Speed Control – How to Train Your Horse to Slow Down
Bucking and bolting are always unwanted horse behaviors. No matter the reason, it’s not pretty when your horse pitches a fit or streaks off at warp nine. Speed control is a beautiful thing. Horses have to learn it. Which means you have to teach your horse how to slow down. This article explains how to […]
Positive Responses to Frustrated or Emotional Horses
You cannot believe that your horse just WENT THERE; refusing, rejecting, back-talking or worse – releasing a boatload of adrenalin into your bloodstream and a bushel of irritation in your heart. What are you going to do about it?!? Regroup and settle down. There are times in any relationship when the right response is retreat, […]
Decreasing Human Fear and Diminishing Spook in Horses
Guest post by Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship Horses have tugged at the heartstrings of the human race for centuries. There is something awe inspiring about the emotional connection we share with horses. That idyllic partnership is far easier imagined than experienced, with unexpected challenges and steep learning curves along the way. For many women, time […]
3 Ways to Manage Horses that Pull Back When Tied
Every trainer and clinician is asked for advice about handling horses that sit back when they’re tied. It’s a universal problem because there isn’t a perfect answer. This article presents three ways to manage horses who pull back. If you canvass equine experts, you get two basic responses, one that makes sense and one that’s […]
10 Benefits of Using Walk Poles with Horses
I have a love/hate relationship with ground poles. They’re amazing tools to improve horse and rider skills and they’re fun! Repeatedly riding around an arena gets boring for me and my horses, potentially creating the bad habit of sloppiness or lack of precision. I love how ground poles break the monotony, making lessons more profitable […]
Every Horse Trainer is Guilty of This
The quickest way to turn a willing horse into a sour horse is by asking him to do something he can’t one time too many. The result is a pissy resistant horse. Horse trainers have the same human failings you do, falling into the trap of thinking we’re always right. Whether routinely or rarely, […]
When Riding Goals Compete with One Another – Put Your Horse First
Six weeks after my right knee was replaced I was ecstatic! For years I knew each ride could be my last. My new knee gave me the ability to do things I hadn’t done in years. Instead of moving away from riding, I was moving back. I considered new options, plans, and possibilities with […]
Dealing Effectively With Pushy, Squeaky Wheels
Diva, our three-year-old miniature dachshund, is the one squeaky wheel in our house. She can be pushy, demanding, and vocal. The shrill noises emanating from our cuddly little cutie translate to, “Throw my ball!” or “Pay attention to me!” We’re dealing with her shriekish squeaks because I screwed up. I’m good with managing pushy horses […]