Sacred Connections Equestrian

11/22/2025

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11/22/2025

Great Rant! And spot on. Clear, consistent boundaries (rules of behavior) make horses feel safe. Horses that feel safe are calm and willing to cooperate with humans. When horses don't feel safe because they are confused at what is expected behavior, they are focused ONLY on how to get away from perceived threats. Scared confused horses are incapable of giving us their love, attention, or whatever emotion we are seeking from them, regardless of what stories we've been led to believe.

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11/19/2025

I really like this post. I've been questioning "disengaging the hindquarters" for decades. I always wanted my horses's hindquarters "engaged."
In her book, Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement, Howell Book House, New York, N.Y., 1993, author Susan E. Harris Harris states on page 75:
“Misunderstanding of movement and balance leads some riders and trainers to force their horses into ways of moving that defeat their purposes. Trying to create a certain mode of balance by forcing the head to do this, the hocks to do that, while the shoulders do something else, misses the point: good movement comes from good balance along with other essential gait qualities, not from putting the pieces together. Using anxiety techniques of fear to make the horse gather itself into balance is even worse—the horse cannot move fluidly, although he may move athletically out of sheer desperation. Such abusive training eventually results in physical or mental breakdown.”

Take care of the horse's stifles! Even though "disengaging the hindquarters" is a popular technique when training young or unschooled horses, it taxes the stifles and often leads to soreness and dysfunction. Stifles are not designed well for sideways movement of the limbs.They must first be made stable and strong with forward, balanced work. Otherwise, not only is the stifle joint compromised, but the supporting musculature which originates from higher up the pelvis and lower back is also strained. The result is often inflamed joints, diminished range of motion, and poor use of the hind limbs. So, at the risk of being controversial, I would encourage all of us to avoid disengaging the hindquarters in an unfit horse.

11/11/2025

For the Horses who served . . .

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10/26/2025

Example 1 of 5 from Common Sense Horsemanship by Vladimir S. Littauer

What do you think about this first example of equine abuse? 🤔

10/01/2025

Sacred Connections Equestrian is open for booking clinics for spring and summer 2026. There are a few limited spots remaining for 2025. Send us a message here or email us at [email protected] to book.

We have many options to fit your program’s needs. All clinics are based in authentic forward riding. We cover the southeast from Georgia to South Carolina, North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee.

09/27/2025

Hello everyone!

We discovered some technical issues on our website, SacredConnectionsEquestrian.com. I’m happy to report that the issues have been repaired with the site now functioning normally. Thank you for your understanding.

Join a vibrant community of like-minded equestrians, where learning is enjoyable, horses are loved, and progress is celebrated together . . .

09/18/2025

Free Webinar: US cavalry riding and the forward seat with Sacred Connections Equestrian

This webinar may be my favorite so far. Take a listen and learn the WHY behind the US cavalry riding system

Some other great things we covered:
- Why the cavalry's blend of riding had it figured out
- Why it can help even the most fearful riders
- The therapeutic benefits for your horse
- Why modern riding has gone downhill in quality for both horse and rider
- What is a forward riding seat?

Link Here: https://spottedhorsellc.thinkific.com/products/courses/SacredConnectionsWebinar

And on my website: SpottedhorseLLC.com in the learning center tab