Un-Natural Horsemanship

11/24/2025

For almost a decade, Zak and I have spent countless hours absorbed in conversation around what we experience at work with the horses. Whether it be in teaching, training or observing, there are three interwoven threads that spin into our almost daily encounters. On the regular, one of us will encounter a horse who has

1. Trouble in their blind spots/difficulty changing eyes in front and behind.
2. Trouble with confinement.
3. Troubled relationship to contact.

These are the horses who, in my opinion, act the most like Horses.

As a professional horse watcher, I have had the honour of observing horses at work, at rest, at play, in herds both domestic and feral. I have noticed their behaviour in stalls, in turnout, in arenas, show grounds and barn aisles, while eating and during various interactions with humans. Through all of this I have observed that horses are inherently-

* cautious and guarded in their blind spots and brilliantly able to manipulate their bodies in ways not just to see the most in their surroundings but to establish contact with their environment in the safest, most efficient way.

* claustrophobic

and are

* Often handled and ridden in ways that do not cultivate safety, curiosity and connection with the human.

In my experience, when these areas are addressed during a horse’s foundational handling, they’re not typically a big deal. Meaning, horses in general tend to be keen on connection and cultivating confidence in themselves, their environment and their human isn’t a strenuous undertaking. Their desire to become Centaur goes as deep as our own. However, when these areas are overlooked, whether through ignorance or malice, a great deal of difficulty and damage can arise-

The horse who has difficulty loading and unloading. The horse who fidgets when tied. The horse who rushes and falls down and in or who sucks back during a change of direction. The pull back, the bolt, the arena skiing, difficulty with leads and/or bend. Trouble with the farrier, difficult or heavy in the bridle/bothered in the mouth, dysfunctional movement and posture. TMJ and poll issues, SI issues, difficulty crossing water, over jumping. Resistance to the aids, chronic lameness, irritation with grooming and tacking. The horse who pushes and runs over top of their handler, the horse that is dangerous, that reacts “out of nowhere”.

To me, foundational training isn’t about “taking the horse out of the horse”, it’s about preparing the horse to thrive in domestic life. I don’t tell a horse that it’s not okay for them to act like a horse (ie spooking) and that they’ll be in trouble if they do, I show them that they don’t have to, that they can look to the human for support. When working with youngsters or feral horses who don’t carry much in the way of baggage, this process can be beautifully smooth. When working with horses who have not yet been helped in these areas and who have become bothered beyond that of baseline instinct, the process can require a great deal of physical, mental and emotional fortitude from the human. The human must be able to maintain emotional elasticity and nervous system regulation while making strong contact and navigating conflict with their equine partner. Working through these issues requires knowledge and skill that many of us as riders are not taught and this is what we aim to change.

Zak has been working on his piece, “The Changing Eyes Manifesto” which will delve deeply into our working theory on the subject. Stay tuned for this and if you’re interested in learning more, we offer 1:1 haul in, travel and virtual sessions 💫

related resources-

https://www.balancethroughmovementmethod.com

https://www.thebuckchannel.com

https://www.horsebrainscience.info

11/24/2025

11/22/2025

"He feels unbalanced, like he's limping! We need to stop," my student says.

"The tempo is too slow, he needs a greater stride. As soon as he can get the right tempo he will be more balanced."

My student goes into a kind of fetal mode, half urging the horse forward, half hauling the horse back. "It isn't working, she says."

"You need to let the reins out so he can go forward," I say.

She starts to cry. And this is where I realize the problem -

It's not really a riding lesson. This is so often the case - and I think back to my 20's, where I didn't have a clue about these inner workings. The horse needs to go forward to be safe internally and physically, and yet this is the human's greatest fear - and somehow the two of them have come together, and the human is the only one who can bridge this gap.

So we pause the riding and we talk. Logic is not the answer, I remind myself - where are these feelings coming from? It all stems back to a childhood bolt.

"If it's hysterical, it's historical," I remember to myself, a quote I heard from a friend

So what is missing here, and how can we go forward? First understanding the root - we are not riding in the now, we are riding in that childhood bolt. So we ground - how does your horse feel, sound, smell, look? What do you see around you?

And then, we discuss what skills we need to go forward. What the horse needs, and what she needs.

I say, I understand your fear, I really do - but it is imperative that you guide your horse. He is scared too. But we can find a way that you can stay mentally with him - in hand, at the walk, for now, but you have to stay here with him. He needs you.

I'm not a therapist, but it turns out I'm not really a riding instructor either. And so often, we are not riding today's horse - which is why the training, the logic, the reasoning, the lessons are not helping us get where we want.

The root, somewhere deep down is buried. Our real task is to find a way to ride today's horse: to be present with today's horse and learn to honor them. They need us, desperately. And only we can bridge the gap.

And so a choice has to be made at a certain point - what will you do to honor today's horse?

11/21/2025

*** Parker/Franktown CO Folks*** Zak will be in your area on Sunday 11/23 and has availability for travel sessions after noon. Due to the threat of EHV1, decontamination precautions will be taken between facilities. Message us to book a session.

11/20/2025

Like many professionals, I began teaching lessons virtually during COVID. It started off as a way to keep training consistent with current clientele and eventually expanded into a practice for working with folks and their horses who live in isolated areas, where travel to/from was simply a logistical nightmare.

