Long Drove Holistic Horse Training

22/09/2024

Thanks to everyone who came to todays polework especially those that got a little wet☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️ although the weather wasn’t as bad as forecast

The next one is 20/10 there are a few slots still available
To book please pm or text/callWhatsApp
07971187955

22/09/2024

17/09/2024

****UPCOMING DATES****

22/9 Polewoek - fully booked

28/9 Confidence Building Obstacle Clinic - fully booked

6/10 1 day Functional Movement Workshop - 4 rider spaces left

20/10 Polework

17/11 Polework

15/12 Christmas Polework

for further info please click the link
http://www.longdrovedc.co.uk/events-long-drove-somersham/

To book please pm or text/cal/whatsapp 07971187955

find out what's at Long Drove Somersham Cambs. Polework, Ground work and ridden training for all levels. We take a holistic approach to training for synchronised harmony

17/09/2024

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15/09/2024

****UPCOMING DATES****

22/9 Polewoek - FULLY BOOKED

28/9 Confidence Building Obstacle Clinic - FULLY BOOKED

6/10 1 day Functional Movement Workshop (Spectators Welcome please contact to book) - 4 rider spaces 2 spectator spaces left

20/10 Polework

17/11 Polework

15/12 Christmas Polework

for further info please click the link
http://www.longdrovedc.co.uk/events-long-drove-somersham/

To book please pm or text/cal/whatsapp 07971187955

14/09/2024

Shoulder freedom, balance and control

This is a topic I revisit frequently as it is an area that causes horses a large issue. So what’s all the fuss about? Well due to the fact the horses don’t have any stabilisation mechanism i.e. a collarbone. The only thing connecting the shoulders to the rib cage are muscles. Horses are also a triangular shape. They are normally narrower in the front and wider in the pelvis couple this with a dominant fore limb as they graze you have a recipe for an undesired pattern within the body.

Most horses will load one front foot more than the other, and will move/pull the other fore limb away from the body in order to stabilise. This leads to an undesired crookedness, which creates a pattern that causes the shoulders to be in one direction, usually left and the quarters to be in another direction, usually right. When the horse is positioned within this pattern the direction of travel is usually in the direction the shoulders are going, In this case left, for example, if a horse in this position was to do a right circle, the shoulders would travel left around that circle, and The horses, quarters would travel to the inside of the circle line, so the direction of travel on a right circle would actually be to the left. This is why when horses are ridden quite often, what happens is on one rein the circle is too small and on the other rein the circle is too big. the shoulders are unbalanced. One shoulder is pulling the other shoulder is loading.

So what happens to the rest of the body well, the rib cage falls to the direction of the pulling shoulder, meaning that the left hind also has to stabilise and bare more weight and the right hind has a shortened stride with less propulsion. Add other external pressures into this environment, lungeing, ridden work, jumping, and eventually there will be damage.

So what’s the solution develop the shoulders more evenly so there’s better balance from left to right, and the horse becomes straighter and more able to move the shoulders evenly. This in turn will have a knock on effect to the rest of the body, and enable the pelvis to become more level, and even so that both hind legs can propel the horse forward.

13/09/2024

****UPCOMING DATES****

22/9 Polewoek - 3 gruop spaces left at 11am

28/9 Confidence Building Obstacle Clinic - group space at 11m or semi private/private at 12 noon

6/10 1 day Functional Movement Workshop (Spectators Welcome please contact to book) - 4 rider spaces 2 spectator spaces left

20/10 Polework

17/11 Polework

15/12 Christmas Polework

for further info please click the link
http://www.longdrovedc.co.uk/events-long-drove-somersham/

