Amy Allen Horsemanship LLC

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Amy Allen Horsemanship LLC Horsemanship
Classical Dressage
Hoof Care Practitioner
Jesus is my Savior Amy Allen teaches horsemanship, classical dressage and is a former PHCP Mentor.

Training, Lessons and clinics are offered at Allen Acres in Shelton Wa. as well as at offsite locations. Barefoot trimming encompasses mineral balanced nutrition, a lifestyle of movement, a balanced trim, a 4-6 week trim cycle and protection using hoof boots, as needed. Healthier hooves and a healthier horse allow us to reach more of our horsemanship goals. Photos on the Amy Allen Horsemanship Fac

e Book page are not to be removed without permission, unless you are the owner of the horse.

“True greatness is not measured by what you achieve in life, but how you live your life.” Job 1:8

11/04/2025

Working with Denali.
Changes of balance and neck extension.

Over flexion, riding behind the vertical, is physically very damaging and mentally degrading. Walk around all day looki...
07/04/2025

Over flexion, riding behind the vertical, is physically very damaging and mentally degrading. Walk around all day looking at the ground and if you lift your head you will receive physical punishment.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19KPSgAZ5r/

Multiple studies have shown that increased flexion of the neck during riding or lunging can have many negative effects on the horse’s body and is a welfare issue. Please read this comprehensive article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72766-5

Image:
Riding behind the vertical or lunging while restricted with side or draw reins can also damage the nuchal ligament. The nuchal ligament is the main ligament of the neck, running from the occipital bone to the thoracic spine with attachments to the cervical vertebrae. It plays a crucial role in supporting the neck during locomotion and allowing for energy-efficient movement.

During hyperflexed head and neck positions, there is increased tension on the cord portion of the nuchal ligament and its attachment to the occipital bone. In horses ridden behind the vertical, the nuchal ligament does not function as a unit, with both parts – the cord and lamina- complementing each other. The cord is under increased tension, which over time can lead to degenerative changes in the ligament and bone changes at its attachment site, resulting in new bone formation – exostoses.
Between the first cervical vertebrae and the nuchal ligament are often developed nuchal bursae, cranial that is above the atlas, and caudal nuchal bursa between the cord and axis. When the nuchal ligament is under extensive tension, that can also initiate inflammation of those thin-walled structures. Cranial and caudal nuchal bursitis can be confirmed by ultrasound.

https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/pdfs/vet/2020/08/01.pdfhttps://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/237/7/javma.237.7.823.xml

Links to my work:
Patreon page that supports my work
https://www.patreon.com/equineanatomyinlayers

Whole Horse Dissection online (12 months access)
https://ivanaruddock.podia.com/the-equine-anatomy-in-layers

Atlas of the Equine Musculoskeletal system
https://ivanaruddock-lange.com/equine-atlas/

...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10
06/04/2025

...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

“Yet when the books have been read, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them.”Walt...
04/04/2025

“Yet when the books have been read, it boils down to the horse, his human companion, and what goes on between them.”
Walter Farley

Training Milo and working with his owner on shoulder control. Just as our weight goes in the direction of travel when we...
03/04/2025

Training Milo and working with his owner on shoulder control.

Just as our weight goes in the direction of travel when we are on the horse, our feet go in the direction of travel when sending the horse out and when moving the shoulders.
If we stay between the horses nose and shoulder, we move the front end of the horse out and away. If we are between the shoulder and the hind end we will move the hindquarters...but the horse will come in towards us. So with that clarity, if you are sending a horse out and away from you, you stay between the nose and the shoulders.
Look at the feet, body and arm positions of the human and the feet of the horse, often they are matching and the information coming from the human is very clear. This is very very important when teaching a horse.

Welcoming Milo, a 4yo Dutch Warmblood, in for training. He's a big boy, taller than Max and....Chrome. Looking forward ...
31/03/2025

Welcoming Milo, a 4yo Dutch Warmblood, in for training. He's a big boy, taller than Max and....Chrome. Looking forward to working with him and his owner.




If you are unaware, we have the potential for some severe weather tomorrow afternoon/ evening. It's always better to be ...
26/03/2025

If you are unaware, we have the potential for some severe weather tomorrow afternoon/ evening. It's always better to be prepared, and if nothing happens, great!
Here's more info on the weather, please prepare your animals. Large hail, with strong winds can injure or kill (small) animals.

As best you can prepare now to be able to get your animals under cover. Please SECURE your dogs!, so many dogs get scared and run. Lock them up, cbd calming oral drops help too.

Also, some people are unaware there are storms coming, talk to your friends and neighbors, so they can prepare too. Help each other.

Praying this is just a non-event and it doesn't happen, or it weakens.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18dCwaKCF4/

🚨 Attention: Severe weather forecast starting tomorrow afternoon through evening 🚨

Severe weather is heading towards Western Washington tomorrow afternoon, bringing high winds, hail possible up to 1 inch in diameter, thunderstorms, lightning, and even a 2-4% chance of tornadoes. 🌩️
Eastern Washington can expect to see thunderstorms after sunset.

