Alternative Horsemanship™ with Samantha Harvey the Remote Horse Coach shares horse training and horseback rider coaching, philosophies, and approaches she has developed over three decades. Offering horsemanship clinics worldwide, distance horse coaching instruction, equine consultations, equine re-education and rehabilitation, colt starting, and lessons. Follow her #alternativehorsemanship on all social media platforms.
Pages
- What is Alternative Horsemanship?
- About Equestrienne and Horse Coach Samantha Harvey
- Full Immersion Horsemanship Clinics
- Remote Horse Coach- Personalized Distance Learning with Alternative Horsemanship
- Video Courses & Classes
- Horse Behavior Course
- Horse Shopping Help Online Course
- Livestream w Q & A
- Horse Webinars
- Alternative Horsemanship Client Testimonials
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Newsletter
- Horse Humor Journal
Human Emotions Sabotaging Equine Partnerships
Resists being caught
Difficult to Trailer Load
Bolts when Led
Won't stand quietly tied
Avoidant towards the farrier
Has excessive movement when tacked or mounted
Is sensitive about fly spray or bathing
Is buddy or "barn" sour
Fixing Dangerous and Unwanted Horse Behavior by Alternative Horsemanship
What if we recognized and addressed the initial signs of concerned, fearful, or defensive equine behaviors before they erupted into things like:
Bucking
Bolting
Kicking
Spooking
"Over-reaction"
Biting
Fixating
Fleeing movement
Biting at the Air
Pawing
Jigging
Stomping
Weaving
and so many other moments that far too many riders respond to with, "Oh, he just does that, he's being a ____."
Improving Horse Skills: Mis Perceptions of the Halt
Mis Perceptions of the Halt
Many humans view the halt as a physical yielding or obedient behavior. There is little or no concept of the difference between the feet not moving versus a horse mentally present, physically soft and balanced when asked to stand.
Horse Skills & Tips: Mindful vs Mind Full
Empathy and Equines
Empathy + Horses = Weakness
Unrealistic ego-based demands without having accountability as to how a person's clarity of thoughts and intention, quality of communication, adaptability in energy, accuracy of timing, and everyday mindless interactions, are constantly "teaching" horses unwanted responses that people then criticize and chastise the equine for.
Behaviors Sabotaging the Human and Horse Partnership
What is the most common issue I see sabotaging the human & horse partnership?
Containment
Misconceptions of a Confident Horse
Just because a horse is going through the motions of "doing things" and is "learning" does not mean that he is gaining confidence and or more curiosity from his experiences.
The horse may "quietly" tolerate a situation a few or even many times before he starts to show more obvious signs of stress, insecurity, or fear about what is being presented if he is being pushed to physically comply with the task given.
Horse Help- Improving your Equine Communication- Eliminating the Brace
Horse Skills : Position Alternative vs Critical Communication
Positive Alternatives vs. Critical Commentary
Most riders focus on what they don't want their horse to do and attempt to "block," drive, or reprimand the horse in what they consider is the moment of unwanted behavior (more often they are responding to symptoms vs root causes.)
If they are reacting to only the big and obvious physical movements of the horse, they are missing all the initial Opportunities to check-in with the horse's mental availability and directability which influences his behaviors.
3 Common Unwanted Horse Behavior Triggers
Holes in the Horsemanship
Holes in the Horsemanship
Horse Trainer Tips by Alternative Horsemanship the Remote Horse Coach
Today's Horse Tips
1. Many people focus (and worry) about doing things "right" and don't realize they have quit consistent, regular breathing.
This causes:
* rigid and delayed communication offered to the horse
*mental & physical fatigue
* limits their physical adaptability in the present moment
2. Many people offer constant negative criticism towards the horse (often after he has offered an unwanted response,) rather than communicating what I call Positive Alternatives- continuously communicating proactively something that the horse CAN do.
Horse Trainer Help- Addressing the Horse that Spooks
Improving the Human and Horse Partnership
There comes a point...
You can double down increasing pressure, severity of tack, and demanding obedience, all the while hoping "it" works...
Or, you choose to change.
It really is that simple.
Need Horse Help? Experiencing Unwanted, Resistant, or Dangerous Horse Behaviors
Need help with your horse? Not understanding the horse's behavior?