To book please pm or text/cal/whatsapp 07971187955

12/09/2024

1 day Functional Movement Workshop

6 October 9am -4.30pm

A deep dive into understanding how horses move and how to train them for healthy, happy, comfortable longevity.
Using ground work and ridden techniques this workshop will help you and your horse develop a connected partnership with functional balanced movement. Ideal for those with a history of movement issues/injuries although not exclusive for this as improving movement benefits all and can prevent issues occurring in the future,
The workshop consists of
1x lecture/demo/practical theory sessions
1x ground work sessions
1x ridden sessions
Who is this workshop for?
If you’re looking to train your horse using groundwork and ridden exercises with a holistic approach in order to improve movement, joint function and muscle structure through developing balance, suppleness and lightness this is for you.
No quick fixes or gadgets used here just tried and tested method.
Price
£105 non members
£95 members
price includes training, stable, bedding, water and human refreshments
You will need to bring feed/hay, human food etc
maximum of 5 participants
Spectator spaces may be available please contact Tara to request this option
These workshops can also be organised for private groups, clubs and other organisations please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
To book space please contact Tara on 07971187955
please note full payment is required to confirm a space

12/09/2024

For all those interested in the ground work/in hand & rehabilitation study group here are the details see you there.

LD Ground work/In hand Work & Rehabilitation Study Group

Click the link to join

This group is a subscription Facebook group and will focus solely on ground work/in hand work and rehabilitation. It is open to all levels of experience in these topics and can be used as a resource for information. It will be a place you can receive feedback on your work with your horse and we can share ideas and thoughts, I will share my knowledge and expertise in these topics and will post content featuring what I do including exercises and addressing topics you’re interested in.

Within your subscription there will be an optional opportunity to have an assessment within the group via photos and video to understand your horses current posture and movement patterns and to find an appropriate starting point or progression focus. Horses with specific diagnosis’s also welcome here. This will enable everyone to learn how to assess and then how to move forward with the work.

This group will work on a monthly subscription basis with the ability to unsubscribe at any time. Unsubscribing will result in being removed from the Facebook group.

Subscription costs

LD members £17/month a link for subscription will be posted in the members group
Non members £20/month

Payment will be taken automatically each month.
If you unsubscribe your subscription will run until the date of your next payment. After that you will be removed from the Facebook group. You can re subscribe and rejoin the group at any time

Long Drove reserves the right to remove any subscribed group member at any time for not following the rules of the group

Subscription to LD Groundwork/In hand work and rehabilitation Facebook group focussed on working horses from the ground and rehabilitation

11/09/2024

Control versus communication

Methods of training Horses fall between control and communication

When we think in terms of control, we think of an element of force, the ability to rule over, to remove choice and expression. The party being controlled has no choice in carrying out the controllers wishes by any means possible even if that means to the detriment of physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Communication allows a two-way dialogue allowing both parties to speak and listen to share ideas and suggestions and to work together as a partnership

In our everyday life there are many things we control, our vehicles, our technology, our bodies and our minds are some examples. But imagine that was taken away form you! Imagine your car was being controlled by a remote control someone else was holding and they decided how fast and where you went, your choices are all taken away, how would that make you feel? Scared, frustrated, on edge? When there is no ability to communicate, the controlled party has to sacrifice to comply

Now let’s take that into horse training the horse being controlled has no voice to choose. It needs to show compliance to achieve the training goals, if that Horse feels scared, on edge, or frustrated as it’s not being seen or hard because it doesn’t understand what it’s being asked. Then it cannot carry out the process from a relaxed, supple and released body. This also means that the nervous system is in a detrimental position it puts the horse either completely or partially into fight, flight, freeze. This means the body has tension and brace from the nervous system state And exacerbates the issue further

Establishing a dialogue means a two-way communication, being able to see, hear and feel one another in order to understand in that moment how each is showing up. When we are participating in this with our Horses it allows our horses to express and communicate how they feel about the situation they are in. Most of the time all Horses want from us is to be seen and felt once they have a recognition of this they are prepared to work with us in communication and to form a partnership, however when this doesn’t occur, they feel the need to either shut down completely or to take the behaviours and the expression to upper limits until they are seen, felt and heard

