example. Here in the desert of southwest Arizona we had a blusterous 20 mile an hour windstorm that was sandblasting from all directions. Being close to a Marine base, we also had F-35 Jets flying overhead, so close that you actually vibrate from the Jet's power. Trash and tumbleweeds were blowing everywhere. Palm trees were bent over.
I've included two pics which don't nearly give you a clear enough idea, but to see the flag standing straight out gives you an idea of how strong the wind was.
Two days before, a three-year-old horse had arrived for training. The first day we had just worked on the concept of softening to pressure on the leadrope. We didn't move farther than 40 feet from his stall. I introduced the ideas of being able to first look and think, and then move. Also the concept that he looks where he's going while he moves, rather than looking at everything except where he's going. The concept of personal space and that if he is asked to do something, he needs to try to address what is being asked of him the first time and not that it takes a huge amount of energy to get him to listen. Also the concept that he can stand over grass and wait quietly without constantly trying to lunge for the grass and eat. It was a lot for his young brain. And yet there was no running, no fleeing, no chasing, no driving, no scaring him, in order to help him learn. Just simple conversation creating boundaries of what behaviors worked and those that did not. Lots of blinking, licking, chewing, and yawning from him.
So the second day is when the wind storm hit us. It was so bad you couldn't see 40 feet out because of the sand and debris in the air. And yet I brought him into the round pen to work with him at liberty for the first time. For me the round pen is not a place to chase/run the horse into submission. It is rather a safe setting that allows the horse to learn to search to find what is being asked of him, without scaring him or driving him into giving up. There was distractions of other horses running around, other animals running around the farm, metal roofs flapping, and yet through simple trial and error (communicated through spatial pressure and release w the lead rope hanging at my side), the young horse was able to let go of all of the mental distractions until he could focus on just me. He learned how to be with me without spatially walking on top of me even though he was loose. He learned how to stop and look at the distractions and then bring his attention back to me when I asked him to. And then he learned how to leave me to move around the rail of the pen, without flee or chaotic energy, rather mimicking whatever energy I was offering from the center of the pen. Then when I decreased my energy and moved away from the center of the pen, he learned to come in and be with me respectfully, quietly waiting for whatever I asked of him next. If you had only seen him you'd never know there was so much distraction and Chaos going on around us.
So the next time the weather or situation is less than ideal, remember it might be the perfect opportunity, because you may have to face addressing small issues that in the past you've wanted to mask or smooth over rather than getting to the root cause. Being forced to confront those small issues is a wonderful preventative measure for them not to evolve causing major issues further down the road.
Christmas Certificate for that Horse Lover!
Looking for that last minute gift for that horse lover? Get them a gift certificate for lessons, assessment, ground work or clinics with Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey.
Certificates may be purchased via PayPal, Check or cash. Valid one year from date of purchase.
Email for details
Client feedback... Success over time
Over the past few days I've heard "feedback" from clients both in the States and abroad. If you've ever read anything from my blog, website or posts on FB, you'll quickly realize I do not offer the "quick fix" or "easy answers" in my approaches to helping horses feel better about life. It is slow, intentional communication, and often it requires a rebuilding of the foundation of the partnership, in order for the rides to be successful.
I always say I try to teach and offer "tools" in how we communicate with our horses so that clients don't "need me", but rather they can assess, think through, and then help their horse through scenarios in order to have a positive, confidence building outcome for both the horse and rider.
I LOVE hearing stories of success; not because "my way" works, it isn't about me or the ways I've found work, it is about owners/riders being open minded enough to put their own egos aside, and to BELIEVE their horses when they are troubled, when they ask for help. Time and again, those who support their horses through uncomfortable moments, rather than challenge them through them, see amazing, long lasting changes.
So "Good on you," as I say, to those folks dedicated to being open to having an honest conversation with their horse, patient enough to respect what the horse is saying, and kind enough to search within themselves to how best to help their horse.
That is how we reach those almost perfect moments of being completing in sync with our equine partners, and it makes it all worth it. Happy riding!
