It’s a scene riders dread: A tense, strong horse ignores your cues, moves straight ahead then begins bucking and kicking out. Your horse’s body is tight and you are out of control. How can this scene be avoided for...
Groundwork exercises that check communication between horse and human are a crucial part of my evaluation of a new horse or new horse and rider pairing. If broken down to its most simple form, riding is comprised of asking...
Seven Games are the basis of true communication with horses. Everything you ask your horse to do—in or out of the saddle—is one of, or a combination of, these Seven Games from Pat Parelli. After learning the basic techniques...
"Our bodies are our temples, and horses lead us to the altar.” ~ Beverley Kane, M.D.What brings you that feeling of peace when you are around horses? Is it the moment when you step into the barn and smell...
When competing with horses, there are a lot of things you can’t control. You can’t control the schedule. You can’t control who the judge is. You can’t control the arena conditions. You can’t control the weather. You can’t control...
A few years ago, I fully believed I had this whole horse training thing figured out. I had won big reining competitions, was traveling internationally to teach clinics, and was able to help clients with their training goals. I...
In podcast episode 16 of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Holly Caccamise chat with a small business owner and one of Horse Illustrated's long-time contributing...
I’ve always come to the science of horse training from the empiric perspective, meaning I learn it from a practical standpoint first, usually only discovering its scientific significance later. Over the years, I’ve had many behavioralists and mental health...
In the 11th episode of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek, Holly Caccamise and Sarah Evers Conrad chat with sports psychologist Laura King, clinician Jason...
Horses don’t naturally lie down to be mounted, much less stand back up with a rider, on cue. But horse trainer Nadia Heffner has trained a couple of horses to perform this difficult maneuver. And the mobility this move...
