Garrabeg Horsemanship and Western Coaching

31/12/2023

With any new horse it's important to figure out what makes them tick as much as they are trying to figure out what makes us tick!
Horses take various amounts of time to settle in. From a few weeks to a good few months.
So don't assume just because they done something with their last rider they will do it for you.
I like to start from the beginning, introduce groundwork, pole work and ask for flexion right and left on the ground. If they find it hard how hard do you think they will find it when ridden?
Can they move their shoulders and front feet individually? Can they step underneath themselves? Can they go back?
If this or any of these are issues start at the beginning and quietly work your horse through it bit by bit. On the ground or when you ride take 10 mins to help your horse understand.
Once your horse "gets" it you have not only a safer ride but a more responsive horse.
To start with videos and feel don't look pretty or feel good. It feels like a fight! But.... the horse is figuring out what you want as soon as you have a try release! If you feel they don't get it subtly change the ask to something they know and build confidence that way.
The videos are the first time I have ridden my new pony. I'm working on moving the front legs and hip. Backing she's unsure of and when she got stuck I asked for a front foot.
Bear in mind her bridle and bit will feel different as well!

30/12/2023

Just prior to Finn coming down with laminitis we were starting to work on canter transitions. Hopefully he will get the all clear to start work again soon and we can perfect what we started.
Looking back now I can see how uncomfortable he was even then. Boy has 2023 been a learning curve! X

30/12/2023

With Flora going off to stud I would like to welcome Erray Acacia to my little herd. Having been beautifully backed by Alison Blackburn I am now in the process of starting her western journey. So Cassie has started back at the basics but has a good grasp of what I am asking already!
We have already started some groundwork and I have been asking for release of pressure both at the hip (step under) the back up, move the shoulder and follow the feel right or left without dropping too far down on her neck.
She has had the western pad and saddle on and been fitted for her bridle.
It is very much a work in progress and what you see is a horse (very much like any other cob/native/tb) on its beginnings of its journey to be a western horse.
I don't have an arena or ready access to one! So most of my work is done in the field dancing around the weather.
So I'm pretty happy with her progress after 10 days weather permitting!!

30/12/2023

The last year has been difficult! Minimal riding due to my main riding horse having come down with laminitis! It has been an emotional year, however I have taught some amazing people and done some great clinics!
It has given me time to think about my way forward (especially having had a big birthday this year which has really made me think) I have come to realise that I cannot be the "same" as everyone else!
So I would like to summarise a bit about me!

*I care too much about my clients and their horses.
*I take the time it takes to help develop a good partnership with my horses and those of my clients.
* If judging success is only on competition winnings I cant use that as a measure.
*If I work with my horses and your horses the most important thing is that they grow in confidence and learn at a rate that is relevant to them. (we all learn differently and at a different pace why should horses be any different)
* I am not measuring my success I am measuring yours!!
* We will work on small, Measurable, achievable, targets that we can build on and move forward once we achieve that goal.
*Lastly I am not the same as everyone else (No one is) and I have come to realise I am proud of what I have achieved and I will continue to learn and improve to improve my coaching to clients and their and my horses!
If you would like to know more or book lessons please get in touch I will be happy to help.
Welcome 2024.

20/10/2023

Another video from the clinic at Dunkeld.

20/10/2023

Having not posted for a good wee while I thought I'd let everyone know I am still here, still teaching and helping people with their lovely horses.
I have been up at Equine unlimited and held a couple of clinics over the summer. We went over saddle fit, types of western tack and when riding we went over various western trail obstacles. Everyone done so well! Most of these horses had never had western coaching and all riders found their horses a bit lighter and more responsive.
I even had a lovely Dale's boy who travelled up from Leeds he has only been ridden three times and never been in an arena!
For his first go I think he done so well!!

25/01/2023

Thought I would play about with movie maker and I contstructed a little video showing how I teach a young horse to think about lining up at the mount block in preparation for mounting and riding away. It is working with the horse to allow it to figure out what you want it to do and where to move its body. Once the horse gets it you can use the same method to mount anywhere. Logs, strange dips or mounds or steps.