I always say I try to teach and offer "tools" in how we communicate with our horses so that clients don't "need me", but rather they can assess, think through, and then help their horse through scenarios in order to have a positive, confidence building outcome for both the horse and rider.
I LOVE hearing stories of success; not because "my way" works, it isn't about me or the ways I've found work, it is about owners/riders being open minded enough to put their own egos aside, and to BELIEVE their horses when they are troubled, when they ask for help. Time and again, those who support their horses through uncomfortable moments, rather than challenge them through them, see amazing, long lasting changes.
So "Good on you," as I say, to those folks dedicated to being open to having an honest conversation with their horse, patient enough to respect what the horse is saying, and kind enough to search within themselves to how best to help their horse.
That is how we reach those almost perfect moments of being completing in sync with our equine partners, and it makes it all worth it. Happy riding!
Learning through Auditing: Improving your Horsemanship
Proactive Riding- Raising the Rider’s Awareness
Creating conditioned and patternized behaviors, or routines,
while interacting with our horses can lead to “dishonest” conversations between
the human and the horse. Whether heading
out on a trail ride or focusing in the arena, there frequently is a sense of “wonder”
from the rider regarding what the ride will “be like” on any given day. I dislike repetitive movement as there
becomes a familiarity and “dullness” to the conversation between the horse and
human leading to brainless responses and a lack of adaptability. The day the
person changes the routine their “quiet” horse becomes a fire breathing dragon
because the pattern has changed.
There should be no mystery when working with our horses. Every
interaction with the horse is an indication as to what is about to come. Weather issues, location limitations, and time
urgencies can influence people and horses falling into behaviors that
contribute to a lack of awareness, lack of clear intention and lack of mental
presence.
Unfortunately the standard with horses is that as long as
the horse isn’t offering enough resistant behavior that the human sees their
life flashing before their eyes, dramatic behaviors from the horse are
tolerated. Anticipative movement, the
lack of softness towards a light rein, seat or leg pressure, the dramatic,
flamboyant responses to an aid, are all indications that the horse’s brain and
emotions are having a problem, and therefore his physical response will mimic
the worry, fear, pain, insecurity, misunderstanding, leading to a less than
ideal ride.
Assess your relationship with your horse by asking yourself
the following: 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?
Tie/groom/tack up in the same place? Mount from the same side, in the same
location? Start off always tracking in one direction? These basic behaviors when done without
intention, lead to mentally unavailable and resistant horses.
The moment you think about going for a ride, the ride
begins. “Reality,” other distractions and
stresses from life need to be put on hold. To be proactive by making decisions to
influence how the ride will go, you’ll need a mental clarity as to what you’re
doing, how you’re doing it, and why you’re doing it. Every moment you’re in close proximity to
your horse, you are teaching him something, whether or not you mean to.
Mental presence allows you to honestly assess what your
horse is offering in his behaviors. My
approach is to first address the horse’s brain, and then the desired movement
will follow. Opportunities for assessment can begin in the pasture or stall;
notice if your horse moves off as you approach?
If so, why? Is he distracted by
new events at the barn? Wildlife that recently passed by? Does he prefer to
stay with the herd rather than being ridden? You may not initially have a clear
understanding of his behavior, but it will be the beginning of awareness from
you of noticing initial resistance from him and be able to prioritize
addressing it before you ride.
As you lead, is he ahead of you physically and actually
“leading you”? If so, he’s already telling you what the ride is going to be
like. If he believes from the start that
he is in charge, by the time you’re in the saddle, you’ll be at his mercy.
If he is pulling, hanging or ignoring your pressure with the
lead rope while you’re on the ground, he’s already telling you he is going to
be heavy on the bit and slow to respond with the rein. Why wait until you’re in the saddle to
address his concept, or lack thereof, of following, softening or yielding to
pressure?
If he’s become fussy as you tack up as you ride more
frequently, have you assessed if your saddle is fitting correctly? Perhaps pain
issues from ill fitting tack have begun, and you’ve assumed he’s just being
difficult with his excessive movement. He
only has so many ways to convey his distress before he has to increase his behaviors
until you can no longer ignore them.
