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Does your horse suddenly slow down near the arena gate, drag his feet on the way to the mounting block, or seem less interested every time you start another familiar routine? Sometimes, what looks like a training problem may simply be a sign that your horse needs a change. Just …
View Post(opens in a new tab) Trail riding is one of the best ways to enjoy time with your horse. You don’t have to compete, show, or chase ribbons to be a good horse person. But have you ever heard someone say, “I’m just a trail rider,” as if that …
Most riders know that feeling. You swing into the saddle, your heart starts beating a little faster, your legs tighten, and suddenly every noise, movement, or unexpected step from your horse feels like a warning sign. The more nervous you become, the more tense your horse seems—and before long, you’re …
How to Help Your Horse Feel Safe The most important characteristic of a safe, well-trained horse is trust. Horses who trust people are far less likely to behave in erratic, explosive, or aggressive ways and are a joy to handle and ride. Creating trust in horses is the responsibility of …
Find and Fix the Pieces that Make Up the Whole Situation Last month in Part 1, I discussed the tendency some riders have to excuse their lack of motivation for education by stating that they are “just a trail rider”. This mindset suggests that these folks aren’t serious about learning …
Don’t Use a Love of Trail Riding as an Excuse to Avoid Learning and Improving There’s a phrase I often hear when talking to horse people. Usually, I hear it at the start of my clinics, when we all introduce ourselves and tell a little about what we do with …
Understand and Use Body Language to Speak “Horse” Working with horses gains better results with better understanding. True horsemanship involves building trust, understanding, and studying the way horses think and behave. Horsemanship’s foundation requires comprehending many principles from the perspective of the horse. It’s not just another thing we do …
Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions for Improving Your Horse’s Flexibility Riding a horse who has achieved a high degree of suppleness gives a wonderful feeling to its rider. A supple horse moves fluidly and freely over the ground. Its hind legs reach well under its body while bending the joints of …
Response in Spite of Trouble This month we wrap up our discussion on the principle of Response in Spite of Trouble, having covered the foundational understanding and some examples of situations starting on the ground. If you’ve not been reading along, I encourage you to check out the articles in …
Response in Spite of Trouble Last month we discussed one of the most common questions I hear, which concerns what to do when a horse spooks or how to build confidence in a nervous horse. These are broad questions and can involve situations with a wide range of possible factors, …
