Oh the jambette! Such an elegant word for an elegant movement. In the highest levels of collection, the horse can be conditioned enough to hold the jambette at varying speeds and turns. It can also be used as a segue to the Spanish Walk. For this post, we will be using it for the latter.
I am a leader, not a boss
There seems to be a growing belief that horses want to be utterly and completely free, without being tethered by a human. Granted, horses would probably be better off without human interference. But that is not a viable option, for we live in a human-made world and it is our responsibility to facilitate the best lives possible for our animals in the world we have created. (more…)
Luminous Beings Are We
Your brain is amazing. Did you know that each half of your brain thinks in a completely different way? The right hemisphere of your brain is the artist, the one that lives in the moment; all that exists is this precise moment. It’s the one that takes all of the sensory input, in the form of different energies, in from your environment, collects this inside of you, and combines it with your own internal energy. (more…)
Havin’ a Ball
Some horses love playing much more than others. Trubee is one of those horses. Other horses don’t really like to play, but love having goals and accomplishing them. Tucker is one of those horses. Then there are horses that are somewhere in between, such as Moxie. So, how does one find a game that engages both types of horses both mentally and physically? How about a ball! (more…)
Definitions, well, defined.
Do you find yourself lost in a field of terms like “liberty”, “tackless” and “free riding”? Well we sure do! We know what we think these words mean, so we’re going to attempt to stop the confusion right now. Keep in mind that we do not advocate any specific method, though we do strongly encourage everyone to try Clicker Training. (more…)
Target Training
No, I don’t mean that we’re going to head out and start shooting things. However we will be teaching our horses to take aim! Target training is a great exercise with tons of uses. It’s used in the training of virtually all animals that you see trained in this world, including dolphins, dogs, birds, you name it. The concept is what you might call a building block to plenty of other exercises, as well. Not only is this a useful trick, but it is also extremely easy and straightforward to teach. (more…)
Living the dream
As a girl, I always dreamed of having a horse that I could not only ride, but who would also run up to me, want to spend time with me, play, and be generally well behaved and happy. It was the type of thing that I would daydream about constantly and yearn for the day I could have my own horse. (more…)