Lisa Luongo Equine

05/10/2024

I hope that all equestrians will find themselves so lucky one day to discover the truly difficult horse.

The horse who demands such fair and respectful treatment that their refusal to put up with unfairness initially takes you aback, leaving you unsure of how to respond to them in training. Leaving you questioning everything you knew.

The horse who forces you to reflect on your training toolbox and to consider why resorting to physical punishment as a go to for unwanted behaviour may not be the best method of problem solving.

The horse who, ultimately, results in such a systemic change in you as a horse person that every horse you touch afterwards is better for it.

Sometimes, we just need a truly difficult horse to force us to reflect on our areas of weakness and reawaken why we got into horses in the first place.

This type of horse is one who refuses to give in to unfair treatment. They will demand from you kindness, fair work hours, transparency and respect. They want to know what is in it for them. Such demands can be exceedingly uncomfortable initially.

Many horse people may react to these types of horses with anger and choose to blame the horse for being too naughty, too stupid or too disrespectful. Doing so is taking the easy way out and lacks accountability.

For those who are ready to commit to self betterment, though, they will respond to these horses with curiosity and start to look inward and adapt to reach this horse and help them succeed. Even if they aren’t able to have this response initially, they will eventually get there.

And thus begins the journey that will change your perception of horses as you know it. It will help you adapt your training in a way that allows for you to work with all types of horses. You will learn important deescalation tactics and realize that explosive stress responses are often created from human intervention, not the fault of the horse.

These horses teach us traits that make us better people as a whole and they are ones that we will always remember and hold dear, no matter how much grief and frustration they initially may cause us.

I am so incredibly thankful for these horses. For without their demands, without their strength of spirit; I would likely have continued to enable myself in lacking flexibility in training, in engaging in lazy training methods that come at the expense of the horse.

Their strong wills and clear communication were the catalyst to a necessary change within.

So, thank you to the difficult horses. The horses who demand more from us and don’t succumb to poor treatment, even if it initially results in unfair treatment to them. They keep on demanding, they keep on communicating, until they are finally heard.

These are the horses that ignite the change in the very fabric of horsemanship. Even amongst the horse people who initially try to ignore them.

Thank them for their difficulty.

14/08/2024

I started watching a BBC show called TaskMasters. Five comedians must complete a series of tasks to collect points and hopefully win a useless trophy at the end of the season. I think it’s fascinating to watch people problem solve, but one task especially stood out to me.

The participants were broken into teams, put in a squash court and told that the team to score 11 points in the fastest time would win. But the court contained several unrelated items like a table, a potted plant, a tray of cupcakes. Above the court on a balcony was the show’s co-host who silently worked a scoreboard. The teams quickly figured out the point system had nothing to do with playing squash but they had no idea why the co-host was giving or taking away points. They tried lots of things, saying certain words, standing in certain spots, touching the objects in the room.

The first team did eventually figure out the scoring system. Spoiler alert: it was 1 point given of a participant touched their head, one point taken away if a participant nodded their head. Even after they figured out the system, they hesitated before quickly patting themselves on the head to get 11 points.

The second team never did figure out how or why they got points. A few team members seemed to have a habit of touching their hair or nose so they got points and never knew why. Even though they completed the task, they were frustrated at the end and threw things around the court as they left.

I’m sure you know where I’m going with this! Does your horse know what you are asking? Are you giving positive feedback to help them understand? Are you taking away “points” and making the ask harder? Does your horse have a natural behavior that makes learning what you want harder or easier?

Interestingly, the second team, the team who never figured out the system and left the squash court frustrated and acting out, won the competition. They won because they naturally demonstrated the point giving behavior and didn’t naturally demonstrate the point taking behavior. The co-host was silent and stone faced throughout. His lack of feedback, other than awarding points, was part of the reason for the frustration at the end. The player on the first team who figured out the system said later that when he finally understood the game, it felt like one of the greatest things he had ever accomplished!

Back to our horses, this means training isn’t just positive or negative feedback. Do you observe your horse and notice what behaviors they do naturally? Are these behaviors caused by or a source of frustration? Do you give your horse enough time and repetition to figure out what you want? Do you allow your horse to really learn what you are trying to convey or do you sit, silent and stone faced, and end a session. Is your horse more frustrated the next time you work with them or are they excited because they are learning and figuring out the game?

So much of riding and training is clear communication, observation and understanding. If you need help observing and understanding some of your horse’s behaviors or if you want to make sure you are communicating in a way that helps them learn and makes the “game” fun, please reach out to me for a lesson or evaluation. You can call or text at 215-820-8804 or message me here.

Here’s the episode!

From series 1 of Taskmaster, Tim Key, Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Frank Skinner attempt to score 11 points in this squash court. B...

