Strong Spirit Stables LLC

01/20/2025

“Everything must start with mental acceptance and relaxation for the horse in order for education to be possible.”

Many riders struggle under saddle with physical and emotional relaxation in the horse because they jump too quickly "up the scale" into contact/connection before the horse has learned to manage his own emotions. Until a horse can prove that he is relaxed in his mind and body, he is not ready for contact, in the way that we typically talk about it and see it used. This is why rhythm and relaxation are at "the base of the pyramid," and why we need to always return to this many times throughout each ride with our horse.

Too many riders are working hard to shape the horse into frames, cadences, and movements before the mind and body is open enough to accept being educated and molded. This only proves to create more frustration and tension in the horse (not to mention the rider!) as we attempt to progress further. It does not need to be this way. We need to recognize the horse's emotional state.

Everything must start with mental acceptance and relaxation for the horse in order for education to be possible. We need to return to this, also, when troubles start to shape up. Rather than trying to out-muscle the horse's emotions, we need to help him find relaxation again by stepping back and allowing him to manage his own emotions once more. From here, training can start again.

Tempo is an emotional condition of the gait. This is why rhythm and relaxation must be tied together at the base of our training. The horse must be allowed to find his own cadence and relaxation at all gaits with minimal (if any) interference from the rider. Only once he has come to this relaxation as a personal responsibility can we expect him to accept more advanced and sophisticated understandings of the rider's expectations.

01/20/2025

01/19/2025

Everybody is cold, everybody is bored and everybody is feeling guilty for not getting anything done.

Some thoughts on the winter of our despair:

1- guilt is a waste of time. Take some time to organize and take stock of what you actually have : if you look at your day objectively, you’ll see what amount of time you have to work with your horses, and what the footing or situation is. Are horses are standing in three feet of mud or snow or frozen trenches? Do you have a barn or indoor arena? Do you have lights ? How much time in your day remains after working or whatever your responsibilities include? You may find yourself looking at a normal winter reality - not much daylight, not much time, bad footing.

2- get creative : what CAN you do? You maybe can’t do canter sets in -2 degrees in the snow, but you can think of what ingredients go INTO canter sets and break it way, way down. What’s required for a canter? Alignment, good flexion, responsiveness, lifting the inside shoulder, diagonal unity - how can you work on those ingredients in the space and time you have? (I have videos on this in my video library for those interested)

3- when consistency is not possible, stick to awareness and high quality. Can you give the time you have - a ten minute session, or whatever the case is - can you keep your thoughts 100% (or as close to this as possible) to the session? Can you be aware of the details and your movements and how you breathe and how aligned the horse is doing the small things you CAN get done? You’ll feel a much greater sense of accomplishment if your mind is here in the session, rather than in some potential situation you can’t create with the following disappointment of not creating it.

4- as tempting as it is to wish for summer, don’t waste this valuable time. Winter has its purpose : rest, reset, reorganize. Don’t wish this period away but instead find its value and turn toward introspection.
Your summer will be better off for it.

01/17/2025

Just had this same conversation with two of my amazing clients last night. The little things are big things! And they do matter a lot.

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.

01/13/2025

The urge to change or fix others

This has been a struggle of mine for years - the over focus on what others should be doing. Watching people make mistakes or reject information I know could help them has left me squirming internally more often than I care to admit

And my mentors, my dear teachers who have been ever patient with me while I do the very same - reject or misunderstand information that they know I need - have helped me over the years to understand this. They have a calm and peaceful way of watching people’s journeys without becoming internally disrupted. They have a security I envy- and over time I’ve come to understand this security, though I can’t say I possess it 100% of the time, I am happily improving.

This security comes from focusing on ourselves, and understanding excess focus on others is a diversion from our own work. It means that the more we take our craft seriously and weave it into our whole lives, the more grace we have for others - because it is serious and sometimes very difficult business. When we really understand the struggle to change ourselves, we realize how difficult or even impossible it is to change someone else.

We come to accept that nothing will “take” until the subject is ready, and the attempt to pressure someone ahead of their time will surely detract from the beautiful and very unique path to growth of the individual.

It really helps to look back on my own path, and to think what my teachers thought of me all those years ago. I’d like to think I’m unrecognizable compared to that person back then - and I remember the power of a seed planted, and the no judgement of a teacher who leads the way by example.

01/13/2025

Why so much, so young?

The horse industries, particularly racing, have operated the same way for centuries, pushing 2- and 3-year-olds hard. But that doesn’t mean other disciplines should follow the same path.

I take a conservative stance when it comes to a horse's age.

A yearling is still a baby—let them run and play in a field.

A 2-year-old is also a baby—still best left running in a field.

At 3, a horse is still a baby, though now big enough for some handling. Forget about "futurities" or "young horse programs." If you can’t resist doing something, put a saddle on, maybe work on long-lining, and get on occasionally to make sure they don’t buck you off. But then—send them back to the field.

If all you’re doing with a 3-year-old is the basics—shots, feet, teeth, leading, just like a yearling or 2-year-old—I don’t think you’re falling behind.

At 4, they are a young adolescent. Like most adolescents, they need a job, but not a demanding one. No speed, no tight spins, no pounding work. Focus on slow, steady physical development—lots of walking, building muscle, and gaining body mass. You're still in a foundational stage.

By 5, they’re either still a baby or starting to mature, depending on the horse. Train carefully, and above all, avoid injury and stress. Don’t rush them into some performance-driven "young horse" program unless they’re an early maturing type—and even then, be cautious. Definitely avoid this at 4.