Please take action NOW to protect your livestock, crops, and property:
🐄 Bring your animals and pets indoors or into secure shelter.
🐖 Make sure all fencing is secure and check for weak spots.
🚜 Secure any loose equipment or items around the farm that could be damaged by strong winds.
⚡ Prepare for possible power outages by ensuring you have backup power, water, and emergency supplies on hand.

Let’s all stay safe and keep our farms protected. Share this with others to make sure everyone is ready! When thunder roars, go indoors!

Follow:
Washington Emergency Management Division https://www.facebook.com/WashEMD
NWS Seattle https://www.facebook.com/NWSSeattle
NWS Spokane https://www.facebook.com/NWSSpokane
NWS Pendleton https://www.facebook.com/NWSPendleton
and your local news to stay updated and informed.

One of my clients is rehoming her appaloosa mini, Levi. He's estimated to be in his 30s, he's good with other horses, h...
20/03/2025

One of my clients is rehoming her appaloosa mini, Levi. He's estimated to be in his 30s, he's good with other horses, he has good feet, hes well mannered, leads well. He originally came from one of my clients who had him (for a very shortly time) as a companion for her horse, but she sold her horse and rehomed Levi to a little girl. He currently is housed with some goats but he bosses them around. 😊 Message me if you're interested.

13/03/2025

Denali; working on balance, shoulder control, keeping a bend (even in the scary corner), stop and back up.

When riding, I try to anticipate what the horse is going to do so I can be efficent in my timing and aids. I read the horse, their patterns, reactions and body language.
Denali doesn't like the jump standards in the far corner. I'm not riding too close to teach her to move my feet, I want her to keep the correct bend. Each time we approach I'm ready for her to try and counter bend, I ask her to rebalanced her shoulders to the true bend. She understands the aid and each time we pass she improves until she stays balanced all the way around the volte.




08/03/2025

Back to work with Chrome.




Friendly reminder that the grass is growing...I'm already seeing the subtle effects on feet. You might look at your past...
06/03/2025

Friendly reminder that the grass is growing...I'm already seeing the subtle effects on feet.
You might look at your pasture and think, it's not growing in my pasture. Well it is, it's just that your horse, especially if the are on 24hr turn out, eat it down faster than it can grow. Look at areas around your property where no animals have access to the grass and you'll see it.
If you have sugar sensitive horses, it's time to start restricting the grass.

If your local you know we just had a series of big rainy weather systems that ended today with a lot of strong wind. Lo...
26/02/2025

If your local you know we just had a series of big rainy weather systems that ended today with a lot of strong wind. Lots of branches down but no significant damage on the farm. But the horses were spicy today. And Mister Max had last week off, because I was praying to the porcelain god and it took me awhile to recover. (Wash your hands after every store trip and vitamins are your friend).

So today was our first day back to work and Max never has a whole week off, so he was extra spicy. And on the north edge of the arena there's a little creek next to the forest from all that rain, but really its the forest that he doesn't like, the dark spots that hide the horse eating monsters.
What's the best way to get a horse with me again, after a lot, or a little, time off? Get them to think. I won't start by putting him far out on the lunge line as that just asking for spicy pony activity. I wont drill him in horsemanship exercises as those are patterns he can do in his sleep. Instead I keep him on a shorter line and we go together. We go close to the scary areas but I don't force him to go where he can't go mentally, that's only going to teach him to fear me and learn to move my feet. Instead I go close to the scary areas, then move away to the peaceful areas, where he lowers his head, licks and chews and breathes. I keep repeating this while going all over the arena in random patterns, again so he has to think. We go through the obstacle, again so he has to think and focus where his feet are. We do all this, in both directions, until he's pretty ok about things.
Then I put on his bridle, we do a little of the legerete in hand work to get the relaxation and flexability, and we do the same work under saddle.
What if he gets high and tight and wants to spin and run away? I don't allow him to get to that state of mind as that's not safe, and I don't want to teach him to take over. If he gets hight and tight, I ask for a neck extension, as this will allow him to think again, taking the contact forward and down, his tight body lengthening and finding relaxation again.
In between these moments are buckle breaks so he can take a moment to digest what we just did, a moment to reflect and relax. We repeat this work at the trot and then the canter until our work is done and the spicy horse I started with is relaxed and ready to drop and roll and rub that wet sand in really good! 🤣 nothing like a good roll after a workout.

So if you've got a spicy horse that had a little time off, go slow, stay closer so you can direct their feet, and get creative so that horse changes from reactive spicy pony to a relaxed partner.
Stay safe.


08/02/2025

Virtual trail ride on Max.
Headed out at a lively pace and heading home too...

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Videos

Working with Denali. Changes of balance and neck extension. #mustang

Denali; working on balance, shoulder control, keeping a bend (even in the scary corner), stop and back up. When riding, I try to anticipate what the horse is going to do so I can be efficent in my timing and aids. I read the horse, their patterns, reactions and body language. Denali doesn't like the jump standards in the far corner. I'm not riding too close to teach her to move my feet, I want her to keep the correct bend. Each time we approach I'm ready for her to try and counter bend, I ask her to rebalanced her shoulders to the true bend. She understands the aid and each time we pass she improves until she stays balanced all the way around the volte. #mustangmare #traineeteacher #ecoledelegerete #classicaldressage

Back to work with Chrome. #traineeteacher #ecoledelegerete #Hanoverian #warmblood

Virtual trail ride on Max. Headed out at a lively pace and heading home too...