I count myself among the lucky as I am able to work with my own teachers both locally (in-person) and distance (virtually). Both Zak and I offer the same opportunities for folks to work with us: we travel Colorado’s Front Range for in-person sessions, travel in and out of state to clinic, welcome haul-in sessions at our facility and offer virtual/remote sessions over Zoom.

All it takes to set up a virtual session is wifi/data connection, a smartphone and a place to prop it, a Bluetooth headset with a mic and a bit of patience (because tech doesn’t always work flawlessly).

These are three stills from virtual sessions last week. Three very different horses in different parts of the country all focusing on a similar topic- finding more harmonious rhythm and balance by opening the throat latch, softening through the poll, weighting all four quarters evenly. May sound simple, but simple doesn’t mean easy!

Speaking of not easy, teaching virtual sessions has challenged me to become not just a better educator, but a better horseman as well. Since I cannot climb through the screen to take ahold of a horse and demonstrate, I’ve had to
* expand my own awareness of equine and human biomechanics and ways of explaining things
* learn how to tune into body language (both horse and human) in much more subtle ways
* learn to give myself permission to “think outside the box” when working with partnerships who have limited facilities.

While 1:1 in-person is best, I continue to appreciate being both a student and a teacher in the virtual space and am grateful for the opportunity to work with partnerships around the world!

Interested in booking a virtual session? Head on over to our website or shoot us a PM 💫

https://www.un-naturalhorsemanship.com/info-pricing

~ Chiara 💕

11/17/2025

HORSE COMMUNITY!

Hi friends, Zak and I are expecting a bouncing baby boy (four-legged)! The little fella will be joining our herd next month and because we believe sibling play helps to develop healthy minds and bodies, we are on the lookout to adopt or purchase a weanling c**t to be his brother. Ideally, this c**t will be with us long-term, up to or including the start of his under saddle education, several years from now. If anyone has any leads (rescues, whoopsies, auction), please let us know!? We are open to a foster situation. Sorry, absolutely no boarding.

~ Chiara 💕

11/16/2025

Chiara Poscente and Takoda's saddle brings out the red in his color so nicely. After years of searching, Koda doesn't even have an english saddle anymore. He only likes this, or ba****ck.

11/11/2025

11/08/2025

Exploring Fascia in Equine Myofascial Pain: An Integrative View of Mechanisms and Healing

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common — yet often misunderstood — sources of chronic musculoskeletal pain in horses. Traditionally, explanations have focused on muscle tension, trigger points, or neurological sensitization. But new research suggests a deeper story: fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds, supports, and integrates every structure in the body, may be a key player in both the cause and persistence of pain.

Recognizing fascia as a living, sensory, and emotionally responsive tissue shifts how we view equine pain. It’s not simply a matter of tight muscles or mechanical imbalance — it’s about communication, perception, and the body’s ongoing relationship with safety and movement.

Fascia as a Sensory and Signaling Tissue
Fascia is far from inert wrapping. It’s a dynamic, contractile, and highly innervated network that helps transmit force, tension, and sensory information throughout the horse’s body.
It houses a vast array of nociceptors (pain receptors) and mechanoreceptors, as well as interoceptors that feed information about internal states back to the nervous system.

When fascia becomes compromised — through injury, repetitive strain, imbalance, saddle pressure, or systemic inflammation — several changes may occur:

Densification: Thickening or dehydration of the ground substance that reduces glide between fascial layers.

Fibrosis: Excess collagen deposition that stiffens tissue and limits elasticity.

Myofibroblast activation: Contractile cells within fascia become overactive, tightening tissue even without muscle contraction.

Inflammatory signaling: Cytokines and neuropeptides released locally can sensitize nerve endings, amplifying pain perception.

In the horse, these changes have wide-reaching consequences. Because fascia connects every region — from hoof to poll — a small restriction in one area can alter movement and tension patterns throughout the entire body. What appears as behavioral resistance or unevenness may actually reflect deep fascial discomfort or altered proprioception.

The Pathophysiological Cascade: From Local to Global

1. Peripheral Mechanisms
Local fascial changes can stimulate nociceptors and chemical mediators, generating a constant stream of pain signals to the spinal cord.
Muscles respond reflexively with increased tone, forming tight bands or “knots.” Circulation and oxygenation decrease, further sensitizing the tissue — a self-perpetuating loop.

2. Central Sensitization
When this nociceptive input continues, the horse’s central nervous system can become hypersensitive.

Normal sensations begin to feel exaggerated or threatening.

This process, known as central sensitization, helps explain why some horses react to light touch or grooming long after the original tissue injury has healed.

3. Whole-Horse Manifestations
• Altered posture and asymmetrical movement.

• Hypervigilance or irritability under saddle.

• Shallow breathing, digestive changes, or reduced engagement.

• “Mystery” lameness or tension patterns that shift from one area to another.

These are not random — they reflect a body whose connective tissue and nervous system are caught in protective overdrive.

Somatic Memory: When Fascia Remembers -

Click here for the rest of the article - https://koperequine.com/exploring-fascia-in-equine-myofascial-pain-an-integrative-view-of-mechanisms-and-healing/