Humans often anthromoporphize equine behaviors, giving human
characteristics to them and wrongly interpreting what is occurring. Taking the
time to slow ourselves down from the rushing mentality, by addressing the
little details, can help us break down overwhelming scenarios and understand
our horse’s behavior.
By learning to recognize the signs leading up to potentially
unwanted behavior, we can influence a change within the horse, before he has committed
to doing something we don’t want. But the
small details, the finesse isn’t the “fun” or “exciting” way of doing things, therefore
we humans bring chaos to horses, causing much turmoil.
Let us raise our standards.
What if the new “normal” became a horse that presented himself quietly
to be caught irrelevant of if feed had just been put out in the pasture or riding
at an odd time of day? Ignoring discipline, riding goals or experience, what if
we could straight tie, ground tie or cross tie our horse in a field, to a
trailer, or to a post, as we groomed and tacked up, without any fussing,
wiggling, pawing, swinging of the hindquarters, holding his breath while we tightened
the saddle, or tossing his head while we bridled him? Let’s be practical and
forgo outdated tradition and learn to mount/dismount from either side on the
ground, from the fence or a mounting block, without having to lead our horse to
a spot and quickly scramble on while holding the reins tight to prevent him from
walking off. What if at any point we
expected our horse could stand mentally and emotionally calm and therefore
physically relaxed, rather than anticipative of what we might ask next.
If the above mentioned behaviors became our basic foundation
that we built our partnership with our horses on, imagine the
possibilities. Here’s to proactive
riding and raising our awareness!
Making Summer Memories...
It is a
glorious summer day and I just returned from adventures down back country
roads, where folks pull over and fill up water bottles at natural springs; where you slow down and smile as you pass the 1950’s tractor steadily rolling
down the road after a hard day of baling hay. It is a place where you wave at
the passing train and the engineer honks the horn and waves back
enthusiastically… Where you watch elk graze in the early dusk, eagles and osprey soar above the
hay fields, and deer help their young cross the road. Whether it is folks casting their reels
hoping for the next great fishing story, families and friends floating down the emerald rivers, or children making memories at summer camp that will influence their
future perspectives on life, nature and decisions, nothing holds a candle to
watching a group of riders emerge between the same mountains that Lewis and Clark, David
Thompson and other explorers have made famous.
It has been
unseasonably warm and at 104 degrees F, and as I sat watching the riders make their way down
to a creek that intercepted with a phenomenal river, untack, climb aboard bareback, and without hesitation plunge into the waters, was priceless. As the scene before me unfolded, a
newly released song came on the radio; it was talking about the “last firsts.”
And often as it seems to be with music, hearing it, along with seeing the horse events unfolding before me,
brought me back to my own many firsts I’ve had with horses. I was feeling a bit
emotional as I reminisced about how many memories I had that were horse
related, and how quickly I could close my eyes and “be” immediately back in a
time and place many years before. I
could smell the horse sweat, taste the grit in my mouth, feel the heat of the
sun glaring down on me.
It didn’t
matter if it had been years before when I’d been riding in the snow crested peaks
of the Pacific Northwest mountings (even in July,) battling a blizzard trailing
sheep in tip of the Patagonian mountains, taking a Mediterranean “short cut”
crossing via an inlet feeling the power of my horse swimming through the turquoise ocean, trailing cattle through the high desert
with giant saguaro cactus towering above, or riding barefoot, bareback and in a
halter at the rear of a herd of summer camp horses… whether it’d been 30 years
ago or just a few years prior, those experiences are forever imprinted in my
mind and emotions.
I’m not particularly a touchy/feely kinda gal; a
lifetime of living in a “man’s world” creates an emotional distancing of
oneself, a lifestyle of relying solely on yourself creates callouses not only on your
hands but in your ability to rationalize decisions and a self imposed “durability”
over the years leads to a relentlessness that would overwhelm most folks if they
were faced with the decisions I make on a regular basis. But when I think back
to those invaluable equine moments, all of my toughness dissolves immediately.