Allowing a horse a dialogue gives a freedom of expression and allows them to participate rather than comply. This means that on both sides there has to be at times compromise and understanding, when we train a horse in this way we can understand the small nuances and can interpret the feelings and expressions of behaviour in the early stages which means we can see difficulty unhappiness and sometimes pain right from the starting point allowing the horse a freedom of choice to express how it feels and to participate gives them empowerment into their own training and the protection of their physical mental and emotional well-being training this way creates a horse that is willing to communicate express and partner with you

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11/09/2024

****UPCOMING DATES****

22/9 Polewoek - 3 gruop spaces left at 11am

28/9 Confidence Building Obstacle Clinic - group space at 11am or semi private/private at 12 noon

6/10 1 day Functional Movement Workshop (Spectators Welcome please contact to book) - 4 rider spaces 2 spectator spaces left

20/10 Polework

17/11 Polework

15/12 Christmas Polework

for further info please click the link
http://www.longdrovedc.co.uk/events-long-drove-somersham/

To book please pm or text/cal/whatsapp 07971187955

08/09/2024

Release and Relaxation

Tension, anxiety and stress cause many issues during the training of our horses. When these issues are left to fester they bubble away, get masked and labelled as behavioural issues the horse has always had. They are accepted as that’s the way it is, coping mechanisms are perhaps used to ease the issues but the root cause is never really addressed.

Well this doesn’t have to be the case! It is possible to help the horse release and relax and develop a soft way of moving that flows with ease. To have a responsive, light, happy, sound and relaxed horse who can carry out your requests without the need for tension and anxiety. This not only applies to ridden work but to all activities we expect our horses to do leading, loading, ground work or whatever it might be.

First lets discuss how to recognise tension anxiety and stress. All horses display this differently some have very subtle signs others glaringly obvious. Here’s a list, of which I’m sure you can add to

Tense tight muscles
Bracing
Jaw clamping
Rushing
Pulling away/pulling on the rein/leaning on the rein
Jaw tension
Teeth grinding
Tail swishing
Wrinkling the face
Reluctance to move
Biting
Pawing the gourd
Sudden explosive behaviour
Ears pricked and head raised
Attention else where/zoning out
Distracted by everything
Ears back
Aggression
Shut down/not in
Excessive rolling

The list goes on

Next let’s talk about why these might be displayed. Pain is possibly the most obvious and is the first place to investigate. Sometimes initial signs of tension can be the first clue there is something grumbling away in the body. In the majority of horses I work with these behaviours are seen because the horse is in poor function and restrictions and balance issues lead the horse to develop an unwanted behaviour pattern because they are unable to execute what is being asked of them.

A classic example of this is a horse that is struggling with balance from front to back. If a horse is stuck with too much weight over the front end it’s constantly struggling to balance without falling forward. Add the rider to this situation and you’ve just exacerbated the issue. This horse will either compensate by speeding up or by being reluctant to move/lazy. in both cases muscles are braced through the front end, the back is not lifted and the hind end is not engaged. The frustrated rider then has to find a solution to this, the speed issue is usually solved by a stronger bit/noseband coupled with over use of the hand. The reluctance to move issue is usually addressed by whips and spurs and a high energy diet. Neither of these solutions are addressing the root cause and although may work temporarily, long term the horses behaviour will worsen or it will end up with a lameness diagnosis due to long term poor function, or both none are desirable outcomes

