Shae Hawk Horsemanship

09/04/2024

I like to post about my students hunting over fences, because, outside of the fact that it looks awesome, it shows the sheer amount of flatwork schooling that needed to be had before we even looked at a fence.

Every lesson we work on our horses, not just ourselves. Getting physical engagement, finding balance, and building better communication. I explain the why, the how, the what, and the when, down to a T.

Whether we're doing ranch work, or huntseat.
And these kids rock it every single time, every single stride. 🔥

08/28/2024

A good coach plays several essential roles that contribute to the development and success of their riders. Here are some key roles:

1. Mentor - A coach guides riders not only in their sport but also in personal growth, offering advice and wisdom based on experience.

2. Motivator - They inspire and encourage riders to push their limits, fostering a positive mindset and determination to achieve goals.

3. Teacher - Coaches educate riders about techniques, strategies, and rules of the sport, helping them improve their skills and understanding.

4. Strategist - They develop game plans and strategies to maximize the riders strengths and develop blind spots.

5. Communicator - Effective communication is crucial. A good coach provides clear instructions, feedback, and support, ensuring riders understand their roles and responsibilities.

6. Disciplinarian - They enforce rules and standards of behavior, promoting discipline and respect within the team environment.

7. Supporter - Coaches provide emotional and moral support, helping riders deal with pressure, setbacks, and successes.

8. Evaluator - They assess riders performance, setting benchmarks for improvement and helping them identify areas for growth.

9. Role Model - Coaches serve as examples of sportsmanship, integrity, and work ethic, influencing the behavior and attitudes of their athletes.

10. Team Builder - They foster a sense of teamwork and camaraderie, creating an environment where riders feel valued and connected.

Each of these roles contributes to the overall development of athletes, both in their sport and in life.

However, one of the most important traits of a good coach is being able to deal with the unexpected!

Things go wrong, rarely do things go according plan. Being able to manage situations in a clam efficient manner especially around horses, is for me the most essential quality of a good coach 💪



A2B Equestrian Safety Centre
Aviar Saddles UK
Baileys Horse Feeds
my_cavago
Dengie Horse Feeds
easibed
Kedlock House Saddlers ltd
Likit Products
Relyne GI

08/28/2024

👏

One time I read a deal that said, "your attitude affects your altitude." If you can't stay positive even when things go wrong, you'll never get anywhere.

08/22/2024

✈️ Had to throw in a few flights while we tackled some horsemanship today. Safe to say, pilots and crew were on point!

08/18/2024

NEVER QUIT LEARNING!

Every horse is different, which means every horse has something new to teach you. Sometimes it's hard to ride a new horse after riding the same one for so long especially when trying to ride a new horse that has a different style.

After starting my career or Cebe Reed it was hard to transition to riding Sonny Bit O Both. Cebe had a stiffer style sliding around the barrels on his rear whereas Sonny ran around the barrel very shaped in his turns.

Each horse you ride will have a slightly different style when they run, and it's okay to adapt to that. When you are competing you will have to adjust your riding style to your horse and different conditions. Ride to let your horse excel!

The biggest thing to remember is that this transition takes time. Give yourself grace in the learning curve and keep working to match with your horse. Don't compare your journey to others, we all have our own timeline!

08/16/2024

Quotes by Clinton Anderson that a young trainer should live by and most of us learn the hard way:

1. “Work harder than anybody else. That’s the one thing that will beat talent.”
2. “Nobody respects your money like you do no matter how much you pay them or how much incentive they have.”
3. “An employee will do what you inspect, not expect.”
4. “It’s not a bit that’s severe in a horses mouth, it’s the hands behind it.”
5. “Frustration begins where knowledge ends.”
6. “If you’re getting bucked off in the first place, it’s because you’ve already failed. The fact that your c**t wants to buck tells me you haven’t done your homework.”
7. “It’s amazing what you can get done in 8 hours, if you actually work for 8 hours”
8. “You better pick somebody that loves what you’re doing because horses are a drug. It doesn’t wear off. And people that don’t have that drug, will never get that drug.”
9. “Make sure that customer walks away feeling like they got more than they paid for. “

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Clinton Anderson

The Light in Town aka “VIP”
📸Shannon Anderson

08/14/2024

Students flew during lessons this evening!
Their hard work has been paying off! 👏

08/13/2024

Jumping into IEA and eventing season. 💪 Learning incredible defensive riding skills, and conquering confidence. I'm proud of my students and what we do.

08/01/2024

Do less better.

The majority of the time there’s no big magic fix, perfect one exercise, or big exciting change that you need to do in order to achieve whatever it is that you’re working on. Many times folks will come into lessons thinking they need to work on one thing and we end up going back to doing lesser things better. This of course can look different for everybody depending on where you were at, but we can almost always find this saying to be true with almost anyone. Including ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to do advance maneuvers and trying to put our focus into those without first mastering how to do the basics well. That’s so much more exciting.

Your Horsemanship and your ride starts the moment you get your horse from the pasture or the stall. The way in which you lead them, the way in which you halter them, the way in which you handle them, the way in which you saddle them. It all truly matters. Good horsemen and women are created in their mundane, simple, and consistent tasks in which they do every everyday. Don’t get me wrong, we all want to advance to the higher level stuff, but many times when we focus on doing less better, the higher level things get so much simpler. 

07/29/2024

🤷‍♀️💁‍♀️

Happy Monday!

07/27/2024

🔥

Make time. Ride the horse.

07/27/2024

🐴 Here are 15 interesting facts about a horse's brain:.
1. A horse’s brain is relatively small compared to the size of its body, and accounts for only about 0.1% of its total weight.
2. Despite their small size, horses have very complex brains, with a highly developed cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought, decision-making and memory.
3. Horses can learn and remember complex tasks, such as navigating a jump course or performing a dressage routine, through a process called associate learning.
4. Like humans, horses have a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere in the brain, each with specialized functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for the processing of logical and analytical information, while the right hemisphere is more involved in emotional processing and creative thinking.
5. Horses have a great memory and can remember specific people, places and experiences for many years.
6. Horses can learn by observation, and often they can acquire new behaviors and skills simply by observing other horses or humans.
7. Horses have a very sensitive sense of touch and can detect even the slightest pressure or movement on their skin. This helps them respond to subtle cues from your rider or guide.
8. Horses can process visual information very quickly and accurately, allowing them to avoid potential hazards and navigate their environment with ease.
9. Horses are social animals and rely on nonverbal communication to interact with other horses in their herd. This communication is facilitated by the horse’s brain, which can interpret subtle changes in body language, facial expressions and vocalizations.
10. Ultimately, like all animals, horses have a unique personality and individual traits that are shaped by their experiences, genetics and environment—all of which is reflected in their brain function and behavior.
11. Horses have a very strong sense of smell and their odor bulb, which processes smells, is relatively large compared to other parts of their brain.
12. The brain, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, is also relatively large in horses. This is because horses must be able to move quickly and efficiently to escape predators or navigate through difficult terrain.
13. Horses have a very high pain threshold, which is believed to be related to how their brains process pain signals. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also mean that horses may not show obvious signs of pain, making it harder for their caregivers to detect and treat underlying health issues.
14. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, is particularly well developed in horses.. This allows them to remember not only specific experiences, but also general concepts and patterns that they can apply to new situations.
15. Finally, studies have shown that horses, like other animals, are capable of experiencing emotions such as fear, happiness, and anger. These emotions are believed to be mediated by the limbic system, a group of interconnected brain structures that play a key role in regulating mood and behavior.