The point of
sharing all of this is that as I drove the other day and watched the kids and
adults share that bonding moment with their horses, I realized that it was a
once-in-a-lifetime moment that they’d never lose. I find most things that get shared via social
media are done so because of the emotional draw. People who’ve been in major traumatic
accidents with horses and yet push through the recovery with the goal of returning to the saddle again
are inspired purely based on their emotions. Those folks who save horses from
abuse, potential slaughter or neglect, to those who see colts and dream of
their future blue sky potential, (if a person has nothing financial to gain,) the
draw is always the emotional release horses offer us humans.
For some
reason from the time of marching into battle thousands of years ago with the
armies of Genghis Khan to jumping insane modern day obstacles, to the backyard
kid, to the die hard Pony Clubber, from the hunter who religiously packs into
the backcountry in search of their winter harvest, to the social trail rider,
from the Amateur competitor to the rehabilitative experience of just being within
close proximity to a horse, these equines continue to give, and give and give
to us humans.
I was
recently regaled with a few stories from new clients, returning clients and folks I’d
just talked to and given advice to over the phone and via email correspondence. They each came back with these heart-warming
stories of the life-changing experiences they’d had recently with their horses
based on advice I’d offered or after lessons/training with me.
The one
shared theme as they told of their individual experiences was the emotional
release, empowerment and long term confidence they had developed from their journey
with their horse.
Because I
don’t “only” work with one discipline, breed, or level rider, I’ve begun to
realize a huge part of the inspiration of what I try to offer folks is the
ability to “read” the horses, make rational decisions riding in “real time,” and
offer them effective tools to clearly communicate. This all can contribute to them then having
those “life changing” moments with the horses. It also allows a mental and emotional "freedom" that I find is rare within the equine world of rules, traditions and restrictions.
Often the conversation one has with the horse, really resonates in all aspects of the person's life, it isn’t “just” about horses or
riding. The horses tend to draw
the best and worst out of people; I imagine it has a lot to do with their
honesty and black and white interpretation of the world around them.
I’ve found
that this summer I’ve been slowing down more, I’ve been watching more,
listening more, and more contemplative. I feel that sometimes as I watch the
behaviors, I yet again refine my initial interpretations of what I see, to best
understand and improve how I communicate with horses and humans alike. And it all comes out in my lessons, clinics
and training. I can literally see the
changes in humans and horses alike. I believe our journey of
horsemanship never ends; there is always more to learn, see, try and do. Every horse and every scenario is an
opportunity for us to learn from, embrace and evolve from.
So, maybe you
can take a few minutes and whether you just stroll down memory lane or actually
jot something down, perhaps you can practice a few minutes of thankfulness as
you explore memories of what horses have taught you, forced you to confront
about yourself, and inspired you. I
think if we brought more appreciation to the horse (even the frustrating,
challenging and difficult ones) then our partnership with our horses, would have stronger bonds and increased quality experiences. If we humans spent less time
comparing how much “we” accomplished and more time on making quality memories,
ironically “we’d” get a lot more done with our horses.
So please, I
encourage you to set out with a smile the
next time you approach your horse, take every unexpected experience as
an opportunity to evolve and build upon, and I promise you, it’ll make you a
better leader for your horse and emotionally happier.
Sam
Keeping the curiosity...
Spring time considerations: Horse Health, Horse Trailer and Tack Assessment
It has been a long, snowy, wet winter and thankfully it
looks like spring may be nearing soon! As the upcoming riding season approaches
there are a variety of factors to consider when preparing you and your horse
for safe, fun, and fulfilling rides in the near future.
Exploring the use of a round pen- an alternative perspective
A FB friend posted an article on anti round pen usage... Here was my in depth perspective/answer:
I find 95% of folks misuse a round pen, whether under the guise of "exercising" or teaching conditioned responses, such as the lesser of two evils is to turn, face the human and be caught; which is a bullying tactic. The problem with teaching conditioned responses and patterns is the day you change the routine, you get a fire breathing dragon instead of your docile horse.
