Lyrical Horsemanship

04/06/2023

Me: Sees an opportunity to capture a cute moment of these four sharing a drink of water on a warm day and rushes to get phone out before moment is gone

Astrid and Mirabella: Sees me pull out the phone and immediately decide “Shake It Off” is their new theme song

26/03/2023

Too good not to share/save for a reminder!

“Horses are masters of subtle communication.”

Graphics like this are a great resource for fine tuning your recognition and understanding of equine body language - just also be aware of the fine print that there is a nuance to the appearance of these behaviors. Observing the “context, frequency, and intensity” matters just as much as the observation of the original behavior.

Do you know the difference between your horse’s happy/contented yawn vs a yawn that’s an attempt to relieve stress? Can you recognize when your horse has an itch vs when your horse is rubbing its face on its knee to avoid a stressor? These may seem like obvious or normal/everyday interactions - but everything your horse does means something, in that context and environment, and it *always* pays to be open and receptive to any and all communications from your horse. Of course, how you respond to those communications is also critical, but that’s a post for another day.

In short:
🦄 I cannot stress 😉 enough that the bond deepens when all parties feel heard and important. Being a good communicator (and interpreter!) can literally save lives. 🦄

Please note that all behaviour needs to be taken in the context/ environment in which the horse finds themselves when you see these behaviours. Note that ourselves and OUR behaviour is also part of the horse’s environment. All behaviour needs to be considered in context ie. what happened prior, during and after and what is the horse's history regarding training, health status/injury and experiences with humans, other horses and various environments, etc.

If your horse is snoozing under a tree and yawns, most likely the horse is not experiencing fear. (Although they could potentially be experiencing discomfort or pain.)

If you've just done or are doing some groundwork, round pen work, ridden work, gone for a hack, or dentistry, bodywork, worming or vaccinations, or even just tying up and brushing your horse, you MAY see these signs and more. The more of these behaviours you see, the more likely that you are seeing a response to fear, stress pain, discomfort or frustration or a combination.

Change our behaviour, the environment, lower our expectations and review our training plans to avoid seeing these behaviours in a training or handling context.

All behaviour has function, it has a purpose for the horse, even if we don’t know what it is or understand it, horses behave in certain ways for a reason. They are masters of subtle communication and we need to learn to read those subtle signs and the big signs as well, not brush them off.

Also consider that if fear as been ruled out, that these behaviours may be caused by the horse's internal environment such as pain or injury, ie. always rule out pain as a cause for certain behaviours FIRST.

Photo credit: Pet Professional Guild Australia
Illustrations: Alize V. Muckensturm of Fairhorsemanship: Humane, science-based horse training

18/02/2023

Throwback to last winter when everyone had fomo 😆 I love that they enjoy being a part of what I’m doing - even though Meadow pony is clearly the popular one here. She may be sassy, but that’s why we love here! Plus she is a great teacher for the wild ones and rescues.

11/02/2023

Forever and always Hiccup’s favorite pastime: eating in a bed of hay.

06/01/2023

Yep - very well stated 🐴❄️💪

For anyone feeling frustrated with the rain and not being able to ride/train/improve right now...this is from the blog of a dear mentor 💜🐴💪 The power of rest....
"Horsepeople tend to be driven, a bit Type-A. Our work is never done. We eat holiday meals quickly so we can do chores. Even when we are in limbo between holidays we feel guilty about not doing enough. We have a pile of should related to tasks we haven't gotten to, not because we're lazy, but because we take on too much to start with. Mostly we feel bad that we aren't getting as much done with our horses as we should in this arctic void between holidays.

Just a friendly reminder. Your horse's memory is much better than yours. They do not forget their training. When it's cold, they spend more energy staying warm and they don't miss us. It's their season to half-hibernate, standing in the morning light. They are resting deep inside. It's a healing rest that changes them come spring. We don't feel we have time for that kind of rest and we fight the idea we need to heal. Well, we probably do, and rest doesn't mean we are wasting time. Horses don't keep time, she says checking the time. Just stop. Horses. Don't. Keep. Time.

