Beth Armitage Horsemanship

29/08/2024

Another milestone!

Thank you Zoë Andrews-Bower for giving Smokey such a positive experience with a new rider on! I’m also so proud of how much Zoë’s confidence has grown! Well done Smokey and Zoë 💕💕💕

26/08/2024

Guys, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned recently, but I love Smokey! 😍🤣

My greatest teacher and my safe place all rolled into a loveable bundle of fun! He makes me laugh daily, but sometimes he makes me question myself, so much so that I call Martha in tears questioning whether I’m good enough for him.

But this is what makes him so special! He asks me to learn more. He’s teaching me to allow myself to make mistakes and get things wrong. To use those mistakes as a way to grow as a horseperson and in general. They say “you get the horse you need.” I have to say, I think it’s true.

26/08/2024

Zoe, Cassie and I went to Martha’s for a lesson. As usual it involved lots of giggling as well as lots of learning for Zoe and I!

23/08/2024

So much love for my wonderful students and their wonderful horses! Fridays are usually a busy day of coaching but I feel very lucky to be coaching people that are open to learning, trying new things and enjoying the process.

I might end some days feeling tired but my heart is always full!

(Pictured - a couple of my Friday regulars)

23/08/2024

Don’t underestimate the power of going slow. We get a bit caught up on the world of horses, especially when we’re schooling in making our way through the gaits, walk, trot, canter, done.

Once we’ve done something in the walk, trot and canter must come next. But what about perfecting something in the walk? Even the halt. The amazing thing about working at walk is that it gives us time to really tune in and help us and our horses to understand what we might be asking for. It gives us time to work on the tiny details and fine tune everything.

The more time we spend on those tiny details the easier the more advanced things become. Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking your horses has only worked if they leave the school sweating and blowing. Work your horses brain too, they will thank you for it.

23/08/2024

22/08/2024

If you can’t do it in the canter, go back to the trot.

If you can’t do it in the trot, go back to the walk.

If you can’t do it in the walk, train at the halt.

Once you’ve mastered the straight lines, try it in the lateral work.

Once you can do it in the lateral work, change the tempo in the lateral work.

Build back up to the canter. Repeat with any problems.

Break down concepts your horse struggles with, and train from the foundations up. Let’s not normalise drilling horses until they finally “get it” — preserve their bodies and minds 🤍

Start on the ground with my Groundwork Strengthening Prograramme: https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/groundwork-strengthening-programme-stage-1-ebook/

21/08/2024

Today on our blustery evening walk I played about with leading Smokey from different positions. Starting from his shoulder being mindful that I wasn’t getting in front of him and then from behind, ensuring we had transitions (halt, walk and trot) as well as steering! If you haven’t before I highly recommend you have a play with this, it’s trickier than it looks!

This feels like a massive step forward for us in our confidence walking out on the road and it felt really special to feel Smokey walking out so confidently ahead of me but still 100% with me. The next step is to get back on board, but there’s no rush. When it feels right it will feel right.

This is proof to me that there is no such thing as a setback, just an opportunity to strengthen our foundation. 💕

20/08/2024

It’s not always about looking pretty or being perfect. Sometimes it’s just about having fun 💕

18/08/2024

In my opinion, everything we do with our horses should be setting them up for success and making it easier for them to navigate the human world.

Giving a horse zero boundaries or removing anything that that might make them uncomfortable (emotionally) for me, just isn’t doing that.

Helping a horse learn how to behave appropriately around humans, even when they’re scared and teaching a horse how to manage their own emotions is the best thing we can do for our horses so they can feel good about themselves and the world around them.

Smokey and I have been building up the amount of walking out on roads we’ve been doing again. Since our accident Smokey has been very concerned about cars approaching from behind and unfortunately people still try and pass far too close. The easy thing to do would be to never do it again, he doesn’t like it, we won’t do it. However that’s not helpful for Smokey, he’s only 6, at some point in his life he will probably have cars approaching him from behind. Even if we did confine ourselves to the area for the foreseeable future, who wants to do that. So we’re going out on walks, in hand and usually with a friend. This helps me and Smokey to feel better because I’m not hyper focused on how Smokey is feeling and usually having a nice chat, and you know what… with every car the passes from behind and a little too close, Smokey is starting to feel better.

Having said that, it is important to pay attention to your horse and notice any signs that anything might be getting “too much” when you’re helping a horse to feel better about something. We want a horse to feel present and genuinely ok in a situation that could be scary, not just shut down and compliant. But that’s another post for another day.