So what happened? Most horses learn the pattern in order to get the human to leave them alone. There's not a lot of thought or clarity, it is just a form of "escaping" the pressure created by the human. The human in turn incorrectly assumes that because the horse is being so "helpful" by automatically doing something they might ask of their horse, that the horse is okay. More times than not, he is not.
For me the round pen allows an opportunity in a safe place where the horse and I can have open two way communication. It is an opportunity to assess if the horse is mentally available to physically participate with me. If any sort of fast movement or continuous movement occurs, there's typically a brainless-ness and flee to it.
Most horses that arrive with "behavioral issues" (which is often a symptom, not the issue) is a direct result of constant mental and emotional stress. The horse is rarely considered when the human has an agenda. So often the horses are bullied into doing things that really bother them and "all of a sudden" they act dramatic, resistant and dangerous. No, it wasn't all of a sudden. Most folks do not notice, put value to or address if their horse is asking for help, until the person can no longer ignore the escalating dramatic behavior displayed by the horse.
So as I start a colt, re-educate an older horse or fine tune a finished one, the round pen can be a tool. Could the same conversation happen while in the pasture, being led or tacked? Yes. It is not about location, shape of fence or teaching a patternized response. It is about a quality conversation that sets you and your horse up to be successful. But folks are looking for patterns and conditioned, brainless responses.
If the horse is physically and mentally bothered, fearful, insecure or shut down, why wouldn't I want to address that and help him sort out his concerns BEFORE I get on? There's no need to "wait and see," what the ride will be like; if I see he's bothered now, it'll only get worse in the saddle.
Imagine if all these amazing athletic creatures were supported to compete without being in the the continual state of stress and duress, then what might their movement look like?
By not offering a horse TIME to sort through his emotions, rather just attempting to physically exhaust him, but never address what he's bothered about, is setting up the horse to be defensive....
As with everything, something that can be a safe, confidence building and supportive tool based in how it is presented by one person can also be a horrific experience for the horse if someone with ego, time limitations, and ulterior motives uses it...
Just my thoughts.
Sam
I find 95% of folks misuse a round pen, whether under the guise of "exercising" or teaching conditioned responses, such as the lesser of two evils is to turn, face the human and be caught; which is a bullying tactic. The problem with teaching conditioned responses and patterns is the day you change the routine, you get a fire breathing dragon instead of your docile horse.
So what happened? Most horses learn the pattern in order to get the human to leave them alone. There's not a lot of thought or clarity, it is just a form of "escaping" the pressure created by the human. The human in turn incorrectly assumes that because the horse is being so "helpful" by automatically doing something they might ask of their horse, that the horse is okay. More times than not, he is not.
For me the round pen allows an opportunity in a safe place where the horse and I can have open two way communication. It is an opportunity to assess if the horse is mentally available to physically participate with me. If any sort of fast movement or continuous movement occurs, there's typically a brainless-ness and flee to it.
Most horses that arrive with "behavioral issues" (which is often a symptom, not the issue) is a direct result of constant mental and emotional stress. The horse is rarely considered when the human has an agenda. So often the horses are bullied into doing things that really bother them and "all of a sudden" they act dramatic, resistant and dangerous. No, it wasn't all of a sudden. Most folks do not notice, put value to or address if their horse is asking for help, until the person can no longer ignore the escalating dramatic behavior displayed by the horse.
So as I start a colt, re-educate an older horse or fine tune a finished one, the round pen can be a tool. Could the same conversation happen while in the pasture, being led or tacked? Yes. It is not about location, shape of fence or teaching a patternized response. It is about a quality conversation that sets you and your horse up to be successful. But folks are looking for patterns and conditioned, brainless responses.
If the horse is physically and mentally bothered, fearful, insecure or shut down, why wouldn't I want to address that and help him sort out his concerns BEFORE I get on? There's no need to "wait and see," what the ride will be like; if I see he's bothered now, it'll only get worse in the saddle.
Imagine if all these amazing athletic creatures were supported to compete without being in the the continual state of stress and duress, then what might their movement look like?
By not offering a horse TIME to sort through his emotions, rather just attempting to physically exhaust him, but never address what he's bothered about, is setting up the horse to be defensive....