So how can we help the horse? The first thing is to recognise the behaviour and acknowledge it. Humans tend to find this difficult as there is always a story or emotion attached to the behaviour however this will add fuel to the fire. The horse is merely exhibiting the behaviour because it’s in trouble its not personal it’s just a communication. The horse is looking to be seen in that moment, it’s telling you it’s in difficulty. This does not require a reaction or a reprimand it just requires acknowledging. Once you can observe the outcome response (the unwanted behaviour) then you need to find the trigger, pain, poor balance, dysfunction, restriction, weakness, misunderstanding, fear or multiple causes. Once there is an understanding of why the horse is exhibiting the behaviour a plan can be made as to how to help them with the root cause of the problem. During the solution phase of the process the horse will be able to release tension this may be observed by yawning, itching, licking, shaking, muscle tremors, deeper breathing, sneezing, blinking more frequently, softening the muscles and moving toward a more fluid and free functioning form. Horses are so grateful to be seen, helped and to then go on to release their tensions and anxieties and be given more comfort in their bodies and minds. To work with a horse that is free from tension and can execute movements with soft supple muscles, that can balance, can carry itself and the rider without brace or restriction is something for us all to strive for.

What tensions/anxieties do you see in your horse and can you find the root cause?

07/09/2024

Dive into all things ground work and rehabilitation
Improve your knowledge and improve your horse physically, mentally and emotionally
Come and join the discussion

Click the link in the comments to join

Subscription to LD Groundwork/In hand work and rehabilitation Facebook group focussed on working horses from the ground and rehabilitation

05/09/2024

****UPCOMING DATES****

22/9 Polewoek (only morning slots left)
28/9 Confidence Building Obstacle Clinic
6/10 1 day Functional Movement Workshop (Spectators Welcome please contact to book)
20/10 Polework
17/11 Polework
15/12 Christmas Polework

for further info please click the link
http://www.longdrovedc.co.uk/events-long-drove-somersham/

To book please pm or text/cal/whatsapp 07971187955

04/09/2024

To ride, or not to ride?

On my journey to become a more educated and thoughtful equestrian the question ‘should we be riding?’ comes up more than you would expect.

Many who have watched horses suffer from injury, pain, abuse, neglect, ill fitting tack, poor breeding, poor training, too much too young and anything else you can think of struggle with the concept of riding horses at all. I myself have wrestled with this too.

The absolute fact of the matter is horses are not built for this, especially with modern breeding and hereditary implications of kissing spine and malformations of vertebrae. Coupled with the modern ill educated training methods that start from an age where the horse is not physically or mentally mature enough. Tack that is used for control rather than to communicate and saddles that fix the rider in position, impede the horses shoulders and restrict the spine. It’s a recipe for disaster and its no wonder so many horses end up in trouble.

So is it all doom and gloom? Nope! Riding can be enjoyed by you and your horse it just requires a little mitigation. In order for both parties to enjoy the process a two way communication needs to be established this allows the horse to express freely what’s going on for them. This is difficult for people as most have been taught that we dominate horses in order to achieve what WE want. When this method is implemented the horse will take the easy route of compliance in most cases this means they have to take a compensation in their body and their nervous system. This is then the start of a slippery slope to an unhappy horse.

So where does this two way communication start? It starts with ground work and no that’s not lunging until it’s safe to get on it’s proper ground work. This ground work establishes a communication on a level the horse can understand through energy and body language. Yes humans can do this without the use of their mobile phone! Once this communication has been established it can be used to help the horse to release tension, restriction and start to develop the correct movement patterns that will allow the body to develop the carrying power it needs for the horse to carry itself and the rider happily.

It will teach the human about their body and where movement is difficult for them where they are restricted, tense, stiff or unbalanced. It is very difficult for a horse to carry us when we can’t carry ourselves.

Over time you'll get really good at sensing how the horse is feeling and where the restrictions are in the body and what to do about this. This means the horse will feel safe that you are able to help them through restrictions and you see them when it’s difficult this is a beautiful moment.

Once the horse is strong and both horse and human has self carriage on their own feet the two can come together in the riding. You’ll be surprised how different this feels following correct ground work on a horse that has the ability to carry itself and the rider without restriction and poor function.

