Horsemanship

The Backing process

Freddy Steels talks to us about how he instils an understanding of pressure in his young horses during starting.

It may surprise you that I like to back my young horses in a halter but without a saddle. I am more in-tune with feeling their every move underneath me. Of course, I do add the saddle into the backing process, as it will be useful in the future for more advanced movements, and after all, most people do ride in a saddle.

What Eating Dirt Can Teach Us

What eating dirt can teach us. Crissi McDonald shares her tale of the wider lesson her horse Caleb taught her.

In the late nineties, I landed face first in a dressage show schooling arena, right before my class. After I’d wiped the grime from my helmet and clothes and ridden in a test that the judges complimented us for ‘impulsion at all gaits’, I decided I’d had enough.

Am I Safe?

Crissi McDonald explores whether taking care of your horse’s brain and nervous system is better to create the behaviours you desire.

There’s a question every horse asks before any other questions, says Dr Stephen Peters. “Am I safe?” If we can answer that question consistently and with assurance, our horse can learn and thrive in a safe environment.

When in Doubt Do Less

Crissi McDonald helps us with ideas to consider when switching from a ‘more is more’ mindset to ‘less is more’.

I often tell the story of the moment when I knew I wanted to commit to becoming a Masterson Method® Certified Practitioner. When I heard Jim Masterson say, in the context of working with a horse to help them release tension, “If you’re not sure what to do, do less”, I knew I’d found the right equine bodywork modality for me to pursue.

Tools for Building Your Riding Confidence

Are you struggling with your riding confidence? You are not alone, nearly everyone will be affected by a stage of low confidence. Here are our tips for working through low confidence to achieve the horse riding experience you desire.

What Do You Need for Natural Horsemanship?

Natural horsemanship is not a new concept but one that goes WAY back, even as far as ancient Greece. It involves utilisation of the concept that horses are not simply a beast of burden or one that should be treated like a machine. Instead, horses are treated like the delicate creatures they are, intelligent, sensitive and capable of emotion. Horsemanship seeks to develop a partnership between horse and rider that leads to a deeper connection and commitment to one another.