By 6, they’re ready to start becoming a "normal" horse.

I know my timeline is unconventional. Many horses are worn out or injured by age 6, 7, or 8—some even younger. They're mentally exhausted and physically broken by trainers and riders who pushed them too hard, too soon.

But if you can be patient, allowing them to grow and strengthen, those same horses can still be in their prime into their late teens or even early 20s and retire at 30.

What’s the rush? Seriously.

Written by Tamarack Hill Farm

01/13/2025

Cinch length is important!

There are so many different opinions out there on where to place your cinch buckle. Many of those opinions have huge followings which leads to a lot of confusion.

This picture is taken from Rod Nikkels articles. This is where I tell people where their buckles should fall. Too low is not ok. 28” or shorter is not a must have. What happens if your horse has a larger circumference? Would you want a buckle in your armpit or on your elbow?

If you want to read more and expand your knowledge on cinch length these are two great reads. They are a little older but talk about anatomy and placement.

https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/myth-busting-external-abdominal-vein/

https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/cinches-what-more-i-have-learned/index.html

01/12/2025

This is a good exercise we can all work on even during the winter months at the walk, that can also help stretch and strengthen our horses when done correctly.

01/12/2025

Ass in saddle time is key.

The more you ride, the better you become.

Even on the days the conditions are not ideal, you can walk your horse.

You can work on softness and feel.

You can concentrate on body control for yourself and your horse.

Stop making excuses.

Go to work.

01/12/2025

Smooth and accurate handling of the lead rope, reins and other equipment attached to the horse’s head is so important to me- in fact, I believe it’s hardly possible to get a horse relaxed and straight without it. Handling that jerks, fumbles, wobbles, flops or disturbs the lead rope in meaningless ways will produce a brace in the poll and the neck. It can create a floppy horse who pivots around their head and shoulders for all their movements, or it can create a braced up, unresponsive and unhappy horse.

My aim is to create a soft horse who works in alignment, with an even bend from nose to tail. To create this, I’m disciplined about my rope and rein handling at all times. I’m feeling for the connection as we stand together on the ground, when I’m taking a break in the saddle, and when we’re working. If I tell the horse accidentally that the rope is meaningless one minute, how will they know it’s filled with meaning the next?

I like to handle my lead rope smoothly without big flops or loud, excessive releases. Step by step we are communicating back and forth, from my hand to the smallest guard hairs on the horses’ chin. This travels all the way through his halter to the shoulders, spine and hips.

01/11/2025

01/10/2025

The more you know!

01/10/2025

Does your horse suffer from long toes and low heels? Sign up for a free webinar (or pay what you want) to learn how you can help them with that.

🙌 Our next FREE/pay what you want webinar is on TRIMMING!!!!!🙌

Join me, Beccy Smith in this 2 hour webinar to learn basic trimming principles for promoting soundness and preventing lameness in horses.

In our new trimming series, I share with you how I assess, document and trim a horse with common hoof morphology and imbalance - this is #1 - long toe, low heel - Paddy.

The highlights include:
💚 What is a healthy hoof and horse
💚 Objective assessment and HoofmApped hooves pre and post trim
💚 Objective mapped posture assessment pre and post trim
💚 What the assessments mean in terms of balance, functionality and soundness
💚 Video clips taken throughout the trimming process
💚 Step by step instruction on what I am trimming off the hoof, and why
💚 Tips on rehabbing horses from the hoof-up
💚 Tips on helping horses integrate trimming and hoof morphology changes
💚 Train your eye to help YOU observe and appreciate balance and neuro-muscular health in horses
💚 Opportunity for Q and A’s at the end

Frequently asked questions
🤓Who is this webinar for? This educational and informational webinar is suitable for anyone interested in horse care and welfare, including horse owners, students and industry professionals (vets, vet nurses, farriers, trimmers, podiatrists, physios, therapists, saddle fitters, dentists, trainers, breeders, scientists and grooms/managers, students, etc)

🤓How long is the webinar? Around 1.5 to 2 hours plus up to 30 mins Q and A at the end.

🤓Will there be opportunity to ask questions? Yes - there will be opportunities to ask questions within a 30 minute time limit at the end. Please be aware these will be recorded live.

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🤓 How do I join and access this and many other webinars and educational resources for free? https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/membership

🤓 When are tickets available? Up until 7pm on the 10th February December.

🤓 How many tickets are available? Tickets are limited to 500 - we have sold out before so please secure your place ASAP to avoid disappointment!

🤓 How much are tickets? £FREE/pay what you want - please give generously to help us continue to provide free and subsidised educational resources, events and services.

🤓 What time zone is it? GMT or UTC - we’re in the UK. Find your time zone here: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/map/

🤓 Where do I get my ticket? Secure your ticket now at: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/event-details/trimming-horses-series-long-toe-low-heel-1 🙏🐴💚

www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴

01/10/2025

To be light, truly, is a feeling from within
A feeling of buoyancy - finding the beauty, the humor, the whimsy everywhere. To be vibrant, and open is to see the possibilities everywhere, and instead of trying to make, finding instead a wave to simply ride.

To be unchained by the heaviness of insecurity, by the need to feel important or cover a damaged heart.

To be light is to be free enough to take in the world and reflect it everywhere -

To be truly light with horses, we must cultivate an inner lightness - a true reflection of selflessness, as we reflect the beauty of the world around us back out, no longer bogged down by a desire to be anyone at all.

Photo by hatch art