Infinity Horsemanship

Alice leading Tashka

Every horse is better off in the hands of a horseman... but none of us started as such. We all began clumsy, with poor timing, and experimenting our way through developing relationships with horses. There's no way around the beginning stages of anything. My wish for all humans (and horses) is for proper selection of "beginner horses". I've seen many horsemanship journeys ended before they began because the humans ended up with horses who were far outside of their skill level. And I've seen sensitive horses frustrated to violence because they were tasked with teaching beginner humans. Of course all horses will rise and lower to the skill level of their dance partner, but some are simply more forgiving of the learning process than others by nature. Our Mustang, Tashka, is so patient and kind. I'm so grateful to her for taking care of Alice while she learns to be more mindful and effective. What was your first horse like?

Ponies get a bad rap. They’re often labeled as stubborn, naughty, or worse, leading to an unfair reputation. But the truth is, ponies are simply horses like any other breed, deserving of understanding and respect. Where does this come from? I find the common thread among “naughty ponies” is how they are handled and what is expected of them. Ponies are often relegated to being ridden by children who are not yet able to manage full-sized horses. And apart from a fraction of handy kids, most struggle with poor timing, ineffective use of aids, and are coached to “get after” their ponies. Ponies - like other horses - desire respect and cognizant handling. When they are instead treated with abruptness and inconsistency, it sours them on the whole interaction. So they start voicing their discontent through nipping, bucking, shutting down, etc. And thus are labeled as naughty. I’ve found that ponies who are treated with respect, compassion, and clarity don’t develop the negative behaviors of the “naughty lesson pony”. How do we get to the solution? I believe it starts with how we educate young riders. We must teach kids that horses—regardless of size—are not mere tools for entertainment but sentient beings deserving of care and respect. Kids should be taught to ask “why” their horse isn’t responding before they’re told to escalate pressure. Teaching them to recognize and respond to a pony’s emotions can foster a deeper connection between pony and child. Just as we instruct children to treat other people with kindness and respect, we must instill similar values in their relationships with animals. The more I observe my daughter’s interactions with the horses, the clearer it becomes that children often possess an innate sensitivity toward other beings. They naturally show respect and care—qualities that adults sometimes forget. It’s crucial that we don’t allow the harshness of our own experiences and training to influ