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.
Group Coaching Membership Opportunity
Join me on the journey today.... ALL NEW 2020 Group Membership program...
Weekly LIVE #FifteenForFriday videos with 15 minute Q & A regarding that weeks topic.
Watch anytime. Change or Cancel your membership anytime.
Join me http://bit.ly/rmhmembership
Group Membership with Remote Horse Coach Samantha Harvey
For those of you who have enjoyed the posting of my #FifteenForFridays live videos, on Facebook it is hard to believe that I have been sharing them from around the world for over ONE year!
As endeavors evolve with my Remote Horse Coaching, I'm very excited to be introducing the ALL NEW 2020 Group Membership Program with weekly, monthly and yearly subscriptions available.
Mentally Available and Willing Horses
Starting a Conversation
Starting a session with a mentally willing horse. It isn't about the behavior of the horse following you loose.
It is about the opportunity to assess where your horse is mentally, emotionally and physically on that particular day.
This feedback from the horse helps dictate what needs to be expressed by you in the conversation to offer guidance and leadership that will build the horse's curiosity and confidence rather than diminish it.
No treats, no bribes. Just a simple offer "to be with me."
Would you like to evolve the partnership with your horse? Sign up for Sam's Remote Horse Coach program today!
"I have to..." vs. "I get to..." with our horses
"I have to..." vs. "I get to..."
I recently was listening to a non-horse related lecture and it reminded me of something I "knew" but I wanted to revisit more specifically.
For many people, as they experience unwanted scenarios with their horse, they start fixating on the potential unwanted outcomes. I did a #FifteenForFriday (you can sign up HERE to participate) talk on this a few months back. It is very easy to fall into the pattern of thinking negative thoughts and then acting defensively about the potential experiences that can occur with the horse.
I recently was listening to a non-horse related lecture and it reminded me of something I "knew" but I wanted to revisit more specifically.
For many people, as they experience unwanted scenarios with their horse, they start fixating on the potential unwanted outcomes. I did a #FifteenForFriday (you can sign up HERE to participate) talk on this a few months back. It is very easy to fall into the pattern of thinking negative thoughts and then acting defensively about the potential experiences that can occur with the horse.
The Quality Conversation with the Young Horse
During a lesson the other night we captured this shot... a young horse learning to be supported by the handler...
Learning the conversation skills that will last a lifetime. Without that key mental factor, the conversation between human and horse becomes limited and patternized.
It isn't about the obvious physical scenario presented, but rather the quality of the conversation.
Without two way conversations the equine experience becomes "hopeful" on the human end and anticipation builds in the horse.
Find out how Sam can help you and your horse negotiate the conversation! Click here for more on her Remote Horse Coaching program.
Alternative Horsemanship WEBINAR- Limit 10 Participants- Join me LIVE
When: February 15, 2020 @ 10am-11am PST
What: Enjoy this one-hour, LIVE, online webinar from the comfort of your own home!
WEBINAR TOPICS
*challenges you face with your horse
*mental approaches when working with your horse
*strategies to decrease your own insecurities
Winter time Horse Tack & Equipment Assessment and Cleaning
If weather still has you limited to the time you spend with your horse, this is a good opportunity to do a clean out/tack check... Too many folks go far too long in between actually checking their equipment and many tack related accidents could have been prevented with basic "maintenance.
Here's the basic checklist I suggest every six months:
Horse Leather Equipment check list-
Stitching- anything frayed, loose or about to come apart?
Holes - have they stretched over time?
Cracks- visible anywhere on the leather
Uneven wear- (especially on saddle seat, also visible on fenders or flaps depending on saddle type)
Stirrup leathers- English saddle leathers tend to stretch and I suggest switching sides they are on every six months
Latigos- especially where they attach to saddle leather tends to crack
Bridles- check where the bit attaches, leather tends to crack there and on chin straps, notice if any buckles/ties/screws are loose/missing, etc. Are all the runners and keepers there to keep tail of leather straps "neat and tidy?"
Reins- do they cracking if you "fold" them tightly at any spot?
Saddle Tree- How often do you look at the underside of your saddle? Have you held the front and rear of your saddle and "pulled" each end towards one another? If there is a "collapse" or "give" in the middle of your saddle seat, your tree is most likely broken.
