This is such a common theme in how I work to educate folks to be more supportive of the horse.
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.
Being present to Improve your Horsemanship
This is such a common theme in how I work to educate folks to be more supportive of the horse.
Alternative Horsemanship Remote Horse Coach: Two Conversations
Yesterday I posted a video clip of working with two horses having two separate conversations. One was being asked to circle. It occurred to me that I should share my interpretation of a circle.
Lunging... driving with a whip/stick/flag/etc... flee... high rate of energy... tension... "making"... stiffness... counter bent... should not be a part of the horse's movement while on a "circle."
The actual shape of the circle should be round, balanced and with the horse's inside shoulder stepping towards the direction of movement, without the horse "falling-in" towards the human.
The horse should be looking where he is moving.
The horse should be able to follow the feel of the rope and offer the "shape" the human is asking for without heaviness or resistance.
Most folks drive their horses nuts with circles because they have a misconception of what "it" should look like or the purpose of them.
Many horses have learned to avoid critique by offering light circles, yes, there is no tension on the rope, but there is no softness in the brain or body.
Folks are in a rush to move through the gaits in each direction, frequently causing auto-pilot from the horse and not have honest conversations, which in my mind defeats the point of a circle.
Then the person attempts to ride, and finds out the horse has more "stuff" to sort out, and the human wonders why the circle didn't help. Because it was a conditioned response and not a thoughtful conversation.
Circles should be a tool, not a crutch. But to have it be quality, preparations need to be made before teaching a horse to think around and then move around a circle. The ability to directing the horse's thought, influencing his energy levels, addressing how he feels about physical and spatial pressure.
The circle can be a preface to many other conversations. The circle can be taught in quarter sections to the horse, wherein they need to be able to differentiate between think, step, check-in and be available for further guidance, no different than what occurs during a ride.
"Are you plugged in?"
Sit up
Heels Down
Look up
Deep in the saddle
Hands up
Not until much later in my riding career did I start to realize that ALL of the rider's movement is connected. If there is not a strong foundation- starting with the seat- the rest of the rider's body will have unwanted "side effects" or excessive movement as a way to unintentionally compensate for a lack of balance and stability.
Assessing Patterns & Routines- How does change feel to the horse?
First, think about things you do "all the time" with your horse. Pick three or four scenarios to start practice changing your routine and any potential patterns in your own behavior, and as an opportunity to assess your horse's reactions.
None of the suggested experiments is supposed to get you and your horse into trouble.
What you're looking to assess is if mental resistance appears in the horse if/when you change how he is used to you doing things around him. If he is unsure, what are his emotions like, is he mentally available to her your guidance, and is he physically reasonable?
Remember as you start with "changing it up"- if you don't address potential initial concerns in the horse, don't continue to keep asking more "new" ways of doing things and then wonder why he may act resistant or physically dramatic. Believe him as soon as he shows any wariness or insecurity. Then address it.
Offering to change the pattern in the small day to day interactions is not a test of if the "horse can handle it" but rather a way to safely assess the adaptability within yourself and the horse.
If there are any "holes," the safe time and place to start changing the conversation, thoughts, and behaviors are not under the pressure of an event that is out of your control. Improving the trust and support in the partnership long before the day of unexpected events allows for less traumatic scenarios for both humans and horses.
Here are a few ideas:
Haltering- Go out to the pasture or stall to halter your horse, call them over, and when you'd normally put the halter on, stop, and leave. Then come back a while later and actually halter them.
Walking out the gate- Change out the direction, body position or breaking down down the way you "always" go out the gate.
Leading- Do so from the horse's off (right) side, or from a distance farther ahead or behind than you normally do.
Tacking- Do things out of order, such as bridle first, then the saddle, and then cleaning hooves.
Mounting- Different locations, different side or perhaps get on and off several times throughout the ride.
Riding off- go to a different spot to warm up, change the direction of the warm-up.
Riding home- head towards home and then turn back as if heading out again, perhaps several times.
If you'd like to contact Sam to help you come up with ideas and training tools for your particular scenario, please check out her Remote Horse Coach Services.
If there are any "holes," the safe time and place to start changing the conversation, thoughts, and behaviors are not under the pressure of an event that is out of your control. Improving the trust and support in the partnership long before the day of unexpected events allows for less traumatic scenarios for both humans and horses.