The world will hold your place in line. Curl up in a dogpile with your head next to the dog who tilts his head far enough back that his lips part and you can see his teeth. Listen. Let a cat perch on your chest like a warm meatloaf. Let your heart soak up the juice. Let yourself feel exhausted because denying it won't make it go away. Sometimes it's healing to finally admit the truth.

It's also true that we are strong and capable and have been dancing backward in muck boots long enough that we have nothing to prove. Let your scars show. Smile so big your teeth get dry. And for crying out loud, stop apologizing all the time. Finally give yourself the credit you deserve. We are here to change the world. Nothing less. But first we nap"

Credit: Anna Blake

05/01/2023

Ismira and Mirabella are finally warming up to each other 🥰 Meanwhile… Persephone… trying in her own way to help me take a good video (yes, she has an obsession with my phone, and was trying to {nicely but discreetly} sn**ch it through the fence) 😆

17/12/2022

Meadow hopes you all enjoy the snow as much as she enjoyed posing for pictures. Snowflake magic, meet pony tantrum ❄️🐴🤦‍♀️

02/12/2022

Persephone casually wearing a halter like it’s not her first day. 😍

She decided today was her day - was being quite demanding of attention, actually - so I brought in a halter for an impromptu “prep for self haltering” session. Things escalated quickly from halter prep/introduction to halter wearing… 😂 This cautious girl is gaining so much confidence, and is definitely not letting anyone stand in her way!

26/11/2022

Ismira playing at liberty out in the pasture. 🥰

I decided to throw in a couple new things that we’ve not really tried before, and she took it all in stride. She could have left at any time and decided to eat grass or hang out with friends - that’s the cool (and sometimes not so cool 🤦‍♀️) aspect of liberty - but I think the connection is so much more powerful when the horse chooses to engage with you.

(Side note: Meadow hopes you enjoy her original soundtrack of clanging noises that is playing in the background of this video.)

26/11/2022

😉😉

Since Most Seem To Be Holiday Shopping Early This Year! 🙃😜🥳

14/11/2022

We’ve all heard it said that a good listener is a good friend. 🥰

Take time to really listen - “listen for the horse” - and you might just discover a whole new level to your relationship with your horse.

13/11/2022

Today was a bit rainy and mucky out, but we still had some fun at Liberty out in the pasture! I also found extra time indoors to play with the photo editor - for better or for worse 😂

28/10/2022

Out for a casual fall walk with the yearlings! They are growing up so fast…

We are on our way back to herd updates after hitting snooze on the social media page for a while. 😊

04/09/2022

10/07/2022

In case you didn’t know: Horses make great jogging partners too!

25/06/2022

The face that stood out from the rest.

How to choose a horse from a selection of hundreds online. What to look for in the pictures. Should you only consider a horse with a video in the description. Should you really buy a horse - a wild one at that - sight unseen. How to find the perfect mustang to be a partner in life. How to make dreams come true without jumping in over your head.

All scary (and admittedly not all the smartest) undertakings in the process of bringing this girl home. A computer glitch caused the bid not to go towards my first choice mare, but to go towards this mare: my second choice because of her unique blaze, what I thought to be a rational and aware expression, and my tendency to root for the short ones (she is just 13hh 😊) who showed potential but were overlooked simply because of the number listed as their height. It was a gamble keeping her on my favorites list. She had no video. How could I know what her personality was like? Was she a sound mover? I almost took her off the list several times.

At first I was disappointed that I had won her and not my first choice. But, I decided it was meant to be and all things happen for a reason. Something had drawn me to her over and over - enough that she was still my second favorite out of the 100+ listed - and this was all through just 3 pictures and no video.

She was $25. Plus 2020 sweat and tears where I almost gave her up. Plus payment to an independent hauler who graciously helped out others in my area be able to bring mustangs home throughout the 2020 cancellations and scary times. Plus HOURS of time spent with her to teach her that human things are not all scary. Plus the HOURS I spent researching training methods and doing my homework outside of my time with this horse so that I could always do my best to bring my best self to whatever relationship we were developing.

