Exceptional Horsemanship

04/20/2024

Are nosebands necessary for dressage? Karen Rohlf discusses the purpose of nosebands and if they help you get better contact with your horse.

04/11/2024

Thanks to Sarah Kuz for this meaningful truth. I didn’t write this but I wish I had. So many of us want certain things in our horses that we have yet to master, ourselves…

A few of these sit uncomfortably with me, too.

04/11/2024

Think about it 🤔

Our crew lives outside and seems to thrive as a result. Horses 🐎 living like horses 🐎

04/10/2024

Sometimes I get really angry at all those alleged dressage pros who continue to give dressage a bad name.
I’m so sick of the blue tongues and the tight frames, the distorted gaits and the pain faces, the hollow backs and pseudo piaffes.
I would love to have a big RESET button for dressage. Because it’s heading the wrong way. I so much would love this to stop!
Because dressage can be breathtakingly beautiful.
Dressage can be calm, focused, connected.
It can be exciting and full of energy, WITH the consent of the horse.
Dressage can be a never ending journey of discovery.
Dressage can be ART.
It can be two beings moving as one.
And it’s not that hard!
You just have to stop pulling. And you have to stop pushing.
And instead learn how you can ride the horse from the seat with minimal hand and leg aids.
It’s not a myth! It can be done.
You might not win a medal. But you will certainly win the heart of your horse.
Sadly, there is no reset button and I cannot stop all the suffering caused to horses around the world.
But I can educate one rider at a time.
At the moment I have two openings in my classroom for personal students. More info here: www.classroom.academicartofriding.pl 🌹

03/05/2024

A thought to consider for some…..

03/03/2024

Just what in the hell is the horse supposed to do with these people?

02/25/2024

You get what you are actually training, not what you THINK you are training.

If your horse practices more time moving in tension, you are training tension.

If your horse practices more time moving in relaxation, you are training relaxation.

If your horse spends more time feeling stressed in a training situation than they do feeling relaxed, you are teaching them that training is stressful.

Even if your intention is relaxation -

If they spend 40 minutes moving in tension, for you to achieve 2 minutes of relaxation at the end of that session...

You have been training your horse to move in tension.

If your horse spends 5 minutes moving in relaxation, to then fall out of that relaxation, for you spend 15 minutes in tension trying to get back to relaxation...

You have been training your horse to move in tension.

You have to set your horse up for success - both emotionally and physically.

And relaxation or compliance, which occurs after your horse has fatigued from spending sustained time in tension, will unlikely be teaching your horse anything meaningful.

Despite what your ego might want, you do not have to end a session on a good note.

Because after all, you get what you train ❤️

-

The Fundamentals of Horse Posture:

https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/fundamentals-of-horse-posture

The Fundamentals of Exercise Programming:

https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/fundamentals-of-exercise-programming

12/21/2023

"Until you can walk, trot, canter AND gallop on a loose rein with direction and purpose collection is a JOKE. It's not collection, it's containment for an insecure rider. Containment and paranoia. It's pulling and holding and you're just calling it collection to sound noble." -Buck.

12/18/2023

Ray didn’t mince words!

12/12/2023

Never underestimate the power of unlearning. It's a testament to our growth, our ability to adapt, and our willingness to evolve beyond what we once knew. 🌱💡

12/04/2023

It is common to hear exclamations such as “the barn is my sanctuary”, “riding is my therapy”, “my horse(s)/barn time are therapeutic for me” and while these aren’t bad or wrong to think, we do need to consider what we really mean and what expectations might be projected onto our horses and our experiences with them that may be unintended and unreasonable.

To be specific, how do we define therapy? Is it personal growth and self awareness? Or are we interchanging the term therapy with self care? Who do we typically trust to provide it for us? Qualified professionals? Friends? Spiritual leaders?

