Training for Optimal Balance

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Training for Optimal Balance Training For Optimal Balance™ is focused on the operating systems of both horse and rider.

When the inherent operating systems are optimized then the software programs called trail riding, jumping, dressage or cow working run better.

While we use the terms engagement and disengagement all the time with horses, do we really have a good definition of wha...
09/08/2025

While we use the terms engagement and disengagement all the time with horses, do we really have a good definition of what that actually means? We kinda do not - even when I interviewed vets. So in this podcast we take a look at what engagement and disengagement means mechanically, regarding the use of a horse's pelvis and hind legs.

This is a confusing topic even for professionals and difficult to describe accurately. But the way Deb and I discuss engagement of the horse's hindquarters, ...

How we balance and use our torso while riding, or driving, has the single biggest impact on a horse's balance. So why is...
30/05/2025

How we balance and use our torso while riding, or driving, has the single biggest impact on a horse's balance. So why is our riding focus so much on the legs, arms and reins?

Deb takes the lead on this conversation, sharing her expertise about how our perceptions of our body influences the use of our body. One issue common with ri...

FREE TICKETS for this weekend - use the link below.
30/05/2025

FREE TICKETS for this weekend - use the link below.

The Horse Fair Experience from the Comfort of Home! World-Class Horseman ~ Step-by-step lessons ~ Hours of Premium Video. ON Demand and FREE! Be informed, inspired, and empowered with the latest insights about horse training, health, and wellness by leading experts you can trust.

This is a tough topic but Deb and I thought it was important to talk about. I don't think most people set out trying to ...
17/05/2025

This is a tough topic but Deb and I thought it was important to talk about. I don't think most people set out trying to abuse horses, but it can happen when we just don't understand why they are acting the way they are. Looking at the roots of horse abuse, how it can get started, might help us avoid that path entirely.

This is a tough discussion. Harsh and abusive tactics are still pretty common when it comes to horse training. If we continue to stand by silently we also co...

Thought this newsletter might be helpful right now, it's about stress and how we can learn to manage it a bit better.
08/05/2025

Thought this newsletter might be helpful right now, it's about stress and how we can learn to manage it a bit better.

I am a professional horse trainer and developer of the program, Training for Optimal Balance. I share information that helps horse owners train their own horses, or helps horse professionals find a new perspective on training - and personal development is the number one side effect of authentically....

oooo... this is a good one for all horse owners. So many horses labeled with behavior problems are often suffering chron...
26/03/2025

oooo... this is a good one for all horse owners. So many horses labeled with behavior problems are often suffering chronic inflammation and very often the source of that inflammation is the diet.

Although Deb and I are not experts in this field, we share our experiences of how inflammation has become a training issue in different horses we have worked...

Let's face it, we all have to deal with our horses getting stressed out at least once in a while if not regularly. How w...
18/03/2025

Let's face it, we all have to deal with our horses getting stressed out at least once in a while if not regularly. How we handle those episodes of stress can make all the difference to our horse.

How we manage ourselves can make us part of a solution or part of a problem we are having with our horse. Learning how to redirect our own thoughts can help ...

The first step to working through fear issues and stress is recognizing fear and stress when we see it. Stress physiolog...
02/03/2025

The first step to working through fear issues and stress is recognizing fear and stress when we see it. Stress physiologically inhibits learning and conscious control of the self. When we try to push through fears or ignore escalations of stress, then we also stop progressing with our horses.

146: Recognizing Stress in Horses and Riders

Stress responses are trigged in different individuals by very different things. What causes a stress response can be related to thoughts, emotions, physical ...

I know... it is not exactly the right time of year for this podcast episode to hit facebook, but I am a bit behind in sh...
23/02/2025

I know... it is not exactly the right time of year for this podcast episode to hit facebook, but I am a bit behind in sharing them here. At least as we start coming into warmer weather in the northern hemisphere we can be prepared and maybe this podcast is helpful right away for those in the southern hemisphere!

145: Avoiding Heat Stress in Horses

Learning to pay attention to our horse's breathing is the main way we know if our horse is getting too stressed physically - whether it is from hard work or ...

Warm ups do not always have to include trot and canter. Warming up the right muscles for improving balance can be more h...
17/02/2025

Warm ups do not always have to include trot and canter. Warming up the right muscles for improving balance can be more helpful done slowly at the walk rather than warming up muscles that support imbalances at faster speeds. The coordination of the skeleton is what dictates which muscles are actually being warmed up.

144: Warming Up Horses in Different Ways

Muscles support movement of the skeleton. When the skeleton is in poor coordination then the muscles that support poor movement are worked during a warm up s...

Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair 2025 is February 22-23, and I am presenting along with about 50 others! Hope you c...
01/02/2025

Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair 2025 is February 22-23, and I am presenting along with about 50 others! Hope you can join us.

FREE TICKET LINK:

The Horse Fair Experience from the Comfort of Home! World-Class Horseman ~ Step-by-step lessons ~ Hours of Premium Video. ON Demand and FREE! Be informed, inspired, and empowered with the latest insights about horse training, health, and wellness by leading experts you can trust.

143: The Point of Balance, It's a ThingWhether we know it or not, there is an invisible instant center of rotation in ou...
01/02/2025

143: The Point of Balance, It's a Thing
Whether we know it or not, there is an invisible instant center of rotation in our body and in our horse's body. This central axis point, where all three planes of a three dimensional body intersect, is how we rapidly adjust overall coordination. It how we manage to balance enough to not fall over and it can be consciously guided in order to improve coordination without so much darn effort!

The point of balance is near the center of mass, but is also different. While the center of mass or center of gravity is a static location in a three dimensi...

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