Aimee Harman Horsemanship

28/06/2024

On gaining a horse’s focus:

Whenever I start with a new student I talk about the importance of fostering a connection with a horse and gaining their focus. It’s sometimes a bit of a foreign concept to people who have previously only known to pay attention to what the horse’s feet and body are doing, and not to how the horse is thinking and feeling about the exercise.

Once the student understands the importance of being able to direct a horse’s focus or thought, I notice that oftentimes they will go through a phase where they notice the horse’s focus has strayed, and they reprimand the horse. They have made the important leap to understanding that having a horse be part of your program is important, but not yet the leap to understanding why.

We want to be a safe space for the horse. We want for the horse to feel comfortable when they are connected to us. It is only then that we can proceed the training in a way that has a chance of the horse feeling ok about it, and then offering his or her best. When a horse loses focus and disconnects from us, we certainly want to try to interrupt that leaving thought, but we don’t punish. Instead we give the horse something else to focus on, starting, as we always do, with a soft gentle ask. If the horse is very stuck on his or her distraction point we may then need to firm up to motivate the horse to come back to us, but we always start softly and go back to softness as soon as we can. When the horse makes a try to come back to us, we cease asking and reward.

In this photo, young Fergus is very focused on a deer not far down the road. I am encouraging him to shift the balance of his focus more to me and less on the deer.

04/06/2024

My good friend and mentor Good Horsemanship - Ross Jacobs is conducting a clinic in Fish Creek, Victoria in October this year. I’ll be taking Tazzie along to soak in as much knowledge as I can.

I believe there is a spot or two left - I highly recommend making the most of this opportunity to learn how to better connect and communicate with your horse from Australia’s best clinician. These clinics normally book out months in advance.

Contact Irena to enquire.

HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!

Irena tells me there are a couple of spots still available for the 4 day clinic in Fish Creek, Victoria, October 18 - 21. Contact Irena Vaynbaum for information and books.

01/05/2024

I received this message from a student of mine today. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear when clients have breakthrough moments with their horses because of something I have helped them with. I’m very lucky to have a group of clients who are passionate about connecting with their horse in a two way communication, and who are able to understand the importance of influencing a horse’s thoughts and feelings rather than just their physical actions. We need more people like them in our equine community. ❤️

08/02/2024

Well this post has just made my day. I couldn’t be more chuffed.

FROM STUDENT TO PROFESSIONAL

I want to introduce you to a few of my long-time learners who have graduated from student to teacher. I was thinking about how many years had I been a professional horse person and the people I have worked with. Then I started to think of the people whom I met when they were pretty novice at working with horses in the way I teach and how they have evolved into incredible professional horse people.

There are many more people I know who have become amazing horse people over the years, but today I want to mention the ones who are now proudly making a living out of their talent.

Let me say, that each of them is brilliantly talented and has a lot to contribute to the horse industry. Add to that that they are all very special people with the interests of the horse and owners at the pinnacle of priorities. They are good people, not just good horse people, and I’m proud they are my friends.

It needs to be clear that they have achieved their professionalism and expertise through their own hard work and obsession. I take no credit. Without my influence, they would have figured it out just fine because their passion is so great. They have achieved what they have achieved because of them, not me or any other professional. I thoroughly recommend all of them.

Lastly, I am not ashamed to admit that once in a while my ego gets a little boost when one of them contacts me to ask about a tricky problem they are having with a horse. It’s nice to know they don’t know everything yet and they believe the ‘ol man still has something to offer them.
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Let Me Introduce You To (in alphabetical order) …..

AIMEE HARMAN - Pakenham, Victoria, Australia
https://www.facebook.com/aimeeharmanhorsemanship

I first met Aimee when she was about 11 years old and she had a pony that needed some help. More than 20 years later Aimee is making a name for herself as a horsemanship instructor, trainer, and classical dressage coach. She lives in Victoria, Australia, and takes horses in for work as well as travels to teach.

Aimee’s passion for her work is obvious and only equaled by her passion to learn more. As well as being a long-time student of mine, Aimee has been a student of Manolo Mendez for many years and worked for him as a working pupil.

Aimee is a lovely rider with a brilliant talent for teaching the unteachable aspects of horsemanship. She is smart, intuitive, and has a lovely feel around horses and people
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ELLEN KEALEY - Northfield, MN, USA
https://www.facebook.com/ekhorsemanship/

The first time I met Ellen she was 20 years old. She was still in college and just starting her part-time business as a horse trainer and teacher. Sara Etter was hosting a clinic for me in Iowa and she told me to watch out for this girl named Ellen Kealey who was coming to watch.

