Listen to the horse

09/10/2021

The canter or lope
The most exhilarating of the gaits. Can you enjoy it without knowing it's mechanics? Absolutely!
But, to influence your horse correctly, timing is everything and that can only happen if you know where your horses feet are. While this is true for all gaits, it becomes more crucial for the canter, since it is a 3 beat gait. The uneven number of beats is why there is a right and left lead and therefore there has to be a right and left cue, if you don't want to leave it up to the horse which lead to pick!
Below are labeled photos of each beat on the left lead, including the suspension phase, which of course has no beat but is an important part of the canter! Come fly with me! 🐎

06/12/2021

Have you had trainers like this? I sure have and I pride myself on not teaching like that. I'm not interested in the mystical guru status, my mission is to improve communication between horse and rider for a happier partnership!

02/06/2021

Yup 🐴

10/01/2020

If you want to be successful
KNOW what you are doing
LOVE what you are doing
BELIEVE in what you are doing
~ Will Rogers

09/11/2020

Is it better to ride and fall, than never to ride at all?
I’m sure almost all of you would answer this with a resounding YES.
But what if you had a bad fall that is leaving you with PTSD about riding. Post traumatic stress after a bad fall is certainly not unusual and some of it might never go away. If you want to get back on the horse it is extremely important to let your instructor and friends know what you are dealing with. This is nothing to be embarrassed about and if someone doesn’t understand, that is your red flag to stay away from them while you are working through this.
I always say jokingly that I am a therapist first and a trainer second, because I have to work on the riders issues before I can address the horse’s issues. A good instructor will be able to work through the rider’s problems with them. Knowing when to push and when to back off is the same type of “soft feel” I use when I train horses.
Stay away from the cookie cutter instructors and find someone that not only understands your issues but can help you work through them. Equally important is who you go riding with for fun. Stay away from larger groups for a while and just go out with one or two friends that know and understand what you are dealing with and won’t be reckless when you are with them. The only way to work through the fear is to try and prevent any scary situations until you become more confident again. The smallest issue could potentially set you back a mile. That means you have to control your environment for a while. Maybe even ride a different horse if your anxiety is related to the horse you fell off of. I see so many riders that aren’t a good match with their horse. I’m sure you love your horse, but for a while at least find one that doesn’t raise your anxiety level the second you think about getting on! I’m here to help, virtually or in person. If you have personal experiences and are comfortable sharing them, or have tips that could help others going through something like this, I would love to hear them! 💝

08/15/2020

Teaching your horse to hobble can be a valuable tool. Even if you never go anywhere where you need to hobble your horse, just having this in your tool box can be invaluable. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen or heard of horses getting tangled in wire, rope or even their reins. Many will fight until they are seriously hurt. The horse that knows how to hobble will stand and wait for you to release him! Never hobble a horse that hasn’t yet learned to give to pressure. As with all new things, take it slow and make sure you and the horse are in a safe environment. This video shows Armani being hobbled for only the second time.

08/12/2020

As trainers, time is a luxury we rarely have, but time and patience are the key ingredients in training! Don’t rush, listen to your horse. He will tell you when he is ready!

08/09/2020

07/28/2020

Maybe I‘m not a horse whisperer because I think it is more important to listen than to talk. Listen with your heart, not just your ears and let the horse talk to you!

06/15/2020

My thoughts on soft feel versus frame or head-set.

Frame and head-set:
- forced
- hart, rigid enclosure
- can't get out
- no flexibility
- static

Soft feel:
- not forced
- fluid
- elastic
- moving with the horse
- adjusting to the horse's need
- a partnership circle or bubble that can pop easily! 😉

What do you think?

06/06/2020

Some helicopter training today!
This was Dusty's first trail ride and I was hoping for a quiet one... 😎

05/05/2020

Working on softening to the bit! Remember we don't want to force our horse into a head set, but ask for flexion and acceptance of the bit. In the beginning that means your horse will still be unsteady in the bridle, searching for that steady connection. Your timely release is crucial here!

