Ground Manners Matter - Holistic Horsemanship

06/27/2025

You don’t use the reins TO stop.

Rather, you use the reins WITH the stop.

06/20/2025

06/11/2025

The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The realist adjusts his sails.

06/10/2025

Many times people ask for trailer loading advice, but the horse has had human trauma, and trailer trauma.
That's not a training situation, that's an untraining situation
- Warwick Schiller

06/06/2025

It’s NEVER the horses fault.
Read that again …..
If you can’t figure it out, find a knowledgeable trainer to help.

06/01/2025

"The most important part of a comeback...

is believing in yourself."
~ Bill Owen

05/29/2025

Never stop being a student of the horse - Buster McLaury

05/28/2025

***. PRESSURE - RELEASE TRAINING METHODS ***

Many riders and horse owners today feel that pressure release training is "negative reinforcement". This kind of increased opposition comes from people who feel pressure release training is abusive.

Those who feel this way generally have spent very little or no time observing herd dynamics.

Many are riding students who commute to a barn to ride once or twice a week for a lesson. Others are boarders who have never lived 24/7 with a herd. They are visitors to their horses. Because they have not spent the necessary time, they don't understand how horses act in a herd.

These opponents tend to be highly empathetic people and who project their human feelings onto horses. They sincerely believe that putting pressure on a horse is hurtful negative reinforcement, a very human viewpoint.

We now see many social media pages that promote this human misconception of how horses act. It's a growing trend of ignorance among people who are disconnected from authentic horsemanship.

05/26/2025

*** INSPECT YOUR TACK ***… regularly.
It may save you a trip to the ER.

I had a rear cinch keeper break once, with a 400 lb steer dallied up.
When that rear cinch slid back to the flank area, the event quickly morphed from Team Roping to Saddle Bronc.
It may have been entertaining for the spectators, but not so much for me.