Patrick King Horsemanship & Dressage

08/29/2025

🎙️ TALKING ABOUT HORSES, episode #67

In this broadcast, I am joined by Paul Belasik

Feel free to ask questions throughout the broadcast!

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📖 To purchase Paul's recent book that we were referencing, Long and Low: A Revolution in Modern Dressage, visit this link: https://paulbelasik.com/index.php/portfolio_page/long-low/

08/28/2025

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁...

Just because a horse that is relaxed on it's own often has a lower head/neck carriage does not mean that lowering the head/neck "on command" will relax the horse.

We need to be careful confusing causation with correlation.

08/27/2025

🎙️ 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗦 - with special guest Paul Belasik of Pennsylvania Riding Academy - 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵, 𝗮𝘁 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 (𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘜𝘚 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦).

In this live podcast episode, I'm going to be talking with Paul about the history, origins, and unintended consequences of the commonly used and widely accepted practice of "long and low" riding and training in dressage.

🐎 Paul Belasik is a highly respected international rider, trainer, writer, and teacher, and an avowed proponent of classical equestrian ideals. He has ridden and trained at every level in dressage, from young horses to Grand Prix and beyond.

Have questions for Paul? Tune in LIVE and you can ask those in the chat during our conversation (or you can enter them in the comments below and I’ll try to include them in the call for you).

I'm excited to share this with you LIVE, right here on this page! (Patrick King Horsemanship & Dressage)

👍🏻 Be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW the page to get notified for all the times when we broadcast live!

⭐ 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨!

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💥 If you miss the live broadcast, you can always catch the replay on Facebook or YouTube, and you can catch up with ALL the past episodes at TalkingAboutHorsesPodcast.com

08/25/2025

🚨 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘!

Patrick King & Jim Masterson are teaming up to teach 2 back-to-back collaborative clinics at Mane Gait Equestrian Center in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮-𝟭𝟰: 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧
𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱-𝟭𝟳: Just a few AUDITOR spots remaining!

🔗 Register now by visiting https://pkhorsemanship.com/hand-in-hand-clinic

⭐ AND, there's also a FOLLOW UP The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork Weekend Course happening September 20-21! (𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨!)

Check out the information on that course at https://mastersonmethod.com/product/natural-bridge-va-sep-2025/

08/24/2025

"Your horsemanship should be challenging like chess, not like weight lifting."

Riding and horsemanship isn't about force—it's a game of strategy. More of a mental challenge. Think of it less like weight lifting and more like a game of chess.

Like chess, true horsemanship requires you to think several moves ahead. It's about clarity, timing, and a deep understanding of your partner. Instead of pushing and pulling to get something to happen, you're using your mind and body to influence the horse's mind and body. You're constantly analyzing the horse's balance, energy, and emotional state, and making small, precise adjustments that lead to big results.

It should be a journey of finesse and communication, not strength.

What's one "chess move" you've learned in your riding that made a big difference?

08/23/2025

Settling in at a show, clinic, or any new environment can be stressful for many horses. Some, depending on their innate nature or experience level, take a bit more to settle and get comfortable, while others seem to just "go with the flow" a bit more naturally.

Neither are "right or wrong"... some just need more time, help, and experience to build their confidence.

🐎 How do YOU help YOUE HORSE to find their "calm center" in new environments?

08/19/2025

Print this out BIG and hang it in your arena. Tattoo it on the back of your eyelids. Hang it on your bathroom mirror. Remind yourself of these words in EVERY RIDE.

https://www.facebook.com/share/169h62LYFa/

If riding feels like hard work, it’s a sign that your aids are not truly effective.

Constantly kicking, pulling and nagging the horse only makes him duller to the aids.

The answer isn’t to push harder, it’s to improve yourself as a rider.

The aids should be well-timed, brief, clear, and then released, so the horse can respond freely and willingly.

It is our responsibility to refine our communication until it feels effortless to the horse!

08/17/2025

� TALKING ABOUT HORSES, episode #66

In this SPECAL EPISODE broadcast, I am joined by the presenters and the producer of the Best Horse Practices Summit!

Feel free to ask questions throughout the broadcast!

08/17/2025

📣 We are about 2 hours from going LIVE for this broadcast! Will YOU be tuning in?

Just remember to be here on this page and keep refreshing your screen until you see us. It's going to be great!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BE1bFRqLX/

🎙Join us this weekend, August 17th at 7:30 p.m. est., for a LIVE podcast to discuss the Best Horse Practices Summit this year in Santa Fe NM, Oct. 31st-Nov. 2nd.

Patrick King Horsemanship & Dressage will be hosting this Podcast with BHPS founder Maddy Butcher and the rest of our presenters, Dauphin Horsemanship, True West Horsemanship, The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork and Katrin Silva Dressage!

The Summit is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the horse-human connection by bringing together equine research and sound horsemanship. Professionals, barn managers, and riders of all disciplines will gain knowledge to improve their practices. We'll be discussing the latest news and insights about the summit. Mark your calendars, you won't want to miss it!

08/15/2025

🚨 Only a few auditor spots left for the second dates! 🚨

For the first time, renowned horseman Patrick King (Academy for Classical Horsemanship) and Jim Masterson (creator of The Masterson Method®) are teaming up for two special, three-day clinics in Virginia.

Patrick’s classical principles + biomechanics blend seamlessly with Jim’s bodywork approach, giving you tools to:
🔹Deepen your connection with your horse’s movement, feel, and timing
🔹Unlock relaxation, improve performance, and enhance partnership
🔹 Integrate groundwork + bodywork into your everyday training

📅 Clinic Dates:
▪️ Sept 12–14, 2025 – Participant and Auditing spots SOLD OUT
▪️ Sept 15–17, 2025 – Participant spots SOLD OUT, with LIMITED auditing spots left!

📍 Location: 100 Equus Loop, Natural Bridge, VA
🎟 Auditor Fee: $50/day or $125 for all 3 days (⭐️ pre-registration required)

Auditing is the perfect way to soak up their expertise—observe up close, take notes, and gain fresh insights you can take home to your own horse. Spots are limited and going fast—reserve now!
🔗 https://pkhorsemanship.com/hand-in-hand-clinic

08/15/2025

Did you know that today is 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆? (Seriously - look it up if you don't believe me).

Let today mark the day you and your horse start to find more relaxation and focus by signing on to the 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲.

Check it out at RelaxResetChallenge.com

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🧸 Photo of my boy, Teddy, at just a week old... taking his relaxation very seriously.

08/14/2025

What is your focus with your horse this month?