Miniature Horsemanship - Kendra Gale

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Miniature Horsemanship - Kendra Gale

Positive Training for Miniature Horses & Their Humans
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11/12/2024

Downy

11/11/2024

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we will remember.

11/11/2024

Disappearing into the fog this morning.

11/09/2024

11/05/2024

I’ve really found working with my horses (and mule) at Liberty a valuable tool.

But when I say liberty, I mean the horse is free to make the choice, and that’s where the value lies.

If they don’t choose to participate in what I’m doing, that gives me a lot of information about how comfortable they are, and how rewarding they find whatever it is I’m doing with them. Then it’s my job to find another way to become more engaging and rewarding, or to make them more at ease, so they DO want to play with me. If they walk away from me, then I know they’re comfortable to do so. It’s a good thing, certainly not something to be discouraged by chasing or correction.

There are a couple things that are sometimes called “liberty training” that I don’t include in my definition.

First, chasing a horse around to frighten or encourage them into an expressive trot is not liberty training. Yes, there are horses who love liberty class at the show, and that’s great. It’s a fun opportunity for them to get out of their stall and blow off steam, but it’s not training. It’s a bit of fun for the horse who enjoys it, and either tedious or frightening for those who don’t.

Second, and much more importantly, a horse who has no tack on, but doesn’t feel like he has any choice but to do as he is told, is not at liberty. Skills that are taught using tack or whips or other forms of restriction, and enforced through threat of consequences, are not liberty training, even when the tack is removed.

Liberty means choice.

Liberty means communication.

Liberty means freedom.

True liberty training improves your relationship with your horse, not your control over them.

11/05/2024

Newman is king of the cheesy grins

11/04/2024

Sparkle and Downy

11/03/2024

For those who are new here, I wanted to introduce myself!

My name is Kendra, and I love Miniature Horses.

I’m one of those lucky few who have had Miniature Horses their entire life - I was just a year old when my grandparents brought home three Miniature Horses.

When I was 6 I went in my first Miniature Horse Show (I still have the trophy!) and I never stopped. Canadian National Championships, World Top Tens, High Point Honor Roll wins - I've shown at every level in the breed ring, and in every division, and had a lot of fun along the way!

I discovered Combined Driving about 15 years ago, and it quickly became one of my favourite forms of competition. Champion at Training and Preliminary levels with a Single VSE, I've also dabbled a little with a tandem, and look forward to more competitions one day in the future.

I've competed in Horse Agility online since 2016, but started entering consistently and moving up the levels in 2020 – I had lots of fun working with Little Duke to compete at the highest levels, finishing the 2022 year 2nd in North America and 5th on the Worldwide Standings.

I am a proponent of science based training and positive reinforcement, and love sharing what I've learned to help others have more success and a better relationship with their Miniature Horses.

For 17 years I worked at an Equine Veterinary Clinic (Burwash Equine Services - the clinic that takes excellent care of my herd!) and I have a strong interest in health care and management of Miniature Horses in general, and senior horses in particular.

For many years now I’ve been a full time instructor and coach, and today do most of my teaching virtually, allowing me to connect with humans and horses all over the world. I offer online courses, as well as a monthly membership program, and one-on-one virtual consultations.

I am the author of The Big Book of Miniature Horses, the must have primer on everything Miniature Horse, as well as Understanding Your Miniature Horse, and Positively Different, equestrian fiction for young readers (or horse lovers of all ages!)

I’m so happy to have you as a part of our amazing online community!

11/03/2024

Looking extra "miniature" next to this neighbour 😉

10/28/2024

Are you new to Miniature Horses? I have just the article for you! It's in the link below, because in includes more links, to other resources, too much for one social media post!

Check it out, and feel free to share with anyone who might find it helpful!

https://classroom.miniaturehorsemanship.com/new-miniature-horses

10/28/2024

Stanley and Dazzle headed out to pasture this morning.

10/27/2024

Moved the electric fence to give them fresh pasture. They look happy. 😊

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Cochrane, AB

Website

https://www.miniaturehorsemanship.com/

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Videos

Take a tour of the Getting Started Trick Training online course! I love this new format - I am *this close* to having the Groundwork Masterclass completely transfered over to this easily navigated structure, and will be doing the same with all my existing courses. (Cameo appearances by Henry the chihuahua puppy who I think was confused about me talking to myself lol)

Happy National I Love Horses Day!

Stampede Parade 2024!

How to show your Miniature Horse's teeth to the judge.

Play. This is Zoom (he’s the tall one) and his full brother, Vodka (the little one). Zoom was 11 months old and not yet gelded, Vodka was 4 years old, and they spent a good chunk of every day playing like this. They do still, and they're 3 and 7 years old now! When this is how horses (especially male horses, gelded or not) play with each other, it isn’t surprising that sometimes they try to initiate the same sort of games with their human. You can see how this would feel like “aggression” or “dominance” to a human! But knowing that it’s play can really change our response. We absolutely can explain to our babies that reaching over to bite our leg while we’re leading or rearing up at us isn’t a game we like to play, without hitting them or making them afraid of us. These early experiences with humans will shape how they feel about people their whole lives. Our instinct, when our horse does something we consider “bad” is to punish with hitting or sudden movements. But in this case, that’s very similar to the game they’re trying to initiate. Bopping them on the nose or shoving them away often makes them MORE likely to repeat the behaviour as they’ll think you’re playing along with their super fun rough and tumble game. So what DOES help? 1. Get your baby an equine friend. The number one way to see less play behaviours directed your way is to give them a playmate who actually likes those games. 2. Ignore what you don’t want to see repeated as much as possible. Keep yourself safe, if your youngster has really gotten in the habit, then interacting with them through a fence can make it much easier to simply step out of reach when they start with behaviour you don’t like. 3. Teach non-compatible behaviours and make them highly rewarding. They can’t chew on you if they’re learning to touch a target, or you’re reinforcing them for keeping their nose away from you. 4. Keep sessions short. Youngsters have a very short attent

I have Miniature Horses ....

Nothing like a few tricks to make feeding horses in a late March snowstorm a bit more fun! If you want to have more fun with your Miniature Horses, build a stronger relationship and better line of communication, then trick training is a great way to do that! Only two more days before the Trick Trainin Bootcamp! Join me starting April 1st to learn how to teach your horse 10 tricks in 30 days! classroom.miniaturehorsemanship.com/tricks

Trick Training Bootcamp

New Trick Training Course Announcement! In the 9 years since I started teaching online courses, the most popular request for a new course has always been Trick Training! I've done some webinars on the topic, but never a full course ... UNTIL NOW! ⭐Trick Training Bootcamp ⭐ 10 Tricks 🐎 30 Days April 2024 classroom.miniaturehorsemanship.com/tricks

Bentley got his Advanced Trick Title! We're going to have some work to do now, to try for his Expert Title next! If you're interested in trick training, I'll be announcing a brand new course very soon! Stay tuned!

Ryah's second entry in the Online Horse Agility League through the International Horse Agility Club and this time she placed First! She's also bumped up to First Level from Starter, so we better get practicing on her September entry! ;)