http://www.kealeyhorsemanship.com/

Ellen Kealey Horsemanship, 30894 Iran Path, Northfield, MN (2025)

01/24/2025

Learning to Recognize a Change of Thought

Understanding what change looks like is crucial for relating well to our horses.

Humans often perceive change as synonymous with something monumental. In recent times our culture is shifting to present change in small increments over time. You can find more content that implements hacking habits as something that begins by spending minutes daily. The beginning of a change with any habit starts with a thought and ends with the benefits it eventually brings into our life if we stick with it. A deeper change happens when we begin to actually feel the benefits, making this new habit an essential and rewarding part of our day. All of these principles are humanized, but can apply similarly to how we work with horses.

So what is change in a horse? The biggest obstacle is often that it begins as something that we want for them. This requires us to be cognizant of the approach and relaxed about the timeline. If the change is going to last, what we work towards doesn’t just prevent something from happening, or force something to take place, but rather gets a change of thought and emotions in the horse.

The level of change that needs to take place for a horse to do their best in a world with humans is always reliant on the nature and past experiences of the horse. Some will struggle to want to try anything at all, while others are quick to figure out what works for them in different scenarios. In either case working consistently, and working for the preparation of tomorrow is the best way to create a solid horse over time.

If you spend time observing any horse, you notice the patterns they choose and the responses that coincide with their safety and ongoing thoughts. This could be as dramatic as habitual bolting, or as subtle as using their posture to brace against something.

All behaviors are relevant to the internal world of the horse, and all reactions can be placed on a scale for how troubled a horse feels inside. Struggling to know how to actually help a horse is what leads to bandaid fixes that work around a situation rather than through it. The most powerful changes come from a horse who wants to do something because it feels better, rather than a horse who thinks I better do this or else. Even though the latter is still a change, it will often contain trouble and lack confidence which will create future roadblocks in the training.

EXAMPLE:

We are taught to do hindquarter disengagements on the ground for a variety of reasons. The most common approach to communicate this idea to the horse is to step around towards the hind end with various levels of driving pressure (giving the horse something to get away from). This will get the job done and yield results, but the horse will still be left with internal troubles. Methods that focus on a result often create a horse that is committed to getting away with hyper focus, or a mind that physically goes through the motions but looks for reasons to be somewhere else.

The best changes come from influencing a thought. Here are some ideas for how I might break down getting a change in this scenario, which could apply to thinking through any change with a horse.

The first step is just getting a horse to look in the direction that we want him to go. If we can get his thought committed, his feet will follow accordingly. When a horse has been taught to defend himself against pressure, I first try to get him to let go of his defenses so that he can join a back and fourth conversation. This almost immediately brings down the worry to a level where I can get a more thoughtful try out of the horse.

The ongoing indications of change will vary from horse to horse. It may present as a stronger look, a slowing of the feet, or a lack of twist through the head and neck. Humans often miss the small moments of change, and fail to converse by giving micro releases during these moments. Shaping behavior is all about ongoing observation and the ability to break things down into smaller moments of try.

The result of the session may be slower and quieter steps that are the result of the “let down" the horse feels on the inside. When a horse lets go of needing to defend itself, stops worrying about leaving, and understands what is being asked, everything changes. It will be subtle in the beginning, and substantially different over time. This change is what allows us to work through more advanced maneuvers and experiences in the future without everything falling apart.

Understanding and feeling the small changes are what sets a horse up for success. Helping a horse understand something is always about our ability to break things down into micro moments, with an awareness of how were aligning the mental with the physical.

Photo: I took this mare to to a Harry Whitney clinic this fall to get some better insights on how to lessen her troubles in life. She lives her life in uncertainty, irregular breathing, and defensive walls. Many horses are always holding onto various levels of self preservation, rather than working with the human.