06/11/2022

Today after a few weeks of bad weather, wind rain and lack of time Queenie done some more ground work today she is getting the hang of really stepping under herself and lifting up to move her shoulder. Backing is also coming on.
So as I had Fiona to help out I done some mount block work. For me it's important that my horses line up where I put them so I can get on, open a gate etc. Sometimes it takes a wee while for them to really qet it. Queenie is a clever cookie though and after her second session of being shown what I wanted she had figured it out.
Now I wanted her to learn that when I put me foot in the stirrup I want her to acknowledge me, flick an ear back or in her case she chose to look at me.
She also needs to learn that when my foot is in the stirrup it does not mean move off.
Once I got on I moved a right front, left front foot. Then we worked on backing up, walking forward then halting. Then I got off. I kept her on a long line for this as she hadn't been ridden since September and I didn't want to bruise her or my confidence especially when teaching her something new.
Love working with my ponies. Xx

31/10/2022

Apologies the pivo was playing up. I follow a page on Facebook regarding horse dealers. It does make interesting reading. However it got me thinking!!
Anyone selling a horse is really putting themselves out there, laying themselves open to criticism about their horse. It's nature, way of going, temperament etc.
But how many of us have bought a new horse, tried it had it vetted got it home and accepted (yes accepted) that it may need time to settle! It has changed home, perhaps in with new horses now has a new routine. It's being handled in a different way. Different feed, field, trees air smells different.
In with all this we expect our new purchase to be foot perfect.
I bought a new mare, tried her, had her vetted. Brought her home and she found settling in with my other two really hard.
I do things differently, my needs are different (I can't jump on so all mine have to learn to stand at something and wait) I ride differently.
She wasn't missing sold, she wasn't broken she was a new horse trying to make sense of being moved and new expectations!
This wee video shows our early groundwork. I mean our early groundwork no one else's. We are building a relationship together one session at a time.
You will see her running out on the left, she doesn't want me in her right eye, when I change her direction on the circle I put myself in her right eye. She isn't comfortable with it and has a wee panic.
This is no ones fault she is finding her feet and we do a few minutes each day find a good place and stop.
I will do another video once the wind and rain stop! Hopefully you will see a difference.
Sorry it is a long video but I want to show a raw bit of video where we are both trying to find out how we tick. Xx

02/05/2022

Feel free to come along and have some fun. Trail work is very similar to Trec obstacles and Equine agility obstacles and can be done in hand or ridden.

Our next play day is on 7.5.22 at Blackford Glen 11.00am to 2.30/3pm. We will do a bit of trail work in the morning and after lunch consolidate that or work on the on line WES showmanship or Horsemanship patterns. Am happy to coach or video for people. The submissions are due by 15.5.22.
Feel free to come on foot, with a young horse or if you are even not too sure what we are up to. Trail benefits all horses no matter what you like to do. Please book in to let me know you are coming. Session is £15.00, bring your lunch but tea and coffee is provided.
Its a safe environment to have a go and enjoy your horse.

05/03/2022

Managed to do a bit with Kia today. It always feels like we are starting at the beginning again, due to weather or giving her time to mature. Today i was really pleased she was much happier tacked up, no issue with ground work and stood nicely to refresh mounting and dismounting.
She takes a while to be comfortable with each step so I am working her in the headcollar with rope reins attached so in one clip I am refreshing the movement of the front feet from the feel of the rein then the back feet in preparation for riding away.
She is very much a horse that likes to clearly know the answer before you start asking more complicated questions.

05/03/2022

Today the sun shone and it was not gale force 10! I have been taking part in the SERC fit to start challenge so as Finn is the lucky participant we done some poles today and a bit of bending through cones. Finn like poles, he also liked the smell of the polomints in my pocket! So was trying extra hard to earn one!

26/02/2022

Another blowy day today but Lesley and Sioux did not let that hold them back. We pushed Sioux a little further upping the degree of difficulty for her. Its not about making her do anything. Its about Lesley and Sioux working together on different challenges. The cross pole represented fallen trees (quite apt lately) and it gave Lesley the opportunity to work on her rope skills and build on them improving her ask and direction.
They both done very well today proving that even windy days provide challenges you can use. X

20/02/2022

What do you need on your second riding lesson? Speed of movement? A sensitive horse? Or an understanding horse who quietly allows you to learn and figure things out. On our first lesson we worked on direct bend, indirect bend and moving various body parts of the horse.
This is Davids second lesson on Boss. It was important he did not overthink but start to get a feel of how to move shoulders, hips go backwards and ask for forwards. The best way to do this? A small trail course to focus where you are looking and help you figure out what body part to move.
At this point i am not worrying about how he holds the reins we can sort that later we need to work on David getting more confident and learning how his body influences the horse.
He done very well and I was very proud of them both. X (David gave me permission to share to also encourage others to have a go)

