Wild Heart figuring some things out! 😍
A beautiful new Arab I have in training 🤩 Focusing on growing his confidence, his feelings of safety and independence, and his ability to navigate different situations
The little moments of beauty I noticed today during this super cold spell ❄️
Working step by step to build the horses understanding & confidence 🐴✨A little segment from my “Student of the Horse” training videos 💕
Late night practice with Mermaid ❤️🐴 🎶
This little colt has done a great job learning about the trailer 🌟 Each step of the process is just as valuable as the final result ❤️
Here is a video of our second test at the International Liberty Horse Association Championship ✨🐴
It was a longer test than our first test - it involved canter, a laydown, stepping our horse sideways towards us and away from us, and calling our horse to us from a short distance.
She did beautifully ❤️ She was relaxed, focused, and truly trying for me.
I'm so grateful for all the quality time I got to spend with her in our preparation work leading up to this event, and being able to go through this whole experience with her. Truly a special memory I will cherish forever 💕
#libertyhorse #rescuehorse #libertytraining #horsetraining #ilha #libertyfestival #libertytest #libertychampionship #groundwork #relaxation #focus #confidence #espanasilk #omegaalphaequine #evadifarm #studentofthehorse #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Here is a video of our first test at the International Liberty Horse Association Championship ✨
I am so very proud of Mermaid's focus and technical work during this test ❤️ There was also an amazing unplanned moment that happened before we entered this arena.
I was warming her up in the roundpen that opens up directly to this arena (where all competitors enter from). The roundpen panels were solid so we couldn't see directly out of them, but could hear all the things happening around us.
Mermaid was in a calm state ready for our test, when a few loud distractions began happening around us that she couldn't see.
She became worried, so I threw the lead rope over her neck and positioned her in a place where she could best assess all the sounds. I always have to respect a horse's concern about something in their environment, and give them a fair chance to assess things.
Right before it was our time to enter the arena for our test, I gave Mermaid a few quick cues that we do in training, inviting her to bring her focus back on me. I used a combination of vocal, body language, visual, and energetic cues. She lowered her neck, her energy softened, and she fused with me at my side.
Putting all our hard work and training into practice in those crucial moments was such a powerful example of using the tools we work on at home - and why we work on them. Planning ahead for the unplanned 😊
I am so grateful to be Mermaid's person, she means so very much to me. The memories we shared together in preparation for this event and during the whole event will last a lifetime 💕
#libertyhorse #rescuehorse #ilha #libertychampionship #libertyfestival #libertytest #horsetraining #focus #confidence #preparation #espanasilk #omegaalphaequine #evadifarm #arianasakaris #studentofthehorse #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
A little surprise today for Wild Heart, a new bag of Wild Forage from Crypto Aero - More Than Feed.
Wild Forage is a whole-food natural horse feed with vitamins and minerals derived strictly from whole foods 🐴 🌱
#horsefeed #cryptoaero #wholefoods #equinefeed #horsevitamins #horseminerals #equinecare #equestrian #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Working on Mermaid's adjustability in her trot steps at liberty. She is figuring out her balance as we play with transitions into and out of her piaffe steps 💖
#liberty #dressage #horsemanship #adjustability #transitions #balance #rescuehorse #piaffe #passage #espanasilk #omegaalphaequine #studentofthehorse #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Practicing mental skills - Mermaid's Spanish walk
Working on Mermaid's Spanish walk at Liberty to invite her to dial in deeper to our communication together 🐴❤️
➡️ Click the video to hear my explanation 🔊
#liberty #dressage #rescuehorse #mentalskills #deeperthanthetask #horsetraining #espanasilk #omegaalphaequine #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment #studentofthehorse
I can't believe I found these training videos from 4 years ago of Sophie as a weanling 🤩
What a joy she has become to ride and continue to train today in my program, I'm so very proud of her 💗✨️
In these video clips, we were working on growing her confidence and self-regulation skills (very important), inviting her curiosity, teaching her the process of learning, and giving her skills that would help her safely navigate our human world 🙏
These skills greatly helped her when she was started under saddle, and continue to help her mental, emotional, and physical development in her riding.
🐴 Sophie is owned by Gloria Callen
#thoroughbred #irishsporthorse #californiachrome #younghorse #dressage #eventing #confidence #learning #safety #espanasilk #cryptoaero #arianasakaris #studentofthehorse #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Wild Heart - Gastra FX
Wild Heart thinks her Gastra FX supplement by Omega Alpha - Equine is very tasty!
She practically takes it by herself, and always starts licking her lips when she realizes that's what I have in my hand.
Gastra FX is a wonderful herbal blend that offers support to the stomach and intestinal tract. It contains licorice root, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark, ginger root, and l-glutamine.
I give it to her before every ride, and use it when trailering, stabling at new places (at events/expos), and anytime her digestive system needs soothing and protection.
#wildmustang #omegaalpha #tastysupplement #equinedigestivehealth #studentofthehorse #espanasilk #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Here is a figure 8 pattern I was practicing with Mermaid at liberty 💕
I look back and think about how far we've come. Five years ago she found herself in a holding pen that shipped to slaughter, now she's loving the connection, creativity, and flow of working at liberty.
#liberty #libertytraining #rescuehorse #pssm #espanasilk #studentofthehorse #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
Working on Mermaid's piaffe at liberty ❤️
She loves liberty work more than anything. As many of you know that have visited us, she will often give a loud nicker after completing a task.
I haven't worked with her at liberty in several months because I've been focusing building her strength through her riding work - specifically lots of gymnastic exercises at the collected walk.
The combination of riding and liberty work help keep her body in a good state. I'm not sure if many of you know, but Mermaid has PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy) a genetic disorder that affects her muscles. This requires very careful management of her diet as well.
I can't wait to dive deeper into liberty work with her, and see how we can improve the basics while also creatively introducing new things 😇
#liberty #dressage #piaffe #rescuehorse #pssm #espanasilk #evadifarm #arianasakaris #arianasakarisequestriandevelopment