My first memory of Ellen was that I couldn’t get more than two sentences out before she had a question. And another question. Then another question. And another. Who was this woman?

On the last day of the clinic, one of the participants asked Ellen if she would ride her horse. I watched with a smile on my face. Ellen had the nicest touch on a horse I had seen in a long time. We instantly became friends and I have been mentoring her for the past 9 years.

As a horse person, Ellen’s strength is her passion for helping troubled horses. Ellen has ‘feel’ in abundance and working with her is a joy. Ellen’s business is a mix of training and lessons and she is in constant demand for both. Ellen hosts clinics for me twice a year and I always make sure we have some non-clinics days to work together. She has reached the stage where she keeps me on my toes and makes me think. I am very excited for her future as a professional horse trainer.
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LAURA DICKERSON - Colfax, CA, USA
https://www.facebook.com/laura.dickerson.100483

Laura lives in northern California, USA. I was introduced to Laura when she was a student of Shea Stewart. We got to know each other when Shea hosted clinics for Michèle and me. And later we spent time together in Arizona at Harry Whitney’s. Laura came from the hunter/jumper world and latched onto the horsemanship principles like a dog with a bone. When I substituted training horses for teaching horsemanship clinics full-time, Laura was one of the first to put her hand up and offered to host me in Colfax. That was 10 years ago.

Laura has evolved from being a brilliant student to a brilliant teacher. Each time I teach a clinic in Colfax, I see the remarkable improvements in the students due to Laura’s diligence. Her talent as a teacher is evident in the enthusiasm of her students. Laura has an excellent eye for detecting the changes in a horse’s thoughts and feelings and then explaining them to her students. Her energy never seems to run low because her enthusiasm to make things better for both horses and their owners has no limits. More recently, Laura is teach a few clinics. I urge folks in northern California to familiarise yourself with her work. She is smart, talented and a wonderful teacher and very approachable.
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LORENA RUSSELL - Harcourt North, Victoria, Australia
https://www.facebook.com/LorenaRussellHorsemanshipSupportandCoaching/

Lorena might be the person on this list I’ve worked with the longest. It started with me training some of her horses and then evolved into Lorena attending clinics. In more recent years Lorena has become an avid host of clinics for me. Lorena’s business is mainly horsemanship lessons, but she has expanded to begin teaching clinics.

Lorena has a very astute sense of what a horse is feeling and her mind is always busy looking for better ways of assisting a horse. Perhaps what most impresses me most about Lorena is her outstanding ability to teach. Students love her and I see their progress with every visit I make. Lorena is a very supportive instructor which gives students the courage to push the boundaries. She also has an excellent knowledge of the intricacies of riding and how to improve position and feel. She never fails to impress me with her insights and ability to explain them.
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SHELLEY FORCEVILLE - Canberra, ACT Australia
https://www.facebook.com/shellyforceville

Shelley resides in Canberra, Australia. I met Shelley approximately 9 or 10 years ago and she has attended at least two clinics a year since. Shelley is one of those horse people who always has a question at the ready because of her inquisitive mind. I think every good horse person needs an inquisitive mind like Shelley.

For several years she worked as a barefoot trimmer. However, in more recent times, Shelley has taken her passion for riding and horsemanship to a professional level where she now teaches students an understanding of how horses operate both emotionally and mechanically. She is furthering her understanding of classical dressage and biomechanics with the help of Belinda Bolsenbroek. It is wonderful to see her incorporate her knowledge and skill of horsemanship into the field of classical dressage.

28/01/2024

Last week I asked my followers what they would like to see more of from this account. Several people said they would like to know more about my training philosophies. I have been thinking about how I can put some content together to convey this. I think I will try to do a few short videos to cover off the core elements and some instances in horse handling where these would be demonstrated.

For now though I will just say this. I truly love horses and I find something to love or empathise with in every horse I work with. Absolutely everything I do with horses always must come back to that love, and the desire to help them feel more okay with what is being asked of them. This needs to be at the forefront of everything we do with our horses, before our own egos, goals, and desires. I don’t subscribe to the idea of teaching a horse to ‘respect’ people, but I do very much subscribe to the idea of teaching people to have the utmost respect for their horses.

Pic of me riding ‘s beautiful TB mare, Bee, yesterday, for an impromptu photo shoot.