06/02/2022

Lovely lesson today with Lesley and Sioux. The responsiveness and lightness to the ask we are starting to get is lovely. She used to over react. Now she slows down, thinks and manages herself much better.
This has taken a lot of patience and understanding and hard work from Lesley doing her homework in between. Today sioux was coping with wind and snow in an outdoor arena. Things we know previously she would have become extremly upset about. We unpicked the behaviours over time and put it all back together modifying what we want and letting her understand the answers to our quedtions. Now we are starting to get somewhere and the partnership is looking great. So so proud of these guys. ###

24/01/2022

Why when you plan to ride does the wind get up!! Where I livery must be one of the windiest places around!!
So we worked on a figure of 8 through two cones this weekend, changing direction in the middle, which when ridden eventually would be your lead change in lope or changing your diagonal in trot.
However today I was dealing with a mare in season who really could not concentrate as well as when she is not in season!
She found the task quite hard but videoing yoyrself also lets you see when you have blocked the movement by getting in front of the shoulder and not giving clear instructions to her!
We managed and is something to work on. We also revisited the raised poles and changes of direction as well as teaching the "Whoa" at a spot in the square and standing for 10 seconds on her own. All good fun and building her confidence towards riding.
Lastly I used an old trailer to start practising lining her up to mount. All my horses have to get used to lining up at odd places so i can get on, so teaching them to do it pays off. Even if you have to negotiate the grass!!
Well worth a play at these exercises if you cant ride.

15/01/2022

Two lovely lessons today with two lovely ladies and their horses. Well done. Lovely to see you both today. Xx

14/01/2022

Putting all the groundwork together helps the horse start to understand where we want all the body parts to go. I used the flag not only as encouragement to go but also on Kias back as a signal to stop. I love how she investigates the bridge and is learning where i want her to be.
She is taking it all in her stride and our next step is to add in more saddle time. We had a training hole and rather than fight through it and end up in a wreck I chose to go back a bit and re do all the groundwork in preparation to find the hole.
I love watching video footage as I can see where I need to improve my timing or improve my ask. It doesnt embarrass me or make me feel stupid it helps to improve my communication with each horse as they all learn differently and process information in their own way. Just like people do.
I hadnt asked her to drop her head until today! You can see where I asked, she done it for me but then I pushed for more when I should have let her stand and process. Lesson learnt for me!

07/01/2022

Following on from the other day we were out long reining and doing groundwork today in the wind. When you break down what you are actually doing you can see that you are either training or untraining the horse you are working with. All handling, tying up, picking out feet rugs on and off before you even get to the arena is training and your opportunity to really listen to the horse and be observant to what it is telling you! Good or bad!
The videos i am posting are not brilliant as life isnt brilliant there are good sessions and bad! With Flora we are working through a wee issue she has with her right side if her face being touched to put the bridle or headcollar on. We are also competing against a very windy day that was giving conflicting signals to both horses but... they need to use the thinking part of their brain whilst i untangle myself as the wind was determined to let the long reins trip me up!!
Kia is working better but today i longreined off the headcollar, again a different feel to the bridle or sidepull. She used the arena wall blowing in as something to look at and figure out rather than panicking. The misplacement of her through the poles is my driver error as she was kind enough to try and figure out what the heck i was asking!
Groundwork is all about teamwork between horse and rider and ss we all know... teamwork makes the dream work! Lol

04/01/2022

As the weather is pretty pants and unpredictable, I decided to join an on line challenge for 12 weeks! I committed to doing 5 hours a week with Kia and 3 with Flora and Finn. Boy does this get you motivated!! I had some dogs cancel today so went and got the horses worked.
1. This challenge was to long rein over and through two poles.
2. Drag a bag challenge!
3. I also done some flag work.
4. Revised mounting block and lining up on both the right and left side.
It was very windy today,as you can hear! However what better time to work horses on the ground and deal with any niggling issues to get them out of the way before we start riding more.
I had to be a bit more "shouty" on the long reins than i would have liked as it was so windy the wind was giving her different signals than i was intending...but she done really well.
So... if you fancy me setting you some challenges or learning to long rein, or a groundwork clinic. Get in touch via pm. I can come to you and if you get some people together it can be a fun morning, afternoon or day. Xx

16/12/2021

A couple of weeks ago I helped Eirinn with Twinkle. We had a go at long reining in the arena working on him relaxing his head and neck, lifting his back and tracking up. I dont use a lunge whip when longreining (unless necessary for some forward movement). The idea being is they learn to carry themselves but at the same time are working in a way that builds confidence as well as mimicking the way a rider holds the reins.
If you would like to have a go at this give me a call.