So where and how do our horses fit into this? What can the horse do? The horse can act in commonality with a high quality human therapist in the way that they can, without judgement, guide us to and potentially aid us in confronting difficult aspects of ourselves. Thus riding + horsemanship, much like many modalities that address mental health and wellness, demand that we are accountable, self aware and constantly working towards bettering ourselves. This can be a powerfully good thing (to an extent), providing we don’t expect the animal to go on auto pilot while we work out our issues or become resentful toward them for showing up when we cannot or visa versa.

“Riding is my therapy”- at what point does this line of reasoning take a turn toward “I do X, Y, Z for my horse so they can give me an hour out of their day” (read: at what point do we as riders find ourselves feeling entitled to desirable behaviour from our horses and attached to the outcome of our experience with them/ expect them to show up and provide us with distraction, release, a “good” ride to take away the pain of the day?).

Sometimes we want to ugly cry into a mane, sob away our troubles while being held up by a giant beautiful and sacred being. Not all horse are comfortable/confident with this type of energy which can feel chaotic and we must choose our partners for these moments very carefully. If the horse is secure in their 3 Types of Confidence (confidence in themselves, confidence in their environment and confidence in their human) then holding space for our feelings is something magical that they can and will do for us. However, if the horse is emotionally + physically “tight”, if they’re struggling with their own trauma/PTSD, it can be inappropriate to ask them to support us in this way. It’s unethical to send an animal into a freeze response just because we need a release.
In my experience, it tends to not go well when one traumatized being is paired with another. After all, you would NEVER choose to see a therapist who was emotionally unregulated nor would a decent one see you when they’re not able to provide their services with integrity. This goes both ways. Understanding how our energy effects our equines is paramount in determining a realistic role for them in our lives.

When we think of the barn as our sanctuary, that’s wonderful! It should be. If we consider riding as our therapy or riding as therapeutic, what is it exactly that is meant by this? Do we mean that riding is physically therapeutic for us? Wonderful, it certainly can be and that’s grand, providing that we are working on learning about our bodies and the horse is able to physically support us.

I see danger to the partnership come mostly when therapy is confused with self care. A person may believe that riding and barn time are self care and that’s fine providing that they do not have expectations on the horse to facilitate any specific/desired experience. This isn’t even about fairness, it’s about what is realistic.

The way that I choose to be and work with horses does not allow me to be an unequal partner in the conversation, Meaning that when what I want to do is to relax/let my worries wash away/take a load off/whatever, then I am not going to Ask anything of the horse. I will go sit in the pasture and breathe and enjoy the sounds of quiet munching. I might sweep the barn or muck some pens. I may just sit and watch and breathe it all it. Or, most likely, I will engage in non selfish self care and chose an activity like swimming or hiking or soaking in the bath with a book. But I will not ask of the horse unless I’m fully prepared to show up for them however THEY need. In short, when what we’re looking for is a chance to remove ourselves from reality, then what we need is a bicycle, not a horse. On days where I simply do not have the bandwidth to offer support to the horse who may require this from me at any time as their partner/guardian, while it may be connection that I desire, I’m going to be very mindful of where I seek it.

Takoda has zero interest in meeting me when I’m unregulated. Providing I don’t ask anything of him, he will tolerate my chaos but clearly communicates that he doesn’t like it. My home girl Juno? Man, when I walk out to the pasture with tears in my eyes, she’s rolling up her sleeves and meeting me at the gate like, “Yes! My moment has come! I was born for this.” Realizing that I’m very fortunate to currently have more than one horse in my backyard who will step into this role for me, I hold grace for the times in my life where I did not. There are many things we can do to honour ourselves and facilitate the connections we need when we’re undone so when we go looking for this from our horses, we simply must be mindful that our requests are within their scope to provide 💕

11/28/2023

Hope you're following this Operation X.
https://www.horsenation.com/2023/11/28/operation-x-where-do-we-go-from-here/?fbclid=IwAR2FXqJS3M-P5iHTjHta5FIH2_TRNB5LIkcgXpftR1hSmhTCTXAMzGo9t9w

I usually draw comics, but as a dressage rider I felt compelled to weigh in -- with an appropriate amount of snark -- on the current dumpster fire that is the fall out from Operation X. The expected Dressage Dumpster Fire sparked by TV2’s Operation X has been raging the last week since part 1...