21/01/2024

I don't like to post negativity and criticisms on my social media pages. I would much rather focus on showcasing how I like to do things, or even on showing somebody else who I think is doing nice work. But I will say that the top levels of the sport of dressage has reached a a point where I no longer find it enjoyable to watch, and what I'm seeing in the ring is not something I aspire to for my riding or my horses. I still have every intention of training my young horse, and any other horses I'm lucky enough to be offered a ride on, as far along the grades as I can. But I won't be following in this current lot of riders' footsteps.
I think Shelby pretty well hits the nail on the head with this video.

FEI Dressage rewards rollkur.Order limited edition merch: https://milestone-equestrian.creator-spring.comLearn about horse behaviour science and rollkur / hy...

19/01/2024

From big to little. Leo is a 7 year old Shetland owned by . He was a lead line pony in a previous life, and Emma has bought him just to love and play with. As is the case with many small ponies, Leo hasn’t had the idea of following a feel, leading with softness, and moving out on a circle explained to him clearly. The littlies are often easier for us adults to control, so devoting time to their training isn’t as high a priority as it would be for a big horse. Leo happens to be a sweetheart who doesn’t make too much trouble anyway, and luckily for him, Emma is devoted to building a meaningful and kind relationship with him. I found him to be very smart and willing, although a little nervous and unsure in his first session. We are just taking things slowly and only asking for small tries in the early stages. This will help build confidence and set a good foundation for any tasks that come later.

15/01/2024

I like this pic of me with ‘s handsome Clydie boy, Jules. Jules is a sweet young horse who gets overwhelmed quite easily and will quit trying when that happens. He is not stubborn, he is frightened and unsure. The challenge has been working out how best to bring him out of his shell and encourage him to keep searching for the right answer. At the moment when he gets really stuck I have been switching up the exercise rather than getting bogged down in it, and this seems to help.

14/01/2024

The barn cats have the right idea on this warm and lazy afternoon. Horses worked, and now time to take it easy.

26/12/2023

Happy 22nd birthday to the big fella, the best teacher I ever had, the ‘he’s a jackass, but he’s my jackass’ main man, Delaney Park Fiasco, more commonly known as Nicky. I love this boy so much. He is a man of strong opinions and preferences, and that he prefers me over all other humans is my honour and privilege.

10/12/2023

Hi team!

I've decided to change my business name! Here's a short video where I explain why.

14/11/2023

I have just finished participating in a four day clinic with Good Horsemanship - Ross Jacobs . I had the privilege of working with my good friend Jo's two horses, Bee and Valley. I’ve been working with Ross since I was about 12, and there is always something new to learn, a new way to think about something, a new approach to try, and more to tune the eye to. I got so much out of working the two horses alongside this true master (don’t tell him I called him that), as well as watching other lessons. The plan had been to take Tazzie, but unfortunately his injury prevented that. Can’t wait for the next clinic!

13/11/2023

I now possess magic powers. My fee has gone up 300%.

MAGIC CHAPS

I just finished a 4 day clinic in Fish Creek, Victoria, Australia. Aimee Harman was sure the magic she saw during the clinic came from my chaps, so she decided to test that theory. She wants to be just like me when she (eventually) grows up 😊

06/11/2023

This is a really easy to understand and informative read about stomach ulcers in horses. As the article states, these are so much more common than we ever used to believe they were.

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-care/gastric-ulcers/?fbclid=IwAR14sDsVomVveFiU75bqeL9ybO3c4ZrWHblbINfehDaV-iAMtRLg_QKXQv0_aem_AY0VTgl_ENcGZ5WdW45vOfyFq-65Qx4L2dOWdhsdm4v-4StdjLOKAN-ucztBhcljRsI&fs=e&s=cl

There are two distinct types of gastric ulcers in horses, one affected by intensity of exercise and the other by the amount of exercise

15/10/2023

Cam is now available. 15.3hh 10 year old PRE gelding.

Lovely dressage / show / pleasure prospect. Easy to handle / shoe / float / wash. Established walk / trot / canter, some laterals. Very straightforward ride at home, can be a little spooky out and about, but he is coming along beautifully.

Priced in mid teens, negotiable to the right home. Located in Catani, Victoria. PM me or give me a buzz on 0439 852 532 to discuss.

Ridden pics by Kat Atkins.

09/10/2023

I like to think of Cam as an all-terrain Andalusian.

Some pics from this morning.