14/11/2021

Finally a settled enough day to get some revision done! Kia has been sat on but not ridden away as yet. I found a couple of "holes" that needed filled. She also needed more time to mature both in her head and body!
Today i tacked her up= all good happy with pad and saddle.
Bridled her= all okay
Done some ground work that i have been doing with all of them, prep for riding. She has to be able to move her shoulder, hip and disengage her hind quarters.
Moved onto long reining= she does have issues (previously) with finding the turn with bit pressure and would over react! Today she figured it out, was much calmer and worked nicely over her back with some nice stretches and less tension.
Lastly we went over lining up at the mount block! I cannot over emphasise the importance of this. It teaches manners, the ability to wait on the rider/handler as well as making sure the horse doesnt move until told to. A boon when out hacking and having to cope with distractions.
I was really pleased with how today went with Kia and we are ready to move on and make sute the ridden away part is as solid. We will keep refining the basics as we move on! X

05/11/2021

Videos to go with todays lesson. The head tossing is anxiety but his rider sits, breathes and quietly asks for a try. Ultimately we are working towards a fluid side pass with shoulders and hips moving fluidly together. Great start though.

05/11/2021

Good lesson today, our second one, working on relaxation under saddle, reducing tenseness and avoiding giving him a reason to feel we are "making " him do something. He pulled a shoe before our lesson and his owner has organised some physio as he has been playing in the field and we suspect strained himself. However he was willing to give it a go and today we worked on stretching down, moving the shoulder and giving him a mental work out. A lot to like and a lot to work on but we start at the beginning. X

10/10/2021

There is always a reason behind a behaviour, sometimes you can address it quite quickly sometimes it does take time, patience and counter conditioning. Appropriate rewards and an observation of body language all help as well as being in the moment and being adaptable. Yesterday Eirinn and I switched the clippers on and off,vapproached and retreated with them numerous times until we did not get the startle reflex and anxious ears. Once she was happy with this on the left we took some hair off then done the same on the right. Letting her choose to move if she wanted, feel the clippers near her then on her as well as the noise.
Today we done the whole job, she stood quietly being rewarded for positive behaviours it became apparent why she was terrified of the clippers as her hind quarters were done they revealed scarring the same width as the clipper blades on both buttocks. Her owner said two years ago she had her clipped and was told she needed twitched. Now i am not going to assume that the two incidents were linked as i was not there. But this horse was telling her story and fortunately we could give her a nice ending to it.
So before you label anything naughty, bad tempered etc think about what you might be being told.

10/10/2021

Photos to accompany video showing some scarring.

05/09/2021

Nothing wrong with feeling fearful, it is how you go about moving forward for you and your horse! We are supposed to be a partnership.

A lot of riders battle confidence problems every time they mount. They fear the worst. Yet, they gird their loins while holding their breath, mount their horse, and hope it will be a safe, fun ride. There is a huge release of tension and a feeling of satisfaction when the dismount is voluntary.

From the start, let me say that nobody should feel bad or apologize for having fear issues. They are real and not to be trivialized. And an appropriate level of fear is even desirable because it will help a rider make smart decisions and give more consideration to how a horse is feeling. A little bit of fear makes a person a better horse person.

But some people’s level of fear becomes debilitating and gets in the way of their horsemanship. I do not judge people who carry a lot of worry. However, personally I would not ride a horse that scared the hell out of me. I am not an adrenalin ju**ie.

Overcoming a confidence problem is not easy and can be a long, slow process. I’m not an expert or a sports psychologist to be giving advice. So consider these thoughts with some skepticism.

I’ve worked with people and horses a long time. One thing I have noticed is that surviving a ride is not enough to overcome fearfulness. It’s not enough to get on a horse, survive the ride and then expect to feel braver and more confident the next time. You actually have to feel good and positive about the ride. You have to have achieved emotional comfort from the ride in order for the next ride to be less stressful.