English saddles- do any knee rolls need re-stuffing or the seat need re-flocking?
Breast plates, cruppers, martingales- no cracks, buckles working, etc.
Other Horse Equipment
Halter/Lead rope- Condition of the snap or attachment end to halter? Anything fraying? Does the halter fit appropriately?
Saddle lifter/riser pad/gel pad/etc- is there uneven wear, does it need to be cleaned?
Girth check- for those using English equipment, is the elastic on your girth unevenly or over stretched?
Rider equipment
Helmet- when was the last time it was replaced, even if you haven't had an accident? Have you dropped it/squished it? Replace it. Are buckles cracked/missing? Does it fit appropriately?
Chinks/Chaps- buckles, straps, etc. all working?
Half chaps- zippers/snaps, elastic in good condition?
Boots- what is the condition of the soles and area around your ankle?
Equipment Cleaning
Everyone has their own preference but I typically lightly clean initial dirt/grim with damp cloth, then use leather soap, then a conditioner to keep moisture in. I use a butter knife for cleaning the grime that accumulates around the buckles.
Leather- Saddles, girths, bridles
Saddle Pads/ Blankets (hypoallergenic dye/perfume free detergent)
Material cinches
Horse Boots (notice if any straps/buckles are missing or cracks in material)
Bits- have you soaked it in clean, non soapy water and cleaned the gunk off lately?
Washing anything synthetic that touches the horse's skin
CLEAN YOUR GROOMING BRUSHES
There's more I could add but this will at least give you a good place to start an assessment and the time to get everything organized for when the riding season starts!
Sam
Here's the basic checklist I suggest every six months:
Horse Leather Equipment check list-
Stitching- anything frayed, loose or about to come apart?
Holes - have they stretched over time?
Cracks- visible anywhere on the leather
Uneven wear- (especially on saddle seat, also visible on fenders or flaps depending on saddle type)
Stirrup leathers- English saddle leathers tend to stretch and I suggest switching sides they are on every six months
Latigos- especially where they attach to saddle leather tends to crack
Bridles- check where the bit attaches, leather tends to crack there and on chin straps, notice if any buckles/ties/screws are loose/missing, etc. Are all the runners and keepers there to keep tail of leather straps "neat and tidy?"
Reins- do they cracking if you "fold" them tightly at any spot?
Saddle Tree- How often do you look at the underside of your saddle? Have you held the front and rear of your saddle and "pulled" each end towards one another? If there is a "collapse" or "give" in the middle of your saddle seat, your tree is most likely broken.
English saddles- do any knee rolls need re-stuffing or the seat need re-flocking?
Breast plates, cruppers, martingales- no cracks, buckles working, etc.
Other Horse Equipment
Halter/Lead rope- Condition of the snap or attachment end to halter? Anything fraying? Does the halter fit appropriately?
Saddle lifter/riser pad/gel pad/etc- is there uneven wear, does it need to be cleaned?
Girth check- for those using English equipment, is the elastic on your girth unevenly or over stretched?
Rider equipment
Helmet- when was the last time it was replaced, even if you haven't had an accident? Have you dropped it/squished it? Replace it. Are buckles cracked/missing? Does it fit appropriately?
Chinks/Chaps- buckles, straps, etc. all working?
Half chaps- zippers/snaps, elastic in good condition?
Boots- what is the condition of the soles and area around your ankle?
Equipment Cleaning
Everyone has their own preference but I typically lightly clean initial dirt/grim with damp cloth, then use leather soap, then a conditioner to keep moisture in. I use a butter knife for cleaning the grime that accumulates around the buckles.
Leather- Saddles, girths, bridles
Saddle Pads/ Blankets (hypoallergenic dye/perfume free detergent)
Material cinches
Horse Boots (notice if any straps/buckles are missing or cracks in material)
Bits- have you soaked it in clean, non soapy water and cleaned the gunk off lately?
Washing anything synthetic that touches the horse's skin
CLEAN YOUR GROOMING BRUSHES
There's more I could add but this will at least give you a good place to start an assessment and the time to get everything organized for when the riding season starts!
Sam
Trailer Loading Trauma- Horses
Today I worked with three different horses that had all issues with trailer loading... the most important message I could convey was the conversation with the horse should initially focus on refining the tools needed in order to present the trailer loading itself.
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