Here are a few ideas:
Haltering- Go out to the pasture or stall to halter your horse, call them over, and when you'd normally put the halter on, stop, and leave. Then come back a while later and actually halter them.
Walking out the gate- Change out the direction, body position or breaking down down the way you "always" go out the gate.
Leading- Do so from the horse's off (right) side, or from a distance farther ahead or behind than you normally do.
Tacking- Do things out of order, such as bridle first, then the saddle, and then cleaning hooves.
Mounting- Different locations, different side or perhaps get on and off several times throughout the ride.
Riding off- go to a different spot to warm up, change the direction of the warm-up.
Riding home- head towards home and then turn back as if heading out again, perhaps several times.
If you'd like to contact Sam to help you come up with ideas and training tools for your particular scenario, please check out her Remote Horse Coach Services.
Guilt overshadowing progress with your horse?
Thinking forward to Friday's Facebook LIVE video, #FifteenForFriday, this quote will be the topic of the video.
In the past few weeks, I've had this conversation with a variety of horse folks who all seem to be struggling with progression because of the past. It can be overwhelming debilitating and seem to perpetuate a cloud over the equine partnership. Please join us in the group HERE
In the past few weeks, I've had this conversation with a variety of horse folks who all seem to be struggling with progression because of the past. It can be overwhelming debilitating and seem to perpetuate a cloud over the equine partnership. Please join us in the group HERE
What is your reality with the horse?
What intentions do you have for you and your horse? What are you doing to work towards them?
Do you have a realistic perspective or are you trying to imitate some other rider, trainer or professional who may have far more experience or different goals than yours?
I believe if more folks "bit off less" in what they attempted to do with the horse, ironically they would accomplish so MUCH more.
Intro to Biking 101 with the horse
I remember reading an article years ago on the best "training preparations" you could do, is to help your horse take on the world by building their confidence at home.
Each piece of my conversation with the once completely wild filly prepared her for her first bicycle ride. Teaching her to soften to pressure, follow a feel, follow pressure, try when unsure, be reasonable, adapt her energy, mentally think through things...
This was not a random "let's see what happens" the first time I ride a bike with her. Instead, I worked on building up the trust, offering support, and now with curiosity, she is interested in new things.
Forgive my goofiness, it'd been 20 years since I've been on a bike, and choosing a trick bike might not have been the smartest for my knees.
Is everything perfect in her behavior? No, but watch the changes she goes through in just one circle as she sorts out all is well.
And no... don't try this at home without ALL the tools in your communication box.
Enjoy
"Your horse is not your dog"
A client came up with this post's title as I was discussing with her my recent, um, "frustration," at watching a video of a trainer using outright bribery with food to get a horse to accomplish a task that was clearly making the horse uncomfortable and stressed.
Yes, I could be opening a can of worms with this topic.
Preface- I am NOT saying ALL treats are bad. I'm not saying you can't ever feed your horse a yummy snack. I'm not saying there is ONLY one way to do things when interacting with the horse.
Why Remote Horse Coaching with Samantha Harvey
Cross Training with our Horses to Improve the Partnership
I remember reading a book early in my riding career about folks who did not adhere to the "norms" or what a riding/training session had been historically defined as.
It was one of those things that I didn't realize how much it would influence me until much later, ironically when riding on remote ranches. It was only then I began realizing how many different "jobs" you had to do in one "session" with a horse, frequently due to circumstances out of your control. Such as while checking the water at the ponds, realizing the calves had found a hole in the fence and were now out exploring, so the initial ride evolved into a 2-mile detour and several hour adventure to get all the critters back to where they belonged.
Positive Influence with the Horse
Someone recently asked the question below. I figured others might not be clear either, so I've shared my answer.
Question:
What is the definition of "positive influence?"
My answer:
Using clear communication through pressure, either physical or spatial, that directs or refocuses the horse's thought, and then his movement.
It is a way to proactively communicate with the horse what your intention is- where you want him to focus, how fast you want him to move, rather than being a passenger, waiting and seeing what the horse does when he had no initial instruction and then critiquing him for not doing what you wanted correctly.
Question:
What is the definition of "positive influence?"
My answer:
Using clear communication through pressure, either physical or spatial, that directs or refocuses the horse's thought, and then his movement.