04/22/2020

Who says you can't take a 5 year old Warmblood on the trail? Not me!
Making it under low branches is a different story! 😆

04/02/2020

Working on smooth down transitions.
If you have a horse that has learned to slam on the breaks, don't sit the trot, post for at least a few strides to keep the forward energy!

03/29/2020

Who is still able to do this? Post your horsey social distancing photos for some positive vibes! 💕

03/26/2020

In these uncertain times, find peace by being close to your horse. Try something new, or rediscover something old, like an exhilarating ba****ck ride! 💕

03/17/2020

No matter how stressed you are. Breathe deeply and let the smell of your horse soothe your soul! 🐴💕

03/15/2020

This is Satyn, my ❤️horse! She is 32 and has been with me since she was 8 months old. Show me your ❤️horse!

03/12/2020

From a dear student Lynne Phipps:
"I need to express my heartfelt gratitude to this woman Martina Bone. The changes happening in me as well as my horses are so amazing . I owe it all to her knowledge , instruction and support . Thank you my friend"😘

03/09/2020

Just for fun: Dressage Dismount! 😁

03/03/2020

One of your most valuable and effective training tools is the release! Time it well and your horse will reward you with soft responsiveness. The best way to a happy partnership! 🐴

03/01/2020

Great first clinic day with huge differences already in some of the riders and horses. I love my job!

02/24/2020

I will be teaching in Florida this coming week-end. If you are near St. Augustine come and check it out!

02/19/2020

Trailer training--convincing your horse to step into the abyss!
If you have a horse that easily loads into your trailer, consider yourself lucky and f you trained your horse to do this, give yourself a big pat on the shoulder! There is a reason there are so many training instructions on trailer loading. For a horse to step into a small, dark, confined space is completely against their instinct!

Every horse is different and every trailer is different, so just like in any training scenario, there is no one size fits all to teach your horse to go into the trailer. The key is repetition and patience. Don't beat your horse into the trailer! The biggest mistake horse owners make is trying to load a horse into the trailer because they have to. They are rushed, the horse is not trailer trained and now has to be forced at all cost to go into it. Not only is this a terrifying experience for the horse, but he will remember this next time you ask him to step into the trailer!

Trailer loading is part of being a well trained horse and doesn't happen over night. Make the time to practice when you don't have to go anywhere and make it a good experience for your horse. If only the front feet go in the first time, reward your horse and ask for more next time. Practice quietly backing out as well. If you only trailer your horse on very rare occasions, refresh the training every once in a while. This can safe your horse's life. I live in a high fire danger area and every year horses get left behind in fires because they won't load. Don't let this be your horse!

02/14/2020

On Valentine's Day, let's talk about engagement. Not the marriage kind, but the horsey kind!
Engagement as it applies to riding has nothing to do with giving somebody a ring, but the deeper meaning applies:
Engagement as in working together or connecting. Following this, then disengagement would mean loosening or disconnecting!

You have probably heard trainers refer to "disengaging the hindquarters" or maybe you use this technique yourself. Basically what you are doing is taking the power away from the haunches, the engine of the horse.

So to create more power in the horse's movement, we want to engage the hind legs for better balance. Engagement refers to the weight bearing or stance phase. Carrying power not pushing power. In order for this to happen we have to shift the horse's balance towards his back end. Remember in nature horses carry about 60% of their weight in the front. The heavier the horse is on the front, the more disengaged the hind legs are. Case in point. A turn on the forehand (where the haunches move around the shoulder), is a lot easier to perform than a correct turn on the haunches (where the shoulder is moved).

Your horse has to build the muscles for this through correct work and that doesn't happen over night. Well timed transitions within and between the gaits, hill work and correctly ridden movements like smaller circles and shoulder-in will all help rebalance your horse and shift his balance to the back. This will cause him to engage his hind legs, carry more weight behind and lighten the front. The effect is like the coiling of a spring or the crouching of a tiger. Power ready to be unleashed!