The Finer Aspects of Horsemanship

I set up two markers about 12 feet apart in the middle of the riding area. I asked the student to canter a circle and incorporate the markers into the pattern. She gathered her horse into a soft feel, he responded by lifting his shoulders, she moved his hindquarters slightly to the right and from a halt she picked up a beautiful right lead canter. Her depart was smooth, soft, round and through. I was impressed.

There's A Reason For Everything

Horses are concrete thinkers. They are imaginative, sure, but they rarely do something for no reason. While that reason my escape us sometimes, it never escapes them. Concrete thinkers.

Outside the Comfort Zone

I constantly push my horses outside their comfort zone to see if there is something I need to work towards. The comfort zone I speak of here, is their mental understanding of something. It is the place just beyond their current training, where they haven't gone yet.