Psychology

The Science of Schooling Horses

Updated:

May 12, 2022

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Keys to an effective horse training session. I’ve trained a lot of horses. After nailing up my sign as a “professional horse trainer” several decades ago, I learned quickly that overhead is high in the horse business so you’d better make some hay if you’re going to pay your bills. Consequently, I rode many horses each day, breaking young ones and tuning up show horses.

Burnout in the Horse Industry

Updated:

March 12, 2022

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How to Bounce Back - As I sit down to write about burnout, I step back through time into memories of moments where I felt overwhelmed by frustration, exhaustion, and an agonizing feeling of not achieving. A feeling of not measuring up to expectations. When I was in this mental place, every unsuccessful show and difficult ride left me feeling stressed, anxious, and like a failure. The thoughts, Why do I do this? and I can’t do this any more! played on repeat in my head. I was spending so much time and money and I wanted success badly.

Podcast - Best Horse Practices with Karen Rohlf

Updated:

February 24, 2022

Source: Best Horse Practices | Season 2, Episode 21

Sparky the Wonder (Senior) Horse

Updated:

February 4, 2022

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Vibrant Life Beyond 20 - Recently, I spent time with a horse named Sparky who is estimated to be over 40 years old. Understandably, you may be visualizing a tottering shell of a being, held together by medication and hay cubes, but this could not be further from the truth. Sparky is a sound, vital, cheeky, engaged fellow and the leader of the pack, although his teeth no longer work well for chewing hay. Out of curiosity, I studied his lifestyle, diet, way of being, and exercise routine with hopes of gleaning some insight to help me support my more “mature” equine clients as well as my own mare Diva, who turned 22 years old this past May.

Unsung Heroes of High Performance Horse Riders

Updated:

January 3, 2022

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How Teamwork Makes the Dream Work - High performance riders often attribute their success to a team of committed supporters and professionals who help them achieve their best while keeping their horse’s best interest at heart. But successful teams aren’t simply a collection of farriers, grooms, owners, saddle fitters, sponsors, sports psychologists, and veterinarians. According to three top-level Canadian riders — amateur jumper rider Stephanie Valdes, 2020 Paralympian dressage rider Winona Hartvikson, and veteran three-day eventing Olympian Kyle Carter — there’s a lot more to it.

How to Ride Better by Thinking Less

Updated:

January 3, 2022

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Analysis does have a dark side: it can lead to the “thinking too much” syndrome. Most riders have experienced this trap. Why does this happen? What can be done about it?

Podcast - How Emotions Support Horsemanship with Lockie Phillips

Updated:

January 2, 2022

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In this wide ranging conversation, Lockie Phillips of Emotional Horsemanship shares about his unique path to horses by way of a life of movement, as a dancer, how he believes sensitivity is a superpower, and the role of emotion as a helper in our horsemanship.

Podcast - Rider Fear

Updated:

November 20, 2021

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Rider fear can be all-consuming, and riding is as risky as it is fun and rewarding. In this episode, Jec Ballou, Amy Skinner, and Maddy Butcher share their thoughts and experiences on rider fear.

The Power of Play with Our Horses

Updated:

November 4, 2021

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The mammalian nervous system is an incredible thing, with its complex functionality, and all the ways it regulates our systems, adapts to change, restores itself, and even mirrors the nervous systems of those around us. If any year was going to introduce us to the limits and resourcefulness of our unique nervous system, 2020 would be it. In this one year, every one of us has found out exactly how we cope with global uncertainty, massive change, potential scarcity of resources, and possible threats to the health of ourselves and our family and friends. Our nervous system is an integral part of how we cope with stress and change, working behind the scenes to recalibrate, reorganize and bring us into new ways of being in a healthy or not-so-healthy state.

Dangers of Equestrian Activities Studied

Updated:

October 29, 2021

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The risk of injury is severely under-appreciated say US researchers.- A recent study has found that the risk of an injury requiring hospital admission is higher for horse riding than for other potentially risky sporting activities such as football, motor racing, or skiing.