12/08/2024

There are still masters among us. We need to listen to them before it’s too late.

If we ask the right question, the partnership continues after the lesson while the horse is in his stall or turns out. The horse’s mental processing and physical intelligence further the work done in the training ring. The horse needs to be comfortable, feel appreciated, and safe. The mind processes positively when it processes without fear, fear of punishment, or fear of physical pain. A short session placing the right question in the horse’s brain is a hundred times more effective than a long and uncomfortable session.
The whole psychology of submission is wrong. It is a sequel of the military discipline. Obedience is a psychology directed by the human ego and lack of knowledge. Horses have compensated for centuries the overly simplistic directives of the traditional equitation. Applying what we know today allows a much more intelligent and friendly approach. Some horses like human contact, hug them. Others would rather have more discreet contact; groom them gently before work. A partner needs to feel respected.
Jean Luc

26/07/2024

I have A LOT to say about the most recent high level horse abuse case. But this thoughtful, helpful and informative blog by Karen Rohlf is more important to spread around. Make sure you watch the videos.

Karen Rohlf talks about how to help with horse welfare by understanding human nature.

16/07/2024

Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the great good fortune to attend the Manolo Mendez Clinic in VA. If you aren’t familiar with Manolo, you can find more about him at manolomendezdressage.com. Manolo is one of the OG holistic horse trainers and is the most connected, magical rider and trainer I have ever seen. He clearly loves and understands horses and all the horses at the clinic, from baby to Grand Prix, loved and understood him.

I have an entire notebook filled with quotes and observations from the clinic that I will attempt to share here. I’ll start with what I think is the basis of Manolo’s training philosophy: “Horses are kinder than we think.”

HORSES ARE KINDER THAN WE THINK

Think of all the times your horse could have hurt you but didn’t. Or you asked your horse to do something that clearly scared them and they did it anyway. Or you drilled a movement or lost your temper or resorted to harsh training aids, and your horse still let you get on the next day and try again. The list of our bad behaviors, whether intentional or not, is endless as is our horse’s capacity to forgive us.

I’m willing to bet that we all ride and spend all our time and money on our horses because we love them and we know how kind they are. But a majority of trainers and training methods are based on dominance and fear, force and aggression. But did you want to ride horses so you could “show them who’s boss” or use whips, spurs, severe bits and training aids? I’m guessing you didn’t but over the years, that is what you’ve been taught to do.

There is a better way, a kinder way and I’ll bet it’s the way you always dreamed of when you first fell in love with horses.

Over the next few months, I will be building a community of horse people who want to do better for their horses, who want to cultivate and celebrate the kindness in all horses. Join me and stay tuned!

https://manolomendezdressage.com/ In-Hand and Dressage Specialist

25/06/2024

This is absolutely correct. I would just add that it can include and indicate an actual physical problem. Bottom line is your horse is always seeking security. If you don’t provide that or unknowingly make them feel less secure, they will seek the safety of their herd mates or home.
If you need help unraveling your horse’s security issue so you can have a true partnership, please message me.

What does it mean when your horse is ‘barn sour’ or ‘buddy sour’ ?

These labels are used often. “My horse loses their mind when I ride away from the barn” or “My horse can’t focus if he/she is away from their friends”.
They’re not barn sour or buddy sour. They are in a physical and mental state of emergency. I’m sure you’ve heard that making the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy is the solution but overfacing and overworking the horse in an attempt to force a level of acceptance or to cause fatigue are not solutions, they ultimately result in bigger problems.

When a horse is taken from what’s most familiar to them, their comfort level changes drastically UNLESS they have learned to find comfort and confidence in YOU. They need thought provoking, physically engaging dialogue. They need to be free of tension to move their neck and back and extend their range of motion. They need you to ride balanced and correct. They need you to be confident in your abilities as a team.

Your horse will thank you for it 🤠

21/06/2024

Do you ever wonder if your horse has something to say to you?
Do you want your horse to feel, behave and perform at their best?

Lisa Luongo Equine is offering the following summer specials that will help you and your horse have a better connection and partnership.

Intuitive Bodywork and Communications Session:
I combine my many bodywork and energy work therapies to customize a healing session personalized for your horse. In addition, I use my skills as an animal communicator and empath to address your horse’s needs and issues and answer your questions.
Book now until July 31st for a special rate of $100.

Animal Communication Session:
Have a better understanding of you horse (or other companion animal) through an interactive communication session. Ask questions, get feedback on issues or get closure with a pet who has passed on.
Book now until July 31st for only $60.

To book a session, please send a PM or text me at 225-820-8804.

Rates will increase in August so book now!

22/03/2024

Every time we saddle up, remember this.