The changes she makes are constantly happening in small moments, yet the uncertainty is always underlying in the background. This has been the result of past experiences and her nature ( I don't know if I would be as forgiving with people as she is). The changes she has made are huge in comparison to where we started. I'm fascinated by every horse, their timeline, and their ability to make changes despite the things that have convinced them otherwise.

01/15/2025

When a horse is full of worry and potential energy the most common approach is to move the feet. The issue with this method is that it often reinforces the need to disconnect in a stronger way. It convinces a horse that leaving is where safety and comfort awaits, while the human stands in the middle and continuously offers something to get away from. After inducing or allowing a physical explosion you may experience a more subdued horse without the benefits of a quiet, focused, and direct-able mind.

Horses have a strong capacity to simultaneously figure out how to do enough to get along, while still hanging onto their idea of somewhere else they would rather be. If we focus solely on behavior and don’t get the mind thinking with us, we will only have a shadow of the horse we could have if the change began at the control center for the body.

The best approach is often the exact opposite of what we would think to do when we’re feeling overwhelmed and needing a fix for our anxious horse. The human perception of a behavior and the internal world of the horse are often two very different things. People often view this behavior as something a horse is doing to them, and therefore try to make things happen as a punishment for the trouble that bubbles inside. What every horse really needs is help getting focused and staying in the moment. The closer a horse is physically to where they are mentally, the more the whole system can let down and pay attention. Their posture and movement will change too.

A better relationship begins with two minds working together.

Photo: This mare really struggles to have her thoughts with me. When she leaves mentally it feels like she has constructed a brick wall causing the human to become inconsequential. I spent a lot of time getting her mind here in a stronger way, and then making it the best place to be. This process can look like nothing is happening because checking in becomes more important than movement. Some horses latch onto these concepts with close to nothing, while others can take more convincing.

It is clear to see how sending her away from me in this moment would be counterproductive ( the physical manifestation of counterbent) for going somewhere together.

01/08/2025

As humans living in a fast paced world of instant gratification, we often become increasingly regimented. This mindset enters into how we approach our horses. It’s common to arrive at the barn and think I must catch my horse and get him saddled so that I can get X,Y and Z done today.

When we become mindlessly task oriented we focus on the outcome of the session rather than staying in the present moment. As a result, we might miss things like how distracted our horse is to lead, or how bothered he is when we go to catch him. In trying to get to the “good parts” and the perception of “success” in our riding we ignore every small moment that would progress us faster than trying to complete tasks on our own human terms. We disregard the things that arise naturally and are begging to be addressed. These spots can ultimately compound into the relationship and limit our achievements.

People always ask what they should be working on, or what exercise is going to be the one to help their horse. People want lists and routines for themselves and their horse. I often advise to notice what is taking place right now in this moment. If your horse is crowding you, help him to stand quietly somewhere else. If your horse looks stoic and checked out, ask him questions until he checks in or takes a breath. Make paying attention and going together a way of life. It doesn't matter what you do, but it does matter how your horse shows up to either be a part of it, or obediently get through it.

This way of operating around horses can be really intensive to start, and may feel like you're getting sent back to day one. However making your goals a result of good horsemanship rather than a front and center agenda changes everything about how a horse operates. Problems begin to dissipate or never show up because everything is being taken care of from moment to moment.

Photo: Getting Pete softer in my hand. Even though he happens to be a horse that would tolerate most people riding him, it is still exponentially beneficial to improve his connection, focus and participation levels. The exercises and techniques vary from moment to moment, but the practice never changes.
PC: Kadie Osgood

09/20/2024

I wish that everyone could feel just as happy that their horse found relaxation while being saddled at liberty as they are when their horse is ready to go over a jump. I want people to get equally addicted to helping their horse feel something as they are exhilarated by galloping across a field.

Photo: I am always excited when I can get a horse to a place where they feel equal parts willing and chilled out.

I changed things up by working with the saddle pad at liberty to see if giving her more options would change her response. I was pleased to feel her just as available as if there were a line between us.

09/13/2024

Over the course of the last year I have had the pleasure of starting this family of Andalusian mares.