Other mitigating factors are using the most basic tack, it you’re using fancy tack to control your horse you have a number of issues that need addressing. Your horse is most likely compensating in its body and it’s coming out in unwanted behaviours you feel the need to control. This is no way the answer and you need to unravel what’s going on. Perhaps spend some time really seeing what your horse has to say this will then allow you to help them.

Educating yourself in saddle fit is extremely useful as is noticing your horse’s reaction to the saddle this is their reality not just awkwardness. If in doubt ride ba****ck this allows true movement without restriction and will improve your communication and riding ability .

Ground wok should be used to assess how the horses is feeling and whether it’s a riding day or not. We all have to get over the fact that riding is not to make us feel good it’s for the horse too and if it’s not feeling good or their are some things going on in their body for that day maybe just stay on the ground. Good ground work is an art and should be enjoyed equally as much as riding. It is the forgotten process that enables us to truly communicate to our horses, improve their function and strength and ultimately be able to ride them.

03/09/2024

The perpetual lame, sound, lame, sound cycle

We’ve all been here at some point in our horsey lives. Your horse goes lame is diagnosed with something that gets ‘fixed’ the horse returns to work for a short period and then goes lame again with the same or similar issue somewhere else, this gets ‘fixed and the cycle continues. Sound familiar?

It’s just bad luck right? No that’s not true yes sometimes horses do silly things and injure themselves but this perpetual cycle of lame, sound, lame, sound is something different.

Joint issues or tendon and ligament problems are likely to be associated with poor function and movement patterns in the body. The limbs are attached via tendon and ligament structures to large muscle groups in the body. It is these larger muscle groups that move the limbs or joints. If there is a restriction, imbalance or overload then the tendon or ligament has to overwork/overstretch or the joint is used unevenly or both which over time results in damage and pain. This area is ‘fixed’ by whatever means but the underlying root cause isn’t addressed so the horse goes on to either re injure the same area or the next weakest point in the limb/body. Over time multiple limbs are involved and more than likely the spine and pelvis will be affected whether initially or further down the line.

Continuing like this is like trying to catch water in a sieve it’s never ending and unsuccessful.

So what’s the solution? Developing correct movement patterns, balance and strength in order to improve function and therefore the ability to use the tendons, ligaments and joints properly will over time relieve the pain and mitigate the damage that has already occurred.

The best way to do this is through correct groundwork/inhand work. Taking the rider out of the equation initially allows the horse to find balance on its own feet and learn how to correctly carry itself.

Using exercises to develop correct lateral bend, rotation and upward motion of the spine allows proper alignment and function. Building the muscles of the thoracic sling to carry the ribcage more centrally between the shoulders and therefore encourage proper engagement of the pelvis. This in turn creates a body that can move in balance with strength and ease. This starts initially with basic bending work and develops into lateral work exercises appropriate for the correct functioning of the individual horse.

In short if you want longevity and a happy functioning horse this work is your answer, take back you power and invest the time. You’ll increase your knowledge, improve your relationship and communication with your horse and reduce your vet bills.

If you would like further info then please don’t hesitate to get in touch pm or text/call/WhatsApp 07971187955

31/08/2024

Last weekend, saw another functional movement workshop here at Long Drove, thank you to those that attended.

I was lucky enough to have a huge variety of breeds Suffolk punch, Normandy Cob, warm blood, Friesian, Connemara and Spanish were all breeds that attended. This particular workshop focused on structure and understanding how the horse is put together in order to find the correct frame, and carrying posture for that individual horse to be a comfortable, strong riding horse.

Participants were able to find specific measurements for joint angles of the shoulder and pelvis which correlated to the horses way of going. If these joint angles are deviating from ideal then the horse has to find a compensation in order to carry the rider. Once angles are understood training can be directly targeted to influence a positive change in these angles. These specific markups and measurements can also be used to map progress and to assess and recognise when things are not going to plan.