As with everything, something that can be a safe, confidence building and supportive tool based in how it is presented by one person can also be a horrific experience for the horse if someone with ego, time limitations, and ulterior motives uses it...
Just my thoughts.
Sam
Horsemanship Pressures : Making appropriate choices for you and your horse
The initial romanticized idea of what equine ownership can
be, inspires many people to commit to buying a horse, but it can quickly diminish with
the realities and learning curve they experience. I’ve found that there is a preliminary assumption, that because someone is able to financially “buy” a horse, there is
an expectation that the horse is “waiting” to do whatever the person asks of him.
Demo Day April 10, 2017 Oakzanita Ranch
FINAL CA Clinic of the season... April 7-11 Oakzanita Ranch, Descanso CA. Here's what's special... there will be a DEMO day!
There are still a few one hour, private, participant spots available, Clinic audit/participant info
ASAP to sign up!
Photo Credit M Canfield |
Auditing is free every day EXCEPT Monday April 10 from 9-4 which will be a demo day. I'll work with five different horses (spots already filled) that I've never worked with before! Cost is $50/day to audit and here's why...
Below is the "sales pitch" blurb and explanation as to why the audit fee is on the DEMO day:
"Sam does not offer books or DVDs to read or watch as her utmost priority with her teaching is clarity for both the horse and human. Spending the day auditing her working a variety of horses will allow you an intensive opportunity to watch real life scenarios unfold. As they do, as an auditor, you will be able to ask, discuss and mentally digest many of Sam's approaches and training theories that contribute to building a solid foundation and partnership with the horse. It will be the chance to watch in a short period of time how to assess a horse, "start a conversation" with the horse to achieve mental availability, and then a variety of ways to communicate spatially and with the use of aids to build the horse's confidence, focus and willingness to participate, which in the long term then leads to the ideal riding partner. There will be lots of opportunities for discussions, Q & A and much more than what is covered when folks audit individual sessions."
If you have questions or would like to audit you may PM or just show up with a chair and lunch!
Hope to see you there!
Sending your horse to the Horse Trainer: Things to consider
The idea for this blog has been in the back of my
mind for a while, but the other day as I was about to cross-post a different
blog on a blog directory, three titles of articles written by other folks caught
my eye. Each of their blogs was
mocking/sarcastic comments about horse trainers and their cliché attitudes
towards clients. Sadly, there was a lot of truth in what was being written.
Pain in horses- an unaddressed common denominator
Pain in horses- an unaddressed common denominator
Let me preface this blog by saying I am NOT any of the following: veterinarian, equine nutritionist, equine dentist, farrier, equine chiropractor, equine naturopath or any other medical-related equine professional.
What I am is an equine professional who sees/handles hundreds of horses a year of varying ages and breeds, with differing degrees of training and exposure/experience in both competitive and pleasure disciplines.
Time and the illusion of multi-tasking
For people
who are new to my teaching and training theories, there are many questions and frequently
a great deal of pondering and brooding as folks start to question “the way they’ve
always done things” with their horses.
An introspective
assessment, rather than seeking “answers” by imitating others, frequently leads
people to an uncomfortable stage, of not so “pretty” revelations about themselves,
behaviors and patterns in their interaction with their horses.
Unfortunately
in our western society we are often praised for how much we can multi-task,
seemingly “accomplishing” more tasks in a very limited time.
It may
appear that individuals are achieving multiple tasks, but when it comes down to
quality,
clarity
and intention
when completing those responsibilities, they often are lacking those traits.
The difficulty arises when we take a highly sensitive animal like the horse who
will “feed” off of our energy, and we head out to the barn carrying chaos, distraction
and tension.
Since
we no longer rely on horses for survival, most people want to ride or be with
their horse and use the experience as an emotional outlet. The problem is horses are highly emotional
and sensitive creatures. They also are
mirrors to those around them, and reflect what people “bring” to the
experience. If folks are rushed, distracted, and stressed from “life” and unintentionally
carry “baggage” from the daily demands of job, family, life, etc. to our equine
partners, it makes for a less than desirable experience for both participants.