27/02/2024

26/02/2024

Goals!

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas!

25/10/2023

"Hollywood sells that romantic myth of horses whispering, but the best horse trainers don’t whisper. They watch, listen, learn, and think. The horses do the whispering. The humans job is to rivet attention to their faintest hints. Let’s try to connect with animals at their level, instead of demanding that they constantly adjust to us."

- Janet L. Jones, Horse Brain, Human Brain

📸 Erin Gilmore // Erin Gilmore Photography

01/10/2023

I will preach this until I’m blue in the face…

17/09/2023

From Becks Nairn: Lowering the poll below the withers only gains space in the first to 8-9th thoracic spinous processes and you know how much kissing spines I see there? I’ve had one horse have kissing spines in the withers and he had a major fracture from a rotational fall. Where most of the kissing spines I see are located is in the lower back and lumbar area. How do you condition this area for strength? Rein back and lateral steps in the hind is a good start. The only caveat on this is that if you are retraining an extremely tense horse I will allow them very briefly to take the neck low, to let the horse know the freedom is there now.

Everyone is focused on the front of the horse and the risk here is loading the forehand when it’s all the hind joints that are designed to fold.

COLLECTION TO COMBAT KISSING SPINES

Kissing spines seems to be the lameness du jour these days. I’ve seen a bunch of posts and articles on the subject lately. Here are a couple of my observations. Nobody in those posts talks about training proper collection by engagement of the hindquarters. Most only mention lowering the head/neck. The thoracic sling is not, does not, and can not lift up the front end of the horse. That’s the job of the hindquarters.

15/09/2023

Excellent article! Excellent teacher and rider! Well worth the read, but if you do nothing else, please just look at the pictures. Many of the best are bitless. We all, and I include myself, need to stop trying to control and block our horses with our hands and learn to ride and trust a forward, elastic movement.

Karen Rohlf explains why students struggle when learning how to get a horse on the bit in dressage. Learn a different way of getting your horse round.

26/05/2023

Many physical and training issues can be avoided if you learn to notice when your horse becomes fatigued.
Stay tuned for more info on this important topic!

Developing Empathy

Frustrated by your horse? Try this---

Go for a run. Yes, you, human rider. Intersperse your run with sets of push-ups. See how long it takes before you lose athletic buoyancy, before you “just can’t.”

Fatigue in a horse, which is pretty much the same thing that you just felt, creates leaning, tripping, stumbling, slow reactions, poor coordination, lugging on the hand, all sorts of what you may be mistaking for “bad behavior.”

The tired horse will feel just like a “disobedient” horse. And then what will happen to that horse if the rider doesn’t tune into the horse’s fatigue? You know exactly what will happen to the horse. It will get drilled on. Drilled on just when the exact opposite should happen.

Trainers who lack the ability to sense what the horse is going through are among the worst drillers, and they create tense, scared, resistant horses, and they then do something even worse, they blame the horse.

Change your mind set. Think how YOU would feel if you had gotten beyond your limits and then got ground on and punished to fix your bad behavior.

You think I’m kidding? You think this isn’t going to happen today, all across the world where people ride and drive horses? That unfit for the task horses won’t be cranked and pressured? Dream on.

The best thing that you can do if your goal is to become a competent trainer is to constantly be aware of your own frustration meter. And stop before you create damage, physical and emotional injury and distress. Get a little and end on that. If even a little seems elusive, DO NOT GRIND. Go walk, try again tomorrow. Don’t add fear and anxiety to the training process.

I will say this one more time---“Don’t add fear and anxiety to the training process.”

Why am I saying this so often? Because if I had learned this decades sooner, I would have been a far better trainer and horse person---That’s why. Learn, if you are capable of doing so, from the mistakes that others have made. Do not drill your horse.

07/05/2023

Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, gets Magnawave daily! Contact me to schedule a Magnawave appointment for your champion.

Kentucky Derby Winner Mage loves MagnaWave!! Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby

12/04/2023

Q: What horses benefit from a forage based feed program?

A: All of them!

This is a before (top) and after (bottom) of Betty, a 31 year old thoroughbred mare. Betty's owner called my equine nutritionist, Tina Griffiths, when Betty started losing muscle and weight on her normal diet of senior feed.

Tina put Betty on a customized forage based diet and Tina's special vitamin mix and in only 3 months Betty is flourishing. Even her posture is improved from the muscle gain and reduction in inflammation from her new diet. Betty is back to trail riding 3 times a week, and her owner is thrilled with her progress.

This is why I tell my clients to call Tina for an evaluation and a customized feeding program. Your horse will look and feel better and you could even save money! Comment below or message me and I'll tell you how to get your own appointment with Tina!