If you’ve got this far (well done) let me know if you’d like to see a post on preventing shut down, or noticing what a shut down horse might look like.

📸

17/08/2024

Two new ponies yesterday, Tiger Lily and Bess. Two rescue ponies with such beautiful souls! 💕💕

17/08/2024

Amy Littlewood and Dave strutting their stuff yesterday!

When I first met Dave back in April, he was a slightly wobbly ex-racehorse who couldn’t really go round corners, yesterday he was like a different horse. He’s a lot more balanced, soft and aware of his own body. This is all down to Amy’s hard work and understanding the value of really striving to build a solid foundation. There’s plenty still to work on, but I’m very very proud of these two!

15/08/2024

I need to remind myself to ask people to film me more, because being able to see what adjustments I could make with my body is an absolute game changer. I know sometimes I think I’m doing something and I’m just not.

If I’m ever giving you a lesson and you would like me to take a video please just ask! I know I find it extremely helpful for my learning.

It’s important you don’t become overly critical though, this is something that I am very much guilty of. Look for the good points as well as the things that could be improved.

14/08/2024

I absolutely love this picture of Smokey and Dice enjoying their groundwork this afternoon.

We didn’t do a lot with them but they were clearly enjoying it.

14/08/2024

One of the greatest gifts we can give back to a horse is to move with purpose.

They are born movement ready, primed to prance and dance their long legged foaly way across the earth, keeping up with their mothers and herd. They learn about themselves through movement. Movement in relation to others, the land, the weather. Where they want to go with their mind - their body will follow. They are totally united; brain and body aligned. Harmony is inbuilt, because they get to do as they wish. If they're scared they can run, if they're tired they can sleep. If they wish to play they can find a willing partner. Or be told to go somewhere else....

The challenge for the domesticated horse is that the purpose of movement becomes a lot less clear. The are many fewer reasons for 'why' a horse would leave their friends in the field and come in. Why would they get in a trailer? Why would they trot a 20 meter circle? What possible reason could there be for them doing a dressage test? When you consider it from the horse's perspective you realise it's miraculous that they do any of these things - the 'why' for a horse is really elusive.

The challenge for us is that the 'why’ then all has to come from us. The whole darn shebang is down to you.

Am I really clear why my horse would lead with me in that way? Am I confident that my horse is going to feel brilliant doing that canter strike off - so sure of this that I can translate that to my horse? I have to give my horse the purpose of movement. And one of the reasons so many horses shut up shop and lose that joy of movement is that we don't provide enough inspiration. They have no idea 'why'...

One of the things I love the most about exploring the world with horses is that we can find a why together. It makes so much more sense to a horse to move forwards with ease when you're both headed 'over there'. It's obvious you need to stop because there is a wall. Or move your quarters over because there is a gate. You can become one mind, one body in a. way which can be less easy to find in the blank canvas of the arena.

This weekend I had a partnership stay who have really struggled in the arena. It often becomes a battle, with both parties bracing up against each other and the joy gradually (or not so gradually) fizzling away....

Two days out on the moor and they found each other again - rediscovering a shared love of movement. They freed up and went; clearly sharing a 'why'. This brought them into a united state of mind and movement which was tangible to see. They crackled with happiness. Explaining things like moving your shoulders, or rein back, which had seemed so pointless to this horse in the arena - all made sense.

Then, we can bring this good feeling back into the arena. And if it disappears can ask ourselves why? And what could I do to bring the why - and the joy- to movement everywhere. It's actually the thing which we can most easily share with horses, and which has kept us together over many thousands of years.

10/08/2024

Wharfedale Equine Therapy wrote a post earlier about the importance of having good energies around you, how important it is not just for us but for our horses too.

I’m just reflecting on the wonderful people who I’m surrounded by; mentors, friends and people who started as clients that I now consider friends. It’s amazing to be around people who know and understand that horsemanship is a journey and that I know will support me all the way.

These are just a few pictures, but you all know who you are. Thank you for your wonderful energies and being with me on this journey!

10/08/2024

Some moments from the last couple of weeks

08/08/2024

The first picture is Smokey, October 2023.

The last 2 are August 2024! What a change!

Someone asked me if he was Spanish the other day and I was very proud! 🥲 😅

08/08/2024

She’s got all the opinions in the world and is basically a pony in the body of a draught horse but my goodness she makes me laugh!