Elena (grey) is the brood mare who started it all. I worked with her last summer to get her more comfortable about being handled on the ground and going under saddle. When I first met her she would put up a wall to kindly tolerate people. Once she figured out that she could converse and respond, she became really fun to work with.

Moxy (bay mare) came for training in late spring for handling and to get started under saddle. She was unsure about what people were on about, and had a very busy mind. After roughly two months of hand holding to help her mind settle, she has made leaps and bounds on the ground and in the ridden work.

Calypso (slowly greying) was born this spring and has had a lot of human interaction. Her owners and I are working together to help her progress in learning about leading. She is shocked that a ring rope and a human are asking her to do things that aren’t exactly on her terms. It’s amazing how quickly they process a puzzle and begin to willingly understand what we ask of them. It is the most important thing that any horse will learn. I look forward to being part of her learning.

09/11/2024

I don’t train for canter transitions, trailer loading, or lateral movements. I ask questions to get a gauge for how a horse is feeling. I train for the ongoing underlying emotions between my horse and I from one thing to the next. Are we ready to move on, or are there things that need to be talked about?

I notice if my horse quietly braces during the saddling process and I do my best to get things feeling better. I feel the rush, the resistance or the tension when my leg comes on to ask my horse to go somewhere. If it doesn’t feel like we’re going together, I work at it until the feelings between us are more aligned. The examples continue indefinitely. I use this principle with varying questions and adjustability to work at everything that my horse and I do together.

People call me when the going gets really tough and they aren’t sure where to begin to help their horse. Things would most likely be different if people had the ability to pay more attention to the small troubles that came into the work. Small worries can compound and either result in catastrophic melt downs, or a horse that is just kind enough to put up a wall and tolerate life.

Photo: Preparing Moxy for her first saddling by asking questions with the ring rope instead of the feel in my hand. When her focus and the clarity between questions improved she felt floaty and engaged. This mindset and preparation is what I was helping her with before progressing to harder challenges.

If you just take care of the “little” things it may shock you how easy the bigger milestones become.

08/09/2024

Theodore is a 7-year-old Gypsy/ Appaloosa cross who is looking for his new person. He was gently started by Ellen Kealey Horsemanship as a 3-year-old over the course of nine months.

Theo does great on the ground and under saddle and will be looking for someone to continue his training and give him new experiences. He is a smart horse who thinks his way through obstacles. He is full of character and will make someone a wonderful partner.

Please DM or text/call 319-331-6276 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a time to come out and see him! He is currently located in Northfield, MN.

05/31/2024

This is a gentle reminder that really solid and well adjusted horses are built over time. We often need to get things wrong in order to illuminate the path to doing better. We can then use this as motivation to show up as often as possible.

If your horse has a bad day- so what. If he is struggling with something, find a way to get a change of thought rather than rushing to obedience. Take the weeks, months, or years required to adequately problem solve. Getting things right in the relationship is still worth more than getting by with something for a period of time.

Don’t focus on behavior, focus on small improvements that a horse can achieve in the moment.

It can take a few minutes to screw something up in a big way, which costs more time to undo or will always be there just below the surface. Take the time to help a horse become OK with something. Why make the first or any experience a bad one for the sake of getting something done?

Being more aware often starts with taking the pressure off of ourselves. We need to accept and allow our horses to be where they are at without comparison and unfair expectations.

Photo: Not taking things too seriously, while trying new ways of riding and presenting a feel. This is not a bad forehand yield for a backwards approach.

I will also mention that this is not Pipers third ride under saddle. Her and I have an established relationship, which allows for fun experiments without damaging what she already understands. She is going great, yet there are still many more years for her to step up in ways that aren’t available today. I’m grateful for everything her uniqueness has taught me.

