I share this story to make an important point about the benefit of training that promotes what the horse is naturally good at, moving with freedom, relaxation and energy.

Many horses move with tension and are just waiting until they can stand still to relax. This is not good for them and can be...

Be safe and sensible when saddling by sticking to a practical routine.

When saddling, the horse must be "with us" and in a sweet spot, so that we can put the saddle on, mount up, and move off safely. They are connected to us, regardless of the environment or what we are asking of them. 

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Ok I’m going to vent here! And propose a solution. Let's do it. 

You know what really bothers me? When good ideas are delivered badly and it affects horses' well being. I see this more nowadays in young horse training as online videos spread the ineffective use of this technique. It is...

A tribute to Jack Brainard.

Enjoy this podcast of Jonathan giving tribute to an inspirational horseman, Jack Brainard, who passed away in November, 2021. Jonathan's admiration and respect for Jack is the basis for this dedication and Jonathan recalls many of Jack's accomplishments...

I love the thinking part of the horse's brain! We can..and must…engage that curious and confident part of a horse. 

I’ve narrowed things down to two connected mental states a horse can be in when they are with us. On a regular day I want to engage both because each has a...

“Softness has relaxation and respect in it.” 

Ask yourself; Is my horse Soft? Is my horse Light? What's the difference between the two?

A soft, willing and respectful horse looks and feels different than a light horse. They have a different feeling inside. In soft horses, there's...

Tame is not always safe. Tame without leadership can be an unexpected bomb!

Why?

If a horse is accustomed to taking a feel off their own mind or feeling off of their own world they can react in a way that they instinctively believe keeps them safe in a world constantly changing around them. They...

Three Rules:

1. To rest is to rust.

2. You only keep what you give away.

3. Live everyday no matter how old you get, the best is yet to come. 

I recently had a visit with my dear friend, Herb Williams. Herb was the owner and host of the international show, Super Dogs. With this famed...

Let's talk about equitation tips! Proper equitation is simply our good posture on the back of a  horse. The fundamental elements of this body position is to mirror a horse, stay out of the way, in balance as each stride changes. Easy right?. . .

Baseline Equitation on the FLAT - A rider...

All equestrians are excited to get going with their horses as winter starts to taper off, especially those of us in cold climates. Spring is on its way and we can’t wait!

As enthusiastic as we are to get going, our horses need some consideration and preparation for the riding...

Developing yourself as a rider takes self discipline and a genuine interest in examining yourself with the same intensity that we study our horses. 

As part of your self improvement plan, a great way to develop yourself as a rider, awkward as it can be sometimes, is to video yourself. Get a...

Building connection with horses is a work in progress!

As riders, we seek softness from our horses at all times. Softness is defined here as when our horse is tuned in to us in the same way they are tuned into each other, like in a herd.  They are in a state of awareness (without fear), of...