With such a variety of breeding, we had many different structures and varying angles to compare. It was then possible to find each Horses individual frame according to their specific angles in their body. Working with The Horses body and using exercises to influence and enhance each individual Horse, instead of every Horse conforming to one picture means each individual Horse can make progress very quickly, longevity as a riding horse when trained as an individual is also increased.

Many Horses are struggling with less than ideal joint angles and poor carrying posture for a riding horse. Overtime this increases the risk of injury or more long-term debilitating damage. Being able to assess your own Horse and understand what’s necessary in order to develop the strength to carry the rider is imperative. If you’d like more information on this, then please get in touch.

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02/08/2024

Collectively Doing It Better

Horses are truly amazing animals they’ve been to war for us, farmed our land, transported us around and policed our streets. We have kept them in environments far from what nature intended, placed tack on them that perhaps wasn’t the most comfortable, we expect them to perform in sport, eat food they perhaps wouldn’t consume if left to their own devices, restricted their movement by stabling them, transport them in vehicles sometimes with others they don’t know, isolated them by turning them out individually. We ride them often without the knowledge of how they can do this for us without damaging their bodies.

We argue amongst ourselves as to whose way is best, we are critical of those we think are doing it wrong, judgemental of those with different ideas to us and make excuses as to why we can’t do it differently.

Yet we are all here with our horses, because there is something that drew us here in the first place. There is something that made us want to spend time with horses, we seem to forget this amidst the speed of everyday life. Horses have done so much for us and they draw us in for whatever reason.

Maybe it’s time we collectively come together and make horses lives better. Maybe it’s time to try something different with our management techniques, riding and training. Horses have stretched their boundaries for us perhaps we should consider stretching ours for them? Small consistent positive changes lead to huge improvements over time. Challenge yourself to make these improvements for your horse, challenge yourself to look at other methods with an open mind, challenge yourself to communicate with your horse using their language. Challenge yourself to develop a deeper knowledge of how horses function. Challenge yourself to refine your riding so you and your horse move in one motion together with ease. Remember the reason you love horses in the first place.

Let’s collectively do it better

24/07/2024

As there is still a huge emotional response from current equestrian news events of recent days it is important to not get stuck in the negativity of these events. I am sure that there is much disappointment, sadness and shock from what has come to light however blaming, shaming and arguing amongst ourselves is really not a productive way forward. We need to take the situation and turn it into something positive. We need to learn some lessons here, we need to think about what is the way forward in Horse sport before it gets lost completely. I truly believe it is possible to find a way forward for the good of the Horse and to enable top level sport to continue, with the emphasis on welfare and happiness of the Horse, instead of getting stuck in this unproductive negativity let’s use this to find a way forward for the sake of our horses

What are some changes that could be made to the sport in order to put welfare in a much higher regard

Changing rules regarding tack, especially bitting and nose bands (much more in depth than current vague not adhered to rules) and giving/rewarding the opportunity to wear less tack rather than more controlling aspects of equipment

Developing a new scoring system which focuses more on correct function and biomechanics and less on extravagant flashy movement will enable a focus to be more on soundness and longevity of our Horses. It would help develop correct muscle structure, relieve stress and promote a more relaxed way of going. This would also require complete elimination of rollkur/BTV etc. developing a marking system in this way would make the sport less subjective because it could actually be marked on a more scientific biomechanical aspect eliminating the biases we currently see.

A focus on facial expression and an understanding of what these mean during competition and in warm ups could be used to enhance and develop a happier athlete with higher reward for those looking more relaxed and enjoying their work. Harsher marking/elimination for those looking unhappy or struggling

Using age restrictions for levels would prevent young horses being pushed to fast up the levels and being over faced with movements they are not strong enough to do yet.

All of these would promote better knowledge and training methods and restore priority to The Horses well-being. Just some thoughts on turning this around Yes, implementing new rules, regulations and guidelines would take time and effort however we have ended up in a place no one wants to be so I’m sure making changes would benefit everyone especially The Horses

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