So the
next time you are THINKING
about riding, stop for a moment. Take 10
(I’m not kidding) deep breaths, mentally scanning your body for rigidity,
distraction, or tightness. With each
breath, feel that you can let go of “reality” for an hour or two while you head
out to the barn.
It may
sound a bit “touchy/feely” but horses are not machines sitting and waiting to “serve”
their human’s purpose. The horse within
seconds of your arrival has assessed where your brain and emotions are. If you aren’t present, neither will he be,
leading to a less than quality experience. They can be fantastic partners, but
only if offered fair and respectful communication. Why not spend quality time,
rather than “dutiful” time with him?
And trust
me, all those “urgent” problems will still be waiting for you when you’re done
spending time with your horse. So, leave reality at the door, and literally give
yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the ride!
Sam
The illusions of the "broke" or bombproof horse...
I recently had a mare arrive for training that had been used as a trail
horse. Her job had been to take care of a handicapped rider. She’d supposedly “gone everywhere” and had done
everything. When some folks tried her out,
they put a novice rider who hadn’t ridden in many years on her and rode
out. She was “fine.”
Herd Bound Behavior- Resistance between Human and Horse
Unwanted scenarios- opportunities for improving your partnership!
Many times when folks are working with horses, they’d like
it to be a relaxing, enjoyable experience.
Yet often horses and humans need to build a quality partnership in order
to achieve a rewarding ride for the both of them. What most riders forget is that no matter how
“trained” a horse is, they are still looking to their rider for guidance,
confidence and boundaries. They are a
herd animal and they are deciding if they or their rider is the “leader” of
their herd.
The horse will question the pecking order of the herd the
rider and he create, but it may not seem apparent on calm, ideal days. When circumstances beyond our control arise,
and stress levels increase, typically only then do we as riders start to realize
that perhaps the quality of the partnership we share with our horse is not as “ideal”
as we would like to think.
As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, if you give most riders the
option, they will do everything they can to avoid a confrontation or
uncomfortable scenario with their horse.
Horses often realize this and have mastered becoming fantastic “people
trainers” as I say- teaching the human how to work around them in order to
avoid any conflict. The ideal for me is that
the horse asks “What would you like?,” and learns to work around the human.
The idea to write this blog came up as I went to work a
horse this morning. I spend my winters in
the desert, where one would think life is a lot more boring than my summers
spent in the inland northwest, but actually that is not the case. Down here near North America’s largest sand
dunes we have wind, (it took ten years before it occurred to me that ALL of that
wind was what built the sand dunes), and when I say wind I mean sand-blasting,
scary-discarded-trash blowing, tarps constantly flapping,
scary-animal-dashing-from-citrus groves, horse-tails standing
straight-out-to-the-side kind of wind.
I’ve experienced wind in other notorious places such as
Texas and Wyoming- and of course the ever present wind in Patagonia, but
somehow the wind here in the Arizona desert has extra elements of “scariness”
in terms of horses. Add in the fact that
this is the produce capital of world during the winter, so heavy duty farm equipment
randomly appears at various times. There’s
also a marine base and I’m near the flight approach/take off path; military
personal from all over the world come here to “practice” and so it is very
common to have a “Top Gun” show as a daily occurrence. Nothing like getting on a colt for the first
time with the horse’s body literally vibrating from the sound of six F18s
flying low and overhead.
Then of course there’s the sheep. The town here is a mixture of new and old,
traditional and modern. Often after
several cuttings of alfalfa hay have been raised, herds of sheep are escorted
down the main roads (herded by a few men with flags, a couple of dogs, a ram
and a goat,) and will randomly appear in an old hay field with three strands of
temporary hotwire fence strung up. A few
days later they’ll be moved on to another field. That’ll get every horse in the barn to stand
at full attention and often they display physical feats of aerial acrobatics as
if trying out for the Spanish Riding School
In this desert, there are no mountains in sight. Any activity happening can often been seen
and or heard from miles away; to the A.D.D. horse you can imagine how
distracting that might be.
