Once we have built a base of connection with our horses, then it’s time to begin blending it into performance work. The important thing to remember is that performance and connection aren’t separate things but instead complimentary pieces of our training journey… 

A lot of horsemanship is working with the dualities of different aspects of the work both in ourselves and our horses. Horses are incredible, generous creatures and will give us the world. However, a lot of horses don’t know how to be regulated and feel empowered in the work we’re asking them to do…

When we look at balance in a horse, we need to take a holistic approach.

Healthy movement in a horse starts with a calm mind and their emotional and mental needs being met, creating a feeling of self-carriage…

Don’t discourage the try

Try is such a precious resource when it comes to working with horses. It’s so important to recognize and encourage a horse’s try, even if it isn’t something that we ‘wanted’ or asked for. When we have try, it’s simply about shaping behaviours to the outcome that we want and releasing on greater degrees of better. Most horses have a strong desire to figure out what we would like from them. When their needs are met, there desire to work with us allows for them to offer themselves more freely.

In some cases, when a horse has had experiences that have caused them to look at us skeptically or if we haven’t quite met their needs yet, it can seem like it’s much harder to work with them. It can feel like we’re doing our best to communicate, but it’s like our horses aren’t speaking the same language. This can feel frustrating and discouraging. In these instances, it’s important that we pause and really listen to what our horses are trying to say. Do they feel unsafe? Do they feel under stimulated in the work? Can they hear us? Are they confused? We need to understand what they need from us so that we can feel like we’re on the same page!

In order for us to experience something new, we need to do something we’ve never done.

Horses have an incredible capacity to reflect back to us, not only our strengths but our weaknesses too.

Where your attention goes, energy flows…

The beauty of movement in a horse that is happy and relaxed is incomparable…