11/14/2023

Tom Buck Klindt - Is your horse allowed to say no?
I’ve heard more than a few folks answer with an emphatic “hell naw”. A bomb proof horse oughta be compliant and unresistin’ to whatever the rider asks, right? Terms like disrespect, defiance, git used to describe any refusal to submit or obey. I ain’t sayin’ a horse ain’t capable of outright disobedience. I’m sayin’ my experience tells me deliberate recalcitrance is the exception.
I grew up ridin’, breakin’, trainin’, horses. I was taught a philosophy counterintuitive to the prevailin’ mindset of “ride the buck outta ‘em” dominance used by the old time cowboys.
I recall a particular incident gatherin’ cows with a neighbor in Montana mountain country, when my half-mustang mare, Sacajawea, absolutely refused another step in a direction I wanted to go. Nuthin’ could change her mind. Later one of the riders found recent grizzly tracks and s**t, just ahead of where I’d wanted to go. I couldn’t see, hear, or smell a griz nearby, but Sac sure could! That horse was aware of danger I wasn’t.
To me, listenin’ to my horse’s “no’s” isn’t ‘bout who’s in charge. It’s ‘bout allowin’ the same personal autonomy I practice with all relationships. It’s ‘bout consent. I figger consent can’t exist without allowin’ for refusal ‘er withholdin’ of consent.
Man ‘er beast, there’s basic reasons for anyone sayin’ no.
1. Sumthin’ feels scary, dangerous, and fer a prey animal, that’s no joke.
2. It’s expressin’ “I can’t” due to physical limits, pain, lack of confidence, somethin’ else, unknown to me.
3. It’s lack of trust which ain’t the same as disobedience, defiance, ‘er disrespect. If I’m wantin’ my horse to trust me as a peer and partner, I’ve gotta earn, then keep, his trust, plain and simple.
4. My “ask” might not be clear; meanin’ my horse is confused, or misunderstands what and why I’m askin’.
5. Could be somethin’ he just doesn’t want to do, ‘cause he’s tired, feelin’ off his feed, is just not in the mood.
A horse ‘er a human will choose to avoid negative experiences whenever possible. Addin’ pressure to make ‘em do somethin’, (forced compliance) only adds to the negative feelin’s of that experience.
Lettin’ your horse have a voice, listenin’ to him, aren’t gonna teach him to defy ‘er disrespect you. In fact, lettin’ him be “heard” and “seen” help him feel valued, respected, and therefore more willin’.
Groundwork, desensitizing, ridin’, all the trainin’ gits done ‘cause a horse allows it. That consent oughta come from a place of understandin’, communication, and built trust. If he’s allowin’ outta fear, manipulation, force, or demand, it ain’t consent, it’s coercion.
I know, there’s lotsa “yeah, but’s”. I’m not tryin’ to address every nuance, so I’m simplifyin’. I do think buildin’ a consensual relationship makes fer happier and healthier, both horse and hooman.

11/07/2023

We are singly focused on the intersection of equine wellness and training.

07/16/2023

"The journey begins with a departure from home - whatever home is. You have to leave the place you are familiar with. Often this is induced by crisis." - Russell Brand

Having been granted the honour of working with a lot of people on their journey with their horses, there's a common theme in the motivation for change:

The realisation that what they were taught and as a consequence, what they have done to their horses, was not in alignment with their own moral belief system.

Instead they were caught in the teachings of someone else's idea of acceptable ethical conduct. Meaning that because someone in a position of authority told you to do something, e.g. an instructor, yard owner, or societal body, it must be acceptable.