It is a way to proactively communicate with the horse what your intention is- where you want him to focus, how fast you want him to move, rather than being a passenger, waiting and seeing what the horse does when he had no initial instruction and then critiquing him for not doing what you wanted correctly.
Mindful vs Mind Full behavior with the horse
Florida Full Immersion Clinic October 5-6, 2019
What: Full Immersion Clinic When: October 5-6, 2019
Where: Peaceful Trails, Coconut Creek, FL Cost: Participant $400 or $50/auditor/day
Haul-ins welcome. Limited overnight facilities.
Sam’s goal is to teach riders how to offer clear and effective communication with the horse to create a trusting and respectful equine partnership.
You will be learning in a safe, supportive, non-critical, fun environment with both individual and group instruction. Horse behavior, anatomical lectures, tack usage & fitting, overall health care and much more will be addressed!
Clinics are adapted to offer and address appropriate, realistic confidence-building skills with lasting, long-term results.
All level riders and horses welcome. Limit 6 participants, auditors encouraged.
Learn more about Samantha Harvey at www.learnhorses.com , visit her BLOG or keep up with her on Facebook
Please email for participant availability. 50% non-refundable deposit required.
Click link for Details
http://bit.ly/2Tx8eRt
Clinic Sign Up
http://bit.ly/2yW53tn
Auditor Sign Up
http://bit.ly/2KwKbiN
Sam’s goal is to teach riders how to offer clear and effective communication with the horse to create a trusting and respectful equine partnership.
You will be learning in a safe, supportive, non-critical, fun environment with both individual and group instruction. Horse behavior, anatomical lectures, tack usage & fitting, overall health care and much more will be addressed!
Clinics are adapted to offer and address appropriate, realistic confidence-building skills with lasting, long-term results.
All level riders and horses welcome. Limit 6 participants, auditors encouraged.
Learn more about Samantha Harvey at www.learnhorses.com , visit her BLOG or keep up with her on Facebook
Please email for participant availability. 50% non-refundable deposit required.
Click link for Details
http://bit.ly/2Tx8eRt
Clinic Sign Up
http://bit.ly/2yW53tn
Auditor Sign Up
http://bit.ly/2KwKbiN
Breaking Traditional Barriers in our Horsemanship
I just happen to be reading a book with a short synopsis of things throughout human history that perhaps seemed like a good idea at the time but in hindsight were not or eventually had become outdated. Below is a brief history of railroad track building... bear with me as this relates to our horsemanship.
Unwanted Behavior: Horse backing when mounted
Ask the Trainer... Q & A
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 did back up a step or so. So when I got her home I 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.m I tried this 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 I might have to get rid of her.
Thanks, Paul
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 did back up a step or so. So when I got her home I 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.m I tried this 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 I might have to get rid of her.
Thanks, Paul
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| Sam re-educating a 4 yo that had a rough intro to humans. |
Keeping Perspective to Accomplish Goals
Too often folks have a laser focus on a task rather than assessing being able to step back and notice if they have the necessary pieces in order to present a scenario to the horse.
Horsemanship Video: Diffuse unwanted events with the horse
This horsemanship video explains why diffusing and decreasing unwanted horse behavior Alternative Horsemanship with Samantha Harvey Remote Horse Coach
Mid-Summer Horse Health Assessment
Now that the weather has warmed up, you're potentially spending more time with your horse and perhaps riding frequently. This is a great time for a mid-summer health assessment.
Take pictures from the front, rear and each profile. Take a weight measurement. Perhaps reassess your feed regime and if it appropriate for your horse's current fitness schedule. Be sure to keep track of the weight of feed and grain you are currently feeding rather than relying on the trusty old coffee can as a form of measurement. I notice a lot of folks "vamp up" on feed in the early spring, but forget to decrease as the horse has more time to forage on pasture throughout the summer.
#FifteenForFriday LIVE Q & A with Samantha Harvey
Each discussion I address a variety of topics including things such as: handling the horse, influencing his thoughts, riding position, tack fit, desensitizing issues, behavioral resistance, mental approach in the human and so much more.
Today's video is happening at 2pm pst. Join me for today's topics: "Obedience vs Curiosity, Tolerance vs Confidence" The videos can only be viewed in the group. Come on over and participate with me!
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