06/09/2023

Like many people, I suffer from generalised anxiety. It has flared up lately. Tonight I went back up to the horses to rug them for the night, and I spent some quiet time giving Nicky a brush while he ate some lucerne hay. It was the most settled and peaceful I felt all day. I truly think these amazing creatures - especially my boys - possess some kind of healing magic. I love my big old man.

05/09/2023

This cutie will be coming up for sale very soon. 10 year old PRE gelding. Stay tuned!

17/08/2023

Working a day job as I do means that during the week I need to get up quite early to get the horses worked before the daily grind kicks in. It’s hard to get out of bed on the cold winter mornings, but sunrises like this morning’s are one of the many things that make it worth it.

19/06/2023

I was thinking the other day about the concept of not letting the horse win before finishing a ride. I was certainly taught that way as a child, and have come across many riders who have also been taught this concept, and are now perpetuating it. Where this now doesn’t sit well with me is that it pits the rider against the horse in a competition of win or lose. There’s nothing in the language of ‘not letting the horse win’ that suggests a partnership.
So I thought about the values I have been taught by subsequent horse masters in my adult life, who have advocated for the feelings of the horse, and for respect… from us to the horse. Not the other way around. We have a responsibility to our horses to help them to end each session feeling better than when they started it. That’s what the goal should be every time. It has nothing to do with whether the horse or the rider / handler ‘wins’. If the horse is feeling better by the end of the session, everybody wins. Even if you had a goal at the outset of your ride, and you didn’t achieve it, so long as your horse ends the session feeling more ok than it did in the beginning or middle, you have done right by your horse.
Pictured is Stella, the 4 year old Friesian who started this session 100 hands tall and very spooky and reactive. I felt I had done my job that day, and was really moved by the change she made.

30/05/2023

Yesterday was dental day for my kids. We had six horses to be done, varying in age from 2.5 to 22. Each horse has a different history and of course different health chart and mouth conformation. Paul Owens Horse Vet Dentist was absolutely phenomenal in his attention to detail not just with their dental health but overall health and well-being. I can rest easy knowing that all six horses are comfortable in their mouths and best poised to chew and digest their food, which is a crucial element in maintaining a horse’s weight and gut health. We are sticklers for maintenance in this area, so we look forward to seeing Paul again in another six months.

13/05/2023

I took Zonny to a riding club lesson day today to have a poke around whilst his other Mum had a lesson on her other horse. He stood beautifully tied up to the float and behaved very sensibly during his groundwork. He was a bit tense and worried, especially under saddle, but I just made it low pressure for him and let him just walk around and have a look, whilst keeping at least half his brain on me. It’s really important to keep these first outings for a young horse as low pressure as possible, and help them to understand that they can trust us to keep them safe no matter the location. I’m so proud of the boy!

27/03/2023

I love this photo of Zonny and Tazzie, taken last winter. They are such great mates. 💛🖤

18/03/2023

A few weeks ago I posted a throwback photo from 10-15 years ago of me on my big warmblood fella, Nicky. Today one of my students asked if I had ever done much jumping (she is 12 and loves it). I found this to send to her. I’m 12 years old here, on my one in a million Anglo Arab / Quarterhorse, Del. To this day he is the best horse I have ever had, which takes nothing away from how much I love all my horses.
Del crossed the rainbow bridge maybe 6 or 7 years ago now. I still think of him often, and wish I could have my time with him over again. 🧡🧡🧡

08/03/2023

Hey guys! Here's a little clip of me talking about what I do. For any of my central Vic peeps, there are still a few spots left at my Springfield Equestrian Park clinic on Sunday 19 March.

22/02/2023

Here's a throwback photo from somewhere between 10-15 years ago, of me on Nicky, and Michèle Jedlicka on welsh pony, May. We are at a Good Horsemanship - Ross Jacobs clinic back in the Garfield, Victoria days. Always such a wonderful time!

Nicky is 21 now, and retired, but he is still my special boy!

14/02/2023

New reel up in on Insta showing some highlights from a few of the weekend’s lessons. These girls are awesome. 😍

0 Likes, 0 Comments - Focussed Dressage () on Instagram: "Bee’s owners, Lily and Maya, continuing to get better and better with each lesson. Lily rides Bee, and Maya rides Starlight, owned by . Great horses and great kids make for a great day! . . . ...

07/02/2023

Here's a throwback to this time five years ago, when I was working a few horses for some lovely people in Upper Beaconsfield. On this particular day Saffy the Haflinger mare and I embarassingly turned up in the same outfit colour. Being the strong independent women we are, we owned it though.