Cavaletti, aka ground poles, small jumps, are a useful tool to help a horse know where to put their feet, they help with balance, they build the core, for both rider and horse, and they build confidence. This is Denali, the young mustang mare. #mustanghorse #horsemanship #palominohorse #rideamare

Be a good leader, all the time, and you will improve the relationship with your horse. I ride alone a lot. Riding out on the trail alone, away from home, away from the herd, it can be fun, safe, calm, enjoyable, or very upsetting, especially for a horse, especially if they are home, and or, herd bound. Horses have a very strong memory, they are herd animals and they feel much safer in a familiar place, with their herd (can be one or more horses). Horses do not make good leaders, they don't reason, they don't think of the future and plan, they remember the past and are very much in the moment. A good leader plans ahead, reasons and knows that actions have consequences, good and not so good and sometimes bad. So as a leader I am on the lookout for anything that might threaten the horses natural instinct of survival. At the same time being a trustworthy leader to the horse so he doesn't feel vulnerable. Once you're on the trail and turn for home, sometimes it feels like your riding a different horse. Their energy picks up, their head is higher (so they can see better), their pace quickens, sometimes they become more nervous and your response to this will determine if the ride home is going to be safe and enjoyable or not. When I turn for home (or the horse trailer if I hauled out), I observed how the horse made that turn. Were they balanced and kept the same pace, or did they drop that inside shoulder and speed up? If they were balanced and kept the same pace that tells me they are pretty ok about heading for home. If they dropped that inside shoulder and sped up, I've got a worried partner and I need to be a really good leader. As we travel for home is my horse with me, asking me questions?, or have they become the leader and getting home is their only objective? As Max and I ride home, he remembers the many times we've ridden home and feels OK, he's a little faster in his pace but not too bad. If he gets too quick I will change the balance by lifting my han

It's chilly! And horses like this chilly, dry weather. They are often more energetic, maybe spooky, eager to go when you swing a leg over, not willing to stand, because they feel so good and have a lot of energy and are not with you. What's the solution. Groundwork that is not mindless, groundwork that gets them to look to you as the leader and partner with you. And when you do get on and they still have a lot of energy, work WITH them to get to the other side. What does that mean? Work through until you get the horses mind and feet. What does that mean? The horse is extending their gait instead of short quick steps. The horse is extending their neck instead of head and neck high and tight. The horse is snorting in a non alarming way, calming exhales, licking and chewing. The horse has an ear or two back to you instead of forward looking for horse ghosts. The horse moves in a balanced calm manner. When you get on and they need to move, don't force them to stand. Ask them to move forward and start working on thoughtful, balanced exercises, not necessicarly patterns either, because a horse can do learned patterns without much thought and some learned patterns actually worry a horse. Be precise, be thoughtful, work in balance, plan the next move so you can clearly communicate that to the horse (position before action), be patient, breathe and when that horse has come back to you, praise and reward so the horse knows they made good choices.

Virtual trail ride on Maximus Letting Max see and touch to learn his surroundings. We've touched the water trailer before, so he's not afraid of it. Always being ready that he might touch something and react. Mostly neck reining, mostly he does, until he decided turning for home was a better idea. 🤣, but that's OK, he asks questions, I answer them. Today the rain has arrived, gloves are needed to do the morning chores, but I can watch this video and be reminded of the beautiful fall, sunny, weather on Max. #maximusthefriesian #friesianhorse #pnwtrailhorse #barefoothorse #horsemanship

This is Love, Shilohs dam. This was the first time they have come in contact in 5 months. ...I thought she might be happy to see her. Not so much. 🤣🤣🤣 (We had to evacuate Love from the Brinnon fire. Please pray for that situation, its causing a lot of anxiety and stress.)

Chrome #hanoverianhorse #ecodelegeretetraineeteacher #classicaldressage

Lions, and tigers and bears...oh my! Thats what Max was probably saying, he might have been saying something else too. Meanwhile I was thinking and doing, centered, forward, centered, your ok Max, forward, centered, centered, centered,.....keep the horse centered and you will most likely avoid the quick spin for home. And if you cant ride it, get off and show the horse, and be the leader and keep him out of your bubble. #maximusthefriesian #friesianhorse #horsemanship #pnwtrailhorse #BeTheLeader

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Amy Allen teaches horsemanship and classical dressage. She is a trainee Teacher in Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) and is a Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners (PHCP) Mentor. Training, Lessons and clinics are offered at Allen Acres in Shelton Wa. as well as at offsite locations. Barefoot trimming encompasses balanced nutrition, a lifestyle of movement, a balanced trim on a 4-6 week trim cycle and protection using hoof boots. Photos on the Amy Allen Horsemanship Face Book page are not to be removed without permission, unless you are the owner of the horse.