Anyhow one of our wind storms began brewing last night and
by this morning the sky was thick with sand and debris, the trees were bent
over and the air was heavy with the horses concern. Most people avoid heading out to work with a
horse on a day like today, but for me, I see it as an opportunity. Just as when I look to buy a horse I want to
see the “worst” side of the horse rather than the sales pitch, when I’m working
with a horse, I’m looking for opportunities to create a solid citizen. I’m not striving for the “perfect” ride, but
rather to be there to help and support him experience a naturally scary
scenario and perhaps influence a change in his brain and emotions as to how he
perceives the chaos around him so that he learns to react in a physical
respectful, calm and safe manner.
Because the horse is a prey animal, the natural instinct
when unsure is to run. But my job is to
teach the unnatural response of, “Stop, think, and ask what the rider wants,”
then offer a physical movement. This not
only decreases the chances of a dramatic reaction from the horse, but also
builds confidence in him and the fear switches to a curiosity as to what is
happening around him. Changing from the
instinctual fleeing to curious mode literally allows more “time” for
communication between rider and horse, a mental participation from the horse which
in turn creates a physical softness.
This builds his confidence emotionally and mentally when a situation isn’t
ideal.
So rather than “challenging” the horse to be obedient on a
scary day, I would rather break down the “scariness” of it all- starting on the
ground. Rather than trying to avoid what
may be bothersome, I will break things down and ask the horse to only mentally
consider one or two things, and then offer ways for him to find softness in his
body, brains and emotions, so that he can figure out how he really feels about
something. The more he learns how to
think while I’m on the ground working with him, the more this increases his
confidence while I’m in the saddle.
The other part of avoiding the less than ideal circumstances
is that people are taught that things cannot get “ugly”- by this I mean many
people have the goal be striving for the ideal ride. But often the ground work during less than
ideal scenarios, such as when a horse mentally and emotionally is falling apart
needs to be addressed so that the horse can learn how to let go of feelings of
concern, worry and fear. If he is taught
to “stuff” those emotions, they will continue to build inside of him, even if
on the outside he is appearing as being obedient. It will only be a matter of time before all
of those pent up emotions come out physically dramatic.
I on the other hand I would like an honest “response” from
the horse for whatever he feels. That
being said, there are spatial and behavioral boundaries that need to be established
before the scary day along with effective communication aids, so that when the
horse becomes brainless and reactive, the person has a way to help the horse
work through the stress, rather than reprimanded him for not behaving. As I say, embrace the tantrum, but don’t
leave him in it. Help the horse “get” to
the other side. Remember the physically
dramatic behavior is a reflection of the horse’s brain and emotions. Change how he feels on the inside, the
behavior on the outside will decrease in dramatic, dangerous reactivity.
Every time a horse starts to get bothered and a person
critiques him or instead uses it as an opportunity to build his confidence can
detract or contribute to the quality of long term partnership and physical
behavior of the horse. Unwanted
behaviors/insecurities/worries/fears do not randomly disappear. Attempting to “desensitize” the horse through
repetitious behavior may temporarily work for that scary tarp, but it is only
teaching the horse to tolerate the scary tarp, rather than changing how he
feels about it. The day you move the
tarp, it’ll feel like you’ll have to start all over again. Instead, change how he feels about the tarp,
then it will not matter where the tarp is.
So the next time you have an opportunity in a less-than-ideal
circumstance, of course prioritizing your safety first, perhaps experiment with
approaching your horse’s concern with being a supportive influence, rather than
a critical one or just avoiding the situation all together.
Good Luck,
Sam
Full Immersion Clinic 2016 Dates with Samantha Harvey
2016 Full Immersion Clinic Dates Finalized...
Please visit the link for details http://www.learnhorses.com/Full-Immersion-Clinics/
June- Full Immersion Clinic #1
The Equestrian Center, LLC, Sandpoint, ID
June 3-5, 2016
July- Full Immersion Clinic #2
The Equestrian Center, LLC, Sandpoint, ID
July 15-17, 2016
August- Full Immersion Clinic #3
The Equestrian Center, LLC, Sandpoint, ID
August 5-7, 2016
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