“…growth isn’t always flashy. That real growth rarely looks like a grand finale. It’s not always shiny or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes, it doesn’t come with applause or dramatic breakthroughs.”
“… the goal for the past couple weeks has not been to increase his jumping experience or see how big of an oxer he can clear … but to shore up the foundation and his rhythm so that he can go do the big things without the need for an equally big bit.” (more…)
“The idea is pretty simple — a horse that is not entirely straight (what horse ever really is???) generally lines up in a crescent of some variation from nose to tail.” (more…)
“… there isn’t any set timeline. [Horses], apparently like this year’s spring, take their time if they need it. And if they don’t — that’s great too.” (more…)
“…for Thoroughbreds, treats are an interesting thing. For many, what they know about treats depends on how they were raised on the race farm and how kind their trainer was at the track.” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Does desensitizing your horse to training aids make the aids ineffective?
“Some of these humans — those who buy, board, ride and compete these horses — are fantastic. Many, well … no so much. In the world of selling/rehoming Thoroughbreds, I have the chance to encounter the fullness of that human spectrum.” (more…)
“To those who feel compelled to offer corrections when a rider simply is following an owner’s guidance, it is worth remembering that there is wisdom in stepping back and observing… Instead of criticizing…”
“[T]he rider needs to determine the metronome beat they want and then become it. Using the post to quietly insist on an even rhythm allows the horse to settle into the other asks …” (more…)
“… in order to get the outside rein to do its job, I often have to ask riders to let go of their inside rein and use it to guide not to direct.” (more…)
Many of us are out here riding the emotional waves of our equine counterparts — cough, mares, cough — and it feels like the waves just keep crashing down on us. This article will provide some emotional awareness tips to help you navigate these dragons!
“Sometimes pure joy & enthusiasm are possible causes of rushing, but often it is a lack of confidence that sends these horses forward faster… there are ways to figure it out, to slow down the feet, slow down the brain, & let the jumps come to you at a more reasonable rate.” (more…)
“The trick to working with both ‘cozy’ spaces and young, never-jumped-before Thoroughbreds is a combination of single fences and a small grid.” (more…)
“The fear of getting hurt isn’t always something you can just get someone to kick on through, no matter how much you believe they and the horse can do what is being asked.”
“What annoy[s] me so much about ‘safe’ is that it is unclear and massively subjective. My version of safe is not my client’s version of safe is not your kid’s trainer’s version of safe.” (more…)
“The wind, weather, and absurd Halloween tchotch (I’m looking at you you blow up dragons and 20-foot tall skeletons) do not create a spooky horse out of one who is usually brave. Rather, a consistent horse is one whose reactions are predictable …” (more…)
“[H]ow long should a trainer wait before deciding that their approaches just aren’t working? At what point does the horse’s training venture out of the ‘just needs a bit more time’ box and into the ‘now we’re wasting everyone’s time and the client’s money’ box?”
“You must be formless, shapeless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” – Bruce Lee
When someone decides they want to be a horse trainer, rarely do they also say they want to be a match maker. But the truth of the matter is, that’s often what horse training and selling is all about. (more…)
“For a horse in full work, I like the number four. This gives you enough time in the saddle to accomplish goals and work towards training without forgetting to let them be a horse and have fun.”