In my experience, confidence comes from achievement. Ride with a plan and feel good by achieving a result closer to what you intended.

For example, if you are afraid of riding on a trail perhaps begin by riding through the arena gate. Then stop and turn back to the arena before your confidence starts to fall apart. It doesn’t matter if the ride is 5km or 5m. Repeat this over days, weeks, or months until riding out the gate does not feel like a challenge. Then extend the ride a little further before heading back to the arena. Each ride should feel like a success and not just something you survived.

If you are afraid of jumping, you could start by learning to balance in the jumping position while walking your horse around the arena. When that feels comfortable build towards a trot and later a canter. Progress from this to doing it over a ground pole. Eventually, repeat the exercise to a pole 50mm off the ground. And so on. Don’t proceed to the next stage until you are comfortable. Before you know it, you are jumping a 120cm oxer and triple bars and water jumps.

Does this strategy sound a little familiar?

When I ride a horse that lacks confidence on the trail I might ride through the arena gate. Then stop and turn back before my horse’s confidence starts to fall apart. It doesn’t matter if the ride is 5km or 5m. I would repeat this over days, weeks, or months until riding out the gate does not feel like a challenge to my horse. Then I would extend the ride a little further before heading back to the arena. Each ride should feel like a success to my horse and not just something it survived.

Building a horse’s confidence should come in increments and each ride should end with the horse feeling emotionally comfortable rather than feeling “thank goodness it’s over and I survived.”

Yesterday I was giving a video lesson to a rider in the US. In the background was a trainer using a flag to make a horse do what the trainer wanted. The horse was resistant because it carried fear and lacked confidence at being circled. The trainer chose to ignore the horse’s genuine concerns. Instead, he decided he would make it more afraid of not lunging than it was of lunging. We tried to ignore it and focus on the lesson, but we found it very disturbing.

It’s perplexing that some people expect more of their horse than they are prepared to offer themselves. When a rider has fears most trainers can think through a strategy that will help improve a rider’s confidence. They will break the lesson into small steps and build confidence at each step along the way. But when a horse reacts to its fears and resists a trainer’s ideas some people forget the same compassion they would want to be offered to them if the situation was reversed.

I wonder if horses were the paying customers and riders were sent for training if things would be different.

28/08/2021

It is easy to become a bit disapointed in yoursef when things are not going exactly to plan! Kia had trouble going forward, fine being mounted just not happy walking away. So i had her teeth done as she seemed unsettled with the bit. All good so changed the bit for her. Happier in that. Still not happy moving forward and had her back checked. As she is a bit bum high again this was loading her withers and shoulders and coupled with the saddle and riders weight was making her reluctant to go forward. So she has had another 4 weeks off letting her be a horse but still doing some groundwork and learning she can be in the paddock on her own at times.
Now Kia is four imagine if i insisted on her moving forward when she was sore? She is still growing and as yet her front is not up enough to meet her back.
With the two highlands now 5 i need to remind myself, when i feel bad for not doing enough with them, that i am!! I am allowing them to grow and mature.
Last night i re saddled Kia to see if i had a hole somewhere. Pad on and off several times, looking for relaxation, licking and chewing, sighing etc. Then the saddle with no pad again looking for the same. Then the saddle and pad. I was not creeping around her placing both on the way i would do a seasoned horse.
Then i moved to lifting and dropping the cinch several times as this can cause issues if over tightened girth has frightened her at some point. Lets face it no one wants to get on or work a youngster with a saddle slipping!
So i held and released then tightened and walked her around. All seems good so next step is getting back on. !!

28/07/2021

All horses now had their MOT. Teeth done last week snd today all their backs checked over by Lisa Cleeton. Kia was tight over her saddle area but as she has just had another growth spurt i was not surprised. Shd will do groundwork for a couple of weeks until she levels out.
Flora all good (and behaved well) so i can push her on more.
Finn just a little tight in his neck and off side hip so he is now ready to move forward too.
Looking after their welfare is not just about feed but holistically caring for them. A pain free horse works well and feels well it is up to us to advocate for them and notice if things are not right.

28/07/2021

Anyone who is interested in popping along just let me know. At Oxenfoord livery Pathhead.