Morals = your personal belief system on what is acceptable conduct

Ethics = rules on conduct as established by an external source/organisation

My moral compass is always shifting - always seeking for better 'best' practice. Determined by acquisition of more tools in the toolkit - no matter their subject of origin.

What I like to do in my sessions is invite the people I work with to tell me about their moral compass -

How does it differ to mine?
Where are their boundaries?
Are my boundaries further out than theirs?

And then I will apply that within my session with their horse. "Let me know your boundaries so I dont cross them."

And maybe I will also learn from them, for I have "strong beliefs that are loosely held" - Celeste-Leilani Lazaris

However within that, if I feel your boundaries need a little love and your horse needs a little more compassion, you better believe I will tell you... "Do you think XYZ is acceptable...?"

Because my goodness I couldn't live with myself if I did something with your horse within your boundaries but not within mine.

And I would hate to be the person in your story that encouraged you to do something with your horse that you would later learn to regret.

Because we all look back and say "if I knew then what I know now..."

-

Musings from:

Diary of a CEO: E260 with Russell Brand

Milgram (1965) studies on obedience

07/03/2023

Just a gentle reminder that obedience does not equal a happy horse, nor does it equal biomechanical function... ..and all behaviour is designed to meet a need ❤️

06/16/2023

06/13/2023

🧐

06/05/2023

So true with horsemanship.
Skepticism and Denial
Skepticism is a virtue. It requires a willingness to question conventional wisdom, and the guts to accept something after you discover that it’s actually true.
Denialism, on the other hand, is a willful rejection of reality. It’s safe and easy, and unproductive. Because there’s no room to change your mind.
To be a generous skeptic, we need to state in advance specifically what it would take for us to engage with the proposed insight, and then do so after our standards are met.
This is hard work. It’s not easy to change one’s mind. Difficult but worth it. Big shifts in perception are rare and it’s not something we look forward to.
Skeptics are a key to the scientific method, organizational design and even investing. We sign up to doubt and question and push, and then we become productive contributors by embracing the new tools and results.
Often, people in denial pretend to be skeptics. It feels more powerful than acknowledging that we’re simply avoiding change.
--Seth Godin

06/01/2023

Edgar Albert Guest ❤️

04/29/2023

Isn't it staggering to think/find out that people actually use these mechanisms of torture on horse they say they love. And of course they use them on horses they don't love... Really look at these monstrosities.

04/01/2023

As I'm the world's worst knot tie-r, I thought I'd pass this on.

03/29/2023

Have you ever just come to the abrupt realization that you don't see anything the same anymore?

The two year old that you once would have approved of starting under saddle now looks like an incredibly immature baby that you can't imagine asking to carry a load.

Physical issues that lead to training and performance issues you no longer view as the problem but perhaps the solution to the actual problem.

All of the things you would have considered behavioral issues you can now see as the balance issues that they are. You no longer want to address the behavior but instead the reason for the behavior.

You are no longer fooled by words. Anyone can say anything about their training and approach...but the horse will tell you a lot about whether the words match the action, if you're educated enough to see it. Some things are debatable...other things definitely aren't.

You now recognize that you are a nervous system and your horse is a nervous system...and that the priority is to keep you upright and alive. That matters, A LOT.

You recognize that developing a horse is an endeavor that takes years. YEARS. Years of a lot of time and a lot of commitment. There's truly no substitute.

You also realize that getting here has meant admitting that there were times when you were wrong. That there were times when you did harm with the best of your intentions. That you had to walk away from circles of people whose beliefs and approach no longer lined up with what you now know...or maybe they walked away from you? Either way, it's hard to stand alone sometimes.

You realize you've had to become a beginner a thousand times over...and you'll continue to find yourself in that spot a thousand more times in the future, plus some. Maybe even at some point today.

You realize that even when it feels like you haven't grown at all...you actually have. That growth is something to be proud of, no matter where you're at on your journey.

- Terra

03/24/2023