Field, Jonathan Articles

Riding to Relaxation

Updated:

May 31, 2019

Jonathan Field, herd bound horse, horse training, natural horsemanship, actively helping your horse become calm and relaxed

There are some important concepts to understand when actively helping your horse to become calm and relaxed under your leadership. To actively change behaviour in your horse is to be a part of the process and requires all of your attention with an attitude of empathy towards what your horse is going through.

Riding with Purpose

Updated:

May 7, 2019

Jonathan Field, natural horsemanship, horse riding with purpose, exercises for horses, objectives riding horses, moving cattle horses working cows

There is nothing more fun and productive for me and my horses than when we have a real purpose. Whether it is gathering the cows, jumping a log, or climbing a mountain, it is an opportunity for us to do something together.

Restarting Halo, Part 3: Heading Towards Success

Updated:

March 20, 2019

Horsemanship Horse Training, restarting horse training, jonathan field, training young horse, training horses around cows

In this series we’ve observed how my program has broadened the foundation of Halo, who had a seemingly unpredictable tendency to buck, and has developed his trust in me. After groundwork sessions, we saddled Halo and took him through his first ride with me, followed by several rides in the arena and around my ranch in Abbotsford, BC.

Restarting Halo, Part 2

Updated:

March 20, 2019

desensitizing the horse, Horsemanship Horse Training, restarting horse training, jonathan field, training young horse, equine neutral Lateral Bends, Disengaging the horse Hindquarters, Mounting horse from Both Sides

Although Halo had been ridden in the past, his bucking indicated that perhaps something was missing in his training or that there was a possible physical problem. After examining Halo for physical reasons behind his bucking and not finding any, the best approach for Halo was to begin with a “fresh start” and develop a solid base.

Restarting Halo - Part 1

Updated:

March 20, 2019

desensitizing the horse, Horsemanship Horse Training, restarting horse training, jonathan field, training young horse

Halo is a sleeper. When I first met him, I was told that he was a really calm, cool guy. Only one problem: every once in a while, out of what seemed like nowhere, he’d buck and he’d buck hard. As I got started with Halo, it became very apparent to me that while he had been ridden for some time now, he would need to be essentially restarted under saddle.

Building a Horse's Confidence with Tarps, Part 2

Updated:

January 21, 2019

jonathan field natural horsemanship horse tarp training natural horsemanship equine tarp training

Helping a Worried Horse - I do a wide variety of exercises with my horses to help them become calmer and braver in various situations. My goal is to have them trust what I ask of them, and be okay with it because I am asking. In other words, for me it’s not about the tarp but about Geo’s trust in me to put the tarp on his body. If he trusts me at the heart of it, then tarps, garbage cans, or stumps on a trail won’t bother him.

Building a Horse’s Confidence with Tarps, Part 1

Updated:

January 20, 2019

This is the first of a two-part article about a special horse of mine named Bellagio (barn name Geo), a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding I’ve had for about three years. He is super sensitive and doesn’t have a lot of natural confidence. When he came to me he was very explosive, would react at the slightest thing, and was becoming very dangerous to ride.

In Search of Softness

Updated:

October 1, 2018

jonathan field training articles, natural horsemanship softening horse, how to create a soft supple horse

My hope is that everyone who loves horses will begin this search for softness. A horse is never wrong for acting like a horse. We need to understand that they are doing exactly what Mother Nature is telling them to do.

Working With Foals, Weanlings & Yearlings

Updated:

July 12, 2018

Jonathan Field, training Foals, training horse Weanlings, Yearlings horse training, natural horsemanship, western horse, english horse

By Jonathan Field - For years young horses have really fascinated me. There is nothing more thrilling than playing with a sensitive, keen mind and an open spirit. Whether it’s a foal, weanling, or yearling, it’s all fun to me.

How to Help the Leg Shy Horse

Updated:

May 31, 2018

Jonathan Field, natural horsemanship, Leg Shy Horse, claustrophobic horse, connect with shy horse, rope leading horse, get horse to direct steer, horse leading by his feet, horses working cows

Helping a horse that is fearful and claustrophobic around his legs to become confident and respectful for grooming, veterinary, and farrier work is a delicate process. If done wrong, the result can be a more fearful horse. Horses are flight animals and their legs provide the means for their primary survival tactic.

Horsemanship: Solving Trailer Problems, Part 2

Updated:

April 18, 2018

training jonathan field, natural horsemanship, trailer loading, load a horse trailer

When it comes to asking your horse to ride in a trailer, there are many things that can go wrong. Most of these situations present themselves due to the confined space of the trailer. When you think of it from the horse’s perspective, it is no wonder that he might hesitate to climb inside, and therefore not surprising that he might want to fly out backwards like a rocket when the door opens.

Horsemanship: Solving Trailer Problems, Part 1

Updated:

April 17, 2018

There are some legitimate reasons why horses do not like horse trailers. To a horse, even the most open, spacious trailer is still a small, confined space. Being a flight animal, nature has wired horses to be claustrophobic in order to protect them from predators. Because trailers are off the ground on wheels, climbing inside is a bit unnerving to a horse as the trailer moves around. Once inside the trailer, horses are further confined with the closing of the divider, and the shutting of the door. Finally, after being locked inside, the trailer starts to move. It bumps along the road, eventually stops, and then the doors are opened, and by this time the horse is thinking “Get me out of here!”

Horse Training Lessons from the Boxing Ring Part 2

Updated:

March 4, 2018

jonathan field, natural horsemanship, boxing horses, equine footwork, horse shoulders, horse footwork, natural horsemanship footwork

In Part 1 of this series (Footwork to Free Up the Shoulders) I wrote about remembering what it is like to be a student, and shared some of my personal trials from joining a boxing club this past winter when I stepped into a completely unknown field. These lessons illustrate that horses benefit when their riders are more patient, just as students benefit when coaches are patient.

Horse Training Lessons from the Boxing Ring, Part 1

Updated:

January 7, 2018

Footwork to free up the shoulders - During the past few months I’ve been teaching and developing my young horses and my program. Each year I take time to gain new skills and insights, mainly because I’m an avid student and always benefit as a clinician if I take time to become a student myself. I believe that leaders and mentors of others must never lose sight of what it feels like to be a student.