Shaw Horsemanship

11/07/2024

Exciting news! Equitana is a world class gathering of the equestrians community. An opportunity to observe and also learn. This year Ian Shaw has been invited to be an Educator presenting a session entitled "The Road to Rehab".

https://www.equitana.com.au/educator/ian-mark-shaw/?_educators_dates=2024-11-17

Ian feels honoured to be included.

08/06/2023

Recent studies conducted by the Institute of Heart-Math provide a clue to explain the two-way ′′healing′′ that occurs when we're close to horses.
According to researchers, the heart has an electromagnetic field larger than the brain: a magnetometer can measure the energy field of the heart that radiates from 2.4 meters to 3 meters around the human body.
While this is certainly significant, perhaps more impressive than the electromagnetic field projected by the heart of a horse is five times larger than that of a human being (imagine an electromagnetic sphere around the horse) and it can influence straight into our own heart rate.
Horses are also likely to have what science has identified as a "coherent′′ heart rate (heart rate pattern) that explains why we can feel better when we're close to them. Studies have found a coherent heart pattern or HRV to be a solid measure of well-being and consistent with emotional states of calm and joy-that is, we exhibit such patterns when we feel positive emotions.
A coherent heart pattern is indicative of a system that can recover and adapt to stressful situations very efficiently. Many times, we just need to be in the presence of horses to feel a sense of well-being and peace.
In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits by interacting with horses, including lower blood pressure and heart rate, higher beta-endorphins (neurotransmitters acting as pain suppressors), decreased stress levels, decreased feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, better social working; and greater feelings of empowerment, confidence, patience and self-efficacy.

By: Alejandro Pascual Puig
CEO en E&C CONSULTING CEO en E&C CONSULTING
The artist is Valerie Eric. The copyright holder is Sarah Barnes, HeartMath certified practitioner. The image was inspired following a riding lesson on heart connection.

29/05/2023

Thank you Project Hope for sponsoring the event and everyone who attended. It was a great day, the centre was a wonderful facility and I was pleased to meet so many amazing people.

04/05/2023

This week a bit of “TLC” for our equine friends!

A body check from Nicole of Head2Heels; a visit from the farrier for pedicures; and hello to our smallest and largest team members.

26/04/2023

Bailey's training is going well. She is easy to catch and now starting to pick up her feet well. Over the past two weeks she had her first couple of rides in the round yard and the arena. The small wrens nesting in the roof swooped a few times but they did not seem to worry her at all. These rides were with a halter and she is now learning to take a bit. Bailey has also had her first ride in the float.

Although very green, she is available but will need an experienced home where her education can be continued. Bailey is 6 years old, 14.2 hh and out of Candeuca lines. She has tested 7 panel negative. Her sire was AAA regd, her dam was registered with the A&ASP.

She would look pretty in pink!

17/04/2023

A young client undertaking exercises to find her centre of gravity and develop balance.

27/03/2023

Ian and I are always keen to expand our knowledge to help educate our horses and assist clients. Last weekend we attended a seminar in Sutton Forest NSW covering groundbreaking work in equine psychology, Herd Dynamics and Sensory Soundness.

Thank you to Kerry Thomas of THTBloodstock who came all the way from the USA to present and to Dr Shelley Appleton who organised the seminar.

The seminar covered both theory and practical application utilising the knowledge Kerry has acquired over 35 years of research.

08/03/2023

06/03/2023

Dental checkups today! Thank you to Stuart Brunton Equine Dentistry for coming along and undertaking dental checks to 13 of our horses.

29/01/2023

Happy New Year. It has been a busy month and, despite the ups and downs of the weather, it has not stopped us too much. One bush fire alert caused us a bit of concern but fortunately did not eventuate. However we have had a few trees down with the wind. We have, however, been making good use of our shady arena!

14/01/2023

As I worked with a nine year old Appaloosa this morning, I became aware that at one point we were not understanding each other. When this happens I believe it is critical to and try and listen to what the horse is trying to tell us. Horses want us to understand things from their point of view. So, we have to try our best to work out where we may be confusing them. Can we break it down into smaller bite size bits or can we present the idea in a different way?

It is so important to try rather than repeatedly bludgeoning on in the same manner, otherwise if we don't listen the horse's voice will get louder. Bucking, rearing running away, freezing and rising frustration can result and that is not the way to build our relationship with our horse.

I am reminded of a comment from Leslie Desmond. a renowned horse trainer, when she said. "How important is a 'Yes', when 'No' has no value.

Really listening is an important part of communication and leads to building any relationship.

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas to everyone and enjoy the festive season. Our horses are well and truly into holiday mode!

08/12/2022

18 months from conception to completion and our undercover arena is finally finished! We have been working with our horses in it and they have all duly done an inspec of every corner and viewpoint and seem to give it there approval. It has been wonderful to work out of the wind and also in the shade last weekend.

Our obstacle course is also gradually getting built (although looking a little overgrown this week). Thank you to Edenhope Mens Shed for building our bridge.

13/11/2022

Ian and I just had a great time at Equitana. Such a wonderful opportunity to learn from the masters such as Guy McClean, Dan Steers, Mark Langley and Warwick Schiller. Also to see the next generation of horsemen from Pony Club level up to the young ladies who took part in The Way of the Horse. There were many other great presenters too. We also had a chance to catch up with friends representing Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria who we assist with helping horses in need. PHHWV was Equitana‘a nominated charity for this years event.

Now life back to routine and we look forward to passing on knowledge gained.

23/10/2022

A few pictures of what has been happening over the past few months.

31/08/2022

As Spring is upon us, I thought it a good time to start getting rid of the horses winter woollies. First off the rank, our eldest resident Linda who is now aged 33. The hair came out in handfuls and blew away like white tumbleweeds.