I have loved watching Mandie and Teckla’s relationship and understanding of each other grow! Earning the trust of a mare is a very special feeling. It’s very tricky and it’s not something that most mares will give away freely, but once they do trust you, they really will go to the ends of the earth for you!

07/08/2024

The tricky thing about learning not to pull is, few people who are pulling think they are.

As humans, we are hard wired to be handsy. You can think all of the nice things about your hands that you want, but fact is, you probably pull.

I didn’t think I did, until my coaches made me aware, many times, over many years, of how unaware I was of my habits.

Now I work extremely hard to not pull, and have had years of coaching to teach my brain and hands to cooperate, and to give, ride the body, and not micromanage the head of the horse.

But I still pull. I still need coaching on it. I wonder if by the end of my lifetime I will have mastered my hands, but who knows. If I can do it, it will be the masterpiece of my life.

Learning to connect with the horse and provide a feel that guides without pulling, to have awareness of our own bodies as well as the entire horse’s body, might be the hardest task we can take on.
Many of us will learn a little, call ourselves good, and describe our hands as soft, regardless of what they actually do. I know how tempting that is. It isn’t fun to realize how much we pull, but the first step to self mastery is self awareness - and that might be the most unpleasant part of the journey.

06/08/2024

“Problem horses”

If you get in touch with me asking for help with problem solving, especially a horse displaying big dangerous behaviours I will always ask if the horse/pony has had the relevant health/tack checks. Please don’t be offended by this, as we all know, not all extreme behaviours are caused by pain, but a lot of them are and I would rather not waste your time and money trying to solve a problem that frankly I can’t fix.

However, some horses start displaying certain behaviours and there might a history or environmental factors that give us a clue as to where this behaviour could have come from. Remembered pain is a common one, use of training methods that may have been harsh or not suited the horse, the list is endless.

Problem solving really is one of my favourite parts of this job. It gets my brain firing and opens up so many new learning opportunities for me, also watching a horse unravel and begin to find life a little easier is just amazing, but if a horse is in pain, no amount of training can help.

05/08/2024

Genie is beginning her starting process, her owners have already been doing bits and pieces so she’s got a pretty solid foundation on the ground, but I’m so excited to see how she progresses! I just think she’s SO cool! 😎

05/08/2024

If any of my lovely clients feel inclined to do so please feel free to leave a review on my profile.

This really helps me! Thank you so much! 💕💕💕

04/08/2024

I haven’t had much access to well bred expensive horses to develop. If I have, they don’t stay with me long, or the owners have a different agenda than I can get behind. I’ve spent the last 11 years developing average horses, lame horses, and cast offs.

While it is far easier to develop a horse who is bred for mobility and balance, I’ve learned a tremendous amount from the untalented or uncoordinated or stiff or troubled ones.

I’ve been very inspired watching my teacher mold an average backyard horse into a thing of grace and beauty, and while I certainly love riding nice horses, I believe if you understand movement principles, they apply just as well to any horse.

This is a photo of me from 2013 on a Shetland cross. I have fond memories of his choppy little trot becoming more fluid.

04/08/2024

For all of Moose’s fans who have been asking!

Moose is doing great! He is a sensitive boy who has been through a lot so we spend a lot of time re-visiting the basics to ensure he’s got a really solid foundation whilst allowing him time to enjoy being a horse. Today he had a bit in for the first time in 6 months without any dramas. Good boy Moose 😍 🫎

02/08/2024

Just a reminder that training horses doesn’t always look beautiful, easy and effortless. Sometimes it’s a bit messy and lumpy and that’s ok. JayJay has also had all the relevant health/tack checks to ensure that he is comfortable.

JayJay has come on so much since his owner, Lisa, had her first lesson with me and he’s already like a different pony thanks to Lisa’s hard work. He really struggles with going forward in the school. Using your legs too heavily or your stick would result in bucking and bracing from J so we’ve found a different way to ask for a forward from our seat, and supporting by “wafting” the stick, this works with J and means that he no longer becomes braced around his shoulders and rib cage. His trot has come on in leaps and bounds and he looks happy in his ridden work.

This was the first time I have asked for a canter again since my first ride. We did do one lovely canter that we didn’t catch on video, he’s still working it out, and he’s still having his moments. However I’m loving his new found ability to offer a try as this was something he wasn’t confident in doing before. Well done JayJay and Lisa, I’m so excited to be on this journey with you both! 💕

Progress over perfection!