05/29/2024

The concept of “good timing” comes up a lot in horsemanship talk along with other things like feel and clarity. I consider timing to be the ability to release consistently for a change, the adjustibility in the tempo of the questions being asked, and the judgement call of what to accept as a good enough change from moment to moment. Different horses require varying intensities in pressure and movement. Some benefit from releasing for the thought, while others require more waiting and hand holding.

One of the most important things to consider with timing is the ability to stay ahead of a horses thoughts and movement. Humans often get lost in what a horse is doing rather than helping a horse to stay focused and ready.

A strong indication that the human is behind a horses thoughts is that everything is a reaction to what the horse is doing, rather than the horse and human having a back and forth conversation. Leaving a horse hanging by not doing enough, or being there without meaning can lead to stronger leaving behaviors.

Photo: Raffi is a very busy minded and sensitive horse who learned to get ahead of pressure to avoid feeling troubled by it. He required me to be very consistent in interrupting his thoughts until staying with me felt better than leaving.

Staying with a horse like him was a tricky timing balance, because he had learned several evasion patterns. There were times where waiting was required to help him feel better and other times where the questions needed to be snappier to ask his thoughts to soften and be ready for the next thing.

05/22/2024

Thank you Good Horsemanship - Ross Jacobs for being such a consistent and helpful mentor in my professional horse journey!

I spent some time with this Fox Trotter mare a few years ago. We did a lot of things together, but helping her learn that a feel was something to embrace with minimal trouble inside was by far the most important and rewarding thing we had going.

05/21/2024

How do you help a horse who becomes unsettled in a stall for tacking up, or struggles to stand tied?

These smaller areas of worry can be easy to ignore or find a way around. Here are some questions to consider. Does the horse stand relaxed when his friends are around, or is there no change in the behavior? Does he worry more when a person isn’t in close proximity? How does he respond when you step into the stall? Has your horse ever been injured and suddenly on stall rest for days or weeks at a time?

One of the first areas to address is teaching a horse to follow a feel with different positions and proximity on the end of the line. He should be ready to stand quietly as if he is tied, or make minor adjustments. A step back while brushing his hip should be no problem, or a step sideways should be available with minimal effort. Having a horse with you throughout the tacking up process should become a way of life.

The next step may be to ask for a higher level of focus on the line and at liberty when the horse is in the stall. Can he go in and out quietly? Can he stay back with ease as you walk out and come back in? Does he leave for the nearest corner to his paddock as soon as the halter comes off? As his focus becomes better through clarity and intentional questions, the desire to be somewhere else will dissipate.

Once better communication is established, and the horse is able to let go of outside distractions I would begin to consistently leave him in the stall for short increments of time. While routine can be anti good horsemanship, there are some instances where it can really help to enhance a horses ability to handle uncomfortable situations, while understanding that it won’t last forever.

Many well known horse training techniques for this sort of problem would include things like letting the horse have a melt down for hours until he calms down, or tie him to something that doesn’t give after he has already learned to escape. These methods may work to help a horse shut down and show less outward signs of distress. Obtaining obedience in this way is working against the horse, instead of increasing his ability to stay grounded over time, and teaching him that these things eventually come to an end.

Photo: Tack up time can be stressful for Hoagy. His owner steps out for a few minutes, and then did some work in the stall to get him to have a stronger focus with her. Even though Hoagy never settled down for long while she was away, he will learn over time that being in the stall isn’t a forever thing. I have recommended that she leave him in the stall before each session for 3-5 minutes. Then take the time to get him as settled as possible at liberty and on the line before taking him out of the stall. Over time these moments will start to blend together and his emotions won’t fluctuate so much. She could even increase the time once he is doing better.

05/16/2024

The ability to get a horse quiet and attentive at a distance is one of the most valuable first steps to understanding a horses’ thoughts. It is the beginning of mirroring conversation, and allows us to be the observer rather than something to accept as in the way or part of life. It gives us the opportunity to see everything in our surroundings that catches our horses thoughts, as well as how committed those ideas are to other distractions and interests.