She is definitely a cautious horse, not trusting of many. Her circle of trust is constantly expanding, though! It is very heartwarming to be considered worthy of her trust, and to see her opening up each day to new faces that visit the barn. She is extra special, and it’s absolutely perfect that she is a part of my life.

This post ended up way longer than I intended! All because I didn’t have a clear directive of what to post as a comment for these pictures, and then that screenshot of her original headshot brought back all the memories… For any newcomers, this is a short version of Ismira’s story. Everything happens for a reason, even if in the moment you’re not sure of why or what will come next.

19/06/2022

Happy Gotcha Day to Astrid 💕

1 year ago she stepped off the trailer here after a long ride from a killpen in the Midwest.

Pictures are from the day she arrived, last Fall, and then most recent.

It’s been a journey: learning to trust people, basic groundwork, to be a brave adventurer, Liberty principles, the basics of carrying a rider, and one baby horse later… here we are! I could probably write a book, but I’ll keep it short. Thankful for what the last year brought for both of us, and excited for what is ahead of us!

21/05/2022

Nymphadora has arrived! She is a super brave girl and is settling in very well. First time hanging out in the arena, first real voluntary and intentional touch without the fence as a barrier. 💕

28/04/2022

The wind was wild today! I worked on a few final touches for when new faces arrive. I had a lot of supervisors but no volunteers to assist with the hard labor… 😂

24/04/2022

Ismira’s first walk out through the big field! She handled it like she’d been through this place and past all the farm equipment along the way 1000 times. No anxiety, no desire to be anywhere else. This is only her third time walking out of her fenced in areas. Her best buddies Meadow and Astrid came along to provide support, and they all got to snack on some green grass. 🐴🌻

17/04/2022

👀 New face coming soon! Thanks to an amazing team dedicated to keeping mustangs from being sent to slaughter, we were able to partner up and get this girl on her way to us from Kansas. She will be journeying up later this week. Her “freedom ride” trailer will be filled with other mustangs also rescued from the slaughter network and on their way to new homes. 💕 Fun fact: she is Ismira’s herd sister, and they were rounded up from the wild at the same roundup event. I can’t wait to meet her!

📷 PC - screenshots from her video taken by the lot

15/04/2022

Everyone got a turn with the blanket today! It was a bit dreary and drizzly out, and the blanket brought a bit of color and vibrancy to the day. We just hung out in the pasture and played with the blanket. Sounds simple, but these are the best days: everyone relaxed and expressive. It never gets old watching each horse and personality. (Yes, Meadow sticks her nose in the camera/phone and fogs up the lense literally every time. 😂😂)

13/04/2022

This week’s fencing helpers! Some were more helpful than others… 😊

07/04/2022

Wow, time flies when you are having fun! Or when you have a snuggly puppy sleeping on your lap… 😉 I can’t believe my last post was almost a month ago. Oops! I will definitely be back to posting some horsey fun very soon, with a couple fun surprises TBA. Stay tuned - but for now enjoy some puppy pictures!

17/03/2022

Mounted adventures today, by ourselves - less than a week ago we were all walking and also accompanied by friends each trip. Getting those trail miles in just in time for adventure season!

10/03/2022

Lovely (almost) spring walk today 💕

10/03/2022

Horses absolutely learn from observation. Exhibited below is yes, my leg 😆, but also a clip of Ismira’s first interaction with learning this specific skill. She walked right over to the mounting block and positioned herself once she discovered Astrid was getting treats (positive reinforcement training) for the exact same thing. I guess she decided it was her turn! Love her intelligence and enthusiasm so much!

25/02/2022

I mean, I get how it looks sometimes, but… 🤦‍♀️

So. Much. Happens behind the scenes. Riding is just the tip of the iceberg - and it’s 100% okay if riding isn’t possible or desirable for you or your horse. There is so much more to horsemanship (above and beyond the chores, too!) than meets the eye of the public. 🥰

😯😯😯😯😯

23/02/2022

Decided to finally give it a chance… Lyrical Horsemanship is now on Tik Tok!

Sometimes you just need a break - all at the same time….