Grooming is a great way to interact positively with your horse and to check for any health issues. Linda has a touch of arthritis in her hip so was a good opportunity to check how it is progressing.

07/08/2022

Meeting Ruby and friends. Ruby is just starting her education to learn how to be haltered, led and ride in a float.

05/08/2022

Ian Shaw: we all need continuing education…

I first met Mark Langley on a fresh frosty morning alone in the indoor arena. I had entered the half lit space and shared it with the silhouette of a man setting up for the day. It wasn’t hard to recognise Mark, beige Akubra, ginger trimmed beard, well worm muddied boots and an exact replica of the man I had been quietly following on Facebook for well over a year.

I wasn’t sure why others had come but I had driven for 5 hours the night before hauling a middle aged Quarter horse/Arab cross to attend. I had been fascinated with the horse/human connection for 20 years, seeking a path that raised the level of communication with horses, and I knew Mark had something to offer.

For three days I had the opportunity to work one on one with Mark and my horse, and listen to the sessions with other riders, each of us struggling at times to understand or align our mindsets with the message Mark was imparting. Sometimes my brain bled with the overload as chunks or previous thinking imploded. Altered thinking is always a challenge as the old and the new intermesh into a new paradigm.

As I loaded my horse to leave, I was pleased that I had come. I knew that the understanding I had gained would lead to better outcomes for both me, my clients and those sentient beings I would come into contact with in the future.

I am grateful to Mark and the people I met.

07/07/2022

This is Honey who is a rescue pony that belongs to Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria. Ian has been working with her for some time. She is a super sweet pony and needs a special home. She can be caught and haltered; walks and trots when asked and enjoys jumping logs. Whilst Honey will do all of the above willingly, she is a little shy of people and is still learning to build trust. She is not trained under saddle and it is unlikely she would ever be suitable for children to ride.

Honey is looking for a long term home. Adoption can be undertaken through Project Hope but we would be very happy to assist with this and provide support where necessary. Please contact us or Project Hope if you could offer her a home.

11/06/2022

As the Polar wind battered, bashed and thrashed, ardently throwing its torrent of rain against the exterior of the indoor arena at Unicorn Park, south of Ballarat, Ian worked inside in relative calm with clients and their horses.

Time was spent on attendees' areas of concern with the main focus being on understanding that communication not only involves giving clear direction but also involves really listening to the feedback that your horse is giving. The other main topic covered revolved around giving horses and riders the skills needed to manage themselves during scary situations.

Fence sitters were actively involved in the day too as they were also called upon to participate in the simulation exercises.
One student wrote after the clinic….”Thanks Ian for a fantastic day. I have taken home a heap of tools to use and practice on Bas and my other horses.”

Thanks goes to Tracey too for allowing us to use such a great venue.

Another clinic is planned in the future for those who had intended to join the day but could not as a result of dealing with Covid in the family.

25/04/2022

When it comes to float loading, size doesn't matter! It takes just as long to teach some of our smaller four legged friends as it does our bigger ones.

20/04/2022

First leading lesson outside the yards for Jigsaw.

19/04/2022

Informative article . We have a number of young horses aged 2-5 that are just starting their education. This will be undertaken progressively over the next 2-5 years so they are not rushed or overworked.

'Backing Your Young Horses'
Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS

"There is much info around which leads the reader to think horses age more quickly when they are young and slower as they get older. There is no evidence to support this. Why would the horse be the only animal in the world that ages in a non-linear manner? It doesn’t make sense and is used as an excuse for impatient owners to justify working their immature horses.

Sitting on a horse before maturity has many dangers. It is risking kissing spine, especially if the horse is not conditioned slowly. Sending a horse away as a three year old to go from unbacked to ridden daily in 6-8 weeks is a recipe for disaster. Riding in circles on three year olds damages the hocks. Jumping four year olds is asking for stifle injuries. Pounding the roads pulling traps with two year olds damages every joint in their legs. Any joints asked to take excess pressure before maturity increases the risk of irreparable damage. Maybe a young horse puts down more long bone in response to trauma, to work, but just because a child heals quicker than an adult it's no excuse to cause such damage. An adult is still fully capable of adapting to the work load, just slower, without the collateral damage to the rest of the body.

For every horse that is backed at three and lives a long working life until they are thirty, as a Vet I can show you thousands, tens of thousands that are euthanised before they hit their teens because their bodies are broken. The exception is not the rule.

Fact: A horse ages roughly three times faster than a human, so a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way back up:

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child.
A child.
Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult.
Ready to work

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life.
Be patient with your pride and joy!

17/04/2022

Happy Easter everyone!

As well as enjoying the break with family, we are also working with our own horses. Ian is pictured here with two of our Appaloosas who have been sold, and as soon as float trained, will be off to their new homes.

The last picture is of the cranes lifting up the roof of our indoor arena. There is still a bit of work to be done but hopefully it will be completed in the not too distant future proving a dry and wind free environment for us, our clients and our horses to work in throughout winter.

29/03/2022

Remember Goodboy? Goodboy took part in the Safe Horse Handling Program taught by Ian Shaw at Edenhope College. Read his story - it is all about trust.

29/03/2022

Meet our Horses

Merlin is an Arab x New Forest pony around 14 hh, 13 yrs old and a jet black colour. Nathalie is working with him here, reviewing all his ground work and getting ready to start his work under saddle.

24/03/2022

Ian has been working with this young client to help her be able to handle her horse more safely and effectively on the ground including being able to load her horse into a float. A solid groundwork foundation is then reflected when under saddle.

24/03/2022