We can then notice the body language that gives us insight into the inner workings of our horse. Some examples of this may be noticing how he struggles to stay “here” by carrying a brace in a forward position. Or his feet may be still, while his mind is busy and unsettled. Many of the physical changes are indications of a horse shifting to a more grounded mental state.

If we do things right, we can first get our horse attentive, which then leads to directing a thought and a foot. What is the first step to getting a horse more attentive? Becoming more aware of your horse from moment to moment and asking questions. Once you are aware, then you can develop the skills to help your horse.

Photo: Seda staying attentive at liberty. She is incredibly fun to converse with.

04/12/2024

Statements I hear often are, “he was fine” or “the ride was good.” Most peoples judgements are based on their ability to complete a task that is in alignment with their goals. It is important to consider what deserves to be deemed a good ride, and if your horse could talk what would he say about the experience?

Humans don't put enough consideration into the small indications that a horse isn't going well. If adjustments can be made to lessen a behavior things will often go unaddressed until the horse slips over threshold. It is an uncommon occurrence to address the worry in the training so instead of going back to the little things that need attention, we find a solution that will make things OK enough to get by.

I encourage every horse person to ask questions and observe as much as possible. Practice rating everything you ask of your horse on a scale of 1-10. Learn to articulate emotions, body language, and the pressure required to ask a question and receive an answer.

When I say I had a really good day with a horse, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I got to ride, or solved all of the problems that came up. What matters to me is that things felt better than the last session. This could be that the horse found a higher level of relaxation going to the right, or his level of flight was less activated when I went out to catch him. I’m always working toward having an active participant in a back and forth conversation rather than a horse who can be pushed into a job, or completes exercises A,B and C.

The best job we can do with a horse acknowledges and addresses their internal experience.

Photos: Willow is a horse who has learned to hold it together on the outside, but is always worried about what a person might do next. Her focus in the work comes from high levels of worry. Her reactivity is always just below the surface waiting to protect her from an event that puts her over threshold. Her sessions are all about "better." The milestone moments will happen as a natural progression rather than an imposition.

Photo 1: Willow is concerned about being asked to follow the feel while I'm up on the fence. After working with her for a couple of weeks I can feel that her worry has come down a few notches. She isn't pulling as hard on the line, and doesn't feel like she could leave in an instant. During our last session she was comparatively at a higher level of convinced that things might work out OK for her.

Photo 2: She is lining up closer than before, but still has a level of tightness and worry about what is to come. Even though it is better, the emotions still need to be softer.

Photo 3: She has learned to soften to my touch rather than tightening when pressure is applied. Using feel and touch to help her let go of an emotional response to pressure has been such an important piece to the puzzle.

01/03/2024

Exposure is emphasized often in regards to bringing a horse along in the training. They need to cope with more distractions, get down the trail, or experience a busy show environment. I don’t disagree with the sentiment, however the most important component is that a horse feels better because of the work.

People cheer when a horse “survives” something scary without having a complete meltdown. Many exposure experiences put a horse through the motions, but leave them tense and walking on egg shells. If a person doesn’t address the worry levels, the horse will have a meltdown in 15 minutes, or later on when they are put into a similar situation that inspires the same feelings.

It’s not about exposure, experiences, or flooding a horse with a good time. It’s about how you can get them feeling on the other side. Exposure doesn’t mean presenting them with scary things until they get used to it, or teaching them coping mechanisms for survival. It’s about meeting a horse where they are at without agendas, and making life better for them.

Photo: Seda feeling good about asking me questions in a busy environment. She has been trailered in once per week as part of her training. We always made the start of each session about getting her to a higher level of focus and engagement while carrying the least amount of anxiety.

When she feels good her movement is floaty and responsive, and everything between us feels like a nuanced back and fourth conversation. When she is disengaged and stuck on a thought, tightness creeps in at varying levels, and more things begin to bother her.

If you help a horse have a better internal experience, the rest will follow.